Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

snakeweasel said:

wow the scammers are working overtime today. So far today I have 2 voicemails that's a robotic voice stating that they are from the Department of Social Security Administration stating that due to suspected fraud they have suspended my SSN. 

How do you "suspend" a social security number? Do they....like....declare you legally dead?

I’d love to have my SS# suspended. Assuming the IRS would “ghost” me and I’d be lifted of the burden I’m now sifting through to file currently. I hate doing taxes.

Sounds like I’d have to go “credit card-less” too. I’m OK with that. If my SS# is suspended, no capital gains, either. I’d cash out totally and pay cash for everything. I like that idea all the way around!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

ab348 said:

28firefighter said:

Tesla warns firefighters in documentation that it's cars may reignite for an extended period of time.

When Richard Hammond crashed the electric Rimac supercar in 2017, it burned for 5 days because the L-I batteries kept reigniting. "Thermal runaway" apparently.

I remember reading the headline of the first press release and being physically sick in my stomach. I’m a Hammond fan and I thought they were announcing his death.

Later I read an article focused on the car in question and the source of the fire was an interesting finding. The author said the fire originated from the cooling/lubrication oil, not the batteries. A transfer line sheared and dripped oil onto hot components, which then ignited and eventually spread to the battery pack. I never saw anything indicating how long it burned, but it makes sense that each cell would ignite over time if they couldn’t get the internal heat under control. Maybe further investigation may have found more since then.

Oh, did you know that the car was a customer’s, and that it couldn’t be replaced? Oof. That would be bad.

snakeweasel

sb55 said:

I wonder if SB55 could see this. https://electrek.co/2019/02/26/tesla-model-x-mysterious-burning-fire-frozen-lake/

I did see this reported yesterday. Shelburne, VT is about 30 miles south of me. AFIK they have to remove the car's carcass in a certain amount of time, or get fined. People drive all over the ice this time of year. Last week there was a pickup towing a +/- 20' box trailer holding 2 atv's in front of my place. They had to drive about 5 miles over the ice to get over here. Crazy ice fishermen!

I can't see driving out on the ice. Way to dangerous. I remember one time when 8 was in the service we had to rescue a bunch of people stranded on a sheet of ice that had broken off and started to drift in the middle of Lake Erie. When we picked them up they wanted to know when we would get their trucks, snowmobiles and other equipment, we told them they had to arrange that themselves with a private salvage company.

As far as I know those vehicles and equipment are at the bottom of Lake Erie.

bwia

Back to the future

houdini2

dino001 said:

imidazol97 said:

I just saw an article about how the IRS tax refunds are now equal to last year--I assume in total amounts.

The problem with all the political hand wringing over the earlier data is that it's like a CR poll--the data isn't sufficient to mean much. It might have been correct, but not proven.

"Tax refunds increased by 17 percent last week and are now at the same level as last year, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin/"

The other factor to taxes is that many don't understand the block aspect of the various marginal rates.
Best I saw last year was a bar graph with multiple blocks representing the various tax rates stacked on top of the deduction with the vertical axis being the total dollars earned and then next to the blocks maximum in each stack it showed the total taxes that would have been paid.

The other is loaning the government money. I erred when I kept my withholding the same from my major sources. And I failed to take into account that I was having Fed withholding on RMD's. My bad.

It's much much worse. Most media and run story that since the refunds were lower, somehow people's taxes must be higher. Of course raging financial illiteracy of the general population and its average math skills on levels between preschool and first grade don't help in understanding that you pay taxes in your paycheck, not just around April 15. Some (many) people truly believe that just because their refund is lower (or "worse", they owe more), it must mean the taxes went up.

That is true, but also now after it was reported that refunds were less, one week later and they are having to admit that refunds this year are actually about the same a last year !

ab348

snakeweasel said:

I can't see driving out on the ice. Way to dangerous.

Really just depends on how cold it is for how long and how thick the resulting ice is. There are many places where it is commonplace during a few months of winter. Not to mention the far north and things like the TV show about the Ice Road Truckers.

