tax (29)

Tactics to deal with IRS

I understand that some Tea Party organizations are still having trouble getting the proper tax exempt status.  If that is the case, I would suggest that we handle it the way the Scientologists handled the IRS. The group that's having trouble could post the info to the rest of us, nationally.  We could all join that group and then individually sue a specific member of the IRS.  Reportedly, this tactic worked for the Scientologists.

Read more…

A Tax Cut for Air Travelers

Conservatives should praise a new effort in the House of Representatives to reform the whole structure of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and, hopefully, lower some taxes while they are at it. 

A Tax Foundation titled Improving Airport Funding to Meet the Needs of Passengers documents the ways the federal government hammers average Americans with tax after tax after tax.   

First they hit the passenger with a 7.5 percent Domestic Passenger Ticket Tax an then a $4.00 Domestic Flight Segment Tax (for international flights the charge is $17.70 per ticket).  There is an additional jet fuel tax and a September 11th fee that is $5.60 per segment per flight.

If you add up the domestic ticket tax and the flight segment tax, the federal government scooped up almost $9 billion in 2013 revenues with an additional amount of almost $3 billion in international flight tax revenues (this includes flights to Alaska and Hawaii).  The security fees made $2 billion for the feds. This money is supposed to go to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and for the massive bureaucracy that was created at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The problem is that the money is not well spent.  The trust fund money is not distributed on the basis of what airports are in dire need of help.  Representatives and Senators who serve on the committees that dole out the airport cash tend to favor home state airports regardless of need. 

The idea behind tax reform is to restructure the tax code so that it makes sense, is fair and results in economic growth.  If the domestic tax on tickets were to be cut, there will be money on the table to invest in refurbishing airports in need of repair.  Part of the federal tax is supposed to be set-aside for this purpose, yet the feds have a hard time distributing money in an effective and fair way.

One conservative idea that has great weight with the Tea Party is the idea of devolving federal programs to the states.  Senator Jim DeMint, now President of the Heritage Foundation, pushed the idea of devolving the federal gas tax to the states to allow the states to collect more money while the federal government eased out of the highway business.  The same idea can work with our local airports.

Cut federal taxes on air travel and allow local airports to collect more money would cut out the middleman – the feds.  This type of solution would save money for travelers and would help increase air travel. 

The Passenger Facility Charge is a local charge that airports use to collect money for the airport where the travel commences.  This local fee is capped at $4.50 per ticket and the local airports should be allowed to raise that fee while the taxes on domestic and international flights are dramatically cut.  This will convert a tax system into a more reasonable local user fee for air travel. 

The Tax Foundation report concludes “the current system of airport funding is not ideal for air travelers. The most important, most popular airports generate plenty of revenue for the government but do not necessarily get that money back to spend on their own capital expenses. Much of the funding granted by the federal government could be better spent by the airports directly.”

Remove the cap on the Passenger Facility Charge, lower federal taxes on travel and let the local airports to spend the money on their own airports.  Comprehensive tax reform should be tried on the whole federal tax code and it makes sense as a way to restore sanity, local control and free-market capitalism to the air travel market. 

Read more…

James Gencarelli

CANDIDATE FOR STATE (CONGRESS) REPRESENTATIVE

37th DISTRICT

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Fellow Citizens of the Great State of New Jersey.

*****************************************************************

It is the time for [A]LL to come together to petition vigorously our Politicians to become answerable to the people, not only to the affluent and the omnipotent [who gets them elected] but to all . [We the People] who elect them and put our trust and confidence into their capacity as our elected representatives must stand for our welfare and interests . We want Representatives with Accountability and Intelligence,responsive to the needs of the People.  Voters afford their elected officials trust and confidence by electing them to office.  In turn, they must be obligated to do their utmost and foremost best for their constituent's legitimate needs .


The State of New Jersey Faces Numerous Obstacles , TODAY !!!!


1. Education: Conforming the cost of education for the average person, permitting every student the opportunity to pursue their goals in life , coexisting with the American dream.


2. Transportation: Roads and Public Transportation that will enhance the quality of life for all the Citizens of our State. Safekeeping the cost of public transportation to coexist with the general population needs. The commuters that journey everyday to work and add Millions of tax dollars to the State coffers.


3. Air Quality: Hard-and-fast air-water quality control laws [over what the Federal Government requires], and then coming generations will not condemn us for degrading the environment.


4. Taxes: Increase Taxes and [less infrastructure betterment ] that is presently what is flowing from the Government. Our State Government must be more accountable before “raising taxes”, i.e. State, Property, and Sales Tax. Taxation with [False Representation ] seems to be the road that our government has taken.


