Questions answered by Mr Craig Brownell
(Expert Rank: 8710)  |
 |
I'm having a problem with my 2002 and 2003 taxes. I'm being audited. I'm disabled and collect a disability retirement of about $12000 per year. The IRS says that I owe $13000 for those years. I say they owe me a refund. My problem is that I live half the year in Fort Myers, Florida where my mom can take care of me when I need. Many of my records, medical, tax, business, were destroyed in flooding caused by hurricane Charlie. I dont have all of my vehicle records, by the same token, I dont have my earning records. My earnings are from selling at flea markets and craft shows when I'm not too ill. My question is this, .... if I have to prove my deductions, should/does the IRS have to prove my earnings? |
| Question found in Taxes |
 |
|
You will have to prove your deductions and your earnings. The IRS will audit your records and tax returns for accuracy and challenge those records they consider inadequate or questionable. If your records were destroyed in a natural disaster, you will need an affidavit to that effect (notarized statement from the custodian). You should also contact as many of the originators of those records as possible for copies. If you demonstrate cooperation, it will go a long way towards credibility. Start keeping a Tax Diary. This is similar to an appointment book. You simply note any tax-related transactions on a daily basis and keep any related receipts. A Tax Diary will almost "audit-proof" your records if accurate. |
 |
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
 |
|
I live in Sacramento California and I need to know where I can take a bible that was made in the late 1700s or 1800s to be sold, or where I can take it to be appraised? |
| Question found in Miscellaneous |
|
|
You can try this site as a beginning. Appraisal will not be inexpensive, but they have a checklist that can help you narrow it down a little. http://greatsite.com/appraisals/index.html |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
I own a townhouse that is managed by an association. I moved out of my townhouse for a short time. While I was gone the association claimed they taped notices on my front door informing me of repairs needed to my home. I receive a monthly statement by mail for dues that I pay for my property, when I retrieved this months statement, it shows I am being billed for over $1000.00. I contacted the management company immediately and they recommended that I attend a board meeting scheduled for that night. I attended the meeting and notified the BOD that I had not received the taped notices on my door. One board member commented that it is too expensive to send a "certified letter" so, they tape notices on the homeowners doors. They told me they would make a decision during the executive portion of the meeting (that I was not allowed to attend). The next day I found a noticed taped to the front door of my property stating that they were revoking my reserved parking space and holding me liable of the fees that I have been billed for. I lived out of state and did not receive the initial notices taped to my door therefore I was not aware of the situation. Am I liable for the $1000.00 (+) fees they are charging me? Please help. |
| Question found in Real Estate Law |
|
|
You need to review the HOA's bylaws and your agreement. Generally, notices taped to a door do not constitute lawful notice. Unless the agreement specifically allows this, the BOD is full of hot air. This also raises a privacy issue. Anyone knocking on your door was privy to the content of these notices. Possible defamatory behavior on their part. You don't explain what the $1,000 was for. If these are some sort of fines for not fixing a problem for which you were not PROPERLY served notice, you should not be liable for them. This is a shoddy way to conduct business, but I have heard of it before. HOA'a are frequently populated with busybodies who have nothing better to do than decide how the rest of the residents should conduct their affairs. Many of their decisions turn out to violate their own by-laws or agreements with the homeowners. |
 |
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
Okay I have another question regarding the title of a manufactured home that I live in with my now ex-fiancee. He told me yesterday that he did indeed remove my name from the title of this home because of the wording on the title. It's the little word separating our names. His name is first and the word "or" comes next then my name is next. He said because "or" separates our names he was able to remove my name. Please help me. Is this possible? How do I check? What are my rights at this point? I have two dogs, he says if I insist on staying where I'm not wanted, no animals are allowed. He said I would be served with an eviction notice today. I have always paid the lot rent and have never missed a payment nor have I ever been late. We have lived together for almost four years and I am retired and on disability. Please help me. Sincerely, Denise Pribe |
| Question found in Legal Other |
|
|
Have you ever actually seen your name on the title? Do you have a copy? In most U.S. states, your name cannot be removed from a registered title without your knowledge or agreement except with a death certificate or by court order and you would have to been afforded the opportunity to appear in court. If the home is financed, the secured party (lender) would NEVER allow a name to be removed without contacting that person. His statement about "or" makes little sense and should not