Monday, February 1, 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

FREE AT LAST!
 
Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God almighty, free at last! 
 
Free of the danger and damage of the Trump presidency and the Trump Administration.  Now that Joe Biden has been sworn in as President our 4-year national nightmare will finally be over.
 
Donald J Trump has proven every single day of his presidency with every single word, tweet and deed that he is totally worthless, completely devoid of humanity, and does not possess a single redeeming positive human quality or value.  Trump has been the most ignorant, the most incompetent and the most corrupt – the absolute worst – President in US history.  I will go further - he has been the worst human being to ever hold national public office in US history.
 
Trump did not care about America – he never has.
 
Trump did not care about the American people – he never has.
 
Trump did not care about American democracy, American values, or the Constitution – he never has.
 
Trump did not care about the Republican Party – he never has.
 
Trump did not care about conservative or Christian beliefs, values, or policy – he never has.  
 
Trump did not care about his core cult of ignorant racists – he never has.
 
For his entire adult life Trump has cared about one, and only one, thing – Trump.  Period!  Trump is the ultimate textbook example of a malignant narcissist and a sociopath.
 
Every bad thing that has happened in America in the past 4 years is the direct or indirect result, or was exacerbated by, the words and deeds of Trump.  In the history of our country no one individual has done as much damage to America, American democracy and the American people as Donald Trump.
 
The major legacy of the Trump presidency is the emboldening, empowering and attempted “legitimization” of racism, bigotry and white supremacy.  He has organized racists, bigots and white supremacists, his core cult or “base”, into a unified voting bloc that has held, and still holds, the Republican Party hostage.
 
Sadly, for the rest of my life I will judge the intelligence and character of every person based on whether they supported or opposed Trump and his presidency.  There was, and still is, absolutely no intelligent, legitimate, rational or acceptable reason for any American, regardless of party affiliation or political philosophy, to support, defend or vote for Trump.
 
The Republican Party has totally abandoned all credibility, integrity and honor by supporting, defending and enabling – by embracing – Trump and Trumpism consistently over the past 4 years.  The Republican Party, and every Republican member of Congress almost to a man and woman, is directly responsible for every single bad act committed by Trump as President.  The entire current leadership of the Republican National Committee must resign and be replaced by consistent never-Trumpers, and every single Republican in Congress who supported, defended and enabled Trump as President must be voted out of office and replaced by never-Trumpers, if the Party is to survive.   
 
Going forward Trump must be aggressively investigated, indicted, prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned for his multiple federal and state crimes.  He must be held accountable for his multitude of “sins’.  We must forcefully say “never again”. 
 
There must never be any degree or act of respect or honor usually provided a past President given to Trump.  No building or street must ever be named for him.  No Presidential Library or presidential portrait in the White House.  He must be publicly vilified and disgraced.  History will condemn America if this is not done.  
 
President Joe Biden and his Administration has a big job ahead – to undo the substantial damage done to America, American values and American democracy by Trump and his Administration, and to restore America’s credibility, stature and standing on the world stage. 
 
I wish Joe luck and give him my complete and total support, and hope you will join me.
 
THINGS NO ONE EVER TOLD YOU
 
Since February 1st is the, or at least my, official beginning of the “tax season” here is something appropriate no one ever told you.
 
When I first started preparing tax returns, in February of 1972, if you owed the government a balance due on your 1040 or 1040A, or any other tax form, you were told to make the check payable to “Internal Revenue Service”.  
 
But beginning with 1998 tax returns this changed and taxpayers are now instructed to make checks payable to “United States Treasury”.
 
Why was this change made?
 
It appears several crooked tax preparers had told clients with a balance due to make their checks payable to “IRS” instead of “Internal Revenue Service”.  They also told the clients to leave the signed return and check with them and they would mail it to the government.
 
Once the client left the office the preparer would carefully change the IRS on the check to MRS, followed by a name in all caps (i.e. MRS JOAN TAXPAYER).  The crooks would then cash the check and “take the money and run”.  When taxpayers eventually received notices from the IRS and attempted to contact the tax preparer, they would discover that the office had been closed and the preparer was nowhere to be found.
 
MY BEST TAX ADVICE
 
Continuing with the tax preparation theme -
 
As a veteran tax professional who has been preparing 1040s for individuals in all walks of life since 1972, I am often asked by friends, family, clients, readers, and cocktail party guests, “What is your best tax advice?”
 
As an answer I have written a compilation of my best tax advice to share wisdom accumulated from my almost 50 years (2021 will be my 50th “tax season”) of preparing 1040s.
 
This book does not discuss specific deductions (well, I do talk about gambling losses and IRA contributions), credits and “loopholes”, which are revised, changed, deleted and reinstated frequently at the whim of whichever political Party is in power.  And it is not specific to 2020 or 2021 or any individual year’s tax returns.  It is concerned with universal tax planning and preparation concepts and advice that remain constant year after year.
 
It also includes the best tax advice of fellow tax bloggers and a listing of online tax planning and preparation resources, a section on “Cool Tools” (online tax planning and preparation resources), a history of taxes in America, and a basic introduction to the federal income tax.   
 
Here is what a couple of fellow tax pros and tax bloggers have said about my advice -

The . . . pages of tax advice within the e-book (a pdf document) are full of good, common-sense advice  . . . any individual who follows Robert’s advice will be far, far better off than those who don’t.”
 
Russ Fox, EA of Nevada – author of TAXABLE TALK
 
I think your book is great. What I like most is that it is in plain English. You are not trying to appear like a ‘know-it-all’.  It is simple enough for non-tax professionals to understand. However, it is informative enough to help tax preparers learn something new.”
 
Jamaal Solomon, EA of JS Tax Corporation
 
The cost of this book is only $8.95 sent as a pdf email attachment.  A print version sent via postal mail is available for $11.45
 
Send your check payable TAXES AND ACCOUNTING, INC, and your email or postal address, to –
 
TAXES AND ACCOUNTING, INC
TAXSMARTS
PO BOX A
HAWLEY PA 18428

The book is also available in e-book format for reading on Kindle from AMAZON.COM.  Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FBHXVRK for more information.
 
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT
 
The 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with the right of an individual citizen to own a gun.  It was written to appease those among the Founding Fathers who opposed a national Army.
 
This amendment does not simply say “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  It says "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  The important wording in the Amendment is “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state”. The Founding Fathers preferred state militias to a national army.
 
They were afraid of a standing army and wanted to maintain the authority of the individual state militias that had made up Washington’s Revolutionary Army.  The members of Congress during that first gun debate believed that “standing armies in a time of peace are dangerous to liberty”. Those were the exact words used in the state of New York’s amendment to the gun debate.
 
James Madison, political theorist, American statesman, and the 4th President hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his role in drafting and promoting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, believed, “Oppressors can tyrannize only when they achieve a standing army, an enslaved press, and a disarmed populace.”
 
Had the early framers of the Constitution supported a standing army during times of peace there would be no need for a “well-regulated militia”, and thus no need for the 2nd Amendment.
 
In the entire Constitution, there are no time limits on the power of Congress to raise money and pay for anything – except an Army. We can have a Navy forever. We can have roads or bridges or post offices or pretty much anything else that supports the ‘general welfare’ without limit and in perpetuity. But an Army? That had to be re-evaluated every two years, when all spending for the past two years of army was zeroed out. It's right there in Article 1, Section 8, line twelve reads that Congress has the power: "To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years."
 
The Founding Fathers were well aware, based on the history of Europe, that military coups by a standing army were a great threat to any nation. So, they required a re-evaluation of the need for a national army every two years.
 
America today has a permanent standing army and other legitimate organized and regulated militias for mutual protection in the form of police departments and the National Guard.
 
There is no legitimate reason why any individual needs to own an assault rifle, or a device that turns a “normal” rifle into an assault rifle.  You don’t need an assault rifle to hunt a deer.  You don’t need an assault rifle to protect yourself.  You don’t need an assault rifle for target shooting.  The one and only purpose of an assault rifle is in its name – to assault.
 
Even if we falsely assume the purpose of the 2nd Amendment was to guarantee the right of a citizen to own a gun, the government can pass gun control.  The government can ban assault rifles and devices that turn existing rifles into an assault weapon.  Just as the government can pass, and has passed, laws to ban slander and libel, to prevent individuals from abusing the right to free speech and free press to cause harm to others.
 
DELAYS, DELAYS, DELAYS

There will be a delay in processing 2020 federal income tax returns in the following circumstances:

* You use 2019 income to calculate the 2020 Earned Income Credit and/or Additional Child Tax Credit, as per the latest stimulus package. The IRS must verify that the amount of 2019 income reported on the 2020 return matches what was reported on their 2019 return.

* You claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on uour 2020 federal return.  The IRS must verify the amount of EIPs sent to the taxpayer match the amounts reported on the 2020 return.

Apparently, the amount of delay depends on the number of returns that are being processed at any one time.

There are always delays in issuing refunds on returns that include the EIC and the ACTC, due to the PATH Act.

Refunds in general will be delayed this year, regardless of what is claimed on the return, as the IRS will not begin to process returns until February 12th this year.

And IRS processing of 2019 returns and calendar year 2020 correspondence is still be backed up.  It is more important than ever to carefully review IRS correspondence – much is wrong and based on outdated information.  Be sure to give/send your tax preparer any correspondence you get from “Sam” immediately. 

SURFIN’ USA
 
Let’s stay with tax preparation.
 
* Obviously, the best websites for tax planning and preparation information and resources are www.irs.gov and the websites of your state of residence and any state for which you must file a non-resident or part-year resident return.  You can access and download tax forms, instructions and publications.  And after you have prepared and submitted your returns you can check on the status of any requested refunds. 
 
Go to http://www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies for links to the state tax agencies and state tax forms for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US Territories. 
 
Regardless of what you may think of the IRS or your state tax agency, their websites are well-done and an excellent resource for both taxpayers and tax preparers.   
 
* You can claim a deduction for the “fair market value” of used appliances, books, clothing, computer hardware and software, electronics, furniture, household items, toys, videos, etc. donated to a qualifying church or charity.  According to the IRS, fair market value is the price a “willing, knowledgeable buyer would pay a willing, knowledgeable seller when neither has to buy or sell.”    You are responsible for determining the fair market value of the items you are donating.  The charity to which you make the donation is not required to provide you with a value.  Here are some websites to help you figure the tax value of your donated stuff:
 
 
 
* There are several weblogs, or “blogs” that deal with federal, and sometimes state, tax issues.  The Wandering Tax Pro blog, which I write, provides up-to-the-minute advice, information, resources and commentary on federal and New Jersey state income taxes and the NJ property tax rebate and refund programs, and updates on federal and state tax legislation, IRS and NJ Division of Taxation rulings and regulations, and federal and state tax court decisions. 
 
Here are a few tax blogs for you to check out, beginning with mine (FYI, I do not post during the “tax season”, but you can check my archives for tax preparation advice and information) –
 
 
ALWAYS LEAVE ‘EM LAUGHING
 
Trump and Graham are in a rowboat on a lake.  The boat overturns in a deep section of the lake.  Neither Trump nor Graham can swim. 
 
You are in a nearby boat when this happens.  You can only save one of them from drowning. 
 
What do you do – eat your lunch or read the paper?  
 
TALK TO YOU NEXT MONTH
 
 
 
Please share this “issue” with your friends and family.  Your comments on this issue are welcomed – email me at rdftaxpro@yahoo.com with BOBSERVATIONS COMMENT in the “Subject Line”.