My Campaign hopefully will provoke all those who are concerned about improving and ameliorating our State Government to better serve the people. Please join me in the struggle to passing Bills and Laws that will serve the needs of all the people.  Representing the Citizens of this District and State will be an honor and privilege , with all the fortitude, spirit and grit that one can muster to bring about affirmative change in the government . And last but not least : Immigration


Immigration: Justice to all people of the world. Believing that Migration Laws must be the same that past generations had to abide with in order to become American Citizens . No less , No more , But equal , the qualifications need to be rightful, in order to insure the quality of life in America for everyone.

Read more…

obamacare

More than one million Americans may be receiving the wrong Obamacare subsidies and the government has not been able to solve the issue yet — meaning people who inadvertently got too much money could face crippling tax bills in upcoming years.

According to internal documents and people familiar with the situation, Americans who listed incomes on their insurance applications that differ significantly with what is on file with the Internal Revenue Service are likely receiving too much money, reports The Washington Post.


"I have this sick feeling that there are these people out there who have made unintentional errors, and in a few years will be subject to massive tax bills,” said Jessica Waltman, senior vice president for government affairs at the National Association of Health Underwriters, a lobbying group for health insurance brokers.

Normally, customers are notified if there is a problem with their applications and told to upload or mail in their proof of income. But only a few have done that, say IRS documents, and even for those who have, the federal computer system for the marketplace isn't able to match the proof with the application because the capability to do that hasn't been built.

The unprocessed documents are being stored at federal contractor Serco's Kentucky office as the improper subsidies keep being paid, and under current rules, people who get the subsidies will be required to return the extra money next year.

Federal health officials and Serco, facing pressure from the White House, are starting this weekend to resolve the inconsistencies. Serco, however, is facing its own issues, with dozens of workers complaining this past week that they're sitting idle,  playing games, or looking busy punching a computer button every 10 minutes because they're not being given enough work to fill their days.

The subsidy issue is one of the computer problems that have been going on since the Obamacare marketplace website, HealthCare.gov, floundered when it was launched last October. 

And although contractors have corrected many of the problems that made it difficult for Americans to choose a health plan, many parts of the website are still defective or not finished.  

Since the operational system isn't complete, it is impossible for federal officials to know how many of the 8 million people who have signed up for healthcare coverage have paid their premiums, or how many enrollments were attempted but never completed.

Members of the Obama administration, however, promised congressional Republicans last year that an income-verification system would be in place.

Since the computer system isn't capable of doing the income comparisons, Serco workers will have to do the work by hand. But at first, sources told The Post, the work will focus on the approximately one million cases in which people enrolled or tried to enroll faced questions about their citizenship status.

Immigration documents, like the income information, are also caught in the backlog, meaning that sorting out the income issue and the improper subsidies will not start until summer, likely causing recipients to receive even higher tax repayment bills next year.

Read more at:  http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/subsidy-overpay-tax-bill/2014/05/17/id/571897#ixzz324c6j2nQ 

Read more…

 

CONSUMER CREDIT DATA PROPOSAL

(First submitted to Congress and President Obama in Early 2009)


American Consumer Credit Data Security and Outsourced Employment Repatriation Act of 2014

Recent events in India and Pakistan as well as North Africa and the Middle East have, collectively, shown that hostility toward Western civilians, Western Institutions, and Western Nations is on the increase, as demonstrated by a seemingly endless parade of terrorist activities.

In many nations, terrorists have carried out attacks against Western interests through, not only bombings, kidnappings, and other acts of violence, but by internet-based attacks, which often exploit personal information from servers in the United States. One reason for such exploitation is to be found in the increasing access that English-speaking nations have to U.S. banking, finance and collection institutions, which have, increasingly “outsourced” everything from routine account creation and maintenance activities to collection of debts of every kind and character. As such, the same United States corporate entities have served to create opportunities for internet-based terrorism, which now includes running sophisticated embezzlement and other “scam” operations against unsuspecting Americans. The scams, not-unlike dealing drugs or prostitutes, are, in-turn, used to finance any number of nefarious schemes.

While some “outsourcing” of work to markets where labor costs are less may make some business sense, even if this practices reduces American jobs, there seems to be a limit where, exceeding said limit would put profits ahead of National Security, even if one has no regard for privacy or other consumer rights for Americans.

In sum, I submit that the curtailment of these opportunities for Internet-based terrorism is in the highest National Security Interests. In many ways, this objective is completely in line with those very few otherwise Constitutionally-legal ideas expressed within the U.S.A. Patriot Act. It is perhaps most ironic that, while the Patriot Act was passed in the alleged name of National Security, with all its banking limitations on ordinary citizens, that U.S. Banks and other large corporations, engaged in debt collections and other financial services operations have been permitted to EXPORT PRIVATE U.S. CITIZEN BANKING, CREDIT, AND PERSONAL DATA TO COUNTRIES KNOWN TO BE HARBOURING AL QAEDA OPERATIONS.

Accordingly, the solution seems simple enough:

Make it illegal for any U.S. Banking, collection agency, or other financial services company; together with any U.S.-based telecommunications or Internet service company, to use ANY Non-USA person or other entity, whether or not said person or business entity is employed by or under contract to any USA person or other entity.

Enforcement should be easy enough. The FED and the Treasury Department have largely taken control of many of the US banks and should give them 60 days to cease and desist from all foreign operations involving servicing United States citizens, whether for credit, collections, any other financial service or product, telecommunications account(s) or Internet Service Provider (ISP) accounts, together with any other forms of remote technical support.

Suggested penalties for failure to comply might include, but should not be limited to, (1) revocation of the violator’s bank or other institutional charter and (2) imprisonment and fines against any such violator institutions President, CEO, Board Chairman, and all Board members.

There is little doubt that many in the business community will be against this idea, since they will claim it will affect their bottom line. However, the National Security implications of this issue are real enough. Further and finally, businesses that voluntarily take steps to comply with these new measure, if enacted, will be perceived as being both patriotic and as good corporate citizens, since they will almost certainly re-employ some of the many, many thousands of Americans who have been displaced by these “outsourcing” practices over the recent years in the banking, collection, financial services, telecommunications, and ISP service industries, together with firms offering all forms of remote technical support.

One good policy measure to encourage voluntary compliance might be to offer a one-time tax incentive to US businesses who comply with this measure in less than the 60 days I have suggested. I would make them show and certify that ALL foreign operations had been terminated (verified by the US Commercial Services branch of the Embassies of the countries involved) and that they had created, one-for-one a like job in the United States, replacing, one-for-one, the job formerly outsourced in some foreign country. I would offer a one-time corporate tax credit of $14,560.00 (One person, at $7.00 per hour, for one normal year of employment) per person, per job, returned in this manner to the United States from some foreign jurisdiction, if and only if, the foreign jurisdiction operation is closed altogether (certified as mentioned above) and a corresponding new job in the United States is created to replace the former“outsourced” job (to be verified by the U.S. Department of Labor and co-coordinated with the State Department on the foreign side, for one-to-one correspondence verifications).

To review, the job areas targeted for“re-patriation”:

1. All servicing of U.S. citizen (personal and/or corporate) banking and other financial services accounts for U.S. citizens;

2.   ALL servicing of U.S. citizen(personal and/or corporate)  collection activities carried out by any company or individual, whether or not organized, chartered or situated within the United States;

3.        ALL servicing of U.S. citizen (personal and/or corporate) telecommunications accounts;

4. ALL servicing of U.S. citizen (personal and/or corporate) Internet Service Provider (ISP) accounts and/or other forms of remote technical support.

It is my firm belief that these actions will increase the National Security Interests of the United States by denying opportunities for financing terror operations via various forms of internet and other identity fraud.

Further and finally, these measures will re-create U.S. jobs at a maximum cost to the American taxpayers of $14,560.00 per job. Under this plan, the entire 2.5 million new jobs targeted by the incoming Obama Administration could, theoretically, cost the taxpayers $36.4 Billion dollars, assuming there are 2.5 million outsourced service industry jobs that are covered by this proposal.

ADDENDUM:

While the basis for this proposed legislation was the idea that increasing U.S. national data security could become the basis for repatriation of millions of American jobs lost to this type of activity over the past decade, it is worth noting that similar, parallel legislation should be considered for enactment which similarly bars outsourcing of employment in other areas not covered by this proposed legislation.

I speak, specifically, here about the United States automotive industry and any other industry that has come to the U.S. taxpayers for some kind of “bail-out”. Right now, it is just the banks and financial institutions. However, if the Detroit automakers are to receive money or other help of any kind from the American taxpayers, they should berequired to eliminate jobs created in Mexico or Canada, which have displaced U.S. employees, on a similar basis to that proposed for the banks and other outsourced services proposed and covered, by the above proposed legislation.

Such a requirement would not have the effect of altogether negating N.A.F.T.A., but is a permissible activity since the United States does not offer national health insurance like the Canadians do, or pay no regard to environmental protection measures required by international treaties, like the Mexicans do. We only propose tax incentives to create a more “level playing field” for American workers and American Industries.

I would propose that any such legislation use the same target number ($14,560.00 per job) as an appropriate tax credit to repatriate U.S. automotive and other manufacturing jobs back into the United States as part of a general job re-creation program. While it is not necessarily so that any new jobs would be created immediately, it is equally true that any jobs re-patriated under this type of measure are bound to have existed, once-upon-a-time, in the United States. This just brings them home.

Read more…

Recording Industry Seeks a Bailout

The Washington Times notes that the lobbyists for the recording industry -- the same recording industry that raised millions of dollars of President Obama's re-election -- are up on Capitol Hill demanding the imposition of a new tax that would go directly into the pockets of their CEOs and companies.

In fact, the bill is worse than the Washington Times describes.  Introduced by liberal Rep. Mel Watt, H.R. 3219 would create a royalty tax on AM/FM radio stations.  The tax rate would be imposed by a non-profit called the "Sound Exchange."  The Sound Exchange is a creation of, you guessed it, the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).

For over 80 years, radio stations have given artists free airplay.  Every musician who ever cut a song has prayed for their songs to be played on AM/FM radio because of their reach to the public.  Even today, despite iPod and other forms of delivery, airplay touches over 240 million listeners.  Free promotion means record sales and concert sales.  

But now the greedy recording industry wants Congress to force the radio stations to pay the recording industry when they play a song.  They want the promotional value of airplay and they want the radio station to pay them for the privilege.

Thankfully some members of Congress are finally getting a spine and standing up to the recording industry.  Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) has introduced the “Local Radio Freedom Act,” a resolution that opposes a new performance tax on local radio stations. A companion bill, S. Con. Res. 6, was introduced in the Senate by Sens. John Barrasso (WY). This legislation is supported by more than 170 bipartisan members of the House and 12 senators. That is still not enough to stop the Watts bill but it is a start of a strong firewall.

The Watt's bill is a non-starter for people who support a free market and oppose government price fixing monopolies.  We will be watching to see how many Republicans are willing to throw aside principle for a few thousand dollars in campaign contributions. 

Read more…

Did you know that by writing 5 numbers on a tax return the Internal Revenue Service will pay you $6,600 for doing nothing?  According to the Treasury Inspector General's Office the IRS is defrauded between $14 and $16 billion each tax season.  Nearly 30 million tax filers (not taxpayers) share in a $60 billion dollar pie called Earned Income Credit.  Basically, if you earn between $3,000 and $45,000 and have a dependent child, you qualify for a tax credit between $300 and $7,500. 

 

Here is How the IRS is Defrauded $6,600!

Jane Doe writes on her 1040 Schedule C that she earned $13,720 income from an imaginary cleaning business.  Since Jane doesn't have a business, she doesn’t need to purchase any brooms, dust pans, cleaning supplies or mops.  For Jane’s efforts, she will qualify for federal tax credits of $6,600. Before the US Treasury deposits a tax refund of $4,900 into her bank account, they make a deposit into Jane Doe’s social security retirement account for $1,700.  From start to finish, Jane can complete her phantom tax return using phantom income in 15 minutes

 

I contacted the FBI and informed them that tax preparation companies would defraud the US Treasury of $3.7 billion during the 2013 tax season.   Unscrupulous tax preparers don't hesitate to file bogus EIC tax returns defrauding the IRS of $6,600 because they slice a $200 prep fee before the money ever reaches the hands of the tax fraud.   

 

I issued a press release entitled "Tax Technology Would Save IRS $3.7 Billion in Next 60 Days".   The article had 881 readers.  This included nearly 75 from the counties of France and Germany.  Why would those countries be so interested in learning about tax fraud technology in the United States?

 

$5,000 Cash Refund or 10 IED’s

The IRS should consider offering EIC tax frauds the choice of receiving $5,000 cash or 10 IED's.   Terrorists shouldn't have to be burdened with going to the bank and then having to negotiate the purchase of improvised explosive devices. 

 

I estimate terrorists obtained 40,000 fraudulent 2012 EIC tax refunds that paid them $200 million this past March.  According to Wikipedia the avg. cost of an IED is $500.  As a result of the IRS ineptness at preventing tax fraud, the US Treasury may have just funded 400,000 IED's.   Why should American troops potentially suffer?

 

Last fall Randall Sorensen CPA provided the IRS a solution to prevent massive tax fraud.  The IRS kicked the tires for a month only to come back and say: 1) they didn’t have any money and 2) the idea of testing tax returns in real-time lacked innovation.  Really…..   I guess Pony Express trumps Federal Express in the eyes of the IRS.  In contrast, the cash strapped IRS managed to pay $500 million to software developer Strong Castle.  The company was “friends” with an influential IRS employee.  That is pure fraud.

 

The IRS doesn’t want American taxpayers to know what a complete sieve they are at preventing tax fraud.  Over the course of 20 years, one unscrupulous taxpayer can defraud the US Treasury as much as $300,000 and never have to pay a dime or work a day in their life.  One final rub, the tax fraud qualifies for a retirement because the IRS withheld Social Security taxes from their phantom job.  Speaking of retirement, I believe it’s time to permanently retire the IRS unless they can demonstrate the ability to prevent massive tax fraud that jeopardizes the safety of our troops.

Read more…

This way are that?

Dedicating this post to  STEPHANIE  HORWITZ "THANKS"

20130427_14255220130426_154715 (1)_2A MAN'S heart plans his way; GOD GUIDES HIS FOOT ON THE PATH AND ACCELERATOR.

Cast.org is the place to start for teachers/parents/ grandparents all concerned adults.

Remember to donate when possible.  There is no reason for a teacher to go without AT

again.

I plan to do my best.  I will write more but have a lot I want to do:

START REFRAMING RESOURCES AS NONPROFIT.

START FOR PROFIT that will keep me in funds but not rich.  It will help with new products and services.   Being rich isn't everything.  Except one can share. Look at the Gates and so many others.

Coauthor a book with another mom.  More when she lets me tell you.  Thanks !

Tell me what you need; I will try to direct you there if it is within my ability.

http://bookbuilder.cast.org

http://www.cast.org/learningtools/book_builder/index.htmlhttp://www.cast.org/learningtools/udl_editions/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/lesson_builder/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/science_writer/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/strategy_tutor/index.html
http://www.cast.org/library/index.html
http://www.cast.org/pd/OnSite/reading.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/science_writer/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/strategy_tutor/index.html
http://www.cast.org/pd/OnSite/reading.html
http://madoe.cast.org/participant/books/index.htmlhttp://www.trecenter.org/
http://udleditions.cast.org/
http://www.cast.org/research/projects/index.htm
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resourcewww.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=81
www.ncwd.youth
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/policy-brief-02THIS
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_friendswhocare
http://www.hfrp.org/
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resources
http://www.diigo.com/tools
http://www.google.com/literacy/projects.html
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/graphorg/
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resources
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/
http://webmail1.mail.aol.com/37261-111/aol-6/en-us/Suite.aspx
http://www.hfrp.org/
https://www.disability.gov/

Read more…

This way are that?

Dedicating this post to  STEPHANIE  HORWITZ "THANKS"

20130427_14255220130426_154715 (1)_2A MAN'S heart plans his way; GOD GUIDES HIS FOOT ON THE PATH AND ACCELERATOR.

Cast.org is the place to start for teachers/parents/ grandparents all concerned adults.

Remember to donate when possible.  There is no reason for a teacher to go without AT

again.

I plan to do my best.  I will write more but have a lot I want to do:

START REFRAMING RESOURCES AS NONPROFIT.

START FOR PROFIT that will keep me in funds but not rich.  It will help with new products and services.   Being rich isn't everything.  Except one can share. Look at the Gates and so many others.

Coauthor a book with another mom.  More when she lets me tell you.  Thanks !

Tell me what you need; I will try to direct you there if it is within my ability.

http://bookbuilder.cast.org

http://www.cast.org/learningtools/book_builder/index.htmlhttp://www.cast.org/learningtools/udl_editions/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/lesson_builder/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/science_writer/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/strategy_tutor/index.html
http://www.cast.org/library/index.html
http://www.cast.org/pd/OnSite/reading.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/science_writer/index.html
http://www.cast.org/learningtools/strategy_tutor/index.html
http://www.cast.org/pd/OnSite/reading.html
http://madoe.cast.org/participant/books/index.htmlhttp://www.trecenter.org/
http://udleditions.cast.org/
http://www.cast.org/research/projects/index.htm
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resourcewww.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=81
www.ncwd.youth
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/policy-brief-02THIS
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_friendswhocare
http://www.hfrp.org/
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resources
http://www.diigo.com/tools
http://www.google.com/literacy/projects.html
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/graphorg/
http://www.diigo.com/list/udlcenter/Guidelines-Examples-and-Resources
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/
http://webmail1.mail.aol.com/37261-111/aol-6/en-us/Suite.aspx
http://www.hfrp.org/
https://www.disability.gov/

Read more…

Tax Exempt Organizations

My DAV chapter has told me that the IRS has revoked the tax exempt status the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have had for decades.  Does anyone know of any other organizations that have had  their tax exempt status revoked?  If the Charter granted by Congress has not been withdrawn nor changed, how does the IRS get away with this?

 

Read more…

10 hidden taxes you didn't know you're paying

OK as this board is quite well informed many of you may know this however, for those who are interested I wanted to give you this update.

1. Medicare tax: The amount withheld by your employer from your paycheck (often under the line item "FICA," which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act) helps cover the cost of running the Medicare program, the federal system of health insurance for people over the age of 65. Employers pay one half of the FICA tax and employees pay the other half. The employee contribution is 6.2 percent for Social Security and 1.45 percent for Medicare on wages up to $110,100. The temporary payroll tax cut for tax years 2011 and 2012 reduced the employee portion for Social Security by 2 percent but... Whoa its back on as last pay check.

2. Self-employment tax: A Social Security and Medicare tax for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of most wage earners. The self-employment tax consists of two parts: 12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare (hospital insurance) on income up to $110,100. However, the temporary payroll tax cut for tax years 2011 and 2012 reduced self-employment tax by 2 percent. You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion of your self-employment tax in figuring your adjusted gross income. This deduction only affects your income tax. It does not affect either your net earnings from self-employment or your self-employment tax.

3. Alternative minimum tax (AMT): The alternative minimum tax was created in 1969 to ensure that wealthy taxpayers pay at least some minimum amount of federal income tax, regardless of deductions, credits or exemptions. In essence, it is a flat tax with two brackets, 26 percent and 28 percent. The problem with AMT is that it now ensnares not only the wealthiest Americans, but 4 million to 5 million taxpayers with annual incomes between $200,000 and $1 million. Congress has yet to approve a new inflation "patch" that would allow millions to escape AMT (the last patch expired in December). If a new one is not enacted, the AMT will hit 31 million taxpayers this year, reaching deeply into the middle class.

The utility taxes that Americans pay can add up quickly, as do the so-called "sin taxes" on alcohol and tobacco products.

4. Electricity or natural gas tax: A tax collected by energy suppliers based on consumption during the billing period.

5. Cable tax: Tax imposed on cable television subscribers.

6. Landline phone tax: Federal and state tax associated with use of a fixed phone line.

7. Cellphone tax: Federal and state tax imposed on mobile telephone users.

8. Federal and state gasoline tax: A tax on every gallon of gasoline sold, which account for 11 percent of the cost of a gallon of gas, according to the Energy Information Administration. Federal excise taxes are 18.4 cents per gallon and state excise taxes average 23.44 cents per gallon.

9. Cigarette tax: The tax on cigarette use varies from state to state. New York City has the highest rate, charging $4.35 per package of 20 cigarettes on the state level, plus an additional local excise tax of $1.50 per package of 20 cigarettes, bringing the combined tax rate in New York City to $5.85.

10. State alcohol tax: The tax imposed on the purchase of beer, wine and spirits varies state by state. The highest rate for spirits can be found in Washington and the highest for beer is Alaska. Wyoming has the lowest rate.

Read more…

SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT THE PROBLEM!

I'm sick of people talking about entitlements. Look, social security should have never been started in the first place, but since it was the money has been forced from everyone's paycheck ever since. FORCED to pay for your future retirement!

I say the real culprits that add to our national debt are: The welfare program, The food stamp program, All the money going overseas to other nations for whatever the reason may be, and Money being wasted on any thing else that the government wants to spend our tax dollars on.

Just to name one example: I worked at Robbins Air Force Base as a construction contractor doing renovation work for about a year. You would not believe the things that were thrown away during those renovations! Over half of the furniture that would have been thrown into dumpsters, I brought home because it was in way better condition than was my furniture, which I gave away to friends because it was still in good condition!

Y'all want to talk about government waste, well, how about getting ALL the facts straight before you go slinging around words like "ENTITLEMENTS", and focus on what the government really blows our money on!

People who have been forced to pay into social security all their lives ARE entitled to draw from the program. Maybe the system can be tweaked a little, but maybe many people are actually drawn away from the Tea Party and certain candidates in the party who run for office because they just don't understand why anyone would even consider messing with social security! 

Read more…

Why is it unethical to comply with the law? That is precisely what anyone who claims a company or the “rich” is immoral if it legally minimizes its tax is saying. This also rings true for the 24% who pay 87% of our Federal Taxes , as universally they are net investors in the economy.

First of all, what place does morality have in this? There are some universally agreed moral principles – do not kill is pretty widely accepted – but does this really fall into the same category? Is it right, for example, to have a friend round to dinner rather than send some money to feed the hungry? Some will say one thing, some another. Universal moral principles are of the greatest importance, but are not a guide to every detail of life.

And in practical terms, companies actually do not bear the burden of a tax. Companies are not individuals. They are organizations designed to produce and supply things. They employ people, machinery, intellectual property, capital, raw materials, and so on, and combine them to produce things for people. Companies are intermediaries.

If a company has to pay as tax some of the money it makes from selling its output, that leaves it with less to distribute. So it pays less to shareholders, employs fewer workers, and buys less in the way of raw materials. And of course it makes and sells fewer goods. In other words, some of the profits may be handed over by the company, but the burden is borne by the company's shareholders, employees, suppliers, and customers.

Note too, that much tax is paid in consequence of the activities of companies; income tax, capital gains tax and, in many countries, sales tax etc. That is one of the reasons governments try to produce tax regimes designed to attract businesses. Those who complain about tax avoidance by companies should see that the more tax a company avoids, the more tax its owners and employees will pay. Criticizing corporations for avoiding tax is actually criticizing them for doing what governments want. Governments all round the world compete to provide favorable tax regimes for business. They accept the phenomenon of legitimate tax avoidance, taking advantage of the tendency in, for example, efforts to incentivize pension saving, or industrial development in particular regions. Obama and his socialist czars are making the US very unattractive. Only this week my Firm and I had serious offers from Singapore and Australia to set up  primary offices and transfer our capital.  This is fair play really they see Obama making life uncomfortable for the investment community and they see an opportunity to boost their own economy by Billions of Dollars.

Governments also engage in tax competition to attract firms. They do that to bring jobs, investment, and innovation to their countries, with all the benefits that can spill over from those to the rest of the economy. Companies follow such tax incentives because if they can conduct their business with decisions unaffected by tax paid by the business, then they can operate as efficiently as they can and let the taxes on the outcome be paid by the individuals who actually benefit from that outcome – the shareholders, employees, and suppliers.

