IRS extends the Federal income tax deadline from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. This new due date applies to both filings and payments due April 15, 2020. This extension is automatic. There’s no need to file additional forms. If you need additional time beyond July 15, 2020 (which I suspect most of you…
Q: I read about severe cases of COVID-19 infections requiring several weeks of recovery. Can the employer fire me while being on leave due to this illness? Do I have remedies? A: The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) protects employees’ rights to take a leave of absence due to the serious health condition of the…
I MUST admit that the $2 trillion stimulus package to counter the virus-induced slowdown is noteworthy. In the next three weeks, 93% of Americans will be receiving $1,200 each, according to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. The Senate has just approved this bill. President Donald Trump is all for it, and it goes to Congress for its…
A LOT of people who are contemplating bankruptcy as a solution to their debt problems often wonder if it can be avoided at all. They fear that they might be making the biggest mistake of their lives. If you are struggling with debt problems and are starting to feel hopeless about your situation because you…
Q: I work for a company that provides 40 hours of paid sick leave. This is about five days of work. If I ever need to take leave due to COVID-19, five days may not be enough. What are my options? A: As of this writing, the recorded cases of COVID-19 is approaching 11,000 in…
THESE are trying times indeed. We have been advised to self-isolate in the meantime that we are waging a war against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Sure, social distancing makes a whole lot of sense. But what happens to all those new bankruptcy cases I just filed on behalf of my clients with 341A hearings coming…
HERE is a welcome new for seniors like me. Probably you too. We hate filling out tax forms with small words crammed into small boxes. Fear not, support is on the way with a new simpler 1040 SR. It displays bigger fonts for elderly eyes. Here are 10 things about this new simple form 1040…
Q: I am a working parent with a school-age child, who has been sent home due to fears of infection from the coronavirus. My work entails interacting with people throughout the day. I want to take precautions, practice social distancing, and self-quarantine if necessary. However, I am worried about my job. What are my rights…
“ My senior client cannot do Chapter 7 because he has a lot of non-exempt equity in his house. He can only do Chapter 13 to handle those credit cards.” WHAT do I mean by “very senior client?” The client is 90 years old. He qualifies as my second most senior client, after a 92-year-old…
(Yes, if employer has control over employees) OVER a decade ago, four truck drivers sued Wal-Mart claiming Wal-Mart violated California’s meal and rest break laws. As part of their job, truckers would travel a wide range of routes, to different locations, hauling different freight. Wal-Mart paid truckers through an “activity-based pay system,” which included pay…
LET me give you the background on this case. The husband is 81 but still looks active. He is slim and sprightly. The wife is 79 and looks nervous. Normally, spouses are on the same track and agree with what has to be done. But in this case, I’m not sure what is going on….
1. One big change this year is a reduction of Form1040 schedules from six in 2018 down to three in 2019. Some schedules will be merged while some will revert to the base 1040 form. 2. Decimal places for cents are deleted from each line. Cents are useless and create clutter. Most people round dollar…
FILING Bankruptcy is a serious decision for most people. Although almost a million people file Bankruptcy in every year, most don’t have a clue about how the process works until they actually consult with an attorney. Confusion often results from hearing conflicting personal opinions from people they know. Sad to say, well-meaning friends and family…
A 65-year-old husband has just handed in his application for retirement from his job. He makes a gross of $5,000 a month with overtime. Upon retirement, he will net about $3,700 as pension. That’s not bad at all. In fact, that’s a lot better than social security benefits. If it were social security, he would…
You fail to report investment income from interest and dividends: You must report interest and dividends from banks and brokers. If you fail to disclose such accounts to your spouse… err, the IRS, you could be courting an audit if the amounts are material. Remember that banks and brokers submit 1099-INT and 1099-DIV to the…
RIOT Games, Inc. is a multi-billion dollar video game developer, with headquarters in Los Angeles, operating in 24 offices around the world and employing about 2,500 workers, 80% of them male. Riot Games’ employees, Melanie McCracken and Jessica Negron, sued their employer in a class action, alleging that female employees in the company were denied…
IF you are in debt and are seriously considering bankruptcy as an option, I am sure a lot of thoughts are going through your mind. I just want to get out of debt and start a new life but how quickly can I recover from bankruptcy? What are the different types of bankruptcy available? How…
EVEN though the economy and stock markets are positive, the coronavirus problem has dampened business outlook worldwide. Given this environment, not all businesses here are able to survive. For instance, even if phase 1 of the trade deal with China has been signed, many businesses that cater to the Chinese trade business cannot continue operating…
AMANDA Frlekin and others worked for Apple Inc. as retail store employees in its retail stores in California. Apple requires them to undergo exit searches pursuant to its “Employee Package and Bag Searches” policy, which imposes mandatory searches of employees’ bags, packages, purses, backpacks, briefcases, and personal Apple technology devices. Failure to comply with this…
You deposited or withdrew over $10,000 in cash: Depositing or withdrawing over $10,000 in cash attracts attention. Banks are required to notify the IRS. Depositing or withdrawing $9,950 or $5,000 twice is even worse. This creates a pattern and suspicion that you are purposely evading tax rules. The former can lead to penalties; the latter…
IF financial start. Bankruptcy is a powerful remedy because it stops most collection actions, including lawsuits, wage garnishments, bank levies and foreclosure. It also wipes out many types of debts. Most people who file bankruptcy have credit card debts, personal loans, medical bills, back mortgage payments, medical bills, to name a few. While most debts…
You missed to report all W-2s, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT or 1099-INT: If you missed to report income from employment (W-2 with withholding) or independent contracting (Form 1099 without withholding), tough luck. You see, companies who pay you report W-2 and 1099s to the IRS. Your failure to report such income creates a mismatch with IRS computers….
LET’S assume that you have incurred too much debt. What do I mean by too much debt? By this, I mean that you are now a slave to creditors because your debt level is beyond what your income can handle comfortably such that there is every month you have no savings. Let’s discuss the pros…
And which of them should pay back wages? ELVIA Jimenez worked as a direct employee for Ameritemps, a temporary employee staffing service. Ameritemps placed Jimenez with U.S. Continental Marketing, Inc. (USCM), a manufacturing company that makes shoe care products. Jimenez was performing a supervisory role as a line lead in USCM’s production department, overseeing both…
JEREMIAH Matthews worked as a cook and a maintenance supervisor for Happy Valley Conference Center. Happy Valley is an affiliate of the Community of Christ Church and hosts seminars, retreats, and camps for church members in their property. Mathews was supervised by the executive director, Melinda Gunnerud. Gunnerud frequently flirted with younger male employees. Gunnerud…
Scoring system: The IRS uses a Discriminant Function System (DIF) to determine returns that are most likely to generate additional revenue for the government. Although the scoring is secret, it’s based on two factors: Total Positive Income and Total Gross Receipts. A return with a high DIF score is more likely to be audited, since…
IS the means test in bankruptcy? It’s a method for calculating what your household income is to determine if you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code. By household income, we mean the combined income of husband and wife, if the debtor is married, unless they are separated. The means test…
ARE you having problems paying your debts? Are creditors calling you day and night threatening you with a wage garnishment, repossession or foreclosure? Are you starting to feel hopeless and depressed about your situation and don’t know where to turn for help? The last few years have been tough for a lot of people. You…
THE YOUNG: The first set of clients are in their late twenties, the epitome of youth. They have their whole life ahead of time. They married three years ago. Right after they got married, they spent all of their money to buy a retail business thinking that the business would flourish and provide their new…
ON January 29, 2020, the FBI conducted a raid of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name church in Van Nuys, California. During the raid, the federal authorities arrested three top administrators for the church. The FBI alleged that the church was engaging in immigration fraud and human trafficking. The raid and…