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

snakeweasel said:

wow the scammers are working overtime today. So far today I have 2 voicemails that's a robotic voice stating that they are from the Department of Social Security Administration stating that due to suspected fraud they have suspended my SSN. 

Well, if you had my “excellent credit history” you’d be getting calls offering zero interest loans instead.

What is considered "excellent credit history"?

A FICO score of 800+ is considered excellent.  The score takes into consideration credit history, amount of used credit compared to total credit shown as a %, payment history, etc.  The score, itself is what is looked at.  If you had a bankruptcy or missed monthly payments, the score would reflect that,

740-799 is considered GOOD
800+ is considered excellent
Below 700 is considered fair 

Yeah I kinda knew that, not sure why I asked. Anyways I am just a few points shy of excellent.

You’ll Always be “excellent” in my book! 

berri

I think there are multiple sides to the new tax law. Personally, I think the failure of closing loopholes among other things over favored the very wealthy. It also was perhaps a little too political with the red state v. blue state changes in tax deduction limits. Regardless, I think the biggest issue many be the law's implementation. Perhaps they lowered initial withholding a little too aggressively. The middle class is often stretched, so it probably would have been better to not decrease withholding as much and after a year's experience let the taxpayers decide if they want to further reduce their withholding amount. A big issue it is exacerbating down the road is the widening deficit and the potential pressure on interest rates. That issue may affect auto sales in the next several years.

abacomike

ab348 said:

I can't see driving out on the ice. Way to dangerous.

Really just depends on how cold it is for how long and how thick the resulting ice is. There are many places where it is commonplace during a few months of winter. Not to mention the far north and things like the TV show about the Ice Road Truckers.

Same is true for the series “Ice Pilots”!  Prime Video airs that series about Buffalo Airways up in the Canadian NWT.  Often landing strips are on frozen lakes up near the Arctic Circle.  Love that series.  They fly vintage WWII C46’s and C47’s as well as DC4’s and the Lockeed Electra’s (Vintage 1950-1960).

oldfarmer50

venture said:

oldfarmer50 said:

venture said:

The dealer body shop that has my Legacy called yesterday. After they dismantled it they discovered a few other things that need fixed. Now, instead of 3 or 4 days, it's going to be 2 weeks. He also said the estimate is up to $4,000. Great googally moogally!

Just for giggles I looked at the Nissan site to see what the Murano I am renting sells for (MSRP anyway). It starts at over $43,000. I'm absolutely amazed anyone would spend that much money for one of them...I don't care how much they can be bought for under retail. I can hardly wait to get my Legacy back.

Steep depreciation or screaming bargain?

https://www.enterprisecarsales.com/list/buy-a-car-1/text=2018 nissan murano+sort=distance,asc,,display_price,asc?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4Jal0-zf4AIVGrjACh1oVAnuEAAYASABEgKmRfD_BwE&CUR=Google_Brand&cm_mmc=Google-_-Brand-_-CSA_G_US_SE_Group3_B_EXM_NTL_EN_US-_-search_used_car_inventory-SL&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMI4Jal0-zf4AIVGrjACh1oVAnuEAAYASABEgKmRfD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!4824!3!264757827114!e!!g!!enterprises car sales

$43k new and $30-$31k one year old. I don't know what Enterprise buys them for, but I doubt it's MSRP. I wouldn't buy one anyway. I see a lot of them around so someone likes them.

From things I’ve seen I’m guessing a 10% fleet rate discounts on just released models. I’m sure they might get more or less depending on how much the manufacturer wants to move them but that’s just a guess.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

oldfarmer50 said:

No real keys either nowadays.

The other day we were taking cars out of service at a local office. The key fob or the car battery was dead because I couldn’t unlock the door. There was no key slot to insert a key anywhere. The youngsters running the office marched outside eyes rolling no doubt thinking I was senile. To their surprise they couldn’t find a slot either. Later I was thinking what would an owner do if stranded like that. How would AAA even be able to pop the hood for a jump. Scarey.

Our Land Rover was the weirdest one I have encountered thus far. Pop out the hidden metal key from the remote, then use that key to pry off the plastic cover of the door handle where the keyhole normally would be, and expose the keyhole that actually is there that you didn’t know about. 