When companies do what is legal to minimize the taxes they pay, they are actually doing what governments want them to – they are responding to incentives. If governments complain about this, it may be because the structure of the business is not what they thought or because they have made taxes so complicated that there are numerous ways to avoid them. Governments may want money in difficult times, but companies can use it too, to create jobs.

Obama "If you want different results, you have to have a different set of rules."

In thinking about these rules, politicians, and others concerned about the taxes companies pay, should remember the advice of two politicians of earlier generations. When he was UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, under the tremendous Lady Thatcher, Nigel Lawson said that taxes should be "low, simple, and compulsory". Tax competition helps keep taxes low. If politicians want taxes to yield what they expect – want them to be compulsory – they should keep them simple, not make them so complex that the result is a surprise. And on morality they might be better to "leave morality to the church and people’s belief in god".

Read more…

THE FALLACY OF TAX RETURN DISCLOURE

The democrats demands or tax return disclosure is a joke. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has already declared that Mitt Romney has paid 14% of his 20 million income.  That means that she has admitted that Romney has Paid 2 million 8 hundred thousand dollar in income taxes in one year while Harry Reid declares that he has info that Romney has not paid any income tax for 10 years.  Is Wasserman Shultz calling Reid a liar or is Reid calling Waserman Schultz a liar.  First their is no 14% tax bracket.  The tax brackets are 10, 15, 25,28, 33% and 35 %- The 35%  bracket is for all those with taxable incomes over $390,500.

There are 2 types of tax percentages the effective tax % of tax to adjusted gross income and the applied tax % of taxable income after adjustments, exemptions deductions and tax credits, all of which are specified in the tax code.

Since when is $2,800,000 not a fair share.  the vast majority of middle and low income taxpayers pay less than 12% of their AGI and the demo adds harp on the fact that Romney has paid 14% of his AGI.  What is a fair share?

Well the IRS releases statistics every year on the number of tax returns filed and the income tax generated from those returns. The latest statistics are for the year of 2009. These statistics show the number of returns filed as 104 million 164 thousand, 970  which generated taxes on 5 trillion,091 billion, 769 million,819 thousand of income and generated $953 billion, 411 million, 142 thousand of income tax revenues or a little under of $500 per return average. 

Remember all of the tax credits that the more affluent members of society enjoy have been put into place by a large percentage of those elite members of society, ie politicians.  So how much of the incentive to serve our country comes from love of country and how much from love of money especially for long term politicians.  The argument for term limits has been well established by the financial perks exclusively available to our long term elected officials including the disontinuance of the Social security payroll ax once their earnings from wages bonus's, etc exeed $110,000 per yr and their exorbitant political perks are not subjct at all.

As for foriegn income upon which foriegn income taxes are paid and then credited against US taxes generated,  while taxes paid to US states is only allowed as a deductable item reducing taxable ncome, this application is one of the incentives to take money out of the country.   

Read more…

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

14 May, 2012 =========================================================================

UN EXPERTS CALL FOR GLOBAL FINANCIAL TAX TO OFFSET COSTS OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

A group of United Nations independent experts today called on the European Union (EU) to take the lead in promoting the adoption of a global financial transaction tax that would offset the costs of the current economic crisis and protect basic human rights.

“Where the world financial crisis has brought about the loss of millions of jobs, socialized private debt burdens and now risks causing significant human rights regressions through wide-ranging austerity packages, a financial transaction tax (FTT) is a pragmatic tool for providing the means for governments to protect and fulfil the human rights of their people,” said the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda.

According to a news release from the UN office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), estimates suggest that at its lowest rate the FTT would yield about $48 billion across the Group of Twenty major economies, with higher rates offering up to $250 billion per year to offset the costs of the enduring economic, financial, fuel, climate and food crises.

The call from UN experts comes a day ahead of the Group of Eight Summit of industrialized countries, which will take place in Camp David in the United States.

“EU countries must take bold leadership now to pave the way towards what should eventually be a global FTT,” the UN experts urged, welcoming recent EU proposals to implement the financial transaction tax across the Eurozone.

Countries such as the Republic of Korea have implemented similar taxes in non-discriminatory ways to raise resources to achieve the right to development. The FTT, experts argue, would also help stabilize financial markets by discouraging speculation, and therefore mitigate the type of volatility which led to the 2008 financial and food crises.

“Food prices have twice spiked dangerously over the past five years, and could easily do so again,” stressed the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter. “The FTT will likely reduce hot capital flows that fuel speculation, drive price instability and wreak havoc on the right to food worldwide.”

“A global FTT is not a silver bullet, but it would help relieve sovereign debt load stemming from the financial crisis, shift the burden from ordinary citizens to the private sector which caused the crisis, and significantly enlarge government fiscal space for spending on desperately needed economic and social rights programmes.” said the Special Rapporteur on foreign debt and human rights, Cephas Lumina.

