Frustration with the federal tax system

Each week I receive a few emails from bloggers, people with tax reform proposals they'd like me to review as well as requests that are d...

More due diligence reminders for 2012 filing season

Part 2 of my short article in the AICPA Tax Insider on due diligence reminders for the current filing season is now available - here .  (Pa...

IRS not adequately funded to meet its mission

In January, the IRS National Taxpayer Advocate released the annual report to Congress ( IR-2012-6 ). I think the most serious issue identifi...

New Study on Possible Positive Effect of Tax on Sugar Beverages

Occasionally we hear of someone suggesting a tax on some type of sugar-filled product, such as soda. I have written about this a few times, ...

Analyzing Special Tax Rules + Observations from the Governor of Maine

A tax exemption means that a tax doesn't apply to what otherwise would be in the tax base. On January 6, 2012, Governor LaPage of Maine ...

GAO Report on IRS Website and Self-Service Tools

A GAO report - Processing Gains, but Taxpayer Assistance Could Be Enhanced by More Self-Service Tools, GAO-12-176 (12/15/11), states the f...

Simplifying compliance for the mobile workforce - looking at state costs

States need revenue and one place they can and do look is to see if an individual or business is in their state who does not pay taxes. One ...