Getting To Know You Tuesday: Kay Bell

by Kelly on May 22nd, 2007

It’s Getting to Know You Tuesday! Today’s guest is Kay Bell, of Don’t Mess With Taxes (which you have to read based on the title alone). Welcome, Kay!

1. Where are you now?
Austin, Texas

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
CIAO, Chief Information and Administrative Officer
Secondary title: Queen Tax Geek!

3. What books are on your night stand?
The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Actually, I have my dream job, since I don’t technically work in the tax profession. I get to write about taxes and hopefully help some folks with my articles, but I don’t have to actually file their returns!

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
Sneaked out to our local theater last week for a tax break to see The Lookout with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the kid (who’s no longer a kid) from Third Rock from the Sun. A neo-noir bank robbery thriller.

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
I personally like the “sausage making” component; i.e., how and why Congress makes the laws we all have to then deal with.

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Best tax advice: Follow the rules, regardless of how stupid they might seem.
Best financial advice: Save early, save often.

8. Coffee or tea?
Some coffee with my milk.

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
The Dixie Chicks, Joe Ely, Marco Beltrami (soundtrack from The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada), Jane Monheit, Joan Osborne

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy bird watching

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Texas Tech University , B.A. in journalism

12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow - an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever - what would it be?
Charitable contributions would be an above-the-line deduction so that everyone who gave to good causes could get a tax break.

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
The Shield

14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Put it in my property tax savings account. We don’t have that escrowed with our monthly house payments, so we have to set aside the annual amount on our own.

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
Being a Texan, I have to go with Jenkens Gilchrist.

17. And, other than taxgirl , what’s your favorite tax related web site?
There are so many good ones. Can I have, other than taxgirl, two others? TaxProf for its sheer comprehensiveness and taxalicious for keeping the fun and absurdity in taxes.