The FTT would provide governments with an opportunity to act on their commitments to sustainable development and to take a step to advance development and include marginalized populations, said the Special Rapporteur on human rights and international solidarity, Virginia Dandan.

“When the financial sector fails to pay its share, the rest of society must pick up the bill,” Ms. Sepúlveda emphasized. “It is high-time that governments re-examine the basic redistributive role of taxation to ensure that wealthier individuals and the financial sector contribute their fair share of the tax burden.”


What about "Dear Leader"? Think he isnt for this?

http://www.aim.org/aim-report/barack-obamas-global-tax-proposal/


Remember when Joe Biden wanted the same thing?

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/03/30/a-global-minimum-tax-if-biden-gets-his-way/

“For years, American manufacturers have faced one of the highest tax rates in the world. We want to reduce that by over 20%. We want to drop the rate, particularly, for high-tech manufacturers like you, Mr. President, even further than the 20%.

We want to create a global minimum tax, because American taxpayers shouldn’t be providing a larger subsidy for investing abroad than investing at home."

Read more…

April 15, 2012 TAX DAY TEA PARTY Watkins Glen NY! This is a formal invite to any and all on this list to attend this event. 

Tax Day Tea Party Rally

Hosted by “We the People”
Sunday, April 15, 2012
2:00pm – 5:00 pm
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The Watkins Glen Community Center Clute Memorial Park - On Boat Launch Road just off of Rte 414, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

ENTERTAINMENT:
Bill NoJay
Peter Haidt

FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Beth Powers & The Liberty Bus
Amy Kremer – The TeaParty Express
Yvonne Donnelly – National 9-12 Project
Sheryl Thomas – TeamWatch NY

*Carl Paladino – 2010 NY gubernatorial candidate

CANDIDATES ATTENDING:
NY State Senate Candidates – George Maragos, Wendy Long and Bob Turner

VENDING:
Space is available for vendors, campaigning candidates, and patriot groups
Cost is $50.00 per Vendor table – Space is limited, contact us soon!

REGISTRATION:

RSVP to Sandy King at ycteaparty@frontier.com or Pat Galvin at pgalvin@rochester.rr.com

or go to MEETUP: http://www.meetup.com/yates-county-tea-party/

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE DAILY AT:www.TEAPARTYTAXDAYRALLY.COM

SEE YOU AT THE GLEN!

Read more…
By John W. Lillpop





Not to be too cynical or sarcastic, but did America not hold national elections on November 2, 2010, at which time the Obama administration and Democrats in general were subjected to a severe “shellacking” dealt by the American people?

And was the result of those elections not the removal of Nancy Pelosi and fellow leftists from majority status in the U.S. House, and significant degradation of the liberal strangle hold in the U.S. Senate?

Did not those 2010 elections signal a grass-roots message from we the taxed to Obama and friends, the essence of which was: CUT federal spending, STOP growing the humungous deficit, and even BANISH talk of higher taxes?

Is it not true that members of the Tea Party were sent to Washington to charter a new course that would save the American dream and, God willing, the very republic itself?

Did we not celebrate the fact that, for the first time in history, in 2011 the debate about raising the debt ceiling also included serious, heated discussion about spending cuts to offset any debt increase?

The answer to each of those questions is a loud, resounding YES!

So why in the hell was I rudely awakened this morning with the news that Republicans have agreed to extend the Payroll Tax holiday and extend unemployment benefits (again) WITHOUT PAYING FOR SAID SPENDING?

If the Republican Party is now an official wing of the Obama administration, is there ANY hope for our survival?
Read more…

A Vision for Health Care in America

Here is a vision for health care in America that all people can agree upon:
Imagine a doctor and patient sitting in a doctor's office.  The patient has all the money they need to pay for their medical needs.  There are no insurance companies in the room.  There are no government bureaucrats in the room.  Just the doctor, the patient and the money.

How Do You Get There?  
With the tax deduction “Cash in the Hand”: 
For Individuals:
  • If you could deposit your income tax payment in a Health Savings Account, would you do it?
  • If you could deposit your property tax payment in a Health Savings Account, would you do it?
Waiters and Waitresses:
  • Would you like all the sales taxes collected each day by your employer to be divided equally between all the workers in the restaurant and deposited into a Health Savings Account for you?
Workers in a big box store:
  • Would you like your employers property tax bill divided equally between all the workers and deposited in your Health Savings Account for you?
  • Would you like your employers corporate income tax bill divided equally between all the workers and deposited in your Health Savings Account?
What can you do with the money in an Health Savings Account?
Buy Health Insurance
Pay for any health related expense
Conclusion
Do you want to live under the ObamaCare health care laws or would you rather have a Health Savings Account made possible by the tax deduction “Cash in the Hand”?

This and other papers can be found at www.cashinthehand.org

Read more…