The Bottom Line Blog

The Evolution of the Tax Professional Starts Here
Summary: Today’s tax pros typically earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Those sorts of classes prepare future tax pros to put the “right” numbers in the
Injury, Meet Insult
Summary: Mutual funds have an expensive Achilles heel for investors who don’t feel like sharing their gains with Uncle Sam. A recent lawsuit shines a

A Little Goes a Long Way
Summary: 401(k)s and similar qualified retirement plans let you deduct your contributions, which lets you invest more. If your employer matches part of your contribution,

Membership Has Its Privileges
Summary: The Wall Street Journal reports that last July, a whistleblower filed a complaint charging the company “knowingly persuaded business owners to underreport their income and taxes.”
Unaffordable at Any Speed
Summary: The average price of a new car climbed $3,301 in 2020 and $6,220 in 2021. Even used car prices, which typically rise about 1% per

Nice Work If You Can Get It
Summary: Washington struggles to find new ways to pay for our own empire. Lawmakers have looked at taxing carbon outputs, taxing wealth, and even taxing increases in

As Time Goes By
Summary: As part of their 2023 budget, Congress floated a “hybrid” tax on increases in wealth. Specifically, they proposed going all Will Smith on households worth $100

Lights, Camera, Action!
Summary: This weekend, Hollywood’s elite gathered to do what they do best: celebrate themselves at the Oscars. There’s one unsung group, though, that still isn’t getting

From Russia With Love
Summary: It shouldn’t surprise you to learn how big a role the IRS is going to play in chasing Putin’s cronies. The IRS Criminal Investigations

Fill ‘er Up!
Summary: Gas tax defenders agree that giving up the tax would make great politics. But they point out it would benefit those who drive the

Cascading Consequences
Summary: Even in the midst of war, Ukrainian officials have offered citizens a break – on taxes, of all things. Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption

No Good Deed
Summary: Most Americans consider it a sacrifice to go an hour without their iPhone. And, of course, we grumble when it comes to the civic