Speedy Net

I set my dad up with cable Internet service yesterday and am still in awe as to how fast it was. It was the easiest network setup and the fastest web surfing I have ever seen. Why anyone who has access to cable service would tolerate dial-up speeds is beyond me. I may sound like a shill for Cox, but what is even more amazing is the price. The cable modem only cost $75 and the service is $40 a month. I paid about $900 to have a satellite dish installed outside of my office a little over a year ago and I have been paying Earthlink $70 per month for service that is half the speed of my dad's. It is one of the few downsides to living in the boonies that we will never have cable or DSL service where we are. If we ever move, there will definitely have to be cable Internet service wherever we relocate to.

With the speed of cable or satellite, there is no more efficient browser for surfing the web than NetCaptor, which I have been hooked on for the past six months. It allows me to be on 75 to 100 websites simultaneously. Keeping up on the wide variety of news on the web is so much easier this way. When I shut down NetCaptor, it remembers the sites I had open and opens all of them the next time I start it up, making it easy to pick up right where I left off. It also has a built in popup blocker that is very efficient at preventing those pesky annoyances from reaching my screen.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/31/2003 06:31:00 PM Send this post:

 
Tax Cuts - How they really work
Explained in a way that hopefully more people will understand.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/31/2003 06:17:00 PM Send this post:

 
Voters Deciding

Oregon voters said no to tax hikes. Wouldn't it be great if we could all vote on any tax increase rather then leave it up to our rulers to decide how much of our income we may keep?

There are far too many people who believe that what we earn is not ours to decide what to do with. Under their belief system (which sounds eerily like Karl Marx), all income and property belongs to the State and the little people may only keep what the elite leaders allow. How is the concept of all of the fruits of our labors and investments belonging to the State any different from slavery?

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/31/2003 04:16:00 PM Send this post:

 
What Washington giveth, the States taketh away.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/31/2003 10:17:00 AM Send this post:

 
Financialphobia

How is it that they have an officially recognized disease in England for fear of finances? I always thought we here in the USA lead the world in stupid made up disorders. Who are the ambulance chasing lawyers going to sue on behalf of these sufferers?

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/29/2003 11:42:00 PM Send this post:

 
Not A Slam Dunk

According to Bruce Bartlett, a change in the membership of Bush's economic advisory team may make it more difficult to keep up the push for eliminating the double taxes on corporate profits in the face of the left's class warfare. It will be a very tough sell to a country with almost no understanding of how a capitalist economy is supposed to function.

A caller to the Limbaugh show the other day was whining at how unfair it would be if his neighbor's dividend income were tax free while he had to pay taxes on his carpentry income. The caller was completely oblivious to the fact that such dividends represent income that has already been taxed at the corporate level and forcing the shareholder to pay a second tax would be the truly unfair thing. I have a hunch that such ignorance is more widespread than is healthy. So; don't start counting on tax free dividends just yet.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/29/2003 10:08:00 PM Send this post:

 
Section 179 Expensing Election

It seems like a lot of people were not aware of the ability to claim the very lucrative Section 179 expensing election for business vehicles weighing more than 6,000 pounds. It's only been the law since 1984; so it takes a while to filter out into the tax practitioner community.

I have had some people asking about going back and claiming it for past years. Unfortunately, that isn't possible. As with many tax return elections, they can only be made on original tax returns or on amended ones that are filed by the due date (including extensions) of the original return. That kind of thing is the reason that it has always been my policy to file tax returns late rather than rush something together that can't be changed, such as the Section 179 election. I still have several 1999, 2000 and 2001 tax returns in process.

