Court rules theft claim was actually bad investment

The Tax Court has refused to allow a theft loss deduction to a senior citizen who claimed he was swindled out of his retirement savings. Oscar C. Hawaii owned and operated a small trucking business. By early 2005, he had accumulated retirement savings of approximately...

Mileage rates increased mid-year

The IRS has announced that the optional mileage allowance for owned or leased autos (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will increase from 51 cents to 55.5 cents per mile for business travel. The increase took effect on July 1, 2011. The new rate is...

June wedding? Tax tips for newlyweds

While June may be the traditional month for weddings, the IRS offers a number of tax tips for newlyweds at any time of the year. Among those tax-related changes that newlyweds should think about now are notifications of change of name and address, as well as updating...

Is your favorite charity still a nonprofit entity?

Most tax-exempt organizations are required to file an annual return or notice, a requirement that is important to people claiming a tax deduction for charitable giving. The IRS automatically revokes the exemption of any organization that fails to satisfy its filing...

‘Cat lady’ denied deductions by court

It seems as if every neighborhood has a “cat lady.” And now the Tax Court has Jan Van Dusen. Van Dusen is an attorney who cares for cats in her private residence. She volunteers for a qualified charitable organization called Fix Our Ferals. Van Dusen traps...