Churches and ministers receive many tax breaks: churches do not need to withhold social security taxes from their ministers’ pay; churches receive income tax-free; and ministers do not pay tax on the cash value of church-provided housing. But receiving a tax-free salary is not one of the breaks ministers receive. Read more >>
February 14, 2016
I recently received an email — purportedly from the IRS — claiming I have a refund coming and asking me to follow a link to file my return and process the refund. Read more >>
February 2, 2016
My client called in a panic. He was being audited, and the IRS wanted to know why he claimed $2,500 in mileage expense on his Schedule C. My client doesn’t own a Schedule C business. Read more >>
January 18, 2016
If you own a foreign bank account, you need to report it to the IRS, or else, as the case of poor Mr. Gubser below illustrates. Read more >>
January 14, 2017
When a taxpayer disagrees with the IRS auditor’s determination, the IRS assigns the matter to an appeals officer. This is a second, new IRS employee that the taxpayer can negotiate with. Read more >>
January 12, 2016
It’s satisfying when tax law actually does the right thing morally – such as providing a strong financial incentive to pay spousal support on time. Here’s an example. Read more >>
October 20, 2015
A client called me with a strange problem. He and his brother had inherited real property in Nevada. Because the brother was less than fully-functional, the client held his brother’s share as trustee in a spendthrift trust. Read more >>
August 29, 2015
One of my clients has several years of unfiled tax returns. Like many people with several years of unfiled tax returns, he’s been putting off working with me. So I hadn’t heard from him for about six months when he called me in a panic. Read more >>
July 16, 2015
I’m cheered to see that others out there share my opinion of Wells Fargo Bank. For my prior screeds against this bank, see here, here, and here. My rants against Wells Fargo may soon Read more >>
July 14, 2015
When the IRS and the California state tax agencies do particularly bone-headed things, it’s time for another tale from the tax troll trenches. Here’s one that reminded me of why the IRS and state tax agencies are so disliked by many taxpayers. Read more >>
July 13, 2015