KMK

Labels: 179

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/29/2003 09:54:00 PM Send this post:

 
9-Digit 'Social' Overused as ID
It's good that they are finally realizing how dangerous it is to use SSNs for too many thing. However, for most people, it will be like putting toothpaste back in the tube in regard to getting control over their private SSNs. In spite of the claim on the SS card that it is "Not For Identification," it has become the de facto personal ID for almost everything. Filing Form SS-4 and obtaining a new IRS ID number may be the only way anyone can have any serious level of control over who has access to their personal ID.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/29/2003 07:21:00 PM Send this post:

 
Accelerated tax cuts receive support
As I said in 2001 when everyone was proclaiming this to be a huge tax cut, it's always a stupid idea to spread tax changes out over a long multi-year schedule. If reduced rates are a good idea ten years from now, they are an even better idea right now. A phased-in reduction is also always open to modification or freeze, as many of the DemonRats are still trying to do with the 2001 law.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/29/2003 01:38:00 PM Send this post:

 
New Treasury Secretary

I really don't know much about the new Treasury Secretary, John Snow. However, I do know Stephen Moore and respect his opinion; so it is encouraging to read his endorsement of Snow. It's also a good sign to see that Snow is behind Bush's tax cut plans. Former Secretary Paul O'Neill was openly opposed to tax reduction plans and thought it was more important to kiss up to Bono than help out overburdened US taxpayers.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/28/2003 04:07:00 PM Send this post:

 


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/28/2003 04:02:00 PM Send this post:

 
The Greediest Generation
Although this is a little over a month old, it's a good argument in favor of Social Security privatization that I just came across. Doing nothing will just result in the inevitable implosion of the entire system
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/28/2003 01:09:00 PM Send this post:

 
Just What We Need
The Bush plan is a growth engine that should be supported by anyone who believes in capitalism, fairness and private property, concepts foreign to most members of the JackAss party.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/27/2003 10:48:00 PM Send this post:

 
Record Retention

A common question I receive is how long we need to keep copies of our tax returns and the backup records. Copies of the actual tax returns should be kept forever. While most returns can't be audited by IRS more than three years after they were submitted, there are dozens of reasons why information from them is crucial to locate decades later, including after you have passed away. As I mentioned earlier, one of the most difficult tasks for anyone is taking care of a decedent's affairs. Not having access to copies of previously filed tax returns, often going back decades, makes the job even tougher.

As far as all of the backup documentation for your tax returns, such as cancelled checks, receipts and bank statements, those don't need to be retained as long. While there is no universal answer to this, I usually advise keeping everything for at last five years after a tax return has been filed. That takes you past the normal three year statute of limitations for IRS, as well as the longer four years used by some states, such as the PRC. Of course, if you have an unsettled matter, such as an open IRS audit for which the statute has been extended, you should continue to hold onto all substantiating documentation until the matter is completely over with, which can often drag on for a dozen years or so.

When discussing the matter of backup receipts, you need to keep straight which are period expenses, such as phone bills and mortgage interest statements, and which are capital asset purchases. Since most assets don't trigger any tax consequences until they are sold, you need to hold onto the purchase info until at least five years after you have reported their sale on your tax return. This is important for purchases of stocks and real estate. Unless you are claiming depreciation on it, IRS won't have any reason to ask for proof of an asset's cost basis until after you have sold it.

In these times of fast changing technology, besides what you hold onto, it's important to keep tabs on how your records are maintained. As this article points out, if your crucial documents were created by certain software programs, you may be out of luck in a few years if you no longer have access to that program or one that can read those kinds of files. Similarly, the physical medium used is important. I still have a stash of the old real floppy 5.25" disks with some clients' data. None of my current computers has a drive that can read those disks; so I'm hoping I don't have a need for any of that data. If so, I do have some floppy disk drive that I can salvage from the dozens of old computers in our PC graveyard upstairs. Since many newer computers are being produced without any floppy drives, even the 3.25" disks may not be readable in the near future. Copying their data to a CD would be a good idea for long term storage. With DVDs close to killing the market for VHS, getting valuable data off of video tape cassettes and onto video CDs is a project we are going to be starting on soon.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/27/2003 03:07:00 PM Send this post:

 
Choosing Their Battles

The only war the DemonRats want to fight is pitting groups of Americans against each other via class envy. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be as effective as it has in the past. To be more accurate, Dashole's helmet should have a hammer and sickle emblem.



- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/27/2003 11:52:00 AM Send this post:

 
Remember the Cause

I have always received a lot of flack over discussing political issues in the context of taxes. Most other tax speakers and writers assume that taxes just happen in a vacuum and refrain from making any connection between what goes on in DC and our 1040 forms. That is just insanely naive.

I have always known that taxes and all of the messy laws, rules and regulations are merely symptoms of the real problem, which is the growth of government well beyond its intended scope of responsibility as envisioned by our founding fathers. While most people continue to clammer for new government programs with the assumption that the money for them will just magically appear, I know better. Every single program is paid for from money out of our pockets. It's really no different than if your next door neighbor came over, stuck a gun in your face, and demanded that you pay for his medicines or his kid's college tuition. Of course, our rulers have the IRS to do that dirty job for them. The end result is no different.

If only more of our rulers in DC would openly address the issue of the need to scale back the size and cost of government, as Georgia's Senator Zell Miller does here. Amazingly, he's a member of the JackAss Party, whose official platform believes that there is no part of our lives that the Federal government shouldn't control.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/26/2003 03:14:00 PM Send this post:

 
Let's hope he doesn't give up the fight for lower taxes and wimp out under pressure from the class warriors, as he has already done with other conservative issues.



- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/26/2003 02:08:00 PM Send this post:

 
Accountants, Lawyers Clash Over Tax Work
This is nothing new. There have always been disagreements as to where the line is between accounting and legal functions. I can remember discussing the issue of when accounting and tax services come close to practicing law in my accounting classes in college in the mid 1970s. Every profession wants to protect its monopoly power over its turf.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/26/2003 01:10:00 PM Send this post:

 
Although there is a big discrepancy in who pays the major share of taxes in this country, the widespread confusion over the horrendous tax code is shared by everyone of all income levels.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 06:39:00 PM Send this post:

 
Senate Democrats Introduce Payroll Tax Refund Plan
I would actually support this idea in addition to Bush's cuts, not instead of. For many people, payroll taxes are much higher than their income taxes. In addition, this would be a nice tax cut for employers.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 06:21:00 PM Send this post:

 
Social Security Reform

Allowing people to have more control over where their retirement money is invested is another issue that still needs to be addressed. Although in the long term, investing retirement money in the stock market is not as risky as it would seem from the past few years' performance, I am no more a fan of investing retirement money in the stock market than non-retirement money. There are plenty of other much safer investment vehicles that will be more certain to provide for future years. However, given a choice between the Federal Social Security Ponzi scheme and other alternatives, I would have more confidence in lottery tickets than in entrusting any more money to our incompetent corrupt rulers in DC.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 05:57:00 PM Send this post:

 
Another Questionable Poll

I have always been skeptical about public opinion polls for several reasons. The fact that the pollsters slant their questions in such a way as to achieve desired results is a big reason not to trust the conclusions. This poll that claims that a majority of people don't believe that taxes are too high in this country has its own built-in idiocy. One indicator that the respondents weren't exactly Mensa material is the explanation that, because they had too much tax withheld from their paychecks and thus received refunds, their taxes aren't high.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 04:25:00 PM Send this post:

 
The latest tax policy of the DemonRats.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 02:24:00 PM Send this post:

 
Estate Tax Is Still An Issue

With all of the current focus on proposed changes to the income tax laws, such as making corporate dividends tax free, we need to remember that the issue of repealing the estate (aka death or inheritance) tax is still too important to overlook. The threshold for taxable estates will be getting higher each year until the tax doesn't apply to anyone passing away in 2010. However, the tax will pop back to life in 2011, with a taxable threshold of one million dollars, the same as it is right now.

