Tax Guru – Ker$tetter Letter

Helping real people win the tax game.

Archive for November, 2003

Posted by taxguru on November 9, 2003

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 9, 2003

Tax hikes urged in PRC for wildfire relief – This is just another exploitation of a tragedy for the Left’s goal of higher taxes. The Federal government is already picking up the tab for the repairs required by the recent firestorm. We all know that pretending that a new sales tax will go for fire prevention is bogus on its face. It’s never long before specially earmarked taxes are hijacked for other big government projects.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 8, 2003

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 8, 2003

New tax-free savings accounts are the next Bush push

These proposals are basically extensions of Roth IRAs. I have the same reservations about these as I have always had with Roths. First, there will be no immediate deduction for the contributions to the savings plans. The payoff is that all income earned by these accounts will supposedly be tax free when drawn out. That is very risky because it depends on our rulers not changing the rules over the next few decades.

As I have to keep reminding people, our rulers have no qualms about breaking promises in regard to issues just like this one. The most blatant example of this happening has been with Social Security. The original plan was set up with no deductions for the money paid into the SS system with the trade-off being that the benefits would be completely tax free. As we have seen, this was changed so that 85% of benefits received are subject to income tax for those who are considered by our rulers to be too wealthy; which means anyone with an annual AGI (adjusted gross income) of more than $25,000 ($32,000 per couple).

There is no way anyone can convince me that our rulers won’t pull the same switch in future years. The concept of “means testing” (aka screw the evil rich) is too ingrained into the tax system of this country to expect it not to arise in regard to future withdrawals from tax free savings accounts by “wealthy” people.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 8, 2003

Internet Tax Ban Stops Dead in Senate – The money is just too tempting for our rulers to resist.

A flood of red ink – The wild spending spree by our rulers in DC shows no sign of ever slowing down. The attempts to blame the deficit on the tax cuts is typical leftist propaganda; but there is no denying that spending is completely out of control, with no end anywhere in sight, especially if Medicare is expanded to pay for medicines.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 7, 2003

Businesses Jump on an SUV Loophole. Suddenly $100,000 Tax Deduction Proves a Marketing Bonanza – And this is a surprise to people?

Most Like The New $20 Bill

Shifting Tax Payouts In The PRC

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 7, 2003

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

News From the Left Coast

Posted by taxguru on November 6, 2003

Property taxes back to cities? Schwarzenegger’s plan to account for lack of vehicle fees

Auto buyers stall, wait for fee cut. Dealers eager for Schwarzenegger to keep promise – Nothing freezes economic activity more than uncertainty and the promise of lower prices in the future. Arnold had better act quickly on repealing the car tax or the already terrible financial situation will just get worse, with no sales tax revenue from car sales.

And In DC

Senate Debate Due on Internet Tax Bill

Renewal expected on ban of Internet access taxes

Sen. Roberts must take charge – It’s not just backbones that the GOP in DC are lacking. It’s long seemed that the gutless wonders in the GOP, who are afraid to play hardball with the DemonRats, need to get some replacements for the body parts they are missing.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on News From the Left Coast

Posted by taxguru on November 6, 2003

It wasn’t a case of the DemonRats saying the wrong thing. They knew perfectly well that tax cuts would stimulate the economy and they had to do everything in their power to prevent that, including their standard practice of lying and scaring people. Their only chance of recapturing the White House has been to continue sabotaging the economy and then blaming it on Bush.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on

Posted by taxguru on November 6, 2003

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on