Check and Checkmate. Twice.
In case you missed it, last week the California Public Utilities Commission, a group of unelected State Regulators, proposed a plan to tax text messages. Apparently in the never ending pursuit of helping the disadvantaged afford cellular coverage our state ruling class saw a bountiful source of revenue. Just think of all the teenage girl’s parents seeing THAT phone bill! Well, in comes the Federal Government to the rescue. In a ruling that eviscerates the CA PUC’s authority to tax texts, the FTC ruled that text messaging is an information service, not a telecommunications service. Not sure about the logic...
This Halloween Don’t Be A Horror Story
Just a quick note to wish everyone a safe Halloween, and to be watchful when driving for the kids out looting and pillaging your neighborhood for treats! Also, while reading an email blast from the AICPA today, I was reminded that Identity Theft can be a real life horror story, and you must be vigilant to be sure that you have not unknowingly fallen prey to thieves. A few things you should always do to minimize your exposure: Always open and read any letter or notice from IRS immediately. Do not ignore these. If you have any questions ask your...
COMMENT ON TAX REFORM IMPACT
As September 15 rolls into view its probably important to not only remind readers to make their quarterly estimated tax payments on time but also to evaluate whether they are sufficient. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changing the tax landscape dramatically for some in 2018, you may want to refigure your payments. This also applies to those who have all their taxes withheld from paychecks. The TCJA did not change federal withholding tables to take into account the cap on state and local tax deductions. For people in high tax states such as California, the loss of those...
Went for a walk…
I’ve always wanted to climb Mt Whitney and to backpack the John Muir Trail. So, I took a few weeks off just recently to regroup mentally and physically, and did both. The JMT is 220 miles of arguably the prettiest scenery in the United States, with high mountain lakes and pristine meadows amid towering granite peaks. Mt Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. While on the trail (20 days) I had a lot of time to reflect on things and how we can draw lessons from nature. One big takeaway I had was this: Knowing that...
After Tax Reform, Here’s What the Nonprofit Sector is Watching
By Courtney Rozen Initial estimates aren’t promising: The American Enterprise Institute projected June 18 that the law would reduce charitable giving by $17.2 billion this year, according to a static analysis. But in the six months since Republicans passed the 2017 tax act (Pub. L. No. 115-97), much of the impact is yet to be seen. For one thing, practitioners and professors who focus on nonprofit tax say there’s more to watch than just the numbers. “I think we’re all just kind of holding our breath and moving forward,” said Lisa Dietlin, a Chicago-based philanthropic adviser. Here are areas to...
The End is Here
The US Supreme Court finally ruled on the sales tax case from South Dakota. The case as you may recall was a direct challenge to the status quo that exempted sellers from having to collect sales taxes from buyers in states where the seller had no physical presence. The old regime has been a great boon to internet commerce and a source of huge frustration for states that want to get their hands on more taxes. It has also hurt local businesses who have difficulty competing against online sellers even without the absence of sales taxes charged on internet purchases. And it certainly was a big benefit to consumers....