Archive for the ‘Tax news and tips’ Category

Year-End Tax Planning Tips for Investors: Tax Help Reducing Tax Liabilities and Avoiding IRS Audits

Friday, November 6th, 2009

What investors need do as the year draws to a close is take advantage of opportunities to improve their tax situation by getting the tax help they need to make strategic decisions for managing their investment portfolios.
However, with the current recession and federal tax revenues declining, investors should be aware that the IRS is going to take every step it can to collect what’s due. So the most important tax
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Tax Help For Ponzi Scheme Victims as Madoff’s Accountant Pleads Guilty

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

On Tuesday Madoff’s long-time accountant, David G. Friehling, pleaded guilty in the criminal investigation of the 20-year “Ponzi Scheme” that lost investors a total of $21.1 billion in cash.
According to the New York Times, “Mr. Friehling also pleaded guilty to three counts of obstructing the administration of the federal tax laws - charges added within the last five days to the government’s original complaint.”
This recent development shines light that may
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Both Celebrities and Joe Six-Packs Must Beware of Owing Back Taxes: IRS Targets Tax Cheats of All Income Brackets

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

In my years of experience as a tax resolution specialist, I have met many people who hold the misconception that the IRS primarily targets a specific group of people with back taxes–either the wealthy celebrity tax cheats or the Joe Six-Packs. This is simply not true.
Turn to the news and you will find a wide range of people who have been getting in trouble with the IRS.  Just watch Entertainment
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Tax Problems of the Stars - Celebrities Owing IRS Back Taxes Though the Years

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

I recently blogged about the Worst Cases of Celebrity Tax Evasion- and the tax resolution lessons we can learn from these high-profile cases to make sure you don’t land in IRS trouble!
I came across another article on FoxNews.com about the Tax Problems of the Stars - which feature both recent headlines and some blasts from the past. Here are some highlights:
Nicholas Cage recently made headlines for his huge tax liabilities
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IRS Audit News: Expect Increased Tax Audits Due to Taxpayer Abuse of First Time Homebuyer Credit

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

The IRS is set to audit many more returns in 2009 and 2010 due to abuses by taxpayers of the first time home buyer tax credit. The first-time homebuyer tax credit is a tax break of up to $8,000 for qualified home sales before December 1, 2009.
Not everyone qualifies for this credit and I’ve also blogged about common misconceptions about the first time homebuyer tax credit.  Knowing the rules and
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Offshore Account Holders Who Missed the October 15 Tax Amnesty Deadline Can Still Get Tax Help Reducing Severe FBAR Penalties

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

More than 7,500 Americans rushed to take advantage of a the opportunity for tax amnesty offered through a special voluntary disclosure program for offshore accounts that ended last Thursday. But what can you do if you didn’t come forward to the IRS last week and still need to declare your offshore account?
If a U.S. taxpayer or U.S. resident was not able to file the voluntary disclosure memorandum by the October
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TRS Files: True Stories of IRS Relief and Tax Help from the Nation’s Leading Tax Resolution Firm

Friday, October 16th, 2009

I am so excited about a new TV campaign we’re running! It’s designed to help more people in need of tax help know that they’re not alone. If you haven’t seen the TRS Files, check out the video below. We feature real life tax relief clients who are being targeted by the IRS - like Patrick G.  who had owed the IRS $94,000 and had an IRS lien on
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Reduce Your Chances of Criminal Prosecution: Don’t Miss The Extended Deadline For Voluntary Disclosure This Thursday-October 15th

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

This Thursday’s deadline for Amnesty has many wealthy Americans with foreign bank accounts nervous and scrambling to get tax help from their tax attorneys. Don’t miss your chance of significantly reducing your likelihood of facing criminal prosecution–if you have foreign bank accounts (either with UBS or some other foreign bank) with funds that you have not paid taxes on, get tax help now before it’s too late.
The issue started this
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Make Sure You Get Your Economic Stimulus Rebate By Filing Your Tax Return By October 15th

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

To help taxpayers like you and me survive through this economic recession, the government is making efforts to put more money in the people’s pockets–especially those who make a low income, Social Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries, and recipients of certain veteran’s payments.
You can find out if you qualify to receive the economic stimulus rebate by checking out the Q & A on the IRS website.
The pre-requisite for anyone wishing
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Celebrity Tax Evasion: Actor Nicholas Cage Owes $6 Million in Federal Back Taxes

Friday, October 9th, 2009

I just read that Nicholas Cage owes a whopping $6 million in unpaid back taxes. And this isn’t the first time the actor has gotten in tax trouble.
The New York Post Reports:
A notice of a federal tax lien shows that the “National Treasure” actor made a serious dent in the national debt — allegedly stiffing the Internal Revenue Service out of $6.25 million he owed in income tax from 2007,
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. Agrees to Pay $5.6 Million in Back Taxes

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

After his comeback fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, Mayweather Jr. agreed to pay the IRS $5.6 million in back taxes before the IRS took it out of his purse.
According to the LA Times, “the IRS sent the Nevada Athletic Commission a levy notice on Sept. 4 ordering Mayweather’s unpaid taxes from 2007 to be deducted from his $10-million fight purse.” Essentially, the IRS managed Mayweather’s cash flow for him by
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Method Man Faces Felony Charges For $33,000 in Back Taxes

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Failing to pay personal income taxes for three years, Grammy Award-winning hip-pop star Method Man turned himself into the Staten Island DA’s Office to face felony charges.
The Wu-Tang member whose real name is Clifford Smith has now added IRS criminal charges to his rap sheet.
Tax problems will find anyone who ignores their accumulating back taxes. It can be overwhelming to anyone who has back taxes but isn’t sure how to
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Tax Help News: The IRS Is On Facebook–But It’s Not There to Be Your Friend

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

If you need proof that the IRS is thinking more creatively than ever to catch tax evaders, read this article on how the IRS is mining social media networks like Facebook and Myspace to find people whose profiles reflect more income than their tax returns do.
The IRS is searching for information such as relocation information, professional profiles, and financial bragging updates such as “leaving on a private jet to France.”
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Delinquent Payroll Taxes: Biggest Mistakes Small Businesses with Payroll Tax Problems Make

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Payroll tax problems can close a business overnight and lead to criminal sanctions including prison time. As the IRS grows increasingly aggressive in their collection attempts for past due payroll taxes, struggling business owners with delinquent payroll taxes need to know how to protect the future of their businesses.
Read on for the biggest mistakes small business owners make when dealing with payroll tax problems:

Ignoring potential payroll tax penalties. The stakes
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Common Misconceptions About First Time Homebuyer Credit - Do You Qualify for the $8,000 Tax Credit?

Friday, September 25th, 2009

The first-time homebuyer tax credit can be as much as $8,000 for qualified home sales before December 1, 2009. Taxpayers can claim the credit on Form 5405.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the first-time homebuyer credit is that not everyone qualifies. Taxpayers must be qualified buyers and satisfy income requirements. Individuals must have a modified adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 to qualify for the full amount (for couples
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