What happens when the chief of staff to a Congressman (and former Democratic staff director for the Homeland Security Committee) fails to file or pay income tax for six or more years in a row? It appears, not much. Isaac Lanier Avant, chief of staff to Rep. Bennie...
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Month: August 2016
Due Dates for Some Federal and California Tax Returns Will Change in 2017
Next year, the due dates for various federal tax returns will change based upon the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-41). California Assembly Bill 1775 was passed to conform the due dates of related...
Tax Obligations in the Sharing Economy
If you use the internet to provide customers with services, such as household chores and handyman services, or the use of assets, like a car or room for rent, you may be part of the newest workforce known as the "Sharing Economy" or "Gig Economy." The Internal Revenue...
TIGTA Recommends Changes To Offshore Account Disclosure Programs
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may begin ramping up its investigation of offshore account compliance soon, based on recommendations from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). TIGTA recently released its final report on the IRS' offshore...
IRS Warns of Surge in Summertime Scams
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a new warning for taxpayers about this year's unprecedented increase in attempted tax fraud. This summer has seen an increase in "robo-calls," where scammers leave threatening voicemail messages. When taxpayers call back, they...
Watch Your Offshore Assets! Tax Court Increases Incentive for Whistleblowers
Be careful who you share your offshore account information with---whistleblowing just got more lucrative. On August 3, 2016, the US Tax Court issued an opinion in a whistleblower claim case finding that the whistleblowers were entitled to an award based...
FTB Releases Report on 2016 Filing Season
The California Franchise Tax Board recently compiled statistics regarding the 2016 tax filing season. It released data regarding individual and business returns, refunds, and taxpayer services. Highlights included: A 3 percent increase in personal income tax returns...
IRS Announces Nationwide Tax Forum Dates and Locations
Registration for the 2016 Internal Revenue Service Nationwide Tax Forums is now open. The forums offer three days of seminars in the fields of tax law, compliance and ethics at multiple locations around the US, including San Diego, California. For more...
California Tax Agency Interest Rates Scheduled to Increase in 2017
The California Franchise Tax Board recently announced that it will be increasing the interest rate for personal, corporate, and franchise taxes from three to four percent beginning January 1, 2017. The rate for corporation tax overpayments will remain zero percent....