HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: vijay@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Vijay Rangarajan)
Subject: Re: Social Security for non-citizens
Originator: vijay@picard.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 23:01:23 GMT

In article <9301112025.AA24306@oodis01.hill.af.mil> rdyreng@oodis01.hill.af.mil (Russell I. Dyreng;OO-ALC/LILEP) writes:
>Non-citizens also have the ability to become citizens at a later point
>in time.  Should a person be allowed to live and work in this country
>for a number of years and be shielded from paying SS taxes (based on
>being a non-citizen), and then as they approach age 65, become a
>citizen and reap the benfits of a system into which they haven't paid?

Excellent point. This is the other side of the coin - good alternate view 
for discussion on the matter. Looks like the SS tax law as existent today,
can end up forcing NON-RESIDENTS with no intention of becoming citizens,
into paying for benefits that they cannot enjoy or as you point out leave
a hole open for exploitation were it to be changed to exempt NON-CITIZENS.
BUT NON-RESIDENTS cannot become citizens. They have to become residents first!

What I'm trying to point out is that Citizens and residents (potentially) 
can use SS and it is fair that they pay for it (even though residents who
don't intend to take up citizenship end up losing to reverse abuse by the 
gov't).

The abuse that you point out can only happen after a NON-RESIDENT becomes a
resident. A resident then has to wait out 5 years before becoming eligible
to apply for citizenship. Why don't they tax residents to protect against
such abuse and leave non-residents alone, even though this is not entirely
fair on residents not wanting to become citizens ? 

Again, you have made an excellent point, it is just that NON-RESIDENTS (caps
all along to emphasize difference between NON-CITIZENS and NON-RESIDENTS),
cannot use SS because they cannot become citizens impulsively.

Vijay.
From: smith@navajo.rc.arizona.edu (dennis smith)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Computer purchase write-off
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:41:30 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721

In article <10JAN199313221330@addvax.llnl.gov> kettering@addvax.llnl.gov (Brett 'Volleyball Is My Game' Kettering) writes:
>I recently purchased a computer for use at home that I also use to do work from
>home.  My job is as a Computer Scientist and I use my Mac to do documentation,
>project planning, programming, etc. on weekends and evenings.  My family also
>uses the Mac for personal use.  Am a allowed to write off any amount of the
>purchase price, and if so, all at once or over the lifetime of the computer?
>
>Thanks,
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Brett M. Kettering
>PaperNet: LLNL P.O. Box 808 L-797 Livermore, CA.  94550
>InterNet: brettk@llnl.gov
>TalkNet : (510) 423-3467
>FaxNet  : (510) 422-2847
>
>"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
>                   -- David O. McKay
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the exact conversation I had with IRS agent last year. He
asked: " Do your employer required you to work at home" My respose 
was "No I am doing it for my convenience and to catch up with my office 
work" and his answer was " No you can not deduct anything for your 
computer". Hope it
helps.
Dennis
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: ohumukin@spectra.com (Kawika Ohumukini)
Subject: Re: Computer purchase write-off
Organization: Spectragraphics Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 17:58:14 GMT

In article <10JAN199313221330@addvax.llnl.gov> kettering@addvax.llnl.gov (Brett 'Volleyball Is My Game' Kettering) writes:
>I recently purchased a computer for use at home that I also use to do work from
>home.  My job is as a Computer Scientist and I use my Mac to do documentation,
>project planning, programming, etc. on weekends and evenings.  My family also
>uses the Mac for personal use.  Am a allowed to write off any amount of the
>purchase price, and if so, all at once or over the lifetime of the computer?

Only if:
1.  You use it more than 50% of the time for business; and,
2.  Your employer specifically states that it is a REQUIREMENT of 
    your doing business.  So if you do it just to make it easier
    to do your job and you do not have the written statement from
    your employer, you cannot deduct it.

Either get the letter from your employer of get a business license and
use it 100% for business and write the whole thing off the first year.
See your tax adviser.

Kawika
From: bne@tecsrv12.teradata.com
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: IRA setup fee, tax deductable?
Date: 7 Jan 93 02:05:22 GMT
Reply-To: bne@tecsrv12.teradata.com ()
Distribution: usa
Organization: ATT/NCR Teradata Business Unit
Originator: bne@tecsrv12

As the subject says, I just opened an IRA with Janus last year and paid the
$100 lifetime management fee. 
My question is: Is it tax deductable?
 
Email Response preferred. Will summarize if needed.
Thanks!
 
--
Burzin Engineer
Teradata Business Unit
bne@elsegundoca.ncr.com
From: lars@spectrum.CMC.COM (Lars Poulsen)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: What and When can I claim ???
Date: 11 Jan 93 23:45:14 GMT
Organization: CMC Network Systems (Rockwell DCD), Santa Barbara, CA, USA

In article <1993Jan6.182039.17364@cci632.cci.com>
   jmv@cci632.cci.com (James Villard) writes:
>Now that I can claim interest off my taxes, I was told I could pay the bills
>on particular dates to get the best tax benefit for the year I can best use it.
>
>What are the restriction on this - can I pay Feb payment in Dec or not.

The payment is deductible on the day it becomes due, regardless of when
it is paid.
-- 
/ Lars Poulsen, SMTS Software Engineer	Internet E-mail: lars@CMC.COM
  CMC Network Products / Rockwell Int'l	Telephone: +1-805-968-4262	
  Santa Barbara, CA 93117-3083		TeleFAX:   +1-805-968-8256
From: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernard)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Other deduction for new house?
Date: 7 Jan 93 12:45:55 GMT
Reply-To: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: clesun.central.sun.com

I moved into a new house I had built a few months ago.  When my wife bumped the
side of the garage with her car, the repairman said I could deduct from my
income tax the portion of the damage bill that my insurance company didn't pay.
True?

Also, the real estate salesperson said that the cost of capital improvements (ie, things attached to the house) were also deductable- like putting in new light
fixtures, or attaching permanent window coverings.  Is this also true?

	Tnx,
	Dave
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: mguyott@eriador.prime.com (M. Guyott)
Subject: Can I deduct ...
Organization: ComputerVision Services
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 18:53:45 GMT


My wife and I purchased a home this year.  We paid one point to the
mortgage company to lock our interest rate in June (8.5% with 2 points -
the one point we gave them to lock the rate would have counted as one of
the two points we would have had to pay at closing).  By the time closing
actually approached in July the rates were down to 8.38% with no points.
So it did not make sense to pay one point to get the 8.5% rate.  We "floated"
our rate which means we were able to get the 8.38% rate with no points but
we had to forfeit the point we paid the mortgage company in June.  Can I
deduct the point we paid and lost as a loss somehow (captial loss?)?  Or
is this one that I should just chalk up to experience?

Marc
----
Two of the worst things we teach our children are that a knowledge of science
is nice but not necessary, and a knowledge of sex is necessary but not nice.

Marc Guyott              Constellation Software, Inc.          (508) 620-2800
                         Framingham, Mass. 01701 USA                Ext. 3135
mguyott@primerd.prime.com       ...!{uunet, decwrl}!primerd.prime.com!mguyott
mguyott@eriador.prime.com       ...!{uunet, decwrl}!eriador.prime.com!mguyott
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: bstrand@cray.com (Brad Strand)
Subject: Re: Deductability of Housing Costs?
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: 7 Jan 93 10:10:31 CST

In article <ljr-070193083117@ljrheaume.mitre.org> ljr@mitre.org (Luke J. Rheaume) writes:
>In article <1993Jan6.160702.10784@hemlock.cray.com>, bstrand@cray.com (Brad
>Strand) wrote:
>> 
>> I employ a babysitter to care for my son in my home.  I have tried
>> to do everything "by the book" with this arrangement:  I have 
>> acquired State and Federal Employee numbers; I file quarterly returns
>> with both the state and the IRS for FICA, FUTA, and withheld income
>> taxes; I write W-2's for the babysitter, etc.
>> 
>> Can I deduct any of my household expenses (eg, mortgage, heating, etc.)
>> as "business expenses"?
>> 
>> For example:  If the babysitter works 4 days per week, 9 hours per day
>> can I claim (4 * 9)/(7 * 24) = 21.4% of my household expenses to be
>> deductible business expenses?
>> 
>> ...
>
>I would have paid the babysitter and taken the Child Care Credit (let the
>babysitter file a Schedule C and get her own deductions [like mileage from
>her home to yours]).

According to the IRS, this would not be legal.  According to the IRS people
I spoke with, if the babysitter works in my home, then she is my employee.
If she were to care for my child in HER home, then she could set up her
"business" however she chose.

>Standard Disclaimer Applies:  These are my opinions, not my employers.
>
>Luke J. Rheaume, Member of the Technical Staff
>The MITRE Corporation, Strategic Surveillance Systems
>202 Burlington Rd., MS M322
>Bedford, MA 01730-1420

BDS
-- 
Brad Strand		Networking and Communications Development
Cray Research, Inc.	bstrand@cray.com (DOMAIN) ..uunet!cray!bstrand (UUCP)
 "Things most important must never be at the mercy of things least important."
					Goethe
From: gsmith@bbn.com (Graeme Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Med Ins Payment
Date: 12 Jan 1993 18:31:58 GMT
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com
Keywords: deduct, med ins


I have question regarding medical insurance payments.  Are the
premiums I pay each month as my contribution to an employer
arranged HMO policy deductable?  My employer pays the rest of
the monthly premium after my contribution.

Thanks

Graeme
From: hilary.miller@execnet.com (hilary miller)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: ira setup fee, tax de
Date: 10 Jan 93 18:56:32 GMT
Reply-To: "hilary miller" <hilary.miller@execnet.com>
Distribution: misc
Organization: Executive Networks Information


Bne, in a message to All on 01-09-93 at 5:35pm, said:

BE>|As the subject says, I just opened an IRA with Janus last year and paid
   |$100 lifetime management fee.
   |My question is: Is it tax deductable?
   |_______________________________________________________________________

          No.


   L A
 I    R        Hilary B. Miller of Greenwich, Connecticut
  H/\Y         CIS: 76040,1743
   s r
---
 ~ DeLuxe}/386 1.25 #11645 ~ There once was a [ ] from [ ] whose [ ] was
--
Executive Network Information System  (914) 667-4567
International ILink Host
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: brasie@mitre.org (ruth ann Brasie)
Subject: Re: Can one claim full deductions in a short tax year?
Organization: Mitre
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 22:43:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.175013.3046@indetech.com>, gopi@indetech.com (Prakash
Gopinath) writes:
> 
> I started working only from Oct92 and received only about $12000 so far. I will be filing Income tax return under "Married filling jointly". I have the following questions.
> 
> 1. Can I claim $6,000 as exemption (For Married filing jointly)? Also can I claim $6900 as deductibles for dependents (For my wife and child)?
> 
> 2. Am I eligible for the EIC (Earned Income Credit) as my total income is less than $13000?
> 
> Please let me know the answers for the above.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> ____*_  Gopinath Prakash            gopi@indetech.com
> \  / /  Independence Technologies   
>  \/ /   42705 Lawrence Place        FAX: 510 438-2034
>   \/    Fremont, CA 94538           Voice: 510 438-8777
> 
> 
I think you need a professional, but where were you??

If you were in the US and just had no income, then you file for the whole
year and use the whole year numbers.  

If you just located in the US in October, then you probably must use
prorated numbers, but consult a professional on that
one.
From: rdyreng@oodis01.hill.af.mil (Russell I. Dyreng;OO-ALC/LILEP)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Social Security for non-citizens
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 13:25:04 -0700
Organization: Fedtax-L<==>Misc.Taxes Gateway
X-Gateway-Source-Info: Mailing List

In your message of 11 Jan 1993 at 1241 MST, you write:
> In article <C0K5J2.6qG@tss.com> burke@tss.com (Jim Burke) writes:
> >the obligation of paying taxes.  Why should a non-citizen have benefits
> >our own citizens don't have?
>
> First of all, I agree with your point that SS tax has to be paid by all
> (only) because it is a law. Regarding your question above, non-citizens
> are requesting the benefit of exemption from paying for priviledges they
> 'cannot' use (not 'may not' use as is the case with citizens).
>
> Vijay.
>
Non-citizens also have the ability to become citizens at a later point
in time.  Should a person be allowed to live and work in this country
for a number of years and be shielded from paying SS taxes (based on
being a non-citizen), and then as they approach age 65, become a
citizen and reap the benfits of a system into which they haven't paid?

I am in no way suggesting that this is the motivation behind your
posting.  I am merely pointing out that to do so would leave the
system open to yet another potential source of abuse.

Russ
Xref: sparky misc.taxes:4064 misc.invest:16130
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.invest
Subject: Re: tax on tax refund
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:13:49 GMT
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu


In article <93011.105856SHERE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>, <SHERE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> writes:
>The 1992 1040EZ form has no provision for listing a state tax refund.
>Any comments on this?  Does one simply forget about one's state refund
>if using the 1040EZ?

You need to report state tax refund only if you have deducted it
from your previous year itemized 1040.  If you have used standard
deduction for the year you received the state tax refund, it does
not matter since that amount has been included in the taxable income
that year.
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: peter@progress.COM (Peter Sorrentino)
Subject: Re: Mortgage application fee declined
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:40:26 GMT

pdaunno@Ingres.COM (Paul Daunno, Premium Support) writes:

>In article <7575@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com>, obrien@bigbird.hri.com                      writes...
>>I applied for a mortgage and was declined. A few months
>>later I applied for a mortgage at a different company
>>and go the loan.
>> 
>>I was wondering if I could deduct the declined fee as
>>a loss.
>The same thing happened to me.  I would also appreciate
>getting an answer on this.
I also fall into this category, and would like to know the answer.
I would also like to know if people think we have grounds for getting
our money back.  One company can not do it, but another can.  Is that
my fault or the first companies?  Who should pay for that?
FYI: In New Hampshire: the company that screwed me is First Eastern
Mortgage, and the company that satisfied me was Homeowners Assistance.

Summary:
GOOD: Homeowners Assistance
BAD:  First Eastern Mortgage


Peter Sorrentino
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: EE Bonds
From: David B. Horvath, CDP <MBADBH@rohvm1.rohmhaas.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 10:34:40 EST
Organization: Hidden - I don't speak for them...
X-Stuff:      <This should be witty, but I'm too tired right now.>

I remember hearing that you could avoid taxes on the interest of US Savings
Bonds (EE and ?HH?) by using the bonds to pay for education.  I'm always
taking one course or another (professional development, personal development,
degree) - to me, it sounds like a great deal.

Is the education exemption for self and dependents only? Or is it a general
exemption so long as the money is used for education?  Could I "buy" a course
for a friend/niece/nephew using money from a savings bond and avoid the tax on
the interest?

     - David
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: bstrand@cray.com (Brad Strand)
Subject: Deductability of Housing Costs?
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: 6 Jan 93 16:07:02 CST

I employ a babysitter to care for my son in my home.  I have tried
to do everything "by the book" with this arrangement:  I have 
acquired State and Federal Employee numbers; I file quarterly returns
with both the state and the IRS for FICA, FUTA, and withheld income
taxes; I write W-2's for the babysitter, etc.

Can I deduct any of my household expenses (eg, mortgage, heating, etc.)
as "business expenses"?

For example:  If the babysitter works 4 days per week, 9 hours per day
can I claim (4 * 9)/(7 * 24) = 21.4% of my household expenses to be
deductible business expenses?

(I doubt it's allowed, but I thought it was worth a shot...I couldn't
find any reference one way or the other in my tax book...)

Brad Strand
-- 
Brad Strand		Networking and Communications Development
Cray Research, Inc.	bstrand@cray.com (DOMAIN) ..uunet!cray!bstrand (UUCP)
 "Things most important must never be at the mercy of things least important."
					Goethe
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: nparkar@seamis1.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nuruddin Parkar)
Subject: Re: HELP: using parents as dependents?????
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD USA
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:12:00 GMT

artc@iplmail.orl.mmc.com (Art Chang) writes:


>|> 
>|> My parents are getting old, and I have been giving 
>|> them approx $10,000 last year for Medical expenses,
>              ^^^^^^^^^^
>                not $10.00
>|> and living assistance!  Although they are still working
>|> (self employed ), is it possible for me to claim those
>|> amount as tax deduction????
>|> thanks
>|> Art

Yes, You may deduct these expenses as far as your parents are US Citizen or
Permanent Resident.

Nuru Parkar
From: barmar@think.com (Barry Margolin)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: LT vs ST Cap Gains Distributions
Date: 9 Jan 1993 16:03:23 GMT
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: gandalf.think.com


When my mutual funds distribute capital gains, they distinguish short-term
and long-term gains.  The Schedule B and D instructions seem to be
inconsistent about which of these are to be reported.  The instruction for
Schedule B, Line 7 just refers to capital gains distributions, which seems
like it should be the sum of LT and ST gain distributions.  The instruction
for Scnedule D, Line 14 specifically says "paid to you as a long-term
capital gain".  But the instruction for Schedule B also says that the
number on Line 7 should also be entered on Schedule D.

In the past I've treated the ST gain distributions as dividends and put LT
gain distributions in both places.  Is this correct?  But then I wonder why
they bother reporting them separately.
-- 
Barry Margolin
System Manager, Thinking Machines Corp.

barmar@think.com          {uunet,harvard}!think!barmar
From: vinceg@mcdbos.UUCP (Vince Grove)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: stock losses
Date: 7 Jan 93 14:07:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Woburn, MA

I sold stock this past year at a loss. Can I deduct that loss from my
taxes even if I don't have any gains to offset it against. I'm wondering
if losses on the sale of stock are like gambling losses in that they can
only be deducted to the extent that they offset any winnings.

If it is the case that deductions for stock losses can only be offset against
any gains, does interest earned on CD's count as a gain?

-- 
Vince Grove	
vinceg@bos.mcd.mot.com
From: leigh.melton@ehbbs.gwinnett.com (Leigh Melton) 
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: is itemizing always b
Date: 9 Jan 93 09:36:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Berkeley Lake, GA - 404-446-9462
Reply-To: leigh.melton@ehbbs.gwinnett.com (Leigh Melton) 

RO>>Is it true that itemizing deductions is always better (meaning less taxes
RO>>to pay) than just taking the fixed deductions (say from 1040EZ) ?

RO>No.
RO>Compute taxes both ways and see which is less.

... but do not forget that your chances of being audited go up when you
itemize.  So, if you do decide to itemize, make sure you can back up
your claims if you get a nice letter beginning... "Dear Taxpayer:"

L.
---
 . SLMR 2.1a . To err is human, to forgive is against my policy
                         
----
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|       Ed Hopper's BBS - ehbbs.gwinnett.com - Atlanta, Georgia         |
|  USR/HST: 404-446-9462                  V.32bis: 404-446-9465         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet)
Subject: Re: Uniform Deduction???
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,  Columbus, Ohio
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 21:19:44 GMT

In article <1993Jan8.173402.29752@acc.com> art@acc.com (Art Berggreen) writes:
>In article <1993Jan05.154716.24617@rchland.ibm.com> kmill@vnet.ibm.com writes:
>>My wife is a manager at a restaurant where she is required to wear a white shirt and dress
>>pants and I was wondering if this "uniform" is deductible.  I know that it's not a formal
>>uniform like a nurse is required to wear, but it seems like required dress should qualify as a
>>uniform.  Any ideas?  Thanks in advance.
>
>I believe that only if it is clothing that would not be worn for any other occasion
>will the IRS allow a deduction.  Since your wife's clothing is probably useable for
>other occasions, I'd doubt that the IRS would allow a deduction.


Part of this depends on definition of a uniform.  Just having white
shirt & dress does not, by itself, make this a uniform.

Here's what the IRS says about white clothing as well a blue:

  "However, work clothing consisting of white cap, white shirt or
   white jacket, white bib overalls, and standard work shoes, which
   a painter is required by his union to wear on the job, is not
   distinctive in character or in the nature of a uniform.
   Similarly, the costs of buying and maintaining blue work clothes
   worn by a welder at the request of a foreman are not deductible."

The uniforms have to be required by the employer and also have to be
a uniform, and "must not be suitable for taking the place of your
regular clothing."

(Military work uniforms - fatigues - which the local military
commander requires not be worn outside the post except commuting to
and from work are given by the IRS as an example of a qualifying
uniform.  Even regular uniforms (Army Greens, Air Force Blues) worn
by reservists during active duty, where military regulations
prevent that uniform from being worn anytime during the year when
not on reserve duty, also qualify.)

If the restaurant required that each "uniform" be emblazoned with a
"Spiffy's" label, and required all employees to wear this uniform,
it would probably qualify.  If, further, the employer required
that the "Spiffy's" uniform never be worn in public except commuting
to and from work, and during a short lunch break, then  it would
certainly qualify.
-- 
Art Kamlet  a_s_kamlet@att.com  AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus