Free Republic

Reaction to a proposed Seattle business tax for housing and homeless services jolted elected officials this week as flare-ups of opposition revealed deep frustration with the city’s handling of its homelessness crisis. If Seattle City Council members were surprised by the reaction — including a raucous town-hall meeting in Ballard and an unexpected protest by construction workers — the response of many residents and business owners seemed to be, what took you so long? “They’re hearing the whole story now,” said Erin Goodman, executive director of the Sodo Business Improvement Alliance, which is holding its own town hall on the...

Among the alleged asylum-seekers parked on the U.S. border is a contingent of Hondurans, allegedly fleeing persecution, poverty, crime, and oppression.  If that is the case, then why is the Honduran government helping them, driving them northward under orders given to the Honduran ambassador, who is helping and escorting them? Leaders of a caravan of Central American migrants traveling toward the United States through Mexico have repeatedly accused the Honduran government of corruption and with failing to address the poverty, crime and economic conditions forcing families to flee by the thousands. So it shocked some observers when the Honduran ambassador joined...

A poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University showed nearly three-quarters of those asked support a tax that “would be lower for lower-income taxpayers and higher for upper income taxpayers.” When asked if they would support a tax that “would result in single filers earning over $17,300 to pay more in taxes,” support drops to 14 percent. The Illinois Policy Institute asked that question in a poll in late March and early April. “We know we have to increase revenue to get our state out of it (economic trouble) and I believe this (progressive tax)...

Acting on President Trump’s demand that his cabinet secretaries gut Obama-era federal regulations, the Treasury Department on Tuesday said it has cut over 300 standing and proposed rules with a focus on the Internal Revenue Service. In a new 20-page report, Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin highlighted the elimination of 305 regulations, including those proposed, and the wiping away of 298 IRS “deadwood” rules. “Reducing unnecessary burdens will lead to increased economic growth, greater job creation, and a fundamentally stronger economy for our country,” said Mnuchin. “Regulatory reform is a key component of the president’s plan to make American businesses more...

There has been a vast, largely unheralded migration in the U.S. over the past decade. Not because of weather, or amenities. But because of taxes. Recently, Wallet Hub published a list of states ranked by their tax burden, based on property taxes, income taxes and sales taxes as a share of personal income. The five states that impose the biggest tax burden on their residents are, in order: New York, Hawaii, Maine, Vermont and Minnesota. The five states with the lowest tax rates: Alaska, Delaware, Tennessee, Florida and New Hampshire. Right away there are some obvious similarities between the groups....

As Californians are painfully aware, the Democrat Stronghold of Sacramento this year levied upon them an additional gasoline tax that soaks motorists for nearly twenty cents per gallon. Yes, on its face, it's "only" twelve cents per gallon, but nothing in Sacramento is as it appears. Democrats inserted language that alters the way that tax is calculated, and that little bit of typical Democrat chicanery accounts for the difference between what they say, and what drivers actually pay. As fewer Californians know, Reform California, with Carl DeMaio as Chairman, is leading the push to place an Initiative on the November...

Pass-Through Business Taxes Previous law: Businesses organized as sole proprietorships, LLCs and partnerships don’t pay corporate tax rates. Instead, the owners pay individual income taxes on their share of business income – they’re called pass-through business taxes. Those tax rates are the same as the individual income tax rates. New law: Business owners can take a 20 percent deduction on their pass-through business income, with limits for those earning above $157,500 (single) and $315,000 (married, filing jointly).

Perhaps you are one of the many Americans who are afraid of preparing their own income-tax returns. If so, let me offer these words of encouragement: You stupid idiot. I say this because doing your own taxes has never been easier, thanks to modern technology such as the telephone, the personal computer and the canned frozen margarita. Take me. I am not a so-called "Certified Public Accountant, " but I have been handling my own taxes for years, using a simple, three-step system: STEP ONE: One week before the April 15 tax deadline, I gather together all my financial records....

What is QBI for an independent consultant? Thanks in advance

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The cost of gas is up across the country, including in Maryland, and is inching toward the highest price in three years. Gas is going up about a penny every other day — 15 cents in the past month. “We’ll be paying the highest prices for this time of year since 2014,” said Christine Delise with AAA. Gas companies are changing over to a different summer blend. To do so, some refineries shut down, leading to the classic market principal of supply and demand. A tighter supply means they can demand more for your fuel. Demand is...

