Patriots and the Promised Land: Joshua on July 4
By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern While this July 4th, most Americans are, amidst the barbecues and jumps in the pool, unlikely to pop open a Bible and start reading the book of Joshua, they might at least take a moment during the festivities to consider how the book’s eponymous Israelite hero helped shape the United States from the colonial period…
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Washington News – Potential IRS Improvements
On August 30, The National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson held a public hearing in San Antonio, Texas. CPA Jim Oliver spoke on behalf of the San Antonio Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.Oliver highlighted three major areas for potential IRS improvement.1. Inadequate Staffing – The IRS office in San Antonio has too few staff in order to…
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Washington News – Impersonation Scams Reduce IRS Credibility
IRS agents regularly meet with taxpayers for audits and tax enforcement actions. While IRS agents are not normally popular with the public, the large number of IRS impersonation scams is creating a new problem. Many taxpayers now question whether IRS revenue agents actually represent the government.At the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum in National Harbor, Maryland on August 25, Daron Guillot,…
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Washington News – Tax Fraudsters Use iTunes Cards
John Breyault, Vice President of the National Consumer League, reports a sharp increase in tax fraud using iTunes cards. Tax fraudsters typically use fear and intimidation to obtain the iTunes payments.Psychologists understand the use of fear and anger. Your emotions may actually cause you to ignore rational warnings by your brain that could protect you. Tax fraudsters are experts in…
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Washington News – IRS Battles Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
While thieves continue to steal identities and file for fraudulent refunds, the IRS reported modest success in the ongoing battle over refund fraud.Stolen identity refund fraud thieves are both creative and successful. Most initially were “lone wolves” who would steal the identity of a single person and electronically file an early tax return to claim a refund. The thieves have…
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Washington News – Sen. Schumer Urges Passage of Olympic Tax Benefit
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) co-sponsored the United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians (USA Olympians and Paralympians) Act. On a recent visit to the Winter Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, Schumer joined Olympic medal winners Andrew Weibrecht (Alpine skiing), Justin Olson (Bobsled) and Gordy Sheer (Luge) to urge the House of Representatives…
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Washington News – Natural Gas Disaster Tax Relief
In Announcement 2016-25; 2016-31 IRB 1, the IRS announced that it will exclude most payments to residents affected by the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak.Aliso Canyon was originally an oilfield developed by J. Paul Getty. After the oilfield was depleted, it was sold and is currently used by Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) for underground storage of 86 billion…
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