Apparently VW has that, too.





I bet that’s exactly it.

houdini2

snakeweasel said:

ruking1 said:

snakeweasel said:

ruking1 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ?

Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year?

Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year.

Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you?

I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎

BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest.

On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it!

As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year.

I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes.

AOC would hate spending any time with me.

And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

Mr_Shiftright

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

abacomike said:

cdnpinhead said:

It's becoming clearer and clearer why Richard is no longer here. When you get older, fewer things are tolerable.

We teach our children at home and in school how to be tolerant of situations they will eventually find themselves in as their lives progress.  We do the same when it comes to people who are difficult to tolerate.  We teach strategies to our children, in both cases, to best deal with intolerable situations and/or people.

When I was a kid, my parents and teachers taught me to IGNORE those intolerable situations and/or people.  So, I have become adept at “scrolling quickly” through posts that I am either disinterested in or that are abhorrent to me (intolerable to the point of disgust).  I have learned much from my parents and teachers, but it’s the strategies I have learned and acquired throughout life that have helped me overcome the urge to commit horrendous sin - i.e. “murder”!

Needless to say, I'm sure you've never used the scroll wheel on any of my posts regardless of content or length.

jmonroe

Yeah. I feel hurt that he probably scolls over mine as soon as he sees the picture with my name. I keep changing the picture to confuse people thinking I'm someone else so they'll read my posts. That royalty check from Edmunds every month per thousand words read helps pay the electric bill for my laptop.

I read every word you post, imid!  I even read your punctuation (periods, commas, question marks)!  

**********************************************************************************************

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.

abacomike

houdini2 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ? Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year? Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year. Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you? I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎 BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest. On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it! As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year. I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes. AOC would hate spending any time with me. And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No.  Thought I would give you a quick answer, houdini.  Personal exemptions no longer exist.  There are new Child Tax Credits, but there are no dependent exemptions, whether you itemize or not.

snakeweasel

houdini2 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ? Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year? Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year. Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you? I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎 BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest. On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it! As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year. I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes. AOC would hate spending any time with me. And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No more personal exceptions. People without dependents usually are not hurt by that if they never itemized. But those with dependents and those that itemize might get hurt by that.

ruking1

I just gave professional people like you props & plugs.

So as a CPA, would you advocate individuals getting (their own) money back during the year, @ tax years end or paying taxes in arrears, keeping under the 10%?

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

houdini2 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ? Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year? Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year. Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you? I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎 BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest. On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it! As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year. I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes. AOC would hate spending any time with me. And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No.  Thought I would give you a quick answer, houdini.  Person exemptions no longer exist.  There are new Child Tax Credits, but there are no dependent exemptions, whether you itemize or not.

There is also a credit for other dependents now. So if you are claiming your mother you lose the personal exception for her but you gain a tax credit. That would offset the loss of the personal exemption to one degree or another.

ruking1

driver100 said:

Every day there are crazy crashes in the Tampa area....and I would say more than half are hit and runs. If you have 90 seconds watch this scene....I see it happen almost every day. I feel really bad for the poor kid in the Audi, he tried to avoid the accident as best as he could.

HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT TAMPA

http://www.fox13news.com/news/392312021-video

Some states are a definitely safer or more dangerous than others: both % wise & pure #’s. In each of the states there are areas that are again safer or more dangerous than others. Florida it’s up there with Texas and California. So whether that’s true for the Tampa area, one could do further research

But the bottom line is it is safer relatively now that it’s ever been. Two epidemic areas are motorcycles and pedestrians.

FARS data can get you started. (States: upper right)
https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

jmonroe1

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

I can't see driving out on the ice. Way to dangerous.

Really just depends on how cold it is for how long and how thick the resulting ice is. There are many places where it is commonplace during a few months of winter. Not to mention the far north and things like the TV show about the Ice Road Truckers.

Same is true for the series “Ice Pilots”!  Prime Video airs that series about Buffalo Airways up in the Canadian NWT.  Often landing strips are on frozen lakes up near the Arctic Circle.  Love that series.  They fly vintage WWII C46’s and C47’s as well as DC4’s and the Lockeed Electra’s (Vintage 1950-1960).

