The Tax Questions Blog

Archive for June, 2008

Question: Taxes on US flights?

I'm getting ready to book a flight on a discount travel site and sae that the taxes and fees are nearly $100.00 on a flight that is only $160.00. This seems crazy to me - I haven't flown for a year but I don't remember them being this high. Any advice? Is this reasonable?

Answer: It might be reasonable, or you might be getting fleeced--it's hard to tell without knowing which cities, when, and who offered this "deal." Please add details; I'll check back later and try to help some more.

Assassin's Creed II Cheats

Version History --------------- Version 1.00 - 11/16/09 - 11/23/09 --Well, here we are, the first completed version. I will admit, this guide is somewhat rough for the first edition.

AIRLINE TRAVEL & AIRPORTS: Thailand Trip (Part 2)

Question: what is the non taxable products?

Answer: Common goods that are not taxable

Here are examples of the most common goods that are not taxable to anyone

* basic groceries such as flour, sugar, spices, breads, cereals, eggs, butter, margarine, cheese, peanut butter, jam, honey, fruits, vegetables, milk and yogurt
* food products (except for candies, confections, snack foods and soft drinks)
* prepared foods sold by an eating establishment for $4 or less
* children's clothing (including diapers)
* footwear costing $30 or less
* feminine hygiene products
* newspapers
* drugs and medicine sold under a doctor's prescription
* goods designed solely for people with physical disabilities
* vitamins and minerals.

Fitch Affirms Hollywood, Florida CRA Revs (Beach CRA) at 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable

TAMPA, Fla.----As part of its continuous surveillance effort, Fitch Ratings affirms the City of Hollywood, Florida Community Redevelopment Agency's redevelopment revenue bonds series 2004 and 2007 at 'BBB+'.

Avoiding Common Sales and Use Tax Problems - Pt. 2

Question: Is it true that apartment complex managers are given money by the government to rent to welfare and illegals?

and they are trying to get rid of law abiding, hard working middle class people? I heard if 50% of the occupants are illegals immigrants and/or on welfare, the managers not only get the rent, they get huge tax breaks. To attain this 50% level, they will discriminate against you and me.
Who can I call to sue the landlord for illegal discrimination against legal americans?

Answer: You've nothing to worry about.
The amount of landlords accepting this arrangement in fairly minuscule compared to the total amount of managers (owners, actually). In order to qualify for this arrangement (know as Section 8, a provision under Housing and Urban Development) the owner MUST bring the building (and all apartments, etc.) up to code, and there would be regular, systematic inspections to see that such buildings stay up to code. Thus, each and every tiny little thing breaking or malfunctioning must be repaired in short order.
Many, many owners do not wish to have this close a relationship with a government agency.
The feds don't tolerate the use of bribery as a means to protecting and perpetuating the presence of illegal immigrants, that's just plain dumb.

MLP Senior Analyst Reveals His Firms Current Favorite Stocks: What Qualities Do They Have In Common?

67 WALL STREET, New York - January 8, 2010 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Oil & Gas Production and Distribution Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This 76 page feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs, Equity Analysts and Money Managers. The full issue is ...

Drake-Do It Now/Lyrics

Question: Texas Sales and Use Tax Return Form 01-922 - Help?

I'm filing a Texas Sales and Use Tax Return 01-922 for my interior design business and I am having trouble figuring out what goes in the TOTAL SALES, TAXABLE SALES, and TAXABLE PURCHASES fields. I paid tax on all but two things, one of which was used in a client's home and the other was used in my showroom. I am assuming that one is going to be a sale and one is going to be a purchase, since I sold the one item to a client and purchased the other for my showroom. Any kind of clarification on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Answer: This is from the state comptrollers website...

1. What "purchases" are subject to use tax?
A purchase may be subject to use tax for a number of reasons. The most common reasons are:
You used property purchased with a resale certificate. If you use a resale certificate to purchase merchandise that you intend to resell, your supplier will not collect sales tax. However, if you use the merchandise for another purpose before you resell it, you are liable for use tax. (Using merchandise for display or demonstration purposes before the property is sold is not subject to use tax. But, providing free samples to customers is a use and you would owe tax on the amount you paid for the samples.)
You used property purchased with an exemption certificate. If you use an exemption certificate to purchase taxable items, your supplier will not collect sales tax. However, if you use the merchandise or service for a non-exempt purpose, you are liable for use tax. (Purchasing manufacturing equipment but using it to perform contractor work is a non-exempt use.
You used property purchased from an out-of-state retailer. In general, if you purchase a taxable item from an out-of-state retailer without paying Texas tax and use the property in Texas the purchase is subject to use tax and must be reported. If you paid Texas use tax to such a retailer, you are not required to report the tax. That retailer must provide you with a receipt showing, among other things, the amount of use tax collected. You should retain a copy of the receipt showing you paid Texas tax.

Businesses sunk by recession

Lack of revenue causing downtown retail stores to close more than an average year

Question: Overbooked flight... is my "free" flight voucher taxable income?

Hi. I recently volunteered on an overbooked Northwest flight to be compensated by a free roundtrip ticket credit voucher, good for one year. Didn't think about the following questions until I started filling out my taxes! My questions are these.

A) Is this credit voucher taxable income?
B) So, am I supposed to report it to IRS on my 1040?
C) Do I have to report it even if I don't use it?
And,
D) What dollar value would be assigned to the ticket since it's good for any value roundtrip? Thanks!

Answer: Never heard such thing that a flight voucher needs to be reported as taxable income.

London-to-Newark passengers left on Connecticut tarmac for hours

Hundreds of passengers bound from London to Newark were stuck for hours late Tuesday and early Wednesday on a hot, dark plane at a Connecticut airport. Some of the passengers fell ill from the heat, and at least one had to be given oxygen, one of the travelers said. Connecticut - United States - London - Virgin Atlantic Airways - Bradley International Airport