Enforcers At The IRS Harass $10 An Hour Worker
Dec 7, 2009 Political
A hair stylist in Seattle who makes fewer than $20,000 a year was recently investigated by the IRS because the government organization claims that she does not make enough money to live where she does. According to the IRS, Rachel Porcaro, cannot possibly be living on her low wages and they have determined that she is not making enough to provide for her children so she is losing her earned income credit.
I am no fan of the EIC but it is legal and if she is entitled to it, she should get it. But the IRS is convinced that she makes too little and they believe she must have unclaimed income.
Porcaro lives with her parents and does not live a lavish lifestyle. The IRS spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars in order to get a little more than a thousand dollars from Porcaro. That is efficiency at its finest. To top it off, Porcaro and her family are out thousands of dollars because they racked up bills defending against the harassment.
Why is it that a guy like Tim Geithner can deliberately not pay his taxes and he does not get fined or put in jail but a $10 an hour worker is harassed by the IRS? The same is true for Charlie Rangel who is a tax cheat. Why does not the IRS spend more time going after real tax cheats (just look at the Obama administration or Congress for that matter) and leave hard working people alone.
Obviously if this woman or any other taxpayer is breaking the law then the IRS has a duty to check it out but people in this income pay NO taxes. Why harass them when there are people skirting the tax laws everyday?
We need to abolish the IRS and simplify the tax code so that everyone pays a piece of the bill and we need to eliminate things like the EIC that allows people who pay NO taxes to get money back. This is backdoor welfare.
But until we do just that, this woman and many more like her are living on what they make and filing taxes in accordance with the law.
H&R Block did her taxes so it is not like she cheated them. Besides, she pays no taxes so how could she cheat anyone?
As for her kids, neither she nor her parents can claim any EIC. She cannot claim her kids because the IRS says she can’t possibly be taking care of them.
And yet she is.
Government idiocy at its best.
Hey IRS, go pick on the tax cheats in government and leave the hard working folks who try to obey the laws alone.
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Tags: earned income credit, geithner, irs, poor people, rangel, tax code, taxes
The IRS Just Got a New Function
Aug 16, 2009 Political
I knew this was coming, after discovering the provision in HR 3200 that would mandate government the right to go into your bank account and extract the amount of your gubbmint health scare, but I thought it might need to form a new collection agency- what WAS I thinking? Of course it is a natural fit.
The IRS is already quite possibly the most hated agency in America, why should they create another? They already have most of the pertinent information, and they have a storied tradition of invading peoples’ live in search of the government lucre. And when they do not find it, they know how to put people in prison- just ask Al Capone.
Under both the House and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee bills released to the public, the Internal Revenue Service will play a key role in monitoring and enforcing health care mandates against individual taxpayers. Yet the introduction of the IRS into the health care system has received scant attention.
The Senate bill imposes a new requirement that all persons who provide health care coverage to others must file a return with the IRS listing the names, addresses, social security numbers, and the coverage period for each person, and “such other information as the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] may prescribe.” (Section 161(b) starting at page 107). The bill does not limit what information the Secretary may request, so it is conceivable and likely that information as to the nature of the coverage, the family members included, and other details will be reported to the IRS.
The House bill contains similar provisions in section 401(b) (at pp. 175-176). The following information must be reported by the person providing health coverage:
(A) the name, address, and TIN of the primary insured and the name of each other individual obtaining coverage under the policy, (B) the period for which each such individual was provided with the coverage referred to in subsection (a), and (C) such other information as the Secretary may require.
This information is to be provided to the IRS for good reason. The House bill provides for a tax on people who do not have acceptable coverage at “any time” during the tax year. House bill section 401 provides for a new section 59B (at pp. 167-168) of the Internal Revenue Code:
(a) TAX IMPOSED.—In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of—
(1) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
The Senate version is similar, although the tax is called a “shared responsibility payment” not a tax. Section 161 (at pp. 103-104) words new section 59B of the IRC to require lack of coverage for a month (subject to certain exemptions) before the tax kicks in, and does not specify a specific percentage, but instead, directs that annually
the Secretary shall seek to establish the minimum practicable amount that can accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage (as so defined).
legalinsurrection.blogspot.com
Oh joy- more of our freedoms lost- well, this is ALWAYS to be expected under Democratic rule. Contrary to their “stated” goals and tenets, the Dems LOVE to exert control, and they are trying to exert with all their might, using every tool that they can bring to bear.
Now,the courts will have to determine whether the IRS has the legal right to delve into Healthcare monies, or whether a new agency must be formed. My thinking is that they are not legally empowered by the Constitution to collect these specific monies- but then I am not a judge- I can’t parse the Constitution as some of them can, but my feeling is that unless the Hussein buys off some judges, things will have to go another way.
I hope so, because it might give Congress time to come to their senses and deny the administration the unrestrained powers of this bill. This is a bad bill, and yes- NO bill is always better than a bad one.
This is a case of, “Go back home, and do it again.”
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Tags: healthcare, illegal powers, invasion of privacy, irs, taxes
If Rangel Were A Republican He’d Be In Jail
Nov 24, 2008 Political
Charlie Rangel is the moron Congressman from Harlem New York who acts more like a street hustler than a member of Congress. Rangel has been caught avoiding income taxes on property he owns and when it was exposed he claimed ignorance of the tax laws, the laws he writes since he heads that committee. He must be too busy pimping around in his expensive leased Caddy that the taxpayers foot the bill for to pay attention to his finances.
Rangel has four rent controlled apartments in New York when the laws says he can only have one and he uses one of them as an office even though that too is against the law. Now it looks as if Rangel used a DC Homestead exemption to avoid paying property taxes in the District.
This is a real problem because Rangel is not a resident of DC. He has property there because he works at the Capitol but his place of residence is New York. He must live in his district in order to represent it in Congress so that means he cannot take the Homestead credit in DC.
There are a number of other problems with what he has done and they all point to even more violations of the law (in addition to the violation that involves avoiding taxes) which could land Rangel in trouble, if someone would actually investigate the issue.
If He Were A Republican He’d Be Investigated
Democrats have no ethical principles so they will not investigate it. If a Republican breaks the law or some rule the Democrats are like bleating sheep making all kinds of noise and pointing out the infraction. Then they use the issue to tell America how ethical they are and how they deserve to be elected so that these kinds of things will not happen.
Of course, they happen quite frequently but Democrats refuse to investigate or put on some dog and pony show so it looks like they are investigating and then they leave it alone. Why is William Jefferson still in Congress?
I think that a new approach is in order and it is one that does not involve Congress. The people of New York (it might have to be limited to his district) need to file whatever papers are needed to have him removed from office because he is not a resident of Harlem. He has filed for, and received for a number of years, the DC Homestead credit which is only available to residents so Rangel has made himself a resident of DC.
He could probably argue that he was a resident of New York since he votes there. In that case they should offer him a new residence in a federal penitentiary. If he claims residency in one state and votes in another, illegal. If he filed the Homestead credit and he is not a resident, illegal. If he filed it to avoid taxes, very illegal. He has violated a number of laws and they should make him pay dearly for it. The linked article has all the pertinent information.
The Democrats should treat Rangel as they would were he a Republican.
That should get rid of him.
Tags: charlie rangel, corruption, homestead credit, irs, law breaker, tax evasion
Shut Down Banking Giant UBS?
Jul 17, 2008 Political
Senator Carl Levin wants to revoke the license of UBS, one of the world’s largest banks because they have been doing some naughty things. The bank has been shielding the money of rich Americans from the IRS thus helping them to avoid taxes.
“They wanted secrecy. UBS gave them secrecy,” Levin said.
Levin revealed a list of “secrecy tricks” he said the UBS bankers used to carry out their tax haven schemes.
The list includes code names for clients, using untraceable pay phones, encrypted computers, fake trusts, counter-surveillance training, and shredding files. (Complete List)
Levin said UBS hid behind Swiss bank secrecy laws to hide its misconduct, and offered services in the US it was not licensed to provide. ABC News
Maybe I am mistaken but aren’t Democrats the ones who get so upset about invasion of privacy? The Democrats are the ones who cry about warrantless wiretaps and other methods of surveillance so why should they be upset that the Swiss have methods in place to ensure that privacy is upheld and people are not spied upon?
I mean, does Levin want us to believe that rich people have fewer rights than the terrorists who are trying to kill us?
Perhaps they should be trying to figure out why all the rich folks are hiding their money. Of course it is to avoid paying taxes on it. Who can blame them when Democrats keep trying to tax the rich out of existence? Every other word out of a Democrat’s mouth involves taxing the rich so those folks want to protect their money.
If they broke the law then find out who they are and prosecute them for tax evasion. However, if they are going to take that tact they need to ensure they go after every person on the list regardless of who it is. If some wealthy politician has been hiding money there or some lefty movie star then those people need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
As for the bank, if they broke no laws then they should be left alone. If they broke an agreement or law then do something about it but the IRS needs to go after every person on the list.
I have a better idea for Levin. Learn these secrecy tips and apply them to our government. Then maybe the New York Times won’t keep getting our secrets and giving them to the enemy.
I hope that list has all the liberals who tell us we don’t pay enough in taxes. Man that would be priceless…
Tags: carl levin, hiding money, irs, taxes, ubs
Empty Promises of the Democratic Party
Oct 28, 2007 Political
There is a segment of society that believes people are entitled to everything in life at no cost whatsoever. These people have been around for quite some time but they have multiplied in numbers since the 1960s when LBJ and his policies created a group dependent upon government for everything. These policies helped to breed new generations of people who believed that they were entitled to anything they wanted from health care to college free of charge, paid for by the government. Unfortunately, those among this group who chose to go to school were failed by the educational system that did not teach them that whatever the government gives away is taken from others who have worked hard to earn it.
Those in the government, particularly the Democratic party, who espouse higher taxes and wealth redistribution believe that this is only proper and that it is our duty to care for those less fortunate. People like John Edwards, Martin O’Malley (Maryland Governor), Hillary Clinton, and B. Hussein Obama believe that we should all contribute to these programs or that we all have to sacrifice. They use euphemisms to mask what is really taking place and that is extortion. We do not make contributions and we are not sacrificing because these are acts that are voluntary. We are relieved of our money under threat. Our money is coerced from us under the strong arm of the government and the jack booted IRS who will crush us and put us in jail if we refuse to pay those who are extorting from us. A bigger problem is that the federal government can increase the amount we are required to pay at any time and we either take it or go to jail, or we find ways to earn less money so that we do not pay as much to the tax collector.
The Democratic hopefuls for the office of President have all expressed their desires to raise taxes on those who work so that those who do not may reap benefits from our hard work. I do not believe that people are entitled to free heath care and they are not entitled to a free college education. Of course, it would only be free to them because someone, those paying taxes, would have to pay the bills.
I believe that people are entitled to affordable health care and affordable education. I have, many times, written about health care and how it could be made affordable. My plan involves less government intervention and requires people to be responsible for their choices. I also believe that education should be affordable and that people should be able to take out low cost loans in order to get an education. None of these items requires taxpayers to foot the bills. Of course, in order for people to be able to get a good college education we must overcome the dismal performance of public schools in preparing people for college.
Another issue is Social Security and this is also an area where the Democrats do not want people to have a choice. They are content with raising the rate or cap upon which SS is based in order to pay out meager retirement checks and thus keep the elderly beholden to the government. Social Security should be privatized so that people can make their own retirement decisions. Any plan that involves retirement money should allow people to pass their savings on to their heirs, something the Democrats oppose.
No matter how it is sliced the Democrats espouse class warfare with social programs that force those with money to pay for those without. Unfortunately these programs have a stifling effect on production and growth and cause more and more people to become dependent upon the big nanny government. The Democrats know this and that is their end game. The more people beholden to them the more votes they can count on.
The unfortunate reality is that most people who vote Democrat do not see the error of these kinds of policies. They go through life blind to the realities and as long as they get their checks they do not care.
Related item:
Concord Monitor
My Way
Tags: democratic hopefuls, extortion, heath care, Hillary Clinton, irs, John Edwards, o malley, Obama, tax collector, wealth redistribution