WOW, I didn't know that. I have to think the first landing of the season would not be a full fledged landing per se but rather a touch-and-go or two.

jmonroe

houdini2

abacomike said:

houdini2 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ?

Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year?

Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year.

Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you?

I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎

BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest.

On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it!

As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year.

I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes.

AOC would hate spending any time with me.

And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No.  Thought I would give you a quick answer, houdini.  Person exemptions no longer exist.  There are new Child Tax Credits, but there are no dependent exemptions, whether you itemize or not.

abacomike said:

houdini2 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ?

Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year?

Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year.

Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you?

I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎

BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest.

On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it!

As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year.

I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes.

AOC would hate spending any time with me.

And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No.  Thought I would give you a quick answer, houdini.  Person exemptions no longer exist.  There are new Child Tax Credits, but there are no dependent exemptions, whether you itemize or not.

Thanks Mike, that is what I thought but wasn't sure.

houdini2

snakeweasel said:

houdini2 said:

snakeweasel said:

ruking1 said:

snakeweasel said:

ruking1 said:

One REAL perspective cab be. IF one gets IRS/STATE refunds, etc,. one is loaning the governments (fed, state, county, local & worlds) interest FREE ! ?

Doesn't one think it insulting enough when one gets the refund, (of one’s OWN money) that IT is considered INCOME for the next year?

Do not get too comfortable with the 2018 IRS 1040, & other forms. I’ve read the IRS will change the 1040 form for the 2019 Tax Year!😳😩. I would surmise that subsequent forms will also change with increasing not known before, speed & rapidity. It makes milking the productive and non productive COW herds easier & more profitably.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

StateTax refunds are only considered taxable income if you itemize and wrote off state taxes withheld. In that case all you are doing is shifting the tax on those funds until the next year.

Conversely if you owed taxes on your state return you can write that off if you itemize this year subject to the 10k limit.

So I take it you are saying that everything else is exempt ? That is not accurate across different entities/situations. You gloss over the essential point/s. So are you advocating tax free loans to the governments? AOC might love chatting wit you?

I’ve been itemizing for over 45+ years. If non itemizing could yield what itemizing does, I’d stop itemizing! 😎

BUT the operative actions are: do the ones that give back or let one pay ones “fair share” If I were you, & fit the mold, I’d report those items, read the IRS.gov or pay for enrolled agent or CPA’s, tax lawyer interpretion time. I do/did & when audited, got monies back & with interest.

On the broader levels, if not audited, there was NEVER ANY dramas: on/in multiple entities; LLC’S, C Corps, S Corps, businesses, charities, city, county, state & fed entities, personal, etc., with fed, state, county & local requirements. Good enrolled agents, CPA’s CPA Tax lawyers, etc. can be worth it!

As they say, pay ones’ fair share. 👍🤑😉

Wow talk about reading between the lines. All I said was tax refunds are only taxable if it is a state tax refund and only if you itemized state tax withholdings in the prior year.

I don't advocate giving interest free loans to the government (I am presuming that's what you meant by tax free loans), but different people do have different preferences when it comes to taxes.

AOC would hate spending any time with me.

And for what it's worth I am a CPA and I have 25 years experience in doing individual income taxes.

Quick question Snake. If you choose to itemize deductions this year, can you still use personal exemptions?

No more personal exceptions. People without dependents usually are not hurt by that if they never itemized. But those with dependents and those that itemize might get hurt by that.

Thx Snake !

qbrozen

I was finally permitted to submit my returns. Pretty sure I did it wrong this year, but not according to the instructions provided by the software! 

jmonroe1

Mr_Shiftright said:

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

abacomike said:

cdnpinhead said:

It's becoming clearer and clearer why Richard is no longer here. When you get older, fewer things are tolerable.

We teach our children at home and in school how to be tolerant of situations they will eventually find themselves in as their lives progress.  We do the same when it comes to people who are difficult to tolerate.  We teach strategies to our children, in both cases, to best deal with intolerable situations and/or people.

