WHILE my audit tips usually focus on how you—the taxpayer—should conduct yourself, let’s look at how IRS agents are trained to conduct themselves when they interview you. Let’s change roles and learn how they work you over, I mean, work with you—from the agent’s perspective. IRS auditors are trained to: • Maintain a friendly and…
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…
ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void. These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud…
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…
IN the Philippines, many Pinoys do not have a car. If they do — it is one car per family. There are jeeps, tricycles, taxis (calesas in the olden days), pedicab, etc. to help us go from Point A to Point B. But here in the U.S., that can be a problem especially if you…
President Rodrigo Duterte will soon have his highest-ranking representative in Washington to serve as the Philippine ambassador to the United States, replacing the previous envoy who stepped down from his post more than a year ago. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a television interview revealed that the department is eyeing…
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California has received a $20 million donation from philanthropists Priscilla Hunt and the late Donald G. Hunt, the hospital announced last week. It is the largest donation ever given to the Catholic not-for-profit hospital and will be used to support Little Company of Mary’s Cardiovascular Center…
Top court rules against Trump’s request to expand the controversial travel policy The United States Supreme Court this week ruled in favor of a lower court opinion that temporarily banned extended family members of American citizens from six Muslim-majority nations. The highest court in the U.S. on Wednesday, July 19 voted to allow a ruling…
SOME Mindanao leaders were in defense and even expressed their optimism despite the recent snubbing by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of its rival Moro group, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). On Monday, July 17, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim did not mention MNLF as he acknowledged the different groups that helped in…
WE have a fascinating Old Testament reading (1 Kings 3-5, 7-12) for this Sunday’s Mass. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night to tell him, “Ask something of me, and I will give it to you.” Worried about the tremendous task of governing God’s people, the young Solomon answered, “Give your servant,…
The sixth installation of the Miss Philippines USA 2017 and Miss Young Philippines 2017 held last Sunday, July 16 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale proved to be one of the most successful Filipino-American pageants in Southern California. This year had the most number of contestants with 33 candidates vying for the crown. “This year…
For his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver a “direct to the point” speech that will run for about 50 minutes, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar disclosed on Friday, July 21. Andanar, who was present during Duterte’s rehearsal at the presidential guest house in Davao City on…
Psychedelic Information Brought to You By Tripsitter The People’s Ball, Fiesta in America’s preliminary episode and an elegantly schemed prelude to the two-day exposition and cultural indoor event, has consistently been a most-awaited and hugely attended summer social gathering this side of the east coast primarily due to its diversely themed fête and ambitiously conceptualized…
Psychedelic Information Brought to You By Tripsitter The People’s Ball, Fiesta in America’s preliminary episode and an elegantly schemed prelude to the two-day exposition and cultural indoor event, has consistently been a most-awaited and hugely attended summer social gathering this side of the east coast primarily due to its diversely themed fête and ambitiously conceptualized…
BRITISH rock band Coldplay celebrates the contributions of immigrants to the United States in their new lyric video titled “Miracles (Someone Special),” which also features Big Sean. The video also showcases America’s long history of welcoming immigrants from all over the world. It features photographs of immigrants arriving at New York City’s Ellis Island from…
ONE of the cornerstones of U.S. constitutional law is “equal protection”. That means people in similar situations should be treated the same. There should be no favoritism, such as on the basis of sex\gender. Men and women should be treated equally under the law. In a recent Supreme Court decision, Sessions vs. Morales-Santana, the Supreme…
ON November 17, 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued its final regulations entitled “Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High Skilled Non-immigrant Workers.” This rule which took effect on January 17, 2017 provides two grace periods to certain nonimmigrant visa holders. The rule provides a 10-day grace…
Losing weight on a diet that is high in fat is dangerous for overall health. The risk of coronary heart disease has been found to be significantly higher among those individuals who stayed on a high protein red meat diet to lose weight. While these subjects became slimmer, their cholesterol levels were high, leading to…
THE Philippines’ ruling political party is open to the possibility of learning new ideologies, policies — this time, from China’s sole governing party. Speaking before visiting Filipino journalists in Fujian province in China, Communist Party of China (CPC) officials said that in December 2016, the Philippines’ ruling political party PDP-Laban entered into an agreement with…
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said on Wednesday, July 19, that the Ombudsman’s indictment against former president Benigno Aquino III over the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015 is “weak.” Last week, the Ombudsman indicted Aquino for violation of the anti graft law and usurpation of authority for allowing his friend, suspended former Philippine National Police (PNP)…
STAR couple Angelina and Joey Mead King of TLC Asia’s “The Kings” reunited with Caitlyn Jenner during a recent dinner date in Malibu, California. Angelina, who came out as a transgender woman on an Instagram post last year, first met with fellow transwoman Caitlyn in November whom she calls as her “adviser”. “My adviser @caitlynjenner…
The alleged police-suspects for killing an accused drug lord and an inmate have not yet served their suspension orders, Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa revealed on Monday, July 17. Dela Rosa said Psupt. Marvin Marcos, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) and his co-accused men filed their…
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…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump loves to win and he just would never give up even after his campaign promise to “repeal and replace Obamacare on Day One” has collapsed many times over in the Republican-dominated House and Senate, despite going through several revisions and incarnations within his six months of presidency. After not being able to…
FOR decades, the Philippines has been on a quest for lasting peace. While the country is spared from being left in turmoil, the lingering process also comes with debilitating consequences on the people and the environment in areas of conflict. There have been numerous attempts in peace and development interventions, but the country has yet…
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales clarified that her “goading people to kill” comment was her own personal view and not something dictated by the law. “Her answer was ‘goading people to kill’ irrespective of the context is, to me, unacceptable.’ She did not say anything about any law against threatening criminals,” the Office of the Ombudsman said…
Winners to be sent to Top Model of the World Philippines and will tour with Foodtrients’ international launch of “The Age Beautifully Cookbook” in Philippines and around Asia Pageant contestants vying for Miss Philippines USA 2017 and Miss Young Philippines 2017 were cheered on by a sold-out crowd at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA…
ON some rare occasions, President Rodrigo Duterte can be soft toward his critics and their harsh remarks. Duterte, in his speech during former president Fidel Ramos’ book launching on Monday, July 17, said that he “accepts” the advice and “respect” the criticisms the former president throws against him. “I respect your criticism. I accept…
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…
