HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hbe@sonia.math.ucla.edu (H. Enderton)
Subject: Re: Sales tax on (out of state) CD club orders
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 22:05:28 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.193236.27425@kronos.arc.nasa.gov>
iba@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Wayne Iba) writes:
>I recently joined Columbia House CD club and was told by a friend 
>that they charge Calif sales tax -- supposedly they are required by
>Calif.  They are located in IN or IL.  I always thought that
>out-of-state operations couldn't charge me sales tax.  

Not exactly.  If the seller has a "substantial presence" (or some
such phrase) in the buyer's state, then they must collect the tax.
For example, if they have a retail outlet in California, then they
can't evade the sales tax by shipping from Nevada.

If they don't have a substantial presence in California, then they
don't have to *collect* the tax.  California claims that even in 
this case, you have to *pay* the tax.  California has not yet
figured out how to enforce this claim.

Maybe tomorrow.

Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: jjamison@bellahs.com (John Jamison RD AC)
Subject: reducing capital gains by factoring inflation
Organization: Bell Atlantic Healthcare Systems
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:44:54 GMT

So people who sell houses and have capital gains want to
reduce their exposure by factoring inflation because of
some notion of buying power of dollars?  Well by the
same token, why can't I reduce ordinary income by 
factoring inflation?  Ridiculous? Yes.  Inflation is BAD, but
is BAD for everyone, not only house sellers.  We would
in effect be subsidizing (additionally) home purchasers'
investments.  Inflation hurts stock sale gains, bond yields,
regular savings yields etc.  This is a foolish proposition.

Though if I owned a house I sure would like it! :-)
-John Jamison
-- 
-----------------
John Jamison
Bell Atlantic Healthcare Systems
jjamison@bellahs.com
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: Passive Activity
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 21:11:18 GMT

In article <24AUG92.23533233@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu>, smothers@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu writes:
|> 
|>     In response to a previous poster a passive activity according to the
|> Tax Code (469) is defined as:
|>      a. Any trade or business or income-prodeucting activity in which the taxpayer does not materially participate.
|> 
|>      b. All rental activies, regardless of the level of the taxpayer's participation.
|> 

It is interesting to go on and read the IRS definition of "rental activity".
For example, even though all rental activities are "passive activity", renting
cars to people on a daily basis (such as what Hertz does) is defined as not
being "rental activity".  Renting trailers from U-Haul is not rental activity.
Renting out motel rooms is not rental activity.  But, renting a house out
is rental activity.

-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: terry@mimsy.umd.edu (Terry Gaasterland)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Passive Activity
Date: 24 Aug 92 00:21:44 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742

Yesterday I was at the library browsing through the various
volumes of IRS publications just to see what I could see... and
I came across an intriguing publication on Passive Activity ---
passive business activity, that is.  The publication dealt mostly
with taking losses on the passive activity, limitations to risk,
and abstract definitions of what constitutes passive activity
and who can partake in it.

Now I'd like to find out more about passive activities.  The 
publication mentioned a few examples such as owning oil wells...

Any ideas?  Any recommendations about where to read up on the 
subject?  

Thanks in advance!  

  -- Terry Gaasterland

Xref: sparky misc.taxes:3102 misc.invest:11223
From: djm@druhi.ATT.COM (MarinelliD)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.invest
Subject: Re: Is there going to be a tax credit or what!!!!!
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:37:15 GMT
Distribution: usa

in article <1992Sep3.123548.28367@meaddata.com>, richt@meaddata.com (Rich Thompson) says:
>    Hopefully for the full year since I  closed  my first house on
>    1/29/92.
> 

An article in WSJ a few weeks ago said the current bill allowed
for credit on homes purchased after July 1 or 31, 1992 (I can't 
remember exactly.)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.consumers.house
From: heflin@rtsg.mot.com (Suzanne Stratton Heflin)
Subject: Re: biting the capital gains bullet: when do I have to do it?
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 17:11:42 GMT

fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com (Fred Christiansen) writes:

>Some gentle netters have responded to this by saying I shall have to amend
>my 1991 tax return.  That I know.  The question is *when*, since I'll have
>to pay on the capital gain and I need to be saving $$ toward that end.

>>(Q2)  When will I have to pay on the capital gains of the previous residence?
>>	a) when I move into the new house?
>>	b) on the 2 year anniversary of the sale of the previous residence?
>>	c) in April 1994, the 2 year anniversary of my filing 1991 tax return?
>>	d) something else?  (none of the above)

>Some have indicated that I can use the value of the new home at the 2 year
>anniversary and use that to determine what capital gain can be deferred
>and what must be taxed.  That would seem to indicate that sometime (how
>much time?) after (b) will be the time to file the amended return.

I am not sure why you are mentioning the value of the new home.  As far as
I know, that does not figure into the equation.  I have been told that as
long as you have a replacement home within two years that cost the same or
more than the home you sold, you can defer all the capital gains.  If the
home costs less than the one you sold, you cannot defer any of the capital
gains.  For example, let's say you bought a home several years ago for
$150,000.  You sell it for $200,000: $50,000 capital gains.  Within 2 years,
you have anew home that cost $215,000.  You can defer the $50,000 capital
gains.  If, instead, you have a new home that cost $180,000, you still owe
the capital gains tax on the $50,000.  It would be nicer if you only owed
it on $20,000 (200,000 - 180,000), but my understanding is that it doesn't
work that way.  I have been told that if your new home costs even $10 less
than the one you sold, you are liable for all of the capital gains.  A
friend of mine sold a wonderful old home here in the Chicago area when she
took a transfer and promotion to Columbus, OH.  Because her home cost less,
she quickly went about making improvements (remodeling bathroom, new hardwood
floors, built-in pool) to avoid the capital gains.  If I'm wrong about
this, I would love to hear what the real scoop is.
>A tax preparer should know.  But sometimes they aren't 100% right.  Which
>is why I arm myself with knowledge from The Net.  Thx.
>-- 
>Fred Christiansen, Motorola, 2900 S Diablo Way, Tempe, AZ 85282  "Canajun, eh?"
>fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com  ||  uunet!phx.mcd.mot.com!fredch  ||  +1 602-438-3464
>  On Attitude & the Immune System:  A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
>    but envy the rottenness of the bones.  Prov 14:30
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: adelon@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alain Delon)
Subject: toom
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 02:22:33 GMT



S


Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: kkl@athens.uucp (22474-lam)
Subject: IRS Audit
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 17:37:20 GMT
Keywords: Audit

Hi,

I need some advice on what to expect in an IRS audit.

In their letter, they say they want to see receipts
and proofs for every deductions/depreciations claimed.
While I have most of these, I can't find receipts for
some expenses claimed.

Can somebody share with me their IRS audit experience?
My audit is scheduled for Tuesday morning 9/2/92.

Thanks.

KK Lam

Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.invest
From: richt@meaddata.com (Rich Thompson)
Subject: Re: Is there going to be a tax credit or what!!!!!
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 12:35:48 GMT
Reply-To: richt@meaddata.com
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Sep2.201905.8293@cci632.cci.com>, jmv@cci632.cci.com (James Villard) writes:
|> I am posting this to misc.taxes and misc.invest because frankly
|> its the only two I read and it kind of deals with both. A very large
|> investment action depending on future taxe breaks.

   There is a paragraph or two in MONEY magazine this month about
   it.   I  can't remember what article it was in, but I'm pretty
   sure it was in  the first  ten pages.  It  was mentioned  when
   they are talking  about taxes in  general.  MONEY said that it
   has been  changed  from $5,000 to  $2,500  and it will  be for
   those who purchased a home BEFORE 1/1/93.  It does not mention
   what  date  the  house  had  to  be purchased  after,  though.
   Hopefully for the full year since I  closed  my first house on
   1/29/92.

   MONEY magazine did  mention  that they felt confident that  it
   would pass this year.

Rich
-- 
---
I bet you were expecting a disclaimer here, weren't you?

Richard L. Thompson                                Systems Development
Mead Data Central                                   richt@meaddata.com
9595 Springboro Pike                          ...!uunet!meaddata!richt
Dayton, Ohio  45342                           
Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.invest.real-estate
From: markr@mot.com (Mark)
Subject: Re: Is there going to be a home purchase tax credit or what!!!!!
Reply-To: markr@mcil.comm.mot.com
Organization: MCIL
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 04:17:43 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.201905.8293@cci632.cci.com> jmv@cci632.cci.com (James Villard) writes:
>I am posting this to misc.taxes and misc.invest because frankly
>its the only two I read and it kind of deals with both. A very large
>investment action depending on future tax breaks.

I've always heard that it is generally a bad idea to depend upon
various tax laws when making investments.  Any investment being
considered should be a good investment standing on its own without
considering tax benefits. (except perhaps tax-free bonds)

> I am going to buy a house from someone I know - I have been
>debating when to buy the house since this $5,000 tax credit
>was announced in Feb 92. Now its September and time is running
>out, I still have to apply for the mortgage, The way I see it
>I have one of two choices:
>
>1) Buy it in Nov or Dec of 92 and maybe receive a $5,000 Tax
>   Credit - If it ever goes through.
>
>2) Buy it in Jan 93 and miss out on the credit but receive
>   about $800 in tax savings for paying one year taxes in
>   advance on my 93 taxes. In 92 I cannot. Using Standard.
>
>So I can get a sure $800 or chance the $5,000. WHAT DO I DO!!!
>This has been driving me nuts for months - If this thing
>does not go through before NOV. it will be useless - By then
>it will be hard to get a closeing date by the end of 92.

I doubt such legislation can pass before the election in November.
The Democrats have Bush on the run and they won't give him
anything that may help him win in Nov.  Besides, many of them
are out campaigning and don't have time to worry about their
jobs.

>I have heard that is was changed from a $5,000 to a $2,500
>tax credit - were there any other changes and what the status
>of it now.

It doesn't exist, so it is anything our legislators decide.

Mark


Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: nimmo@scb3.larc.nasa.gov (Nancy A. Nimmo)
Subject: Tax course
Originator: nimmo@scb3.larc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 13:16:27 GMT


Has anyone ever taken any H&R Block tax courses?  They are offering
their basic course which seems quite comprehensive
for about $130, 66 hours over 11 weeks. I was
thinking about taking this course and was wondering if anyone has
heard anything about it.
   Thanks,  Nancy

Newsgroups: misc.taxes,misc.invest
From: jmv@cci632.cci.com (James Villard)
Subject: Is there going to be a tax credit or what!!!!!
Organization: Computer Consoles Incorporated
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:19:05 GMT

I am posting this to misc.taxes and misc.invest because frankly
its the only two I read and it kind of deals with both. A very large
investment action depending on future taxe breaks.

I am going to buy a house from someone I know - I have been
debating when to buy the house since this $5,000 tax credit
was announced in Feb 92. Now its September and time is running
out, I still have to apply for the mortgage, The way I see it
I have one of two choices:

1) Buy it in Nov or Dec of 92 and maybe receive a $5,000 Tax
   Credit - If it ever goes through.

2) Buy it in Jan 93 and miss out on the credit but receive
   about $800 in tax savings for paying one year taxes in
   advance on my 93 taxes. In 92 I cannot. Using Standard.

So I can get a sure $800 or chance the $5,000. WHAT DO I DO!!!
This has been driving me nuts for months - If this thing
does not go through before NOV. it will be useless - By then
it will be hard to get a closeing date by the end of 92.

I have heard that is was changed from a $5,000 to a $2,500
tax credit - were there any other changes and what the status
of it now.

Does any one think this thing is actually going to go though
or what - any chance of it being extended into 93 since it
won't do any good in 92.

THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please post or e-mail to me is you have any information,
suggestions or predictions.

DISCAIMER: The above constitues the beliefs of myself and not neccessarily
of my employer.

 ___________________________________________________________________________
|                                                                           |
|  James M. Villard                         E-mail: jmv@cci.com             |
|___________________________________________________________________________|


Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: stare@lonexb.rl.af.mil (Edward M. Starczewski)
Subject: Re: Passive Activity
Organization: RL
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 11:13:07 GMT

In article <59826@mimsy.umd.edu> terry@mimsy.umd.edu (Terry Gaasterland) writes:
>Yesterday I was at the library browsing through the various
>volumes of IRS publications just to see what I could see... and
>I came across an intriguing publication on Passive Activity ---
>passive business activity, that is.  The publication dealt mostly
>with taking losses on the passive activity, limitations to risk,
>and abstract definitions of what constitutes passive activity
>and who can partake in it.
>
>Now I'd like to find out more about passive activities.  The
>publication mentioned a few examples such as owning oil wells...
>
>Any ideas?  Any recommendations about where to read up on the
>subject?
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>  -- Terry Gaasterland
>

Passive activity has to do with investments where you are not directly involved
in the day-to-day activities, decision making, but have capital at risk and
derive tax benefits.  A prime example would be investing in a real estate
group - where all you do is contribute investment capital.

-- Edward Starczewski

-- 
Edward M. Starczewski     Fax: 315-330-2139
Rome Laboratory           Com: 315-330-4431
E-mail: stare@lonex.rl.af.mil
From: kunda@hanuman.Eng.Sun.COM (Ramachandra P. Kunda)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Is there going to be a tax credit or what!!!!!
Date: 3 Sep 92 19:22:35 GMT
Reply-To: kunda@hanuman.Eng.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: hanuman

In article 28367@meaddata.com, richt@meaddata.com (Rich Thompson) writes:
>In article <1992Sep2.201905.8293@cci632.cci.com>, jmv@cci632.cci.com (James Villard) writes:
>|> I am posting this to misc.taxes and misc.invest because frankly
>|> its the only two I read and it kind of deals with both. A very large
>|> investment action depending on future taxe breaks.
>
>   There is a paragraph or two in MONEY magazine this month about
>   it.   I  can't remember what article it was in, but I'm pretty
>   sure it was in  the first  ten pages.  It  was mentioned  when
>   they are talking  about taxes in  general.  MONEY said that it
>   has been  changed  from $5,000 to  $2,500  and it will  be for
>   those who purchased a home BEFORE 1/1/93.  It does not mention
>   what  date  the  house  had  to  be purchased  after,  though.
>   Hopefully for the full year since I  closed  my first house on
>   1/29/92.
>

I think the house has to be purchased between July 27(may be 26th)
1992 and Jan. 1, 1993.

>   MONEY magazine did  mention  that they felt confident that  it
>   would pass this year.
>
>Rich
>-- 
>---
>I bet you were expecting a disclaimer here, weren't you?
>
>Richard L. Thompson                                Systems Development
>Mead Data Central                                   richt@meaddata.com
>9595 Springboro Pike                          ...!uunet!meaddata!richt
>Dayton, Ohio  45342                           



ram
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: daniel@osefs1.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com (DANIEL Sedergren)
Subject: 401K Rollover Tax
Organization: Operational Support Engineering 78-20
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 23:59:14 GMT

I don't know if this has been previously posted in this group, but thought 
it would be interesting to share.

In the past when you took a lump sum distribution from a company retirement 
plan or 401K distribution, you had 60 days to roll over the distribution 
into an individual retirement account or other eligable plan.  As of 1 
January 1993 that all changes.

Unless the disbursement is made as a trustee-to-trustee transfer you will be 
liable for a 20% mandatory witholding of your funds by the IRS.  Without the 
trustee transfer, a $100,000 disbursement would mean that you would only 
receive $80,000.  You still have 60 days to roll into an IRA, tax-free until 
withdrawl, but to shelter the full $100,000, you would have to deposit $100,
000, i.e. you have to find the additional $20,000 from somewhere else.

If you don't come up with the $20,000 difference within 60 days, the 20K 
will be subject to regular tax plus a 10% penalty if your under 59 1/2.  
Getting any of the withheld tax back from the IRS will depend on your total 
tax bill for the year.  The $20K will be treated as an estimated tax 
payment, and applied to your total tax bill.

Congress figures that before sufficient people catch on to what's going on, 
they will raise an estimated $2.1 billion to help pay for those extended 
unemployment benifits they authorized.

Your only protection is to ensure that the disbursement is made trustee-to-
trustee so you must make the arrangement in advance and have your employer 
make the transfer directly to a cooperating bank, new employer's plan, etc.

You might also remember when you go to the polls in November, that it was 
your incumbent senator and representative that did this to you.



Dan Sedergren                       When you do more than your fair share   
amaziah@cup.portal.com              of the work, you will be given more     
DANIEL@osefs1.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com than your fair share of the work to do. 

DISCLAIMER: I know they're not much, but they're all mine.
From: gw@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Gordon Wilson)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 23:39:26 GMT
Subject: reduce deductions
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA
Newsgroups: misc.taxes

  Does anyone have any comments about the following procedure:

In odd years:
   Reduce your state income tax witholding (W4).
   Move property tax to the following year.
This has the effect of moving most of your deductions to even years.
But on the odd years, you will have the standard deduction,
which is worth about $3k x .31 = $1k.
You will need to pay penalties to the state and property tax
people for late payments, but that should be much less than $1k.
gordon
From: troly@redwood.math.ucla.edu (Bret Jolly)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Balance of Technology and Story
Summary: Definitions
Date: 3 Sep 92 01:09:41 GMT
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department

In article <14699@mindlink.bc.ca> Alan_Barclay@mindlink.bc.ca 
(Alan Barclay) writes:

>My definition of Speculative Fiction ( a group which includes Science
>Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror ) is "Fiction where one or more of the key
>problems only exists because of a speculative element."

 This definition would be more convincing if you told us what you
meant by "speculative element."  In any case, I don't see how a horror
story which is neither fantasy nor saifai would fit.

>The various genres are defined by the nature of the speculative element.
>Hard Science Fiction speculates on plausable extrapolations of the physical
>universe.  Soft Science Fiction speculates on plausable extrapolations of
>the social universe.  Fantasy speculates on implausable extrapolations of
>both.

   Just about all the supposed hard saifai I've seen contains glaring
impossibilities.  As for your definition of soft saifai, I don't know
what you mean by "the social universe," though evidently it is not bound
by the limitations of the physical universe.  In all three definitions,
the word "extrapolation" is abused.
Newsgroups: misc.writing
From: bf455@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bonita Kale)
Subject: Re: First one to correct the typo wins
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 11:01:26 GMT




In a previous article, mtan@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Maureen Tan) says:
>>  
>> Oops!  In item #7, I suspect that Alan means six WEEKS, not six months!
>> (Typo or Freudian slip, Alan?)
>...
>I am told via e-mail that this was NOT a typo.  Six MONTHS?!!
>How do you scifi folks eat?
>
>Maureen (I stand appalled, but corrected) Tan  
>

Maureen,

Where do you find shorter fiction response times than that?  Among
publishers of children's books, as I know to my sorrow, they are often much
longer.  I generally figure anything over three months is too long, but I
too don't inquire until six months.

By the way, I have never had any but a polite (usually not too helpful, but
polite) response to a telephoned inquiry to a book publisher after six
months.  And at least you make contact with a person, while your letter may
sit unanswered for another six months.

Bonita Kale
From: Crawford_Kilian@mindlink.bc.ca (Crawford Kilian)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Re: Computer-aided story design
Date: 30 Aug 92 17:12:56 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

Alan Barclay asks whether Storyspace, a hypertext tool, can do more than
outline...well, yes and no. You can use it to create a hypertext document with
tunnels from one segment to another, and put documents within documents. Robert
Coover, a somewhat experimental US novelist, published an intriguing article in
the NY Times Book Review last May or June, describing what he and his writing
students have been doing with Storyspace and similar packages. In effect, it
can give the reader the power to move through a story in any desired direction,
perhaps "skimming" the main story or dipping here and there into deeper levels.
As a crude example, we might meet a given character in chapter 3, with the
character's name flagged as a "button." Click on the name and you enter another
document supplying a detailed resume or dossier on the character.

Cynics might argue that Storyspace is just another way to avoid bookbinding
costs, obviating the "linear" structure of a normal book. They might be right.
Newsgroups: misc.writing