When I was a kid, my parents and teachers taught me to IGNORE those intolerable situations and/or people.  So, I have become adept at “scrolling quickly” through posts that I am either disinterested in or that are abhorrent to me (intolerable to the point of disgust).  I have learned much from my parents and teachers, but it’s the strategies I have learned and acquired throughout life that have helped me overcome the urge to commit horrendous sin - i.e. “murder”!

Needless to say, I'm sure you've never used the scroll wheel on any of my posts regardless of content or length.

jmonroe

Yeah. I feel hurt that he probably scolls over mine as soon as he sees the picture with my name. I keep changing the picture to confuse people thinking I'm someone else so they'll read my posts. That royalty check from Edmunds every month per thousand words read helps pay the electric bill for my laptop.

I read every word you post, imid!  I even read your punctuation (periods, commas, question marks)!  

**********************************************************************************************

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.

OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@

jmonroe

ruking1

jmonroe1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

abacomike said:

cdnpinhead said:

It's becoming clearer and clearer why Richard is no longer here. When you get older, fewer things are tolerable.

We teach our children at home and in school how to be tolerant of situations they will eventually find themselves in as their lives progress.  We do the same when it comes to people who are difficult to tolerate.  We teach strategies to our children, in both cases, to best deal with intolerable situations and/or people.

When I was a kid, my parents and teachers taught me to IGNORE those intolerable situations and/or people.  So, I have become adept at “scrolling quickly” through posts that I am either disinterested in or that are abhorrent to me (intolerable to the point of disgust).  I have learned much from my parents and teachers, but it’s the strategies I have learned and acquired throughout life that have helped me overcome the urge to commit horrendous sin - i.e. “murder”!

Needless to say, I'm sure you've never used the scroll wheel on any of my posts regardless of content or length.

jmonroe

Yeah. I feel hurt that he probably scolls over mine as soon as he sees the picture with my name. I keep changing the picture to confuse people thinking I'm someone else so they'll read my posts. That royalty check from Edmunds every month per thousand words read helps pay the electric bill for my laptop.

I read every word you post, imid!  I even read your punctuation (periods, commas, question marks)!  

**********************************************************************************************

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.

OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@

jmonroe

So if you are getting monies back I’d say Yee haw!

jmonroe1

ruking1 said:

jmonroe1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

abacomike said:

cdnpinhead said:

It's becoming clearer and clearer why Richard is no longer here. When you get older, fewer things are tolerable.

We teach our children at home and in school how to be tolerant of situations they will eventually find themselves in as their lives progress.  We do the same when it comes to people who are difficult to tolerate.  We teach strategies to our children, in both cases, to best deal with intolerable situations and/or people.

When I was a kid, my parents and teachers taught me to IGNORE those intolerable situations and/or people.  So, I have become adept at “scrolling quickly” through posts that I am either disinterested in or that are abhorrent to me (intolerable to the point of disgust).  I have learned much from my parents and teachers, but it’s the strategies I have learned and acquired throughout life that have helped me overcome the urge to commit horrendous sin - i.e. “murder”!

Needless to say, I'm sure you've never used the scroll wheel on any of my posts regardless of content or length.

jmonroe

Yeah. I feel hurt that he probably scolls over mine as soon as he sees the picture with my name. I keep changing the picture to confuse people thinking I'm someone else so they'll read my posts. That royalty check from Edmunds every month per thousand words read helps pay the electric bill for my laptop.

I read every word you post, imid!  I even read your punctuation (periods, commas, question marks)!  

**********************************************************************************************

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.

OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@

jmonroe

So if you are getting monies back I’d say Yee haw!

Do you wanna edit that to WHOOPIE ?

jmonroe

driver100

ruking1 said:

driver100 said:

Every day there are crazy crashes in the Tampa area....and I would say more than half are hit and runs. If you have 90 seconds watch this scene....I see it happen almost every day. I feel really bad for the poor kid in the Audi, he tried to avoid the accident as best as he could.

HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT TAMPA

http://www.fox13news.com/news/392312021-video

Some states are a definitely safer or more dangerous than others: both % wise & pure #’s. In each of the states there are areas that are again safer or more dangerous than others. Florida it’s up there with Texas and California. So whether that’s true for the Tampa area, one could do further research

But the bottom line is it is safer relatively now that it’s ever been. Two epidemic areas are motorcycles and pedestrians.

FARS data can get you started. (States: upper right)
https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

Interesting, Accident rate really went up a large percentage in Alabama, Iowa New Mexico New Hampshire and Alaska. I know the percentage could easily get bumped up in states with few accidents, because 20 more causes a big jump, but, Alabama had over 1000 in the previous year and still went up 22%. Though, as we found out, lots of bad rural roads and harder to get people to a hospital etc.

driver100

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.
OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@
jmonroe

I'll have to email the IRS to look into those deductions as well as the other stuff you have been cheating on.....by, your own admission.

ab348

ruking1 said:

But the bottom line is it is safer relatively now that it’s ever been. Two epidemic areas are motorcycles and pedestrians.

Not really surprising. I think it might have been Bob Newhart who had a bit where he talked about if motorcycles hadn't been invented when they were, how if someone in modern times who came up with the idea of the things would be seen as crazy. Plus bikes today seem much faster and are often ridden recklessly by users.

As for pedestrians, heads down, wearing hoodies, earbuds in, looking at phones, and wandering into traffic likely explain much of it.

ruking1

What I take away from this: one really should pay attention to ones’ state and the areas traveled. The overall 50 state accident/injury fatality figures provides context.

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.
OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@
jmonroe

I'll have to email the IRS to look into those deductions as well as the other stuff you have been cheating on.....by, your own admission.

They'd never believe a foreigner with an agenda who is going to be deported soon.

jmonroe

henryn

ab348 said:

Not really surprising. I think it might have been Bob Newhart who had a bit where he talked about if motorcycles hadn't been invented when they were, how if someone in modern times who came up with the idea of the things would be seen as crazy. Plus bikes today seem much faster and are often ridden recklessly by users.

As for pedestrians, heads down, wearing hoodies, earbuds in, looking at phones, and wandering into traffic likely explain much of it.

I have to walk 3 blocks every morning and every afternoon, downtown, from the parking garage to the building where I work. I expect that would be the most likely cause of my premature death, if such a thing were to occur. Walking the streets in downtown Houston is downright dangerous.

I do occasionally see someone paying too much attention to a phone, but that is more often a driver instead of a pedestrian. Although it does happen with pedestrians as well.

And the only people wearing hoodies in the downtown area are the homeless.

ab348

A couple of days ago I stumbled onto several seasons of "Bob Vila's Home Again" on Youtube, full episodes, no commercials, decent quality. I think they may have been put up with Vila's approval. Vila got me hooked on home fix-up shows with the original This Old House when it was about fixing things on a budget with DIY homeowner assistance. Around 1989 or 90 he wanted to take endorsement deals from certain manufacturers (might have been Sears) and either PBS or the show producers said no, so he left and started his own series. I used to watch it religiously for a few years in the early '90s and liked it better than TOH.

I watched most of the first 2 seasons over the last few days and it is really interesting to see how different these shows were compared to what we see on HGTV and the like today. No fake drama, no tomfoolery, no made-up "characters", very little scripting. The work done generally had a real focus on doing things economically and getting the best deals possible on things. They were always talking about getting stuff on closeouts or used to save money, and even did things like re-laminating an existing worn laminate countertop. Vila seemed to always ask questions about things being done that a homeowner thinking of doing it himself might want to know about. He did seem awfully concerned with the size/type of nails being used though.

Of course the decorating and design themes shown now seem very dated with things like glass block, faux/sponge painting, tile counters, and colonial-style furniture and wallpaper, but it is a fun look back. I'm watching the series currently where he was in Naples Florida and renovated what he called a "cracker cottage" with a local contractor who was very good. Termites, rot, overgrown tropical landscaping, zero insulation, what fun.

ruking1

Yes, San Francisco, CA for example has put a lot of energy, time, dollars and effort into making it safer for pedestrians, panhandlers, drug addicts, homeless, bicyclists, skaters, scooter traffic& who knows what else. The accident/injury and fatality rates have gone up almost to epidemic proportions. This is despite all of the emphasis. Or maybe it is BECAUSE OF all the emphasis.