There are still plenty of people, such as Bill Gates, Sr, who support the concept of having the government redistribute all wealth when people pass on. Whether this endorsement of a plank in the Communist Manifesto means Mr. Gates is a full fledged commie, I don't know. I do know that such confiscation of personal wealth is wrong. I haven't heard Bill Gates, Jr. state his opinion on his father's leftist views; but I doubt he is too worried. He has already protected his wealth through a series of trusts and foundations in the same manner as the Kennedy Klan did to preserve Joseph Kennedy's bootlegging and stock scam fortune for his descendents. Such tactics have enabled Teddy Kennedy to safely espouse confiscatory taxes on everybody else.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/25/2003 02:22:00 PM Send this post:

 
Poor On Purpose

It is true that there has long been a specialty in the financial arena called impoverishment planning. I must admit that I've done my share in helping clients arrange things so that they could qualify for certain government programs, such as Medicaid. I can't agree with the sentiment of this writer that this kind of thing is an evil scam to rip off the taxpayers.

All most people want is to be treated no worse than illegal immigrants. Is it fair that millions of people from other countries are allowed to sneak into the United States and then receive absolutely free medical care and education for their entire families for the rest of their lives, while people who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for 60 or 70 years are not eligible for the same assistance because they happen to own a home or a car?

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/24/2003 10:58:00 PM Send this post:

 
Marriage Penalty

Don't shoot the messenger. Whenever I point out some of the penalties built into our tax system for married couples, I receive a lot of hate mail claiming that I am encouraging people to get divorced just to save on their taxes. That's not true. I merely point out the facts and let each couple decide for themselves how much extra they are willing to pay for the privilege of being married.

Here are some more of the tax breaks for unmarried couples. If you agree with me that it is insane to penalize people for being married, let your elected rulers know and don't accept that "we can't afford to fix it" crap from them as an excuse. If they can afford to give themselves raises and take all of their friends on expensive junkets around the world, they can surely afford to let married people pay the same taxes as single folks.

There is a misconception that the current Bush tax proposals will eliminate the marriage penalty. Not even close. It will allow a small deduction for married couples who both have employment income, similar to the miniscule one we had for a few years. It does very little to balance things out. The only true elimination of the marriage penalty would be to allow people to have their taxes computed in the same way as single people.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/24/2003 10:04:00 PM Send this post:

 
This has always been the case with computers, which is why you shouldn't buy one that won't be put to use immediately.



- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/23/2003 05:31:00 PM Send this post:

 
More Complication?

As should be very apparent, I have always supported the concept of eliminating double taxation of corporate income by making dividends paid either deductible by the corporation or tax free to the recipients. Bush's tax cut proposal to make dividends tax free sounded easy enough at first. That's why I was disappointed to see this story about possible changes to the plan. Rather than take the simple straight forward approach of just making all dividends across the board tax free to shareholders, they seem intent on adding even more complexity to the tax system for both the corporations and the stockholders by making some kinds of dividends tax free and some still taxable. What a mess this will be for everyone.

Of course, as I have observed for decades, this is just business as usual for our rulers in DC. Never make a one sentence law when a 50 page version will allow more tinkering with people's lives. You would think that our rulers in DC are doing nothing but thinking up new ways to keep accountants busy with their never ending complicated tax law changes.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/23/2003 02:04:00 PM Send this post:

 



- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/23/2003 11:55:00 AM Send this post:

 
Battling for dividend tax relief


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/22/2003 09:46:00 PM Send this post:

 
I'm not sure of the artist's intent with this comic; but I think it is to ridicule Bush. The truth is that anyone who understands capitalism and the US Constitution knows that many of the taxes in this country are downright evil.



- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/22/2003 01:38:00 PM Send this post:

 
Non-Cash Donations

I just finished installing the 2003 Tax Tools program and was checking out the new features added this year. One I really like is a five page worksheet, along with estimated values, for documenting non-cash donations, such as clothes and furniture. It obviously has a lot more room than the one page version I posted on my site a little while ago. I've made a master in pdf and uploaded it to my site.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 11:01:00 PM Send this post:

 
Look at who won't pay taxes under Bush's plan


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 09:35:00 PM Send this post:

 
The Dems' skimpy tax-relief plan


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 08:33:00 PM Send this post:

 
Bush Proposal May Cut Tax on SUVs for Business
I'm sure Arianna Huffington and her fellow traveler SUV haters are having a cow over this.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 07:44:00 PM Send this post:

 


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 06:04:00 PM Send this post:

 
Taxing Statistics

With all of the discussion as to who bears the major portion of the actual income tax burden in the US, I found it interesting to consider another kind of tax related burden. These stats from Forbes relate to the burden in time and cost to comply with tax laws in regard to keeping proper records and preparing tax returns.