Immigrants who accept almost any form of welfare or public benefit, even popular tax deductions, could be denied legal U.S. residency under a proposal awaiting approval by the Trump administration, which is seeking to reduce the number of foreigners living in the United States. According to a draft of the proposal obtained by The Washington Post, immigration caseworkers would be required to consider a much broader range of factors when determining whether immigrants or their U.S.-citizen children are using public benefits or may be likely to do so. Current rules penalize immigrants who receive cash welfare payments, considering them a...

When does life begin for farm animals- Conception or Birth? Dairy cows and horses held more than 2 years qualify for special capital gains treatment when sold. While this might appear trivial, many dairy farmers are liquidating due to the low milk prices and selling off their entire herd resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds. Heifers less than two years old create a tax problem. The question is: "What is the acquisition date of cattle or horses born on your farm/ranch from your animals?" Conception or Birth? If it is conception you have an extra 9 months...

Gov. Phil Murphy is set Tuesday to unveil a state budget proposal -- his first -- that will include more than $1.5 billion in new revenue from taxes and closing loopholes, including a small spike in New Jersey's sales tax, NJ Advance Media has learned. The extra revenue would also come from a proposed millionaires tax, closing tax loopholes used by corporations, and a plan to legalize marijuana, according to multiple sources briefed on the budget.

President Trump again brings up a "phase two" of tax cuts. The GOP law passed in December permanently chops taxes for corporations and temporarily reduces the tax rate for most individuals. Trump wants a 'phase two' of tax cuts Trump wants a 'phase two' of tax cuts 18 Hours Ago | 00:44 President Donald Trump said again Monday he wants a "phase two" of tax cuts on top of the law Republicans passed in December. Speaking as the World Series champion Houston Astros visited the White House, Trump asked Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, whether he planned to cut taxes further....

HALF OF AMERICANS AGREE with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's comments that corporations are giving their workers "crumbs" as a result of the tax bill, according to a poll released Friday by a group aligned with President Donald Trump. America First Priorities, found 49 percent of respondents agreed with the California Democrat, whose remarks pointed out the disparity in the windfall companies received in December with the passage of a major tax cut compared to the comparatively small bonuses they're handing out to their employees. "In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are...

It appears that Delta Airlines gave up a $40 million tax break over a mere thirteen passengers, according to a Friday report. A spokesperson for the Atlanta based company revealed that only 13 passengers had used their National Rifle Association membership to purchase tickets with Delta Airlines, reports USA Today The airline company confirmed that number to The Daily Caller News Foundation Friday afternoon. Georgia Republican lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that removed a tax break on jet fuel that would have heavily benefited Delta in response to the cancellation.

- Giant pile of aluminum was discovered two years ago in central Mexico - Measures one million metric ton; six per cent of world's aluminum stock - Industry exec is convinced it is related to Chinese billionaire Liu Zhongtian - Believes China has been routing aluminum through Mexico to avoid tariffs

President Trump is raising tariffs 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, claiming that cheap steel from other countries has hurt the American steel industry.  His claim, that steel imported at lower prices hurts our steel industry, is certainly true. But talk show host Mark Levin says Trump's tariffs are crony capitalist gifts for wealthy steel-owners that are bad for the economy as a whole.  On his talk show last night, he listed a number of reasons why: 1. Industries that depend heavily on steel, such as auto and airplane manufacturers, will take a big hit.  With the increase in the price...

How out of touch is the Democratic Party? This out of touch: The Washington Post reports that Democrats expected the Trump tax cut to be unpopular and are surprised to find that voters like seeing more money in their pay checks. Post reporter Erica Warner writes: Democrats predicted a political backlash for ­Republicans in December when the GOP pushed through a deeply unpopular tax cut that added more than $1 trillion to the federal deficit and disproportionately helped the wealthy. But at the outset of the 2018 campaign season, Democrats’ early optimism appears less well founded here [in Indiana], where...

Los Angeles County's homeless population is increasing faster than the supply of new housing, even with the addition of thousands of beds in the last two years and millions of dollars beginning to flow in from two ballot measures targeting the crisis, according to a long-awaited report by the region's homelessness agency. The report showed that officials two years ago far underestimated how much new housing would be needed when they asked city and county voters to approve the tax measures. ... Peter Lynn, executive director of the homeless authority, said Friday that new cost figures had not been calculated,...