15. February 2010 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Chalk it up to political gridlock. For the first time since 1916 there is no estate tax in force in the United States.

Amid all the wrangling and finger-pointing about the budget, government spending and taxes, Congress — under the Democrats’ control, no less — is right now, very quietly, passing the biggest tax break for billionaires in history.

Read more here.

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5. January 2010 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal the Internal Revenue Service said it intends to regulate the legions of American tax-preparation companies, the first time the agency has sought to oversee these businesses. The move could affect how tax returns are prepared for tens of millions of people.

Under the new rules, employees of chain tax-preparation firms including H&R Block Inc. and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. will be required to pay a registration fee to the IRS, pass a “competency” exam and have 15 hours of education a year. Previously these employees weren’t required to meet federal standards.

The requirements also will apply to hundreds of thousands of independent preparers and mom-and-pop storefronts that offer tax preparation as one of several services. About 60% of U.S. taxpayers use tax preparers, according to the IRS. That number includes certified public accountants, or CPAs, who are already subject to professional standards and aren’t covered by the new rules. Read more here.

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2. January 2010 by Dan Walkow, CFA, CMT.

Spouses of those wealthy who die this year might find themselves with nothing if the family will isn’t revised—a major wrinkle that could follow Friday’s repeal of the federal estate tax.

An update on the ongoing estate tax issue in the USA.

 Read more here.

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