Posts tagged as:

Congress

Should Millionaires Be Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?

5 December 2011

Last week, the Department of Labor released the latest unemployment figures. The good news is that the unemployment rate fell by 0.4% to 8.6% in November. The bad news is that still puts the number of unemployed persons at 13.3 million. On the one hand, I feel for those folks who want to work and [...]

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GOP Links Payroll Tax Cuts to Pipeline Approval

4 December 2011

Here’s why people really hate Congress: these days, it’s all shenanigans. It’s not “what can I do for you?” so much as “what can I do for my friends?” It’s all back room deals and sneaky tricks. And now we have another one to add to the mix. Rumor has it – and House Speaker [...]

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Deadline, Schmeadline: Congress May Eliminate Automatic Spending Cuts

28 November 2011

It was originally touted as the worst thing that could possibly happen. Okay, the second worst. Yet, the failure to meet the self-imposed Congressional deadline for tweaking the budget came and went last week with relatively little drama. That was surprising after the dire predictions made by members of Congress and the President which sounded [...]

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Cyber Monday Sales Tax Free for Many – But For How Long?

26 November 2011

I don’t do the whole Black Friday thing. There is nothing (and I mean nothing) that I want/need/crave/desire enough to stand in line with a bunch of total strangers – who may or may not have showered recently – to buy. I do, however, do Cyber Monday, the online version of Black Friday. I’m not [...]

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Clock Ticks As Super Committee Ready to Admit Failure

20 November 2011

Nobody likes Monday. This week, the “super committee” really doesn’t like Monday. With three days left to come up with $1.2 trillion in budget cuts, the week will start with the failure to reach a deal. Wait, that’s not quite right… The week will start with the failure to do much of anything. A formal [...]

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IRS Gone Bad: Are Things About to Get Even Worse?

26 October 2011

Over the years, I’ve represented a lot of clients. I’ve listened to hours and hours of IRS hold music. And I’ve had a lot of conversations with IRS reps and agents. But last week something happened that truly shocked me: the IRS hung up on me. On purpose. The details aren’t all that important. Basically, [...]

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Congress Breaks Out Thesaurus for Super-Committee

17 September 2011

It’s taken the country more than 100 years to make the Tax Code as complicated as it stands today. And yet, in clear DC fashion, Congress is making noise about reforming the code… in a mere two and a half months. Ah, the pandering optimism of Congress. The so-called “super committee” of 12 members of [...]

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Super Committee: Obama’s Opening Bid on Taxes

10 August 2011

(Quick note from the taxgirl: Guest post by Brash Tax in response to the debt ceiling crisis and the Congressional fix. The post was submitted prior to any Super Committee nods or whispers.) Lawmakers are drawing baselines in the sand even before the Super Committee is named.  The distinctions among budget baselines are significant.  But [...]

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IRS, Congress Now Say No to Ticket Tax Refunds

8 August 2011

Never look a gift Congress in the mouth. What they give today can always be taken away. And if you know Congress, it probably will. Remember the whole Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ticket tax fiasco? Here’s a brief recap: Congress, squabbling over unions and subsidies, failed to pass a budget for the FAA so that [...]

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Five Things You Need To Know About the Current Airline Ticket Tax Controversy

27 July 2011

I’ll be honest: until about a week ago, I had virtually no clue how aviation-related taxes were imposed or collected. Thanks to Congress, the Air Transportation Association of America (ATA) and the IRS, I’m getting educated pretty quickly. Here are five things you need to know about the current ticket tax controversy: 1. Ticket taxes [...]

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