Thursday, March 25, 2010

No Mathematician Left Behind

US News & World Report has an article to help determine if you are middldle class. In it, we learn that the middle-class task force headed by Vice President Joe Biden found the median two-parent family spends $5,100 per year on health insurance and non-covered health expenses.

The Health Care Reform Bill which became law this week will give a tax credit to those middle-class families who earn $81,000 a year (the median according to the article above) to ensure that they pay no more than $7,695 in premiums. Those families that fail to purchase insurance will be assessed a fine of around $2,000.

So the shell game in Washington is to rally the base talking about out of control healthcare costs, mandate that middle class families must by insurance or pay a fine and then only ensure that premiums will be no more than $2,500 more than current levels.

Contact your representatives! We need a government takeover of math education!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Because Health Care Decisions Should Be Between You and Your IRS Auditor

Last night the House passed the Senate version of Obamacare.

This most likely will expand the powers of the IRS and require 16,500 additional IRS auditors and revenue officers. According to the Republicans of the House Ways and Means Committee the following will additional authority will be granted to the IRS:

  • IRS agents verify if you have 'acceptable' health care coverage
  • IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2% of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased 'minimum essential coverage'
  • IRS can confiscate your tax refund
  • IRS audits are likely to increase
  • IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade
  • IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans
  • Nearly half of all these new individual madate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four)
  • IRS will be prohibited from imposing these taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.

If you are concerned about the Internal Revenue Service's overarching powers, this bill should be very worrisome to you.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Waste 3 Hours of Your Life Watching Lousy Basketball, Get Free Tax Services

That's the promotion the New Jersey Nets are running this Friday night as they get beat by the Orlando Magic.

Tax Attorney Roni Deutch will be giving vouchers for a free state income tax return for those in attendance. That's a $29 value and all you have to do is subject yourself to some of the worse basketball being play. Of course, you can get a similar voucher here and save yourself the frustration.

On second thought, make that the second-worst basketball being played.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Wanted Dead or Alive?

CNNMoney reports on ways you can received a bounty by reporting tax evaders. To be an information use Form 3949.

Be forewarned: If you hear a low-flying plane heading for you house, get out quickly!

Ogden, UT IRS Building Evacuated

A suspicious substance was found at the Ogden, UT IRS Building on Monday. Officials say the substance was not hazardous. Part of the building was evacuated and two people were removed on stretchers. They were treated for medical issues unrelated to the substance. The Ogden, UT IRS office is where many corporate tax returns are filed.