The Blog

First some important reminders for all Connecticut taxpayers, then I have a bunch of questions to which I’d like you to respond… Depending on when you read this, the October 15th tax return extension deadline (for families and individuals) is either VERY close, or just recently passed. Therefore … a word on filing — even if you don’t want to: … Read More

Say it with me: four more weeks. Four more weeks until this crazy election cycle is behind us and we can all return to normal here in Connecticut. Except, well, if it isn’t. With the way that 2020 has been going, we might as well emotionally prepare for that eventuality and uncertain election results. And however it goes, what seems … Read More

Like many things political, one of the best ways to look at the tempest of the day is analytical bemusement. This is (always) especially true when it comes to tax issues. And I might have a take today that could surprise you. I am not interested in getting into political matters here (though this issue is obviously very political). I … Read More

With the passing of Justice Ginsburg 45 days before the election, we have officially entered the political crazy season. This — on top of so much conflict surrounding public health measures. It is also in addition to all of the conversation around racial pain, the difficult issues surrounding so many protests and urban riots. And many are without meaningful work … Read More

Floating under the radar during so much NOISE the past couple weeks … the CDC announced a halt to evictions for renters, and that starts THIS WEEK. I have some guidance today for you about what that means (and what it doesn’t), but a couple other things first, before we get there. First, can we all celebrate a little good … Read More

Everything about this year since March has just felt a little … off. And I mean aside from all of the cultural and political turmoil we’re living through. The seasonality of everything feels different too. Pro sports are out of sync, “back to school” season surely doesn’t feel normal (at least for most of my clients), and even something like … Read More

Finally, the IRS issued guidance on Friday evening about payroll tax deferrals. And, as we’ve been communicating … this may not be a very helpful program for most taxpayers. In fact, it’s actually up to employers (not employees) whether or not to withhold Social Security payroll taxes from their employees’ paychecks from September through December. And again — this is … Read More

Still no guidance from the IRS about the payroll tax “holiday” (deferral), so it’s extremely unlikely that your employer will be ready — simply because the major payroll companies (Paychex, ADP, Gusto, and many others) don’t have the answers to many questions. Implementing these kinds of “optional” changes is hard. For example, payroll companies would have to recalculate the payroll … Read More

Summer is nearing an end, but this has been no ordinary summer. Everywhere, parents are scrambling in the most unusual “back to school” season in memory. Fall sports are in limbo, and others (MLB, NHL, NBA) are operating in a weird Twilight Zone mode. Urban centers are shells of themselves, violence is rising, and this virus is still making its … Read More

Right now we’re living through an age in which media trust has been thoroughly decimated. “Expert” authority itself is being questioned (in many cases, rightly), and misinformation is rampant. That’s perhaps one of the reasons I’ve received so many visits to this website over the past six months from taxpayers. Not that I’m “better” than the panoply of public figures … Read More