by: JEFF QUINN
So these ACORN morons are giving free tax advice to prostitutes and pimps.
Nice.
But isn't that bad enough? Nope--now we hear that the IRS, believe it or not, had actually enlisted ACORN blokes into that free, official government service, its "volunteer tax assistance program," allowing these "experts" to dole out free tax advice to some 3 million low and moderate income tax return filers this last tax season. So how many of those returns do you think might get audited, now?
Incredible.
But not to worry--the Revenooers announced last week that they are "severing ties" with ACORN. Isn't that wonderful.
And, about time, isn't it, that the Treasury Department agreed to comply with a Congressional request for a "review" of ACORN's procedures, and of the IRS' oversight of nonprofit organizations?
"The lack of an appropriate firewall between ACORN's charitable activities and its political arm has raised significant questions regarding the appropriateness of their status as a taxable nonprofit corporation and their management of federal dollars," notes Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA).
"I am heartened by the agreement of the Treasury Department's Inspector General to examine the troubling financial questions that have been raised about ACORN," noted Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who went on to observe that, "This is the first step in the right direction toward much needed transparency. As I've noted before, at a time when so many American families are facing difficult economic situations, it is completely unacceptable that even one penny of taxpayer money be misused."
How profound.
And from our "When is a Tax not a Tax" department came more obfuscation from our beloved president, last week, who took exception to the suggestion that the $3,800 annual "fine" proposed in the (Senator Max) Baucus (D-MT) health care reform bill, to be levied upon folks who choose no insurance at all, would constitute a tax increase.
Seems Obama differentiates a "fee" from a "tax," in noting to ABC's George Stephanopolous that "You can't just make up that language and decide that that's called a tax increase."
We guess Barack must be reading some different version of the bill than the one Baucus propounded, which states that "the consequence for not maintaining insurance would be an excise tax." If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it must be a duck, don't ya think? Indeed, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) was heard to note that, "If it looks like a tax and is enforced like a tax, it's a tax."
Sounds simple enough to us.
CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR - This article contains general information about various tax matters. You should consult your CPA regarding the implications to your own particular situation.
Jeff Quinn, the author of this article, is a shareholder in Ashley Quinn, CPAs and Consultants, Ltd., with offices in Incline Village and Reno. He is also a contributor to the recently published twelfth edition of Tax Savvy for Small Business, published by Nolo. He may be reached at 831-7288, and welcomes comments at
jquinn@ashleyquinncpas.com.
