Tax strategies

College students and their families could save up to $2,500 a year if they save receipts for necessary expenses such as textbooks and other course materials.

CFOs at multinational companies are beginning to change their minds about using tax policy as a way out of the economic doldrums.

Unprecendented levels of uncertainty wreak havoc on year-end planning

California’s State Board of Equalization is warning that beginning Sept. 15, a new law will take effect expanding the types of out-of-state retailers who are required to register with the board and requires them to begin collecting and remitting use tax on sales of tangible personal property to California consumers.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney told an enthusiastic Republican National Convention that unlike his rival Barack Obama, he would not raise taxes on small businesses or the middle class.

Global CEOs and U.S. small business owners would like political leaders and candidates for office to focus more on tax reform, regulation, the size of government and entitlements, and the national debt in order to stimulate economic growth and job creation, according to a new report.

The Senate Finance Committee has released the legislative text of the tax extenders bill, spelling out the reasons for extending certain tax breaks or for letting them expire, along with dissenting views from a trio of senators.

Republicans are pitching their tax overhaul plan on the appeal of lower rates and a simpler system—and figuring that voters won’t mind the lack of details about the potential pain.

Thomson Reuters has posted a new series of blog articles for users of its UltraTax CS software with advice on how they can take advantage of the software’s data mining features to help their clients navigate the possible tax law changes coming next year.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, have used sophisticated estate- planning techniques for more than a decade to minimize taxes and amass at least $100 million for their family outside of their estate.

Three Republicans from the House Committee on Oversight and Government have written a letter to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman demanding he explain a recent rule that would extend tax credits to individuals who buy health insurance from an exchange set up by the federal government when their state has failed to set up such an exchange.

The Tax Court has applied the “self-rental rule” to recharacterize the income that the taxpayer-owner of a trucking company received from a separate leasing company that he owned as nonpassive income.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Mitt Romney’s choice as vice presidential running mate, said he planned to release two years of tax returns to the public, even though he submitted several more years of tax returns to the Romney campaign during the vetting process.

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign stepped up its attacks on Republican rival Mitt Romney’s tax history with a new negative ad highlighting Romney’s tenure as head of the audit committee of Marriott International during a period when the committee used a tax shelter that has since been ruled illegal.

Tax credits and deductions for education are too complicated and so confusing that most taxpayers cannot determine which provisions are best for them, the American Institute of CPAs said in written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee.

Every year, it seems that the tax profession is faced with year-end legislation, late forms and radical changes that add to the complexity and headache of preparing a return. Despite all of the above, most practitioners realize that it’s the complexity and confusion that drives new clients their way.

With record-setting temperatures across the country this summer reminding people that the weather has been getting pretty hot lately, it was only a matter of time before the notion of imposing carbon taxes would return to the heads of policy makers.

The House approved legislation last week that would allow federal employees with seriously delinquent tax debts to be terminated.

President Barack Obama criticized Republican rival Mitt Romney’s tax reform plans during a campaign appearance, referring to them as “Robin Hood in reverse” and “Romney Hood.”

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has unveiled a mid-year list of top areas taxpayers should be considering or have pointed out to then by preparers to help put them in a better position when filing their tax returns next April.