Self-employed persons with adjusted gross incomes topping $200,000 spend 62 hours a year working on taxes and $1,315 in tax preparation fees, compared with just 34 hours and $393 for similarly paid workers who labor for others, says a new study for the IRS by IBM Business Consulting. Total annual out-of-pocket costs to all taxpayers for tax compliance: $16 billion.

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/21/2003 04:17:00 PM Send this post:

 
Glossary Of Terms

As with all professions, we in the tax and accounting arena have our own jargon. I have also adopted several other abbreviations and acronyms in order to save time and space when writing and speaking. As a public service, I've set up a glossary of the most often used terms. I've also added a link to it in the blogroll to the left on this page. If there are other terms that should be included here, please let me know.

As more new acronyms are coined every day, I hope to see glossaries such as this on other web sites. Places like Lucianne.com have developed their own shorthand way of communicating and it slows the discussions down when newcomers are always asking for definitions of such terms as PIAPS (pig in a pant suit) after stories are posted about our next president, Queen Hillary Rodham.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/19/2003 03:50:00 PM Send this post:

 
20/20 Puff Piece

I watched the 20/20 piece on Lynn Meredith, the scamster tax protestor, and the only way to describe the show was superficial. While I have never been reticent about pointing out the left wing bias in most ABC News broadcasts, this was one story in which they took no side. However, when someone is advocating illegal things, it seems like responsible journalism would cry out for the 20/20 staff to make the case that this woman is a criminal. It seemed more like a Robin Leach episode of the Lives of the Rich and Famous as they showed Lynn Meredith's fleet of expensive cars and her recreated soda shop, complete with antique juke boxes. They didn't do much to show the down side to Meredith's criminal actions, other than have to wear an ankle bracelet as she walked along the beach. I can recall a time when the media made a point of illustrating the consequences of choosing a criminal path in life. Just mentioning that another tax protestor had died in prison wasn't as illustrative as showing some of the convicted tax cheats doing hard time working on a chain gang busting up rocks.

While it may sound like I am most upset with ABC for the way in which they told this story, that's not the case. The brain trust at the IRS has proved their incompetence once again by refusing to comment on the matter for the show. What imbeciles. As I have been explaining for decades, the tax protestor movement has grown as a direct result of IRS neglecting their responsibility to debunk the bogus claims being made, such as taxes being voluntary and money is not really income. In this country, silence means agreement. Whenever IRS refuses to comment on matters such as this, they are in effect endorsing the other side's case. They passed up another golden opportunity to clear up a lot of confusion in the minds of the American people as to the legality of the claims being made by Ms. Meredith and her fellow tax protestor scammers. IRS spokespersons could have very easily debunked every one of Meredith's arguments and followed up with real life stories of people who are in prison for following them.

It's long been very frustrating that I have to do the IRS's job for them in explaining how the tax protestor arguments are wrong and dangerous. In a way, it's almost as if IRS wants the tax protestor movement to grow because they sure aren't doing as much to stifle it as they could. Maybe it's part of some scheme to justify even more money and power when the number of flagrant tax violators grows much larger.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/19/2003 12:22:00 PM Send this post:

 
Tax Cuts: Rhetoric v. Reality

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/18/2003 10:25:00 PM Send this post:

 
Non-Cash Donations

For the first time, I have purchased the CD-ROM version of the QuickFinder reference books that I have been buying for the past 20 years. It looks pretty handy, with PDF versions of both the 1040 and business books, as well as several IRS publications and forms. There are also several worksheets; most of which I don't need because my tax software already automatically does them. One that should be quite useful, plus covers information that doesn't show up in QuickBooks, has to do with donating non-cash items, such as old clothes and furniture. It even has some suggested values. I've posted that worksheet here on my site.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/18/2003 09:14:00 PM Send this post:

 
Tax-cut pollsters are up to their old tricks.
In typical liberal fashion, pollsters decide what answers they want and then word the questions to achieve those results.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/18/2003 08:47:00 PM Send this post:

 
Taxing the Minority
Forty percent of tax payers may pay all federal income tax.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/18/2003 06:53:00 PM Send this post:

 
The Smell of Money

Giving a whole new meaning to the need to launder money, these marijuana growers were busted after their bank teller noticed that their cash deposits had a funny smell.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/18/2003 12:17:00 PM Send this post:

 
S Corporations

Lately, I have been receiving a lot of feedback from various people around the country who have read my article describing some of the big differences between C and S corporations, thanking me for pointing out things that other advisors have been ignorant of. One area of confusion still seems to be regarding exactly when a corporation becomes an S. Many people believe that the decision to be an S or a C is made at the time when the corporation is originally formed. That is not true. All corporations, when originally chartered by the State, are C corporations. Do nothing extra and it will remain a C corp.

However, to convert it to an S corporation, the shareholders must all sign and submit Form 2553 with the IRS to request that status. This can be done right away after the corp is originally chartered, or several years down the road. You need to be sure to watch the effective dates of the S election. Some States automatically accept the IRS's S election, while others require a separate form to be submitted to the State tax agency.

If a corp has been using a fiscal year that ends in a month other than December, it will have to change to a 12/31 fiscal year end if it changes to an S status. If the S status is later revoked, you will not be allowed to change from the 12/31 year end.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 10:05:00 PM Send this post:

 
Tax Protestor On TV Tonight

I was just scanning what's on TV tonight and noticed that ABC's 20/20 show is doing a profile on one of those idiot tax protestor promoters who claims that taxes are all voluntary and who supposedly makes a fortune selling her garbage to gullible saps. I haven't seen the show yet; but will try to watch it and report on how accurate it is.

I hadn't heard of this Lynn Meredith before, but found this report of her arrest in April 2002 for tax fraud. She is supposedly connected to Bob Shulz's idiotic and illegal We the People group, which I have discussed on several occasions earlier.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 04:28:00 PM Send this post:

 
Presidents since Washington have fought tax battles
And CPAs since then have been helping their clients work with the tax laws.

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 03:00:00 PM Send this post:

 
If you owe the IRS a bunch of money, one of the things you shouldn't do is appear on national TV showing off all of your expensive possessions. It's a shopping list for IRS Collection Agents. Of course, celebrities aren't exactly known as being the sharpest tools in the shed.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 02:37:00 PM Send this post:

 
It's not just a Hummer, it's a tax break
The backlash against SUVs and their tax breaks is continuing to grow. Anyone who may be planning to take advantage of this may want to do so soon, before our rulers react to the hatred for SUVs and remove this deduction.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 01:18:00 PM Send this post:

 
I've long described what I do as helping real people win the Tax Game. Maybe Tax War would be more appropriate, considering the class warfare rhetoric used by supporters of big expensive government.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/17/2003 01:01:00 PM Send this post:

 
WAGs

I must have seen at least a dozen articles in today's papers from the PRC such as this one on how Governor Gray-Out Doofus has been exaggerating the size of the projected budget deficit in order to better justify the laundry list of new taxes he wants to implement. As I've been explaining for decades, all such projections are nothing more than wild ass guesses. Nobody has the right to claim a perfect crystal ball on this kind of financial projection. Anyone claiming more accuracy than the governor is just as guilty of blowing smoke up our rear ends.

On a similar note, does anyone else have a problem with this report of record spending by state governments, while most of them are expecting budget deficits?

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 11:35:00 PM Send this post:

 
SEC adopts broader definition of `expert'
There goes our (CPAs) monopoly to be the only ones qualified to be on corporate audit committees.


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 11:27:00 PM Send this post:

 
Taxes Influence Behavior

Imagine that. Smokers in New York aren't just obediently paying the huge taxes on their drug of choice, but are buying them from out of state and tax free Indian vendors. As the PRC looks to add over a dollar per pack in new taxes, how soon do you think it will be before editorials like this pop up in Left Coast papers?

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 11:14:00 PM Send this post:

 
Who Funds the Left?




- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 10:54:00 PM Send this post:

 


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 10:38:00 PM Send this post:

 
Loose Lips

I have long advised people who are able to claim generous tax breaks to be happy about that fact and keep it to themselves. Brag about something too much and sooner or later those who don't qualify for it will scream loud enough to force our rulers to scale back on the breaks. Envy, jealousy and outright hatred for anyone getting any more tax breaks than you are pervasive in this country.

This is the very reason for the 1984 luxury car rules. Before 1984, business cars of any cost could be fully depreciated over three years. Because so many big-mouths bragged about this, the backlash from those who couldn't deduct their vehicle costs was too much for our rulers to ignore. They limited the amount of a vehicle's cost that could be depreciated over five years. After adjustments for inflation, that limit currently stands at $17,410. Any vehicle costing more than that is by definition a luxury vehicle.

To distinguish between normal passenger and utility vehicles, our rulers established a break point of 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Any vehicle weighing more than that is not subject to the luxury car rules and can be fully depreciated over five years. In addition, it qualifies for the immediate expensing election under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, currently $24,000 per year. While I have been discussing this tax break since it as first enacted in 1984, the rest of the public didn't become aware of it until very recently as part of the open attack on SUVs and their owners by such loud mouth Socialist hypocrites as Arianna Huffington. It doesn't surprise me one bit to see editorials such as this one from the Atlanta Urinal-Constipation calling for our rulers to eliminate this lucrative tax break for evil SUVs. How long will it be before we have a repeat of 1984?

KMK

Labels: 179

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 08:53:00 PM Send this post:

 
More DemonRat Tax Policy


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 08:32:00 PM Send this post:

 
Put Government on a Diet
Another bull's-eye by Stephen Moore. I couldn't have said it better myself.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 06:30:00 PM Send this post:

 
Job Security

As I've always said, and even illustrated, there is no more secure profession in this country than taxes. As this article points out, Bush's proposed tax law changes will make the tax code even more complex, providing much more work for us.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 05:31:00 PM Send this post:

 
Wrong Ailment, Wrong Cure
The DemonRats are once again missing the point.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 05:24:00 PM Send this post:

 
We Need Patience

I have been receiving a lot of e-mail asking whether or not Bush will be correcting some of the other long overdue problems with our tax system. While nobody wishes for sweeping reform of the tax system more than I do, I am also aware that we got to where we are in slow incremental steps, and drastic changes don't fly well with the American people. The hue and cry over the seemingly benign issue of removing the double taxation of corporate income shows what an uphill battle we have in undoing decades of growth in the scope, cost and complexity of the tax system.

I am just as disappointed as anyone that Bush isn't currently pushing as hard for such things as reduced capital gains taxes, removing the insane alternative minimum tax, removing the completely hypocritical limit on deductible capital losses, permanently repealing the estate tax, and really removing the marriage penalty (the provision in his plan only makes a minor token effort on this matter).

I have seen quotes from various GOP rulers who claim that the current tax reduction proposals are only the first step and more will follow. We can only hope that is true. If the JackAss Party remains as disorganized as they currently are, and the GOP can unify behind a tax reduction and fairness theme, we have a good chance of seeing the first positive signs of improvement in decades.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 01:56:00 PM Send this post:

 
Free E-Filing

In its continuing move to encourage more taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically, IRS has announced that it will allow that to be done for free rather than require people to pay service providers or buy special software for this feature. I have no idea how many of the 78 million people who are supposedly eligible will take advantage of this free capability.

This is as good a time as any to refresh and update everyone on my opinions of electronic tax return filing. IRS is still strongly encouraging tax practitioners to file their clients' tax returns electronically in order to save IRS processing time. Tax software providers, including the ones I use (Lacerte and ATX), are increasing the e-filing features built into their programs. I am still refusing to partake of this for any of my clients.

Again, it has nothing to do with any fear of new technology. I have always been a very early adopter in the world of high tech. I refuse to have my clients electronically file their tax returns because doing so would increase the chances of their being selected for audits and causing other problems with IRS processing. The format required for electronically filing tax returns does not allow the detailed explanations and heavy documentation that I like to include with all of the tax returns that I prepare. I have been very good at anticipating those items on tax returns that could possibly raise IRS concerns. I then add plenty of additional info to the return to explain to IRS personnel why the numbers are as they are and why they are legitimate. IRS has always accepted those additional explanations and left my clients alone. With e-filing, I wouldn't be able to do that, putting my clients at additional risk of IRS hassles.

The question comes up as to whether or not I feel threatened by this IRS plan to allow taxpayers to bypass us professional tax preparers. Not one bit. This is no more of a threat to my business than the long time availability of do it yourself tax prep software, such as TurboTax. It is the classic garbage in, garbage out. The tax returns I work on require quite a bit of skill and knowledge as to where and how to enter information.

Tax preparer outfits that are no more than form fillers, with no intelligence or creative input required, will and should suffer from this new IRS feature. I don't own any stock in H & R Block, but my guess is that this ability for many of its clients to get the same service for free from IRS won't be a positive development for that company.

While I don't expect to actually use e-filing for my clients, I may have to sign up with IRS for an e-filing account in order to have access to some of the new web-based features that IRS is going to be unveiling soon. During the IRS webcast a few days ago, the IRS representatives described some improvements to their systems, including allowing us to access taxpayer accounts, obtain new ID numbers and trace payments over the Internet. However, to force those of us who refuse to participate in the e-filing program, the new features will only be available to those practitioners who are signed up as e-filers. I still have to see the details of this and whether it is an empty threat or not before signing up for an account.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/16/2003 01:49:00 PM Send this post:

 
Mechanics of Corporate Dividends

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/15/2003 11:54:00 PM Send this post:

 
Tax TV

I finally watched an episode of the IRS's Tax Talk Today webcast and was very impressed. This month's topic was the status of the 10 year IRS restructuring program. I wasn't too happy about some of their plans for the future; but I was glad to be alerted to them. While I watched it live this afternoon, they do archive the shows for later viewing. Viewing the shows is free for anyone. If you want one hour of CPE credit for it, you can fill out an evaluation and pay them $25. Since I have been happy with the approximately five dollar cost per CPE hour at The CPE Store, I passed on paying five times as much.

Next month's show, starting on February 11, should be interesting. It's on tax scams and schemes.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 10:53:00 PM Send this post:

 
Californians duck sales tax by shopping across border in Oregon
What a shocker - not. People will always go out of their way to avoid paying too much in taxes; which is why we tax practitioners will still have plenty of work if the income tax is ever replaced with a national sales tax.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 10:43:00 PM Send this post:

 


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 10:36:00 PM Send this post:

 
California's Economists Frequently Are Wrong
The Federal financial analysts are no better at predicting future revenues than the ones in the PRC, which is why any official forecasts of future numbers are no better than WAGs (wild ass guesses) and are not to be taken seriously.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 09:59:00 PM Send this post:

 
Bush to Tap OMB Deputy as Head of IRS
I've never heard of this person; so we'll have to wait and see if he will be any better or worse for us taxpayers. One thing going for him is that he's not a Clinton henchman, as the previous commissioner was.
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 09:43:00 PM Send this post:

 
IRS Offers Foreign Credit Card Amnesty
IRS is giving people who have been trying to hide their income through foreign based credit cards a chance to come clean and avoid any of the criminal charges that this kind of scheme is liable for. These people have until this April 15 to voluntarily disclose their participation in this and avoid criminal charges. Just as with any past of our tax system, those who refuse to voluntarily comply will feel the full wrath of the IRS.

KMK
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 07:08:00 PM Send this post:

 
The Official DemonRat Position On Tax Policy


- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 1/14/2003 12:59:00 PM Send this post:

 
What is rich? In the world of the American taxpayer, you're only as upper-income as you feel

Why should I apologize for making lots of money?
- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @