Getting To Know You Tuesday: Lubna Kably

Getting to Know You Tuesday has been on hiatus for a couple of weeks. It’s summer. It’s hot. People are on vacation. At least, those are the excuses I’m using (you don’t really want to hear about baby ear infections and selling my house). But I’m thrilled to announce that the series is back and it’s chock full of new and interesting tax folks for you to get to know.

Today, we’re starting with Lubna Kably, a tax blogger from India. Let’s get to the questions:

1. Where are you now?
At home curled up in a comfortable chair, enjoying my Sunday night, surfing my favourite websites, checking my personal emails, chatting with friends from across the world and typing in these replies for Kelly.

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
I recently got promoted to senior manager, at a Big 4 firm in India

3. What books are on your night stand?
Lots of them. All non tax. I just finished reading The Global Soul by Pico Iyer and am now about to begin Istanbul, Memories of a City by Orhan Pamuck. I haven’t read his books earlier and am looking forward to it. As you can see, I dig books on travel.

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Hmmm, this is a tough one. I have held several jobs, I have been a journalist (I still write a column, check out my tax blog – www.talkingtax.blogspot.com where all these columns get uploaded), worked in a law firm and at Big 4 firms. But the golden thread running through these diverse jobs was tax. Maybe my dream job would and still is to be a travel writer and photographer.

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
I am not exactly a movie buff.

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
International tax. With globalisation, tax occupies centre stage in decision making. The right tax policies and practises adopted by a country could make or mar the decision to invest in this country. At present, Indian companies are increasingly making outbound investments – assisting them in their outbound investment plans, such as through proper holding company structures is my area of special interest.

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
The one I use as my signature line (on my personal emails)- A friend is one who takes you out for lunch even if you are not tax deductible.
Truly, there are things beyond tax that are important.

8. Coffee or tea?
Coffee in South India, Tea otherwise. Actually any hot brown liquid that can wake me up is fine!

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Currently, just ABBA

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
That a travel story of mine was published in “The Thong also rises” – a Travelers Tales publication. http://www.travelerstales.com/catalog/thong/ I would like to quickly add, it is not a porn book, but a book about misadventures while traveling. Check it out, it is a fun read.

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
I graduated in Commerce with Accountancy as my major from the University of Bombay. Then I qualified as a chartered accountant – that was grueling. Perhaps this was the first time I learnt what hard work meant!

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 would offer incentives for social development programs undertaken by corporate entities – well higher tax incentives than currently available. I would extend the tax incentives to donations made in kind, such as computers, or medicines, so far tax incentives do not cover donations in kind.

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
The Amazing Race (AXN channel)

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

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Escape before Uncle Sam changed his mind

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
Not entirely familar with the background of these cases, hence no comments.

17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
Lots of them. Don’t Mess with Taxes and Mauled Again are two other favourite blogs. I also log on frequently to the website of the Bombay Chartered Accountants Society, the Oced and that of the IBFD.

Thanks, Lubna! You can check out Lubna’s blogs here: www.talkingtax.blogspot.com and here: www.writerscyberslate.blogspot.com

Kelly Phillips Erb

Kelly Phillips Erb is a tax attorney, tax writer, and podcaster.

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