The WSJ’s list of five best tax books

1. “The IRS Problem Solver” by Daniel J. Pilla

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=taxfreeexchacorp&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0060533455&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

 

2. “Confessions of a Tax Collector” by Richard Yancey

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=taxfreeexchacorp&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0060555610&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

 

3. “What the IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know” by Martin S. Kaplan

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=taxfreeexchacorp&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0471449725&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

 

4. “Tax This! An Insider’s Guide to Standing Up to the IRS” by Scott M. Estill

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=taxfreeexchacorp&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1551804131&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

 

5. “J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 2006” by J.K. Lasser Institute

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=taxfreeexchacorp&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0471735949&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr

 

Tax Deductions for Home Office Expenses – From NATP. 
I’m constantly amazed at how many people still believe the old urban myth that claiming a home office deduction is a guaranteed IRS audit.  With the internet making it possible to do almost anything from home, it’s expected that more people are entitled to claim it.  Those folks who have home offices, yet don’t claim it out of fear of the IRS, are more examples of how people are intentionally overpaying their taxes and thus decreasing the infamous tax gap.

Borrowing from Mom and Dad To Buy That First Home – From WSJ

Some interesting articles from the most recent Intuit ProConnection Newsletter

What’s New on the 2005 Form 1040

Tips for Bringing CPA Clients to the Door of Your Bookkeeping Business

Freelance Bookkeepers Jubilee

 

Bank Employee Pleads Guilty To Taking, Destroying Tax Returns  that were sent to IRS lockbox in Pittsburgh, PA.   This, and last year’s incident where lockbox payments ended up in San Francisco Bay, don’t instill a lot of confidence in the IRS’s ability to control the money they receive. 

More Companies Phasing Out Retirement Option – Satire on alternative employee relations from The Onion; never let go of employees.

Commissioner Everson Calls for Improvements to Refund Fraud Program

New IRS Publication 4492 Explains Tax Law Changes Related to Recent Hurricanes

Institute of Global Prosperity Co-Founder Apprehended in Panama and Arrested for Tax Evasion – This was scam to hide income and assets in bogus offshore trusts.   We had to dump a husband & wife client a number of years back who failed to heed my advice to stay away from these scammers.

Tax Tips for Married Business Owners – From SmartMoney.

From Nolo Press

Corporations vs. LLCs

 

Running a Business With Your Spouse

 

Ten Good Reasons Not to Buy a Franchise

 

LLC Basics

 

Sole Proprietorship Basics

 

Formalize Your Freelance Business

 

Creating a Partnership Agreement

Ten Tips for Making Solid Business Agreements and Contracts 

 

 

Pair face federal tax fraud charges – Thanks to Russ Fox for finding this story from Texarkana of a crooked tax preparer and a jailer using prisoners’ Social Security numbers to prepare phony tax returns claiming over $50,000 in bogus refunds.  It looks like the jailer will soon be learning how life is on the other side of the bars.