I need to better understand the proposed tax systems. Mainly the fair tax or sales tax versus an income tax. I am writing a paper for school on the viewpoints of TTARA (The Texas Taxpayers and Research Ass.) and CTJ (citizens for tax justice) but cannot gain a clear idea of what each side is proposing. Obviously the republicans want the fair tax, and since TTARA is business minded, I assume they too seek the fair tax, or at least support it. But what is the Dem idea of fair taxation? Do they want an income tax? What is all this talk on CTJ about income tax cuts? I don’t have the patience to sift through all the material so I'm hoping someone can give me a basic idea of the differing positions on the matter. Mainly answer the question of who wants what and why, and who benefits most from each plan.... Also what about the working poor, do they benefit most from an income tax? Etc. Etc.
posted on May 4, 2008 - 17 answers

Can you recommend a good CPA in Pasadena? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 2 answers

Any Australian mefites out there with tax accounting knowledge for film/tv workers? I am so confused about this "income averaging" thing everyone's talking about. I get the theory of why and how income averaging works, but I'm a bit confused about who is eligible, as I've been hearing conflicting stories... [more inside]
posted on Feb 26, 2008 - 4 answers

US citizen living in Canada, didn't file a US return in 2006 for my meager graduate student stipend. Should I file a late 2006 US return now, even though I know I don't owe anything? [more inside]
posted on Jan 31, 2008 - 6 answers

We're looking for a good online tax withholding calculator. Our 2008 income will be much higher than 2007, and we've only filed jointly once before (newlyweds). [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2008 - 7 answers

I live in NH but still have a CT driver's license... due to a combination of supposed lack of need and laziness. [more inside]
posted on Jan 20, 2008 - 9 answers

Is it legal to file for child tax credit separately? [more inside]
posted on Jan 3, 2008 - 7 answers

U.S. tax question: Does married filing separately result in the same tax obligation as if a couple living together were filing as single? Does having a child create differering results?
posted on Oct 8, 2007 - 5 answers

Quick survey: how much does your accountant charge to do your income tax? [more inside]
posted on Jul 21, 2007 - 18 answers

Last year, I used H&R Block's web site to file my taxes. At the time, I was working on a PC laptop. Now, I'm using Mac, and none of the h&r tax filing apps are rendering properly. I tried using Firefox, Safari, Explorer, and Opera to no avail. Are there any 'free file Companies' on the web for Mac-Users?
posted on Apr 14, 2007 - 13 answers

Are there any US citizens here who have lived abroad but did freelance or contract work for clients in the States who can share their experiences? I am a US citizen living in Australia as a Permanent Resident since 2001. I have just gotten some freelance work from the States and need to figure out who I need to talk to on which shores to figure out the details. [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2007 - 10 answers

H&R Block sells kinda pricey tax preparation software and for an extra $15 bucks, or so, you can file online using that software. Or, you can go to the IRS website and grab a link that allows you to prepare AND FILE your taxes for FREE -- using H&R Block's website. This makes no sense to me. Why on earth would they do that??? [more inside]
posted on Jan 27, 2007 - 10 answers

How do I "incorporate under my business" for the purpose of deducting health care costs from my income as a self-employed person? [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2007 - 7 answers

Is there a law requiring you to pay Income Tax? I saw this video over at youtube, from The FreedomtoFacisim.com website. They say that Income tax is illegal and there are no laws. They even mention that the 16th admendment isn't valid via the supreme court. Ok, are these guys wackos? IRS has guns, so they make the rules, thats all I know.
posted on Nov 5, 2006 - 30 answers

I live in New York and recently started a new job in New Jersey. On my first pay stub, I noticed that I'm paying a state income tax for both NY and NJ (and the tax for new jersey is actually $30 more than the NY tax). How can I be forced to pay income tax to two different states when I only live in one? This seems unjust.
posted on Apr 30, 2006 - 5 answers

Have you claimed a domestic partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend as a dependent for IRS tax purporses? [more inside]
posted on Mar 1, 2006 - 11 answers

I'm a Canadian who has very recently bought a pre-owned computer for a business I'm starting. Can I claim it in the upcoming income tax? Should I have registered the business first, and then make the necessary purchases? What is the deadline for claiming small business expenses on income tax anyway?
posted on Jan 17, 2006 - 5 answers

Canadian Investment Loan Income Tax question. I get so sick of people telling me "You can write off the interest...." and then when I ask them what that means exactly... Silence. [more inside]
posted on Dec 28, 2005 - 6 answers

TaxFilter: A co-worker and I both recently relocated and received a relocation allowance. Anything above the cost of the move (excess reimbursement) we were allowed to keep. I know that the excess is taxable income. My co-worker feels that the relocation allowance is like our Meals and Incidental Expenses per diem, we didn't spend all of the allowance, so we get to keep the balance treating it as non-taxable income.

How can I simply explain the difference between a per diem and an excess reimbusrment to him? I've showed him relevant IRS documentation such as Publications 17 and 521 to no avail.
posted on Feb 5, 2005 - 5 answers

How can one determine how much tax they're going to pay on their annual bonus? I don't much understand tax schedules or anything, pointers to "for dummies" style-explanation sites would be helpful.
posted on Jan 21, 2005 - 11 answers

Taxfilter: telecommuting across state lines. [mi]
posted on Jan 16, 2005 - 3 answers

I have exercised stock options and taken possession of a small number of shares. I have not sold anything, but am wondering how screwed I am, tax-wise. First, do I have to declare the value of the stock as "income" for the year that I acquired it? Second, if I should sell it, do I add the money I receive from that sale to my regular taxable income? Do I deduct the amount I paid in? Is the net difference subject to other taxes? Is this handle-able by an average person or do I need an accountant?
posted on Jan 13, 2005 - 6 answers

If one has a business that is registered as an LLC (with no partners-- just the one person) and if: the business location (office) is in one state, the owner lives in another state and most of the business (or clients) are in a third state in which state is state income tax due-- where the office is, the owner's residence or where the clients are?
posted on Aug 24, 2004 - 3 answers