The almost hilarious issue environmentalists are vilifying hybrid and electric cars because they make little no noise.😉😜

Mr_Shiftright

The point is that you can't hear some EVs as they approach the intersection. Nothing hilarious about it--it's an actual problem.

Michaell

Taxes -- sigh.

I meet with our CPA Monday to review the paperwork. We created an LLC last year for our new business venture and have a bunch of expenditures we hope can help our tax burden.

Given the feedback from the group, so far, my optimism is shrinking.

I'm OK owing, just hope it isn't a tremendous amount.

ruking1

Mr_Shiftright said:

The point is that you can't hear some EVs as they approach the intersection. Nothing hilarious about it--it's an actual problem.

For sure the tragedy is easy to understand. BUT, ... It’s not like the environmentalist’s did not have enough brainpower to understand that was coming!?

My vote is for baseball cards on the tire spokes.😜

It always reminds me of the argument that motorcyclist have about no exhaust mufflers. I almost put a no muffler one under @ 80 mph, because he didn’t hear that I (ICE) was coming up as he changed lanes right into me!, moving right from the # 1 lane, nor did he look, or signal. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a Hells Angel with an apologetic look.

Mr_Shiftright

I believe some EVs actually create artificial noise to mitigate this issue.

As for "loud pipes save lives", that is a total crock.

Not driving like a damn fool saves lives, however.

ruking1

Michaell said:

Taxes -- sigh.

I meet with our CPA Monday to review the paperwork. We created an LLC last year for our new business venture and have a bunch of expenditures we hope can help our tax burden.

Given the feedback from the group, so far, my optimism is shrinking.

I'm OK owing, just hope it isn't a tremendous amount.

They seemed to be addressing the individual’s tax return & not LLC’s, C Corp, S Corp, Trusts, etc.

Oh my gosh no! Its all good if one has business/es. The CPAs on this board, on line LLC specialty sites can really give you the 411! Congratulations to you ! I’m sure it is an interesting new experience. It does take a little while to get used to the concept of operating as an LLC.

jmonroe1

ab348 said:

A couple of days ago I stumbled onto several seasons of "Bob Vila's Home Again" on Youtube, full episodes, no commercials, decent quality. I think they may have been put up with Vila's approval. Vila got me hooked on home fix-up shows with the original This Old House when it was about fixing things on a budget with DIY homeowner assistance. Around 1989 or 90 he wanted to take endorsement deals from certain manufacturers (might have been Sears) and either PBS or the show producers said no, so he left and started his own series. I used to watch it religiously for a few years in the early '90s and liked it better than TOH.

I watched most of the first 2 seasons over the last few days and it is really interesting to see how different these shows were compared to what we see on HGTV and the like today. No fake drama, no tomfoolery, no made-up "characters", very little scripting. The work done generally had a real focus on doing things economically and getting the best deals possible on things. They were always talking about getting stuff on closeouts or used to save money, and even did things like re-laminating an existing worn laminate countertop. Vila seemed to always ask questions about things being done that a homeowner thinking of doing it himself might want to know about. He did seem awfully concerned with the size/type of nails being used though.

Of course the decorating and design themes shown now seem very dated with things like glass block, faux/sponge painting, tile counters, and colonial-style furniture and wallpaper, but it is a fun look back. I'm watching the series currently where he was in Naples Florida and renovated what he called a "cracker cottage" with a local contractor who was very good. Termites, rot, overgrown tropical landscaping, zero insulation, what fun.

