Welcome to the last ANR of 2013! We were going to take the day off as TPTB graciously allowed us the option to do so, however we love you all so much we decided to clock in and at least make it look like we're doing something over here while doing very little. Actually, Colin was supposed to be here doing ANR but who knows what he got into, frankly I don't care because YAY HOLIDAY. Please for the love of all that is holy, be safe out there tonight kiddos, we need you all back safe and sound at your desks next year. Just think of the capital markets, they need you! Happy New Year!
Savvy New Year's Resolutions IRS Hopes You Won't Keep [Forbes]
Better, make just one: I will pay someone to worry about this shit for me.
Shifting gears: from NYC systems analyst to Verona body shop owner [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
About a year ago, Mike Sullivan was working in the New York City office of PricewaterhouseCoopers, making $165,000 a year redesigning accounting and reporting systems for a large hedge fund. He was living in a one-bedroom, $5,900-a-month Manhattan apartment paid for by the accounting and consulting firm. So his father's reaction when the 28-year-old Canevin High School grad told him he wanted to buy an auto body shop was only natural. " 'Have you lost your mind?' " Mr. Sullivan remembers his father asking.
Watch This Woman Win A $157,000 Audi R8 On Price Is Right, Freak Out [Jalopnik]
Clearly she wasn't thinking about how much tax she'll have to pay on her prize at the time.
France Cleared To Impose Unbelievably High Tax On The Rich [Reuters via HuffPo]
France's Constitutional Council gave the green light on Sunday to the government's controversial 'millionaire tax', to be levied on companies that pay salaries of more than 1 million euros ($1.38 million) a year. The measure, introduced in line with a pledge by President Francois Hollande to make the rich do more to pull France out of crisis, has infuriated business leaders and soccer clubs, which at one point threatened to go on strike.
iSpy! NSA has near-total access to targeted iPhones: report [NY Daily News]
Tell me again how lame my BlackBerry is, TELL ME.
Ex-Monona County Auditor sentenced to 2 days in jail [Sioux City Journal]
Former Monona County Auditor Brooke Kuhlmann will serve a brief jail sentence after pleading guilty Monday to possession of methamphetamine. In Monona County District Court, Kuhlmann changed her plea to guilty on a serious misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. District Judge Duane Hoffmeyer sentenced her to two days in jail and fined her $315, plus $135 in other court costs. Her driver's license will be revoked for six months.
AICPA Names 2013 Accounting Competition Champs [AT]
A student team from the University of Portland was named champions of the American Institute of CPAs’ 2013 Accounting Competition, winning the $10,000 award to be split among them.
Congress letting 55 tax breaks expire at year's end [AP via Fox]
In an almost annual ritual, Congress is letting a package of 55 popular tax breaks expire at the end of the year, creating uncertainty — once again — for millions of individuals and businesses. Lawmakers let these tax breaks lapse almost every year, even though they save businesses and individuals billions of dollars. And almost every year, Congress eventually renews them, retroactively, so taxpayers can claim them by the time they file their tax returns.