(Updated May 21, 2020) Shortly after stimulus checks started going out, I began receiving inquiries from taxpayers who had received checks intended for deceased relatives. Some media outlets – and politicians – wanted to make a big deal out of this, suggesting that it was indicative of something wrong at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)….
If you’ve found yourself humming along to that catchy song, “Girls” from the Goldieblox ad, you’re not alone: the video of their latest ad has gone viral with over 8 million views. The Beastie Boys, who penned the original version of the song are crying foul. Now, the courts have been asked to weigh in.
We now know how much is at stake in the tax dispute over Michael Jackson’s estate: $700 million. Here’s how it breaks down.
When it comes to estate planning, most folks know that you can use wills and trusts to distribute (and in some instances, control) their “stuff.” The tricky part is often figuring out what actually constitutes your “stuff.” For estates purposes, your “stuff” includes such items as your real property (think house and other real estate),…
Taxpayer asks: Can you tell me what the tax implications are for donating inherited items? My mother passed away about a year ago and I’m the executor of the estate. Now, my siblings are interested in taking deductions for items they feel they “inherited,” yet were actually immediately donated to charity without my siblings ever…
One of my recent “ask the taxgirl” questions involved whether Michael Jackson’s funeral expenses were deductible. When I paused to consider whether I wanted to post about Michael, a colleague kindly offered to address the issue on his blog at sofloridaestateplanning.com. The blog is authored by David Shulman, an attorney located in South Florida who…
Dates matter. Well, they do in Pennsylvania. The latest flap over James Brown’s estate has taken yet another turn that apparently hinges on the interpretation of state law. James Brown’s attorney, Strom Thurmond, Jr., has acknowledged that James Brown’s will was signed in the year 2000 – before James’ child, James Jr., was born. The will was also…