Archive for the ‘District of Columbia’ Category

April 15th Deadlines

Tuesday, April 14th, 2020

Yes, the tax deadline for the IRS (and federal estimated payments for the first two quarters) is July 15th. However, not all states conformed to this–especially for estimated payments. The following states all have first quarter estimated payments for individuals that are due tomorrow, April 15th:

  • Arkansas
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii (due April 20th)
  • Illinois
  • Iowa (due April 30th)
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon

So if you need to make estimated payments for 2020 for one of these states, do so. If you are mailing your payment, use certified mail (but not return receipt requested–there’s a possiblity no one is there to pick up the mail).

Out With the Fed Mandate; In With State Mandates

Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

Once upon a time there was the federal mandate to have health insurance; per the US Supreme Court, a “tax.” Well, beginning with 2019 tax returns (filed in 2020) the federal mandate is no more. Unfortunately, tax professionals and taxpayers aren’t done with insurance mandates: Several states have implemented their own mandates.

Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have their own mandates for the 2019 tax year (tax returns filed in 2020); Massachusetts’ mandate began in 2007. California, Rhode Island, and Vermont have implemented mandates for the 2020 tax year (tax returns filed in 2021).

If you are a resident of one of these states, we’ll be asking you about health insurance when we prepare your 2019 returns. Additionally, if you do receive insurance through the Exchange (e.g. healthcare.gov) and receive a Form 1095-A, you must provide a copy of the form to your tax professional.

There’s no reason for tax professionals to be in the health insurance field. But thanks to Obamacare, we are…and will be for the foreseeable future.

How Government Stifles Entrepreneurship

Monday, February 4th, 2013

So you want to become a landlord in the District of Columbia. I saw an interesting piece on Slate that noted that a Washington, DC couple had to get three different sets of paperwork completed to rent out their condominium. As he noted in his conclusion,

Red tape, long lines, inconvenient office hours, and other logistical hassles probably won’t stop tomorrow’s super-genius from launching the next great billion-dollar company. But it’s a large and needless deterrent to the formation of the humble workaday firms that for many people are a path to autonomy and prosperity.

We’re Off With a Bang: It’s the Politician Arrest of the Week!

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

There’s nothing like starting 2012 on the right foot. Let’s head to our nation’s capital where City Councilman Harry Thomas, Jr. has something more to worry about than his reelection campaign. In December, the FBI & IRS raided Mr. Thomas’ home and seized an SUV and a motorcycle. Those vehicles may be coming to an auction site near you.

Mr. Thomas has been charged with theft and filing false tax returns. He’s accused of taking $353,000 of funds from the District of Columbia. The charge says he “embezzled, stole, obtained by fraud, without authority knowingly converted to the use of a person not the rightful owner….” Additionally, he’s accused of filing a false tax return for not including the embezzled/stolen/fraud income on his tax return.

Finally, the government is asking for forfeiture of a 2008 Victory Motorcycle and a 2008 Chevy Tahoe.

Of course, Mr. Thomas is innocent until proven guilty. Still, it’s nice to see that our politicians may be hard at work…just not for us, but against us.