Any tax overhaul “has to be under the total understanding that this can’t be revenue-neutral,” said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. “It can’t be even close to neutral. It has to be a significant tax target.” [Bloomberg]
Related Posts
Trying to Care About the UBS and IRS Debacle is Getting Difficult
The whole IRS/UBS tango has gotten to the point where we’ll take any kind of resolution.
Like if the IRS decided that it was too much trouble and said, “We don’t need no stinking names”, we’d be thrilled. Or if UBS decided to hand over a truckload of Toblerones in order to bury the hatchet we’d think, “that was our idea” .
But no, the standoff continues, as the parties confirmed Friday’s meeting today to discuss the progress they’ve made in reaching a settlement. Regardless if a settlement is announced on Friday or the stalemate continues and the case starts on Monday the sooner this thing is over, the better.
UBS, IRS to Meet on Friday [WSJ]
Someone Has a Dangerously Unhealthy Love for Preparing Tax Returns
Someone must really love preparing tax returns if they violate an injunction prohibiting them from doing just that.
“A man who had been barred five years ago from preparing tax returns and representing clients before the IRS was convicted of violating the injunction by continuing to do so.”
Most people that prepare tax returns would love to be banned from preparing them. They could get on with their lives that way. This guy has the good fortune to be told not to do it and he keeps at those tax forms like he’s on some romantic, Don Quixote-esque quest.
Continued, after the jump
..Prosecutors claimed that Mattatall attempted to evade detection by not signing the returns as the paid preparer and by using an alias when representing customers…At the conclusion of the trial, the judge cautioned Mattatall to re-evaluate his positions on the tax laws, warning him that he faces the possibility of a very tragic turn in his life if he continues down his current path.
We’re no Freud but this seems borderline obsessive.
The judge obviously recognizing that this man was completely deranged offered the touching plea, “he faces the possibility of a very tragic turn in his life if he continues down his current path.” Sorta sounds like, “Seriously man. Find something else to do. Anything.”
Tax Preparer Convicted After Violating Injunction [Web CPA]
IRS Doesn’t Care for Kirk Herbstreit Burning Down His Own House
ABC/ESPN college football commentator and former Ohio St. QB, Kirk Herbstreit and his wife donated their house to to the local fire department back in 2004 and the Herbstreits took a $330,000 deduction on their tax return.
In an extremely convenient coincidence, the IRS, for the first time, challenged the practice of donating individuals’ homes for such purposes the same year.
The Herbstreits were audited and paid back taxes and interest of $134,606 but are now suing the IRS to get that money back.
Apparently this is a matter of debate amongst tax wonks out there, some saying the donation is kosh and some saying it isn’t. You Michigan fans obviously hope Herbie gets stuck paying the extra scratch but the real question is whether Lee Corso is getting to the age where he’s burning down houses just because he’s totally gone senile.
Herbstreit ‘fire’ puts focus on IRS dispute [Columbus Dispatch via TaxProf Blog]