It’s Getting To Know You Tuesday! Today’s feature tax pro is tax attorney and fellow coffee addict Craig Aird.
1. Where are you now?
In my office watching the float planes land on Lake Union.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Associate Attorney. It means I’ve got to get back to work!
3. What books are on your night stand?
I’m currently reading Mängelexemplar by Sarah Kuttner.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Directeur sportif of a pro cycling team.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
We’re watching Foyle’s War on DVD.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Estate and gift tax and exempt organizations.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Plastics.
8. Coffee or tea?
Coffee and lots of it. There are three coffee shops in my building, but I like to walk by the three Starbucks (not kidding) in the building across the street to go to a tiny place with no seats for a truly great latte. The place is located in the ticket window of an old theater and is called Monorail Espresso. And yes I tweet about coffee.
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Juli, Silbermond, David Gray, Counting Crows, Shawn Mullins.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
You probably hadn’t appreciated the depths of my coffee obsession. See above.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
University of Oregon (International Studies & German) with an exchange year at the Uni Konstanz (Germanistik).
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?
I’d allow a full deduction for amounts paid for health insurance premiums. That and I’d simplify the GST.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
I like In Treatment on HBO.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
I don’t think either of them. Estate tax repeal is too expensive and who understands AMT?
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
I think I’d take some time off, ride my bike a bit and do some reading.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Daschle, Joe Francis or TARP?
Tax news seems to be quiet at the moment. I’m waiting on an estate tax fix.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?
I couldn’t get though my day without checkpoint.
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Thanks Craig!
You can keep up with Craig on Twitter http://twitter.com/CraigAird or check out his firm’s web site.
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If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured send your suggestions to inquiry@taxgirl.com. Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, encouraged!
Nice plug for Monorail Espresso. I was in Seattle for a weekend early this month and it was easily the most memorable experience in downtown. The proprietor was awesome.