Deep dives into tax policy — the laws, proposals, and reforms shaping the tax code, explained without the jargon.
Okay, not really a taxgirl.com podcast… But I was interviewed for the Tax Foundation’s tax policy podcast on Monday. It was a lot of fun, despite my battling through a nasty head cold. You can listen to the podcast here. Thanks to Natasha for having me on! I may appear again to talk tax advice….
Today, for the first time in 30 years, Temple is going to a bowl game (excuse me while I wipe a tear of joy from my cheek). It’s a pretty remarkable feat, considering that, just four years before, the university nearly shuttered its football program altogether. The committee decided to keep the program, despite the…
In this economy, folks are very happy to pass judgment about the state of other people’s finances. It has, after all, been conflicting for many (myself included) to watch the government bail out people – and corporations – that have made poor decision after poor decision. As a result, folks are eager to point fingers,…
The Dutch are well known for Delft pottery, wooden shoes, legalized prostitution, and windmills. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of those things haven’t caught on in all areas of the world (oh c’mon, tell me that you have a pair of wooden shoes in your closet). I have a feeling that list of things that aren’t…
If you ask a Mainer about taxes, you’re liable to get an earful: Mainers have one of the highest tax burdens in the nation. Nonetheless, on election day, Maine voters turned down proposals to cut taxes. In a slow economy, Maine voters were leery of a proposal that would result in cuts in services. The…
What challenges are the IRS facing this year? Apparently not the complexity of the Tax Code. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released its perspective two weeks ago on the most serious management and performance challenges confronting the IRS. The top 10 challenges in order of priority are: Modernization; Security; Tax Compliance Initiatives;…
Times are tough in Chicago. You can only tax the citizenry so much – and Chicago already shares the distinction of being one of the most taxed cities in America. The solution? Enforcement. No big surprise there. But enforcement costs money. What if you could get your enforcement for free? What if… you could convince…
Information involving potential fraud with respect to the first time homebuyer’s credit continues to make headlines. After initial reports that over 100,000 refunds were perhaps inappropriately distributed, the IRS has released more data about fraud relating to the credit. Officials from the Internal Revenue Service testified before Congress that as much as $600 million of…
Soooo… You know that I wasn’t a fan of the first time home buyer credit. It was touted as a “stimulus” for middle class taxpayers to make home buying more affordable. The idea was that folks would rush to buy homes, thus buoying the housing industry, getting banks going again and more or less saving…
In 1999, my husband and I decided that our house was too big and empty for the two of us. So we did what many couples our age did: we got a dog. Our lab mix, Lyle, has been a part of our family ever since. He goes with us to Maine on vacation every…