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taxgirl® - tax news, tax info and tax policy

Archive for the ‘tax policy’ Category

July 5th, 2008

Pringles Successfully Argues That Their Snacks are Not Potato Chips

Image details: Prices For U.S. Food Staples Rise Steeply served by picapp.com
A court in London has ruled that Pringles, the iconic snacks in the ubiquitous red tube, are not potato chips.
Really.
Apparently, there are not enough potatos in Pringles to have them legally qualify as “potato chips” or “potato crisps.” That matters to the tax […]

By Kelly -- 4 comments

July 4th, 2008

Ask the taxgirl: Affiliate Advertising, NY and Amazon

Taxpayer asks:
Dear taxgirl,
I am confused. I saw your post about amazon.com and sales tax in New York. I live in New York. Do I have to collect sales tax now for amazon? What about my other affiliate sites? Help! I think I am doing something wrong.
Taxgirl says:
The post that […]

By Kelly -- 0 comments

July 2nd, 2008

Hospital Tax or Cigarette Tax?

Like many other states, Mississippi is feeling the squeeze of a downturn in the economy. In particular, the state is reporting a $90 million shortfall in Medicaid funding. Medicaid in Mississippi serves about 600,000 people. Mississippi, which ranks among the poorest states in the country approved the deepest cut in Medicaid eligibility […]

By Kelly -- 2 comments

June 30th, 2008

Banking Giant Gets “Tax Incentive”

Image details: Boston To Auction Off Subway Stop Names served by picapp.com
Massachusetts’ Economic Assistance Coordinating Council is expected to give its approval to a $3.5 million tax break for JPMorgan Chase & Co. voted in by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and City Council. The tax break includes a $2 million cut in property taxes […]

By Kelly -- 0 comments

June 28th, 2008

Ask the taxgirl: Who Owns the US Federal Debt?

Taxpayer asks:
Hey taxgirl,
I get that we have overspent in Congress. But who do we owe exactly? And what is the difference between the deficit and the debt? I know these aren’t really tax questions but you talk about it on your blog so I thought you might know.
Taxgirl says:
What great questions!
Yep, I […]

By Kelly -- 4 comments

June 20th, 2008

Ask the taxgirl: Second Stimulus Check

Taxpayer asks:
Our first check came and went. I have heard that they are considering sending another one. Do you think that they will send a second check?
Taxgirl says:
No. I don’t think a second check is in the cards - for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the economy.
Like […]

By Kelly -- 15 comments

June 20th, 2008

$300,000 Is Rich: Don’t Deny It

Guest Post by: Kate Olson
This article in a recent BusinessWeek magazine instantly made me bristle – “Taxing the Not-So-Rich Rich” makes the case that families bringing in a combined income of greater than $250,000 aren’t necessarily wealthy and shouldn’t be taxed as such under presidential nominee (D) Barack Obama’s proposed tax plan. This plan would […]

By Kelly -- 9 comments

June 14th, 2008

McCain Backs Off Repeal of AMT

Senator McCain has - until now - included a promise to repeal the AMT in his economic plan.
However, a few days ago, he introduced the idea of a phase out, rather than a repeal. In a June 10 speech, he said, “I will also propose … a phase-out of the Alternative Minimum Tax.”
In 2007, […]

By Kelly -- 1 comment

June 12th, 2008

McCain v Obama on Tax: Is It Really Just the Lesser of Two Evils?

Obama and McCain continue to battle it out about the issue that most Americans seems to care about right now: the economy.
To hear each talk, it just can’t get much worse (can it?). McCain spins Obama’s tax proposal as “the biggest tax increase since World War II.” Obama compares McCain’s […]

By Kelly -- 8 comments

June 11th, 2008

Rebates Push Deficit to Record Highs

The economic stimulus payments - which qualify more or less as “free money” from the government - pushed the federal budget deficit to an all-time high of $165.9 billion in May.
The increase in the deficit includes $48 billion already paid out of the $168 billion planned payments for the economic stimulus plan.
Receipts for […]

By Kelly -- 7 comments