If you want to see "real fun", you can come over to the house Son #1 is in the process of flipping. I've lost track of how many 250 foot boxes of 14/2 and 14/3 romex wire he has gone through already. It's a ranch house that was built on a slab in 1960 that only had 6 circuits in a fuse box. We installed a new 150 AMP circuit breaker panel and by the time he's done there will be 14 circuits. I've told him several times he's putting too much lip stick on a pig but he keeps saying, "if I were to buy this house, this is what I'd like to have". I've also told him that people in hell would like to have ice water but they don't get it. I'm sure he'll get his price (around 150K) but still too much lip stick on a 1300 square foot house with a one car garage. Tomorrow he's climbing in the attic again to move a gas line for a range because he did a completely new kitchen layout. Oh what fun. How many pipe wrenches would you like to bring over?

jmonroe

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.
OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@
jmonroe

I'll have to email the IRS to look into those deductions as well as the other stuff you have been cheating on.....by, your own admission.

They'd never believe a foreigner with an agenda who is going to be deported soon.

jmonroe

They will offer me free citizenship for turning you in.

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.
OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@
jmonroe

I'll have to email the IRS to look into those deductions as well as the other stuff you have been cheating on.....by, your own admission.

They'd never believe a foreigner with an agenda who is going to be deported soon.

jmonroe

They will offer me free citizenship for turning you in.

Do you really want that? Remember, we don't have free health care.

jmonroe

ruking1

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

And keep in mind that if you are self-employed, those Edmunds royalties are not taxed by self-employment taxes.
OH NO !! Now you tell me. I'm going to have to refile for the last 3 years. Thanks a lot. :@
jmonroe

I'll have to email the IRS to look into those deductions as well as the other stuff you have been cheating on.....by, your own admission.

They'd never believe a foreigner with an agenda who is going to be deported soon.

jmonroe

They will offer me free citizenship for turning you in.

Do you really want that? Remember, we don't have free health care.

jmonroe

So do do you think Mexico and Canada will welcome us with open arms when we flood their healthcare systems ? 😎🤑

snakeweasel

ab348 said:

But the bottom line is it is safer relatively now that it’s ever been. Two epidemic areas are motorcycles and pedestrians.

Not really surprising. I think it might have been Bob Newhart who had a bit where he talked about if motorcycles hadn't been invented when they were, how if someone in modern times who came up with the idea of the things would be seen as crazy. Plus bikes today seem much faster and are often ridden recklessly by users. As for pedestrians, heads down, wearing hoodies, earbuds in, looking at phones, and wandering into traffic likely explain much of it.

One thing I notice when I am out walking is when a driver is pulling out onto a street and turning right they will look to the left to see if there is any traffic coming but rarely to the right to see if a pedestrian is there. I don't know how many times I see drivers not even stopping and not looking right when they pull out of parking lots.

ruking1

For me, it’s all about EYE contact. If a crosser doesnt make eye contact with a turning or even a perpendicular / straight on driver, discretion is usually the better part of valor. In the worst case, a crosser should try to avoid being dead right.

The safety agencies have done studies which they do not want to take public but crossing in a legal crosswalk is probably more dangerous than jaywalking, because a Jay Walker is paying attention.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

The point is that you can't hear some EVs as they approach the intersection. Nothing hilarious about it--it's an actual problem.

Two things, first look before you step out into the street. Second stand next to a street and listen to new cars driving by, they are also quiet. All you hear are the tires humming on the asphalt.

ab348

There are some people who have a death wish it seems. Today I made a right turn into a parking lot only to come nose to nose with a guy on a bike riding toward me on my side of the road. I pulled over into the oncoming lane to keep from hitting him, he just kept going, unconcerned.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

I believe some EVs actually create artificial noise to mitigate this issue. As for "loud pipes save lives", that is a total crock. Not driving like a damn fool saves lives, however.

The problem with loud pipes is that they are not really loud until they pass you. The noise is directed mostly backwards. Secondly loud noises are hard to determine your distance from, is that very loud bike next to you or two blocks away?

tjc78

I always liked Vila’s show and TOH. The early 90s had some good projects.

Mr_Shiftright

Also the motorcyclist with open pipes is deaf to car horns. Of course, the motorcyclist with open pipes doesn't care, either.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

Also the motorcyclist with open pipes is deaf to car horns. Of course, the motorcyclist with open pipes doesn't care, either.

The motorcyclist with open pipes will soon be deaf to everything.