Tax news January 2013

Tax

Crime Watch: January 31, 2013

Florida tax return preparer Torrey Burden allegedly fabricated and inflated deductions and credits to fraudulently reduce customers' tax liabilities. The IRS projects that the tax loss from the returns prepared by Burden could exceed $1 million.
1901
Tax

Did California Hit Mickelson into a Tax Sand Trap?

Top professional golfer Phil Mickelson may be ready to leave California and go house shopping in a more tax friendly state, which only leaves him forty-nine choices.
1833
Tax

Mission Impossible: Are Medical Expenses Deductible?

It's difficult, if not downright impossible, for some taxpayers to claim medical expense deductions on their federal income tax returns. And no wonder: With a daunting threshold of 7.5 percent of AGI to clear, your clients might not even be inclined to try.
2616
Tax

IRS Wants Tax Preparer Licensing Injunction Suspended

The IRS hasn't given up its fight to regulate independent tax preparers. It has asked a federal court to suspend the federal court injunction issued last week that blocked the IRS effort until a new motion can be filed.
3346
Tax

Plaxico Burress Needs Professional Help

NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress needs a good financial advisor . . . or a team of them. He seems to be his own worst enemy, with a long track record of self-inflicted wounds – financial, physical, and behavioral – followed by a career-crashing stint in prison.
2092
Tax

Treasury and IRS Issue Final FATCA Regulations

The US Department of the Treasury and the IRS jointly issued comprehensive final regulations under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) for reporting and withholding taxes on US taxpayers with financial accounts held abroad.
2903
Tax

IRS Highlights Refund Tracker for Electronic Tax Return Filers

With the federal tax-filing season ready to begin January 30, the IRS wants electronic tax filers (e-filers) to know of its improved Where's My Refund? tracking program.
14552
Tax

Crime Watch: January 24, 2013

A tax return preparer in Florida allegedly falsified tax returns that cost the US Treasury more than $17 million. After examining over 250 tax returns, the IRS found that over 90 percent understated the taxpayer's liability.
1771
Tax

IRS Simplifies Option for Claiming Home Office Deduction

The IRS announced on January 15, 2013, a simplified option that many owners of home-based businesses and some home-based workers may use to figure their deductions for the business use of their homes.
3728
Tax

Uncle Sam Takes "Real Housewife" to Task

Sheree Whitfield, the ex-wife of former Atlanta Falcons tackle Bob Whitfield and a former star on reality TV show "Real Housewives of Atlanta," is in trouble with the IRS for failure to pay taxes in 2009 and 2010.
1410
Tax

Jon Gosselin - From Stardom to Average Guy to Tax Deadbeat

When Jon Gosselin walked away from his wife in 2009, he also walked away from the income derived from their reality TV show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." He hasn't paid any taxes since splitting with Kate; the result is a tax lien of $39,000.
4922
Tax

Tax Lien Hits Music Legend Stevie Wonder

Nobody is immune from the long arm of the California Franchise Tax Board, not even one of the key entertainers at President Obama's inaugural ball. The good news is Stevie Wonder can handle it. The tax lien is for a mere $40.
1367
Tax

IRS Provides Penalty Relief to Farmers and Fishermen

The IRS announced it will issue guidance to provide relief from the estimated tax penalty for farmers and fishermen unable to file and pay their 2012 taxes by the March 1 deadline due to the delayed start for filing tax returns.
1466
Tax

Court Rules IRS Can't License Tax Return Preparers

A federal court struck down the IRS's licensing effort that would have required thousands of independent tax preparers to pass a competency exam and abide by a litany of new rules.
6507
Tax

AICIPA Asks Congress to Amend Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is asking Congress to amend its Hurricane Sandy tax relief legislation by extending the replacement period for which taxpayers can claim a property loss.
2900
Tax

AICPA Offers Heads Up on New Medicare Taxes

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) hosted a conference call January 17 to discuss compliance and planning issues surrounding the new 3.8 percent Medicare surtax that kicks in this year.
2264
Tax

Last Shot at IRA Gifts to Charity for '12

The IRS is reminding senior citizens of an eleventh-hour reprieve granted by the American Taxpayer Relief Act. Older individuals can still pull off a tax-free, IRA-to-charity transfer of funds, but only if they act by January 31.
2466
Tax

O.J. Simpson Hit with Tax Debt and Foreclosure

In prison for a total of thirty-three years, and he's still drawing fire from multiple sources. O.J. Simpson is being targeted by the IRS, and it's not the first time. The tax agency just filed a second lien on him for 2011 income.
5260
Tax

Crime Watch: January 16, 2013

Masood Chotani, a CPA and tax return preparer, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of engaging in a scheme to file false tax returns with the IRS using the names and Social Security numbers of deceased individuals.
2416
Tax

TIGTA to IRS: Get Tough on Noncash Charitable Contributions

TIGTA estimates that more than 273,000 taxpayers claimed about $3.8 billion in potentially erroneous noncash charitable contributions in tax year 2010, which resulted in an estimated $1.1 billion reduction in tax.
2683

Pages

Voice of the Editor

Even though any accounting auditor would tell you it seems like there are an awful lot of tax accountants out there, surely one-third of the country isn't made up of tax preparers, so it's rather startling news to learn that one-third of Americans like to do their taxes. Who knew?
Read more
Gail Perry, CPA
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, AccountingWEB
editor@accountingweb.com
ADVERTISEMENT

This Week on AccountingWEB

Bill Walter of Gross, Mendelsohn & Associates and Harold Gaar of TravisWolff LLP weigh in on mobile technology use while employees are at work.
WestArk RSVP and Fayette County Community Action Agency – organizations that received grant funding through the IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program – spoke with AccountingWEB about how they assist senior citizens in their communities.
CPA Robert Raiola, who heads the Sports & Entertainment Group of Fazio, Mannuzza, Roche, Tankel, LaPilusa, LLC, talks NFL player income taxes with AccountingWEB.
Retiring KPMG Centennial Professor of Accounting at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business Robert May, PhD talks with AccountingWEB about his rewarding forty-three-year career.
Loading...
AccountingWEB Live!
This is the groundbreaking virtual conference that gives you the experience of attending a major national conference without having to travel or leave your office. We're gathering national-caliber speakers from the accounting profession to share their knowledge and insights with you. We promise each session will contain valuable takeaways you can implement in your practice immediately.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT