What's our government up to? What are the current tax strategies and are they working? The latest taxpayer victories and defeats in the Courts and with the IRS.

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Tax Prophet Newsletters

2008

April, 2008 Wesley Snipes Headed for Club Fed

March, 2008 2008 Dirty Dozen Tax Schemes

February, 2008 The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

January, 2008 The Wesley Snipes Trial

2007

December, 2007 The Mortgage Debt Tax Relief Act

November, 2007 NY Yankee Derek Jeter - A Tax Outlaw?

October, 2007 Tax Consequences of Mortgage Foreclosures

September, 2007 Trust Transfers and Proposition 13 - Part Two

August, 2007 Trust Transfers and Proposition 13 - Part One

July, 2007 A Major New Tax Loophole for Tax Exempt Entities

June, 2007 The Private Equity Tax Loophole

May, 2007 Congress Shafts Families Saving for College

April, 2007 Tax Consequences of Stock Option Backdating

March, 2007 IRS Attacks Private Trust Annuity Tax Ploy

February, 2007 Selected Divorce Tax Traps

January, 2007 Introducing the Ownership Continuity and Control Plan ("OCC Plan")

2006

December, 2006 An Outline: "Update: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion"

November, 2006 Taxation of Stock Options Transferred Pursuant to Divorce

October, 2006 IRS Crackdown on Obscure International Entertainers

October, 2006 - Special Edition Comparing S corporations with Limited Liability Companies

September, 2006 A Tax Haven for Rock Stars

August, 2006 Deducting International Business Travel

July, 2006 Deducting Personal Travel

June, 2006 IRS Targets Small Business

June, 2006 Taxation of Bounties (Special Edition)

May, 2006 Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005

May, 2006 Subsequent Capital Losses Cannot Offset AMT (Special Edition)

April, 2006 Qualified Personal Residence Trust

March, 2006 IRS - Too Kind and Gentle?

February, 2006 New U.S. Production Activities Deduction

January, 2006 "Survivor" Richard Hatch Guity of Tax Evasion

2005

December, 2005 Estate Planning Considerations for 2006

November, 2005 Tax Evasion Through Pay Pal?

October, 2005 IRS Announces Tax Shelter Initiative

September, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - Tax Breaks

August, 2005 Tax Free Exchanges part 2 of 2

July, 2005 Tax Free Exchanges part 1 of 2

June, 2005 Major Tax Court Scandal

May, 2005 The Residence Exclusion

April, 2005 Hidden Dangers of California's Community Property Law

March, 2005 Wealthy Taxpayers Ignore Mainstream Tax-Planning

February, 2005 Strict Limits on Foreign Profits Tax Break

January, 2005 Combining the Residency Exclusion with Tax-Free Exchanges

2004

December, 2004 Last Minute Planning Ideas for 2004

November, 2004 California's Domestic Partners Act

October, 2004 American Jobs Creation Act of 2004

September, 2004 Limited Amnesty for California Taxpayers

August, 2004 Basics of the Federal Estate Tax

July, 2004 Administering a Revocable Living Trust after the Death of the Settlor

June, 2004 Tax Consequences of Gifts

May, 2004 Taxation of Vacation Homes

April, 2004 Alternative Minimum Tax

March, 2004 - New Investment Tax Rules

February, 2004 - Tax Breaks for 2004

January, 2004   - The Basics of Asset Protection

2003

December, 2003 - Last Minute Planning Ideas

November,2003 - Irrevocable Trusts - The Basics

September, 2003 - TAX PROBLEMS - What To Do If You Get A Notice For Additional Taxes

August, 2003 - A Revocable Trust - The Basics

June, 2003 - Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

May,2003 - Pending Tax Legislation

 

Note: Hot Topics has been replaced by the monthly newsletters above.

2004 Hot Topics

• November, 2004 California's Domestic Partner Act
• October, 2004 Limited Amnesty for California Taxpayers
• September, 2004 Basics of the Federal Estate Tax
• August, 2004 - U.S. Virgin Islands Tax Credit Scam - part 2 of a 2-part series
• July, 2004 - U.S. Virgin Islands Tax Credit Scam - part 1 of a 2-part series
• June, 2004 - Taxation of Vacation Homes
• May, 2004 - New California's Franchise Tax Board Withholding Rules, part 2 of 2.
• April, 2004 - New California's Franchise Tax Board Withholding Rules, part 1 of 2.
• March, 2004 - California's Voluntary Compliance Initiative, part 2 of 2.
• February, 2004 - California's Voluntary Compliance Initiative, part 1 of 2
• January, 2004 - IRS Cracks Down on Attorneys Writing Phony Tax Shelter Opinions

2003 Hot Topics

• December, 2003 - Planning to Save (Taxes), part 2 of 2.
• November, 2003 - Planning to Save (Taxes), part 1 of 2.
• October, 2003 - Tax Relief for Military Families
• September, 2003 - Avoiding the Independent Contractor vs. Employee Quagmire
• August, 2003 - Corporate Inversions
• July, 2003 - Tax Reform Act of 2003 - Tax Planning Opportunities (Part 2 of 2)
• June, 2003 - Tax Reform Act of 2003 - Explanation (Part 1 of 2)
• May, 2003 - Tax Amnesty for Offshore Accounts: The Program and Results
• April, 2003: President Bush's Dividend Exclusion Proposal
• March, 2003: Busted Tax Shelters – Wealthy Sue Accountants for Bad Advice
• February, 2003 - Issues to Consider When Merging Two S Corporations or Other Closely-Held Entities (Part 2 of 2)
• January, 2003 - Issues to Consider When Merging Two S Corporations or Other Closely-Held Entities (Part 1 of 2)

2002 Hot Topics

• December, 2002 - Update on Asset Protection Planning, part 2 of a 2-part series
• November, 2002 - Update on Asset Protection Planning, part 1 of a 2-part series
• October, 2002 - IRS Switches Auditing Gears – Goes After Wealthy Tax Cheats
• September, 2002 - AMT Meets ISO - Thousands of High-Tech Employees are Devastated, part 2
• August, 2002 - AMT Meets ISO - Thousands of High-Tech Employees are Devastated, part 1
• July, 2002 - Is IRS Losing the Battle Against Tax Cheats
• June, 2002 - Changing the Way Married Couples Hold Title in California
• May, 2002 - IRS Audits Target Wage Earners, Not the Wealthy, part 2
• April, 2002 - IRS Audits Target Wage Earners, Not the Wealthy, part 1
• March, 2002 - Income Tax Preparation and Assistance on the Web
• February, 2002 - Exercising ISOs and the AMT - The Dual-Basis Concept
• January, 2002 - Memorandum: Tax Planning Opportunities for Foreign Consultants Working in the U.S.

2001 Hot Topics

• December, 2001 - Taxation of Day Traders
• November, 2001 - Tax Planning For U.S. Citizens and Residents Working Abroad 
• October, 2001  - Foreign Taxpayers Beware: U.S. Estate and Gift-Tax Law Can Hit Wallet Hard
• September, 2001 - ISOs Meet the AMT, part 2
• August, 2001 - ISOs Meet the AMT, part 1
• July, 2001 - 2001 Tax Reform Act, part 2
• June, 2001 - 2001 Tax Reform Act, part 1
• May, 2001  - Tax Scams on the Web, part 2
• April, 2001 - Tax Scams on the Web, part 1
• March, 2001 - Income Tax Preparation and Assistance on the Web
• February ,2001 - Employee Stock Options - a Primer, part 2 of a 2-part series
• January ,2001 - Employee Stock Options - a Primer, part 1 of a 2-part series

2000 Hot Topics

• December, 2000 - 2000 Year End Tax Planning
• November, 2000 - The Current Tax Burden in Perspective - Analyzing the Gore and Bush Tax Proposals
• October, 2000 - Repeal of the Estate Tax - More Election-Year Hype, part 2
• September, 2000 - Repeal of the Estate Tax - More Election-Year Hype, part 1
• August, 2000 - The Demise of the Off-Shore Tax Haven Industry, part 2
• July, 2000 - The Demise of the Off-Shore Tax Haven Industry, part 1
• June, 2000 - Tax Issues Concerning Small Businesses, part 2
• May, 2000 - Tax Issues Concerning Small Businesses, part 1
• April, 2000 - Ten Last-Minute Items to Consider When Filing Your Return
• March, 2000 - Income Tax Preparation and Assistance on the Web
• February, 2000 - Taxation of E-Commerce, part 2
• January, 2000 - Taxation of E-Commerce, part 1

1999 Hot Topics

• December, 1999 - Last Minute Tax Planning Suggestions
• November, 1999 - Tax Scam Victimizing Charities - part 2
• October, 1999 - Tax Scams Victimizing Charities - part 1
• September, 1999 - The Asset Protection Industry, an Expensive and Wasteful Exercise in Wishful Thinking - part 2
• August, 1999 - The Asset Protection Industry, an Expensive and Wasteful Exercise in Wishful Thinking - part 1
• July, 1999 - High Stakes Audit Roulette- Corporate Tax Scams - part 2
• June, 1999 -High Stakes Audit Roulette- Corporate Tax Scams - part 1
• May, 1999 - Tax Consequences of Acquisitions
• April, 1999 - Growing Your Business Through Acquisitions - An Overlooked Opportunity
• March, 1999 - Twenty-One Items to Consider Before Filing Your 1998 Tax Return
• February 1999 - Income Tax Preparation and Assistance on the Web
• January 1999 - Stock Options

1998 Hot Topics

• December 1998 - Tax Year 1998:   Last-Minute Tax Planning Opportunities
• November 1998 - IRS Revamps Offer in Compromise Policy
• October 1998 - Off-Shore Protection Trusts, Part 2
• September 1998 - 1998 IRS Restructuring and Reform Act, Part 2
• August 1998 - 1998 Tax Legislation: IRS Restructuring and Reform, Part 1
• July 1998 - Off-Shore Protection Trusts, Part 1
• June 1998 - Tax Protestor Movement - Still Batting Zero
• May 1998 -- Trust Scams - An Update
• April 1998 -- 14 Items to Consider Before Filing Your 1997 Tax Return
• March 1998 -- Retirement Accounts and Estate Taxes
• February 1998 -- Tax Preparation and Assistance on the Web
• January 1998 -- The Sale of a Principal Residence

1997 Hot Topics

• December 97 -- Tax Year 1997 in Review; Tax Planning for Capital Gains
• November 97 -- Taxpayer's Bill of Rights III
• October 97 -- A Ten-Step Program to Fix the U.S. Tax System
• September 97 -- Anatomy of a Trust Scam
• August 1997 -- The Taxpayer's Relief Act of 1997 -- Christmas in July!
• July 1997 -- Tax Consequences of Gifts to Minors Using Custodial Accounts
• June 1997 -- Application of the Property Tax Rules - Proposition 13, Part II
• May 1997 -- Avoiding the Pitfalls Present in California's Proposition 13, Part I
• April 1997 -- "Check-the-Box" Regulations Can Simplify Business Classification
• March 1997 -- Inaccurate Tax Returns Could Result in Civil and Criminal Penalties
• February 1997 -- Criminal Prosecution Under New Medicaid Eligibility Law
• January 1997 -- Independent Contractors: A Comparison between Federal and California Law

1996 Hot Topics

• December 1996 -- Year-End Tax Planning Opportunities and Traps
• November 1996 -- Clinton vs. Dole: Dueling Tax Plans
• October1996 -- Thinking About Submitting a False Tax Return to Get a Loan? Think Again!
• September 1996 -- A Trap for Small Business Owners: The Electronic Funds Transfer Payment System
• August 1996 -- Taxpayer's Bill of Rights II
• July 1996 -- Life in Cyberspace, a Taxing Experience
• June 1996 -- The New Nanny Tax: Is Anyone Out There Paying It?
• May 1996 --Tycoon's Defective Will -- Who Gets His Billions?
• April 1996 --Using Trusts to Avoid Paying Taxes - Will This Work?
• March 1996 -- The Wealthy Slackers Relief Act
• February 1996 -- The Tax Protestor Movement: Proof that P.T. Barnum Was Right
• January 1996 -- Clinton's Counterproposal; Frequent Flier Ruling; Foreign Ownership of U.S. Real Property

1995 Hot Topics

• December 1995 -- Game Show Contestants and Republican Tax Highlights.
• November 1995 -- Chief Justice Blows His Estate Plan; Tax Problems for Athletes; The FBI wants CPA's to Fight Business Crimes; Outside Bill Collectors for the IRS?
• October 1995 -- Sec. 1031 and the O.J. Trial; Are the "Dream Team's" Fees Deductible?; IRS eases Business Costs Rules.
• September 1995 -- The Flat Tax Reconsidered.
• August 1995 -- Income in Respect to a Decedent; Qualified Personal Residence Trust; Club Dues.
• July 1995 -- Repayment of Salary is Deductible; Marketability and Minority Discounts for Gifts; S Corp. Compensation is Subject to Payroll Taxes; Lease Payments from S Corp. Treated as Salary.
• June 1995 -- Economic Reality Audits Threatens CPA's; Deduction of Litigation Costs Advanced; Expatriate Tax Avoidance.
• May 1995 -- IRS Targets Cash Reporting; Refund for Third Party Who Paid Taxes; IRS Levy Attaches to Take Home Pay.
• April 1995 -- How About A Flat Tax?
• March 1995 -- Age Bias - Taxation of Damage Awards Received by Employees.
• February 1995 -- The Republican's Contract with America.