With that kind of cinematic lineup, you’d think the State of California would give him the thumbs up and say, “Oh, it’s cool Nic. Just cut us a check as soon as you have the cash. NO worries.”
Apparently the IRS is not one for timing. Earlier this month the Service announced that if you get paid to crank out 1040s, your life as you know it is more or less over. Well, at least a little more inconvenient. Okay, it’s hella-inconvenient.
Back when the new regulations were announced the Service let it be known that since it can’t get these new regulations implemented for 2010, it was still stepping up its efforts for getting all up in tax preparers’ shit.
The first step being to be to send 10,000 letters to paid preparers nationwide letting them know that they need to be on their A-game. The letters were intended for, “preparers…with large volumes of specific tax returns where the IRS typically sees frequent errors,” and that they should be “vigilant” for errors related to “Schedule C income and expenses, Schedule A deductions, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the First Time Homebuyer Credit.”
Well then. That should cover about EVERY TAX PREPARER IN THE COUNTRY.
Anyway, the IRS is following up the 10,000 “Dear Joe Kristan” letters with phone calls to set up sit-downs with “thousands” of preparers. According to William Stromsem, who wrote a piece over at CPA2Biz, these are “urgent” calls:
In at least one case, the IRS called a practitioner at home and spoke with the spouse by name, asking for a response within three hours and then calling back before that time was up. Another practitioner, who was unable to schedule a meeting during a busy time was threatened with having the refusal passed up the line to a supervisor.
The piece goes to tell us that the visits will be performed in the coming weeks and months and may last up to 3 hours. Does anyone see a problem with this yet?
These chats are designed to be friendly reminders of all the pitfalls out there in tax preparer land; not a compliance visit (but they will remind you of the penalties that can be assessed for any malfeasance). Regardless of the pleasant intentions, the timing has irked CPAs to no end and we can’t say that we blame them. Hope no one is expecting an apology. And one more thing, we’d like to know how the Commish’s CPA feels about this whole thing. Just for fun; he should get a letter.
Louisiana even went to the trouble of slapping together a 30-second ad:
Shockingly, American flags were completely omitted from this ad, which leads us to believe that there isn’t any political motive here, although this is only the second “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday.” You can safely assume that prior to 2009, Louisianians were not in fear of their freedom being taken away from them but since arackbay bamaoay started running things, people are arming themselves to the teeth for the impending roundup of gun snatching by the Feds.
• Accessories designed to be used for hunting.
• Shotguns, rifles, pistols, revolvers or other handguns.
• Ammunition intended to be fired from a gun or firearm.
• Animal feed for consumption by game which can be legally hunted.
• Apparel such as safety gear, camouflage clothing, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, face masks and thermal underwear for use while hunting.
• Off-road vehicles such as all terrain vehicles designed for hunting.
Not listed above but included in the exemption are “Knives that are manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting,” in case you’re one of those cold-blooded types that prefer killing with your bare hands. This does not include the amazing Ginsu Knife™ or other kitchen miracle blades.
Also not exempt are hunting dogs (taxed?) nor are “toy guns [Ed. note: wait, guns aren’t toys?] and vessels or off road vehicles utilized as children’s toys.” Additionally, “golf carts, bikes, motorcycles, tractors, or motor vehicles which may be legally driven on highways,” aren’t eligible.
So load up people. Hunting season is right around the corner. Although, for the sake of peace, try to leave the Democrats alone.
Apparently the IRS is not one for timing.