I started to use an offshoot of the original story I read on this--something about "Lawyer seeking tax xxxempt status has no happy ending," but I thought this was more in line with my previous comments about Tom Watson, and age being nothing but a number.
I was amused Tuesday as I read a story about a 77-year old tax lawyer who was denied tax deductions. Normally that doesn't amuse me, but the nature of his deductions was a source of some interest.
Apparently, the old geezer--and I better watch it, as those numbers will be at me before I know it--was deducting more than $100,000 per year in, let's say, courtesan costs. The old boy, who was single/divorced, claimed that he needed these visits to ladies providing sexual services to combat his depression, erectile dysfunction, etc. and claimed the expenses as medical deductions. All in all, he deducted more than $300,000 in "provider" benefits, performance aids, and the like.
He kept a "Tax Log" for each visit, purportedly including the first name of the "medical" provider, and presumably, the cost of each encounter, and submitted that for his evidence.
Alas, the expenses were denied. Nasty tax laws about not deducting the illegal payments and such.
I have a theory. My theory is that the guy will benefit from the publicity generated by the story, and that was part of it, and maybe a little bragging was part of it, too. Hey, look what I've been doing in my spare time!
I teach an income tax law class on Tuesday nights, and the story was timely. I always joke with my class that tax law is "sex, drugs, and rock and roll," and the story set the theme for Tuesday night's adventure in tax. Wonder what next Tuesday night's tax law story will be. Stay tuned.
Brooklyn Tax Lawyer denied happy ending
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Weekend Rest.........not!
Started the weekend late last night by giving directions over the phone to two young ladies misplaced in downtown Birmingham after attending the Taylor Swift concert. Bless their hearts, it was confusing to them, they couldn't make the GPS work, and really, downtown B'ham--especially north of the Civic Center--ain't a place for a 20-year old and 17-year old to be spending much time after 11 pm, is it?
Woke up this a.m. and drove Sarah and Andrew to the ACT. Once again, we (meaning "I") failed to register them early enough to get the Spain Park location near our house, so they were transported to Shades Valley, maybe a dozen or so miles from our abode. No worries, we hit Chik-Fil-A for biscuits and it gave them a chance to wake up a little before heading in to what will likely be their last ACT ever!
Collin has a soccer game at 12:00 noon, and the schedule-makers were not kind to us, as Rachel's volleyball match is at 12:00 noon as well. Split crew, and I draw volleyball since I am the coach.
No rest for the weary, as after the games today (and thanks to Caitlin for being home this weekend to pick up Sarah and Andrew), we'll be replacing an attic door and ladder. We'll need that so that we--or a critter control type person--can come in and figure out how to remove the squirrels--we think--that have taken up an unpaid residency in the top portion of our home. Didn't hear any noise this morning, but we have heard it, and believe we have squirrels. We hope.
Tomorrow I will need to meet with another lawyer on three matters we have ongoing and get some work done prior to the week starting bright and early Monday a.m. Tomorrow I will also be attending the Thespian Induction ceremony at OLV. Rachel will be recognized as an "apprentice," since she's a 5th grader, and it begins with 6th grade. In other Thespian news, Rachel was also cast as "Mary Lennox" in OLV's upcoming Fall production of "The Secret Garden." It is the non-musical version of the play, but we are all excited for her. It will be her first big "starring" role.
The Secret Garden musical has always been one of my favorite plays, mainly because some of my favorite actors here locally were in it, and did a fabulous job. I recall years ago CenterStage performed the show at the Badham Theatre at Indian Springs School, and it was just terrific. Brent Jones and Frank Thompson did a duet, "Lily's Eyes," that just poured out to you. Mike Bridges was terrific as Ben, the Gardener, and Sarah James, and really, the entire cast, were special in that performance. Caitlin has a DVD of the show that I need to borrow to watch again in my spare time.
Which brings me to the conclusion of this blog post today, of course. There is no weekend rest, and other than these brief few minutes, my spare time this weekend is, of course, non-existent. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Woke up this a.m. and drove Sarah and Andrew to the ACT. Once again, we (meaning "I") failed to register them early enough to get the Spain Park location near our house, so they were transported to Shades Valley, maybe a dozen or so miles from our abode. No worries, we hit Chik-Fil-A for biscuits and it gave them a chance to wake up a little before heading in to what will likely be their last ACT ever!
Collin has a soccer game at 12:00 noon, and the schedule-makers were not kind to us, as Rachel's volleyball match is at 12:00 noon as well. Split crew, and I draw volleyball since I am the coach.
No rest for the weary, as after the games today (and thanks to Caitlin for being home this weekend to pick up Sarah and Andrew), we'll be replacing an attic door and ladder. We'll need that so that we--or a critter control type person--can come in and figure out how to remove the squirrels--we think--that have taken up an unpaid residency in the top portion of our home. Didn't hear any noise this morning, but we have heard it, and believe we have squirrels. We hope.
Tomorrow I will need to meet with another lawyer on three matters we have ongoing and get some work done prior to the week starting bright and early Monday a.m. Tomorrow I will also be attending the Thespian Induction ceremony at OLV. Rachel will be recognized as an "apprentice," since she's a 5th grader, and it begins with 6th grade. In other Thespian news, Rachel was also cast as "Mary Lennox" in OLV's upcoming Fall production of "The Secret Garden." It is the non-musical version of the play, but we are all excited for her. It will be her first big "starring" role.
The Secret Garden musical has always been one of my favorite plays, mainly because some of my favorite actors here locally were in it, and did a fabulous job. I recall years ago CenterStage performed the show at the Badham Theatre at Indian Springs School, and it was just terrific. Brent Jones and Frank Thompson did a duet, "Lily's Eyes," that just poured out to you. Mike Bridges was terrific as Ben, the Gardener, and Sarah James, and really, the entire cast, were special in that performance. Caitlin has a DVD of the show that I need to borrow to watch again in my spare time.
Which brings me to the conclusion of this blog post today, of course. There is no weekend rest, and other than these brief few minutes, my spare time this weekend is, of course, non-existent. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Yawn.....
After fighting being awake since 3:30, I decided to get up and start the day about an hour ago (4:15). Working for myself, sometimes that gives me a great chance to get a head start on the day, and as long as nobody is reading this blog, they don't have to know that I can sneak in a mid-morning "nap" while the rest of the world is back at work for real.
Of course, that doesn't work so well when I have a client meeting, does it?
Not to fear today, there are no meetings on the agenda, but it is "vacation day," when we will be leaving for the beach. With active kids and a 20-year old in her 3rd year of college, it has become a rare experience when we have all been together--I believe this is the first time in three years we've all gone away somewhere. These moments are becoming all too fleeting, and I am looking forward to this one.
We're operating a "split crew" as 4/7ths of the family will be leaving today around noon, and Andrew and I will be headed to Tuscaloosa to pick up Caitlin , leaving about 5 hours after everyone else, then on to Pensacola Beach. The hope here is that some of us may get some beach time today, with weather "iffy" for the next 4 days.
Will be a long day today, but the fruits of the labor will be worth it. Sounds a bit like my family, too.
Of course, that doesn't work so well when I have a client meeting, does it?
Not to fear today, there are no meetings on the agenda, but it is "vacation day," when we will be leaving for the beach. With active kids and a 20-year old in her 3rd year of college, it has become a rare experience when we have all been together--I believe this is the first time in three years we've all gone away somewhere. These moments are becoming all too fleeting, and I am looking forward to this one.
We're operating a "split crew" as 4/7ths of the family will be leaving today around noon, and Andrew and I will be headed to Tuscaloosa to pick up Caitlin , leaving about 5 hours after everyone else, then on to Pensacola Beach. The hope here is that some of us may get some beach time today, with weather "iffy" for the next 4 days.
Will be a long day today, but the fruits of the labor will be worth it. Sounds a bit like my family, too.
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