HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sasha@sharik.metaphor.com (Sasha Velednitsky)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Social Security for non-citizens
Date: 26 Jan 93 03:48:19 GMT
Organization: Metaphor Computer Systems, Mountain View, CA

In article <C0pn7u.I8y@news.cso.uiuc.edu> acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:
>
>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
...
>SS benefit is supposedly based on how much one has contributed into it
>before.  (The formula is TOP, TOP, top secret that SS won't tell
>anyone.) Also, if one never contributes into SStax, be it citizen or

This is not true.  The formular is *public* information and could be
obtained by contacting your local SS office.  When I was in Italy about
13 years ago I met a retired Dutch man.  He had been working in USA for
about 10 years and as the result of it was collecting US Social Security.
As he explained to me, he worked in the USA from the age of 35 to 45.  
He started collecting SS when he reached 65 however.  He never applied
for a US Citezenship.

I don't have the current formula or length of time one should be
working in USA to earn SS benefits when one is 65 years old.  I've
been working in USA for about 13 years and not retiring yet, so I'll
make the minimum.  Therefore I don't need the exact information on
SS benefits.  But it looks like you do.  So why don't you get the
information from a real source and not from "I heard" and post it 
here for the benefit of others.  

I am sorry if my message is a little bit "personnal", but this is
the second time you are posting the information that is simply not
true.

Good luck and welcome to the USA,
Sasha.

From: sandya@hpfcmdd.fc.hp.com (Sandy A)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 16:53:42 GMT
Subject: Re: Home offices deduction case
Organization: HP Mechanical Design Division
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Distribution: usa
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

 - home office discussion deleted for brevity - 

: It only comes into consideration if you spend more than 50% of
: your time, in your own business, away from your home.

: Let's say you have a carpet cleaning business and you spend 80%
: of the time on location at the customer site and 20% doing paperwork
: and preparation at home.  You may not deduct the home office expense.

: Now let's say that you operate a mail order business and spend
: 90% of your time at home preparing orders and doing paperwork,
: 10% spent picking up supplies and shipping items.  Assuming you meet
: all the other requirements, you may take the deduction.

: That is my understanding.

: Kawika 

When we talk about the home office deduction, what are we referring to?
I'm guessing rent and utilities.  Are other home-based business expenses
still deductible?  In this case, I assume the cleaning equipment is
deductible, but what about a computer, desk and chair, paper and pencils,
etc.?

Also, if you qualify for the home office deduction but don't want to 
take a "rent" deduction because you own your home, can you still deduct
utilities (calculated by multiplying % of home that is office space by
total utilities)?

Also, has anyone out there been challenged on the validity of the deduction
during an audit?  If so, what happens?  Do they actually come at look
at your office?

Thanks,
Sandy
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: etpeters@dal.mobil.com (E. T. Peterson(Eric))
Subject: Re: <None>
Organization: Mobil Exploration & Producing Technical Center(MEPTEC), Dallas. 
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:04:16 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.092103.515@vaxc>, accejf@vaxa.hofstra.edu writes:

	I saw this empty newsgroup, misc.taxes, and felt that something HAD
        to be entered into it. 

Something's wrong with your newsreader!  This group has about 20 posts
per day.
From: leigh.melton@ehbbs.gwinnett.com (Leigh Melton) 
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Income tax ?
Date: 27 Jan 93 21:04:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Berkeley Lake, GA - 404-446-9462
Reply-To: leigh.melton@ehbbs.gwinnett.com (Leigh Melton) 

TO: stuczyns@presto.ig.com

MS> Can I deduct medical/dental expenses (not covered by insurance) from my
MS>taxable income?

Sure, but you have to file a Schedule A.  Medical and dental expenses
(by the way, this includes things like glasses, dental checkups and
such) can be claimed which you paid only if they are in excess of 7.5%
of your income.  Take a look at the first section of the Schedule A and
it will guide you through the calculation.

L.
---
 . SLMR 2.1a . Certainty is without doubt probably an illusion.
                                                                                                                        
----
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|       Ed Hopper's BBS - ehbbs.gwinnett.com - Atlanta, Georgia         |
|  USR/HST: 404-446-9462                  V.32bis: 404-446-9465         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: What and When can I c
Date: 25 Jan 93 21:29:20 GMT
	<430@dprmpt.UUCP>
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: larry@dprmpt.UUCP's message of 21 Jan 93 06:28:04 GMT
bcc: carl


>>
>>As long as you write and date and mail your check in 1992, you can
>>deduct even if the mortgage company doesn't receive the payment
>>until 1993.

>That's what I thought, too, BUT...

>I sent my mortgage company a check for both my January and February
>house payments a week before the end of 1992 so I could claim the
>extra month's interest in 1992.  I specifically noted on the payment
>stubs that the extra check was for the Feb. 1993 payment and NOT to be
>applied to reduce principal or escrow.

>When I got my "1098 Substitute" statement 3 days ago, it said:

	TOTAL INTEREST APPLIED 1992 (NEXT DUE DATE 03/01/92) $ X,XXX.XX
	  LESS NET PREPAID INTEREST - CURRENT YEAR               YYY.YY
	1992 NET INTEREST PAYMENTS REPORTED TO IRS *****     $ Z,ZZZ.ZZ

>$ xxx.xx represents the interest portion of the Feb. 1993 payment.  I 
>called Customer Service and was told that "the IRS told them that only the
>January payment's interest could be deducted in 1992" and said that
>this was not the bank's rule but that the IRS made them do it this
>way.  What this means is that even though I paid the extra payment in
>1992 and the bank received and posted it in 1992, I still cannot
>deduct it until 1993.  I'm confused !?!?  This means I get the same
>interest deduction this year whether I paid the extra interest or
>not!

You can only deduct the interest that is "due and payable" in 1992.
The only reaon that January's payment is deductible is that your
mortgage payment is due and payable on January 1st.  Well, all of the
interest in that statement was accumulated during December.

>I will be checking with the IRS and my CPA on this and will post a
>followup for those interested.

If you have a CPA you should have checked with him BEFORE you pulled a
move like this.  If he advised you to do it then he's a bone head -
get a new CPA!!!

-Carl-
--
Newsgroups: misc.taxes,ba.general,ba.wanted
From: krubin@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Kenneth S. Rubin)
Subject: Need Recommendation for Tax Advisor
Organization: ParcPlace Systems 
Distribution: ba
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 23:45:08 GMT

After many years of doing my own taxes, I now find that my 
situation has gotten so complex that I need some assistance.  Can 
anyone provide a personal recommendation for a tax preparation 
professional in the South Bay?

Thanks in advance,
--Kenny Rubin
krubin@parcplace.com
From: ann@cco.caltech.edu (Ann Terese Heil)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: rental income agony
Date: 27 Jan 1993 19:07:20 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: alumni.caltech.edu

 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:
 
<long discussion of various deductions available to people who share
  their homes with renters omitted>
 
>One can take a loss of upto $25,000 or so per year, if you are actively
>involved in the rental process and most people are.  Exceptions could
>be if you have a manager or firm to buffer you from the transactions.
 
 I was under the impression that if you rent out your own home to other
 people while still living in it (ie you own the home and have rent-paying
 housemates) that the best you could do in terms of your taxes is come
 up net neutral.  That is, you can not claim more losses than income.
 For example, say you get $5000 in rental income.  Depreciation, taxes,
 income, insurance, etc. add up to $7000.  I was under the understanding 
 that you could only claim $5000 in losses.  You couldn't take the extra
 $2000 to reduce the rest of your tax burden.  (I understand that in the
 non-ownwer occupied situation - you don't live there - you can have a
 loss of up to $25,000).
 
 Is this the correct interpretation?
 
 ann
From: jms@vision.sarnoff.com (Jerry Shapiro x2420)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Taxes paid in 3 states
Date: 22 Jan 93 13:44:08 GMT
Reply-To: jms@vision.sarnoff.com
Organization: David Sarnoff Research Center

In article 105974@netnews.upenn.edu, dgarrett@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Derrick Garrett) writes:
>
>I would appreciate any assistance on handling the following situation:
>
>In 1992, I worked in New York City from Jan to May, and was taxed on the
>local, state, and federal level.
>
>For July and August, I worked in New Jersey while living in New York City, and
>was taxed for New Jersey taxes as well as New York taxes.
>
>From August until December, I worked in New Jersey and lived in Pennsylvania, 
>and was taxed for New Jersey taxes as well as Philadelphia taxes.
>
>
>I would like to know if I have to file state forms in all three states to recoup
>what I deserve, and if I have to file any forms additional to the "standard"
>state forms.   If any auxiliary forms are necessary, does anyone have information
>on whom to contact to have them mailed to me in PA?
>
>
>Thanks in advance for any relevant e-mail.
>
>
>Derrick
>dgarrett@gradient.cis.upenn.edu


New Jersey and PA have tax reciprocity. That means if you live in PA
and work in NJ, your employer witholds PA tax and you don't pay NJ Tax
except for unemployment insurance. Your paycheck from August to
December should indicate that you paid PA tax. By the way, you may have
paid enough state and local taxes (NYC and Phila !) to make it work
itemizing.

Jerry Shapiro
From: dgarrett@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Derrick Garrett)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Taxes paid in 3 states
Date: 21 Jan 93 16:30:18 GMT


I would appreciate any assistance on handling the following situation:

In 1992, I worked in New York City from Jan to May, and was taxed on the
local, state, and federal level.

For July and August, I worked in New Jersey while living in New York City, and
was taxed for New Jersey taxes as well as New York taxes.

From August until December, I worked in New Jersey and lived in Pennsylvania, 
and was taxed for New Jersey taxes as well as Philadelphia taxes.


I would like to know if I have to file state forms in all three states to recoup
what I deserve, and if I have to file any forms additional to the "standard"
state forms.   If any auxiliary forms are necessary, does anyone have information
on whom to contact to have them mailed to me in PA?


Thanks in advance for any relevant e-mail.


Derrick
dgarrett@gradient.cis.upenn.edu
From: mtoms@ems.cdc.com (Mark Toms)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Turbotax Release Date?
Date: 28 Jan 93 14:34:21 GMT
Reply-To: mtoms@ems.cdc.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

In article <25JAN93.19343075@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu>, smothers@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu writes:
|> 
|>       I bought Turbotax headstart edition in which it promised to send the
|> updated version by mid January. Well here it is late january and no hide
|> nor hair of it. Has anyone out there in tax land got the update yet?
|> Reply here or e-mail me at the above address.
|> 
|> mark

This is my first time using a tax preparation program.  I received 
my Final Edition version about 2 weeks ago.  I also received information 
about "free software that will let you file in the 1040PC format" by 
calling their 800 number.  I called the number and ordered the software, 
but was wondering what the whole story is (I didn't ask some basic
questions at the time I ordered the software - oops).  That is, 

  1)  What equipment do I need?
  2)  Is the filing done by connecting directly to the IRS's
      computer and what number do I call to connect to the 
      IRS (in Minneapolis, Minnesota)?
  3)  Is there a fee, of any kind?
  4)  Can I file my entire set of forms? (1040, Schd A, C, etc.)
  5)  Do I need to send anything to the IRS via US Mail?

Anyone have information on this (possibly from past experience)?

Thanks,
Mark

==========================================================================
J. Mark Toms                                email: mtoms@ems.cdc.com
Baltimore Gas & Electric, Company
C/O Empros Systems International            Phone: (612) 553-4423
2300 Berkshire Lane North                     FAX: (612) 553-4018
Plymouth, Minnesota  55441-3694 USA      Mailstop: PLY060
==========================================================================
From: johne@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (John Eaton)
Subject: Re: New York State is Drowning
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:52:15 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard VCD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Tommy C. (tachaimov@hou.amoco.com) wrote:
: 
: Yeah, but the population of Oregon, I believe, is growing, and they're 
: what, #1 or #2 in the US for highest state tax?  
: 
:--------------
Oregon was #2 but slipped down to about #8 this year. This was caused by
the passage of a tax reform measure by the voters. It didn't actually 
lower anyones taxes but it kept the legislator preoccupied enough that
they didn't raise taxes as much as some other States did.

I believe Hawaii is #1.


John Eaton
!hp-vcd!johne
From: terry@cs.umd.edu (Terry Gaasterland)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Verifying Costs
Date: 26 Jan 93 00:24:46 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742

Last summer, my new employer paid for my move from Washington DC to 
Chicago.  I expect to have to pay income tax on the amount since I have
no deductions to itemize (other than the moving expenses and state
tax...).

The problem is that I have been unable to get a copy of the costs
of the move from either my new employer or from the moving company.  It
really bothers me that I will be liable for taxes on some amount with 
no verification or chance to challenge the amount.  For all I know, the 
moving company could have overcharged or overweighed the move.

When I questioned the moving company representative strongly, I received 
a reply along the lines of "your employer is a federal government 
organization; we can't do anything wrong or incorrectly --- we would get 
into big trouble."  

Is there any way to press my employer or the moving company to give me
an itemization of my moving costs?  (By the way, I am not alone. Three
other people started at the same time I did, and they have not been
able to get a list of moving costs either).

If I do manage to get an itemization and I believe it is wrong, is there
a way to tell the IRS that my move was not worth the amount of money that
my employer paid for it and appeal the extra taxes?

Any suggestions are welcome.  I'll post a summary if there are many replies.

  -- Terry Gaasterland (gaasterland@mcs.anl.gov or terry@cs.umd.edu)


Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet)
Subject: Re: Deductions for Charitable Contributions
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,  Columbus, Ohio
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:44:12 GMT

In article <1993Jan26.140929.9445@head-cfa.harvard.edu> ov@head-cfa.harvard.edu (Olaf Vancura) writes:
>Just a couple questions on charitable contributions deductions, e.g.
>Church groups, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, etc.
>
>1) Can one list these deductions on form 1040A, or is the 1040 
>necessary?

Use Form 1040 Schedule A  (This is a spearate form which lists all of
your itemized deductions and will be sent to the4 IRS along with
your Form 1040.

>2) Do these contributions have to amount to more than 2% of adjusted
>gross income, in whole or in part?  I have heard that certain deductibles
>now require that they be at least at this 2% level.  Does this now
>hold for charitable contributions as well?

No, the 2% floor does not apply to charitible contributions.  (there
are certain limits, but If you have never itemized charitible
deductions before, don't worry about limits.)

However, if all of your itemized deductions (state income taxes,
charitible deductions, home mortgage interest, and certain others)
do not exceed your standard deduction, you should take the standard
deduction and not itemize.
-- 
Art Kamlet  a_s_kamlet@att.com  AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
From: bulwinkl@stein.u.washington.edu (In Cognito)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Schedule C, Depreciation, and FAF
Date: 28 Jan 93 08:06:28 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

I'm busily getting my taxes done early so that I'll have the
correct figures to fill out my Financial Aid Form on time.

First:
This is the first year I've filed a schedule C.  I don't have a
business license yet - is it OK if I leave the business name line
blank?  I've thought of a name, but have no claims to it yet.

The income reported on the schedule C is for a couple of months
work that I did at home.  I was seeking work/educating myself to
make myself more marketable when the economy picks up during the
rest of the year.  What should I say on line K?  ("How many months
was this business in operation during 1992?")

Do I report some or part of the fee of hiring a tax preparer for
my '91 return under "Legal and professional services" on the
schedule C?  (I was also consulting in '91 but on a w-2 basis.)

Do I ignore Part III "Cost of Goods Sold" (I was developing
software ;-) and just report materials and supplies (ie books,
hardware, software, pens, paper, etc) on line 22 Part II ("Supplies") ?
Which of these expenses are legitimate?

I don't have Form 8829 for "business use of your home", yet, (it's
been ordered) but assume it'll be self-explanatory.  Is there
anything I should know about this, or a rule of thumb for figuring
out what the expense will be so I can get my FAF done SOON?

Second:
My income was real low.  Do I need to do a Schedule SE?  I don't
think I'll need to report Alternative Minimum Tax this year (I did
last year because of my depreciation) and don't expect I'll have
any Self-Employment tax due on the Schedule SE, either.  But that
probably depends on the following.

Third:
Last year the tax preparer filled out a form 4562 (Depreciation
and Amortization) for me.  It looks like he deducted the whole
cost of my computer (which I paid too much for )-: ), rather than
amortizing the deduction over five years the way I thought he did.
Is this likely? I guess if so, I won't be able to claim depreciation
on it for '92!

Because I'm filing a schedule C (have to because of 1099-misc
income), I'll have to report my business assets on my FAF form.
Pretty much my only real business asset is my computer.  How do I
figure the value of this asset?  Do I calculate it according to
what it would be if I were depreciating it over five years (ie,
subtract 52%?) or can I figure it as having no value since it's
already been deducted?  ;-)  Or is there another basis?

Fourth:
Is there anything else I ought to know?  (eg: Don't miss such and
so nifty write-offs!  Or: get a business license *now* and never
work on a w-4 basis again: only accept 1099 work...
Or... *don't* do 1099 work, or...)

Thanks in advance for any help with all these questions!  You
can reply via email:
bulwinkl@u.washington.edu
From: tzs@carson.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Need Address of Tax Collecting Agency in CA
Date: 21 Jan 1993 10:38:57 GMT
Organization: University of Washington School of Law, Class of '95
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

>> Can somebody from California e-mail me the address to which I should
>>send a request, asking for non-resident tax forms. I live in
>>Oregon but did a summer job in California. Thanks well in
>>advance.
>
>	Franchise Tax Board
>	PO Box 942840
>	Sacramento, CA  94240-0040

You can also just call them: 1-800-338-0505 (the automated number), or
1-800-852-5711 (to talk to a person).

I needed non-resident forms (I moved out of California last August), and
called the automated number.  It was answered right away, and quickly
guided me to a forms selection manual.  It told me to punch a specified
number if they did not have my address on file.  I did so, and a human
promptly answered, took my new address and the list of forms I need, and
said they would be sent out.  The whole process took less than five
minutes -- and note that the numbers are toll-free.

--Tim Smith
From: rdyreng@oodis01.hill.af.mil (Russell I. Dyreng;OO-ALC/LILEP)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Down payment for a rental.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 11:02:29 -0700
Organization: Fedtax-L<==>Misc.Taxes Gateway
X-Gateway-Source-Info: Mailing List

In your message of 22 Jan 1993 at 1735 MST, you write:
> Can we consider our down payment for a rental property as a second
> mortgage, so we can recover our investment, say in 5-10 years?
>
I'm afraid that the only way that you can treat the down payment as
a second mortgage is if you actually borrowed the money.  The down
payment as, well as the portion of the mortgage payment which is
earmarked for principal reduction are counted as investments, not
expenses.  Therefore they are non-deductible as business expenses.

> Because of zoneing problem we have been asked to put down 40%.
> This way we are losing a lots of bussiness expenses for interest that we
> are not paying. You may say that so what you are going to save the
> interest that you are not paying. Now consider this. If we can pay
> interst to ourselves we can show no net income and therfore we don't
> have to pay both Self Employment and Income taxes. The only tax we have
> to pay is Income tax ( A saving of about 15% on net income due to
> Social security and MediCare). I know that by doing this we will
> decrease our adjusted basis in the property and therefore the chance
> to claim a big lost, but this is not our concern at this time.
>
> 2- How do you treat the principle payments on a loan. I know they are
> not deductable, but do you treat them as income to owner ?. I think this
> is the case since they are not going to be included in expenses then
> they are part of net income.
>
The interest paid on the loan is income to the person or institution
who holds the mortgage.  The principal plus down payment are the sales
price, which is reduced by the acquistion price by the previous owner.

Russ
Newsgroups: misc.taxes