Coverage of the IRS, Treasury, and other federal agencies — policy shifts, leadership changes, and how they affect taxpayers.
I’ve received a lot of emails lately asking me to explain what the debt ceiling is and what it really means. It seems that it’s a term that Congress likes to throw around without a lot of explanation. So here’s the scoop: As of August 2, the United States can’t pay its bills anymore. We…
Today, kids will decorate wagons with streamers and drag them down small town streets while big marching bands play John Philip Sousa tunes. There will be floats and beauty queens with big smiles (and even bigger hair). Smells from cookouts and barbecues will fill neighborhoods as folks fire up the grill to make hotdogs, hamburgers…
My kids and I gathered today to watch our local Memorial Day parade. It is a tradition, the parade, and one that I am proud to share with my family. I did not serve in the military but I am indebted to those who did. My grandfather and my great-grandfather both served in the Navy…
Earlier today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its prepared written testimony before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate. The five page report (longer if you include title pages and contact information) details the GAO’s findings about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contract and…
Apparently we do have antitrust laws left in this country – when the mood strikes us, that is. The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed an antitrust lawsuit to stop H&R Block from buying 2nd Story Software, the company that makes TaxACT. Last year, H&R Block had annual revenues of $3.9 billion…
In the midst of all of this birther nonsense, one man has been fixed in the spotlight and it’s not President Barack Obama. It’s Donald Trump. As you know, Trump has been at the forefront of the birther movement as of late and has taken credit for the release of Obama’s long-form birth certificate. At…
A friend of mine recently bought a popup camper and my husband is beyond envious. He has dreams of cramming all of us into an Airstream camper and driving cross country, checking out a host of national parks along the way. I am not totally averse to all parts of this plan since I happen…
I spent most of my day taking calls and in client meetings (it is, after all, tax season) with occasional glances at the news. At one point, I peered up and was fairly certain that something pretty exciting had happened. What with all of the media coverage drama, you’d assume that the vote in the…
So, 433 days after the first version of the President’s budget was offered to Congress, we have an agreement. Sort of. Congress voted through yet another “short term” extension of the budget late last night and early today, heading off a potential government shut down. And by “short term,” this time I mean one week….
A reader was browsing the internet the other day and sent me this hopeful email: CNN is reporting that the government might shut down because of the budget. Does that mean we’ll get some extra time to file our taxes? (Fingers crossed) Sorry. Might as well uncross those fingers now… No matter what happens with…