CLIENT no. 1 is 50 years old and the manager of a big retail store. He’s been working there for 30 years. Spouse got into an accident and is now on disability. He owns a house with $200K of equity. He has believe it or not, 11 children from age 2 to 18. Just imagine…
(Why employees are suing Nike) OMRAN Hamid worked at a Nike store in San Clemente for 15 months. He filed a class action case against Nike, claiming, among other things, that Nike required its minimum-wage employees to buy and pay for Nike-branded clothes as a condition of employment. Hamid alleged that they had to wear…
DO you have debt problems that you don’t know how to handle? Are you considering filing for bankruptcy but are afraid that it will only make your situation worse? Have you recently been sued by creditors and are afraid of what they might do next? If you are struggling with debt problems and are starting…
What you need to do when you received a call or notice from the IRS? Below are some tips that you should be aware of: • Revenue Officer (RO) observes fair tax collection practices and taxpayer rights. • You have Right to Representation under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.1.10.7.2. • You will be advised first…
WHEN John Barrie first started working as an office technician for California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), he informed his supervisor that he had allergic rhinitis. This made him extremely allergic to chemicals and scented products like perfumes and household cleansers. His supervisor informally accommodated him by asking employees to refrain from wearing strong perfumes and…
MUST you attend your own IRS audit? You don’t have to. This is always a tactical question that should be discussed at the early stage of an audit. I have a feeling that you’d rather not go. I don’t want you to go either. So, let’s discuss why you should not attend your funeral… I…
DO you have old debts in the past that you haven’t paid and are wondering if the creditors can still come back now and collect from you after so many years? This is a common question that I am often asked. I actually see a lot of people in this situation. At some time in…
FORM W-2 and Form 1099-R should be available to you by January 31st and corrected versions should be available by end of February. What you need to do if any of these Forms are not available to you: • Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for help. Make sure to have the following information handy as…
FIELD audits are more challenging than office audits. They are conducted at your place of business. Audits are performed by Revenue Agents who have many years of experience. They may hold advanced degrees. Many are CPAs and attorneys. Revenue Agents are the elite of the crop. They undergo intensive audit training to act as detectives…
Protecting women’s rights at work CRYSTAL Losorelli worked as a correctional officer at a men’s prison in Chino, California. She became pregnant and requested light duty assignment. Crystal had asked for a similar accommodation in a prior pregnancy, which was granted by the employer. But this time, in response to her request, the employer reclassified…
HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does not seem to recommend the assumption of debt. Otherwise, it should say, it’s OK to be a borrower, but not a lender or vice-versa. This…
WHEN your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, it is one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the decision should not be taken lightly and it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to see if it is best for your…
NEITHER one, actually. You see, IRS conducts field audits where the books and records of a business are maintained. This, of course, is your office, home, warehouse, factory, or store. But I don’t like any of these locations. What I like is my own accounting office. After representing taxpayers in IRS disputes for decades, I…
“Independent contractors” lose employment rights “The most important factor to consider whether a worker is an employee or an IC is the employer’s right to control the worker in performing the job.” EDUARDO Garcia worked 15-hour days as a port truck driver for Tradelink Transport. Even after working 15 hours, his boss would wave him back…
HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does not seem to recommend the assumption of debt. Otherwise, it should say, it’s OK to be a borrower, but not a lender or vice-versa. This…
IF you’ve ever been in a situation in your life where you had to file bankruptcy as a last resort in order to get out of debt, you know exactly what I am talking about. After having counseled thousands of people with debt problems over the years, I have learned that unresolved debt problems can…
U.S. citizens are generally taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where the income is earned or received. A U.S. citizen who earns income in a foreign country may also be taxed on that income by a foreign host country thereby leading to double taxation. Below are the three tax provisions alleviating potential inequity: •…
Reporting kickbacks and irregularities are protected activities STEVEN Babyak worked as a regional sales manager for Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. Throughout his three years at the company, he was consistently rated a top sales manager. Babyak complained to upper management, human resources and corporate legal counsel that the company may be violating several…
CLIENT is 50, divorced and used to own a business that had a commercial lease for retail space. He operated the business for 10 years. On the 11th year, sales started to plunge for unknown reason such that debtor could no longer pay the commercial lease of his retail space. He still had 2 years…
ARE you in debt and in a constant state of worrying about your financial situation? Perhaps like most people you live paycheck to paycheck and are barely surviving but you’ve made the mistake of borrowing more money than you can pay back. You’re not alone. This happens to a lot of people. But worrying and…
There are three basic types of IRS audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. A. Correspondence audits are generally used for specific questions that can easily be verified. B. Office audits are conducted at the various offices of the IRS and tend to be structured. C. Field audits are geared toward businesses whose books and records…
YOU have not filed your income tax returns for the current year and previous years because: 1) you decided you are not required to file? 2) You are a victim of identity theft and therefore excuse? 3) You know you will owe taxes and you will have to pay when you file, decided not to…
“If the employee worked more than 12 hours in a work day or in excess of 8 hours on the seventh day in a work week, the employee is entitled to double the employee’s regular rate.” OVER 1,300 call center-based nurses sued Permanente Medical Group, Inc., the medical group that staffs the Kaiser Permanente system,…
THERE are three basic types of IRS audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations. Let’s discuss correspondence audits. 1. Do not be afraid to open mails from the IRS. If you are, here’s an antidote to your dilemma: imagine that it’s a refund check. I have seen unopened mail with 30-day letters and 90-day letters (Stationary…
A LOT of people in debt are in denial about their situation so they go about their lives pretending that everything is OK- until one day they find themselves in a financial emergency. Most debt problems don’t go away on their own, especially if the creditor is able to file a lawsuit, obtain a judgment…
THE bills described in this Rental Property Owner and Mangers Guide are rental housing related bills that were signed into law in 2016 and become effective January 1, 2017 unless otherwise specified. Certified Access Specialist Inspections AB 2093. Beginning January 1, 2017 to make sure that properties are in compliance with disability access laws, commercial…
Businessman considers bankruptcy for $400K lawsuit I ASKED him if he owed any debts. He said he owed $60K of credit card debt but that they were all still current. I asked him if he was thinking of filing a Chapter 7 petition to wipe out the $60K of credit card debt and the bank…
CHRISTOPHER Mendoza and Meagan Gordon are former sales associates of Nordstrom, Inc., a retail chain with locations throughout California. Mendoza and Gordon worked more than six consecutive days in a week with some shifts that lasted six hours or less. Both employees sued Nordstrom claiming that the employer failed to provide them the required day…
1. DON’T volunteer information. A typical agent is a low-key, friendly agent. They get your guard down by playing a nice guy role. Don’t be deceived by it. Remember that he (includes her) is not on your side. He may appear to be, but he is not. 2. Don’t be a blabbermouth. Taxpayers are scared…
IF you’ve ever found yourself financially broke or buried in debt at one point in your life, I’m sure you still remember how it felt. The feelings of despair and helplessness, the sleepless nights, the endless anxiety about the future- A lot of people will never understand until they have experienced it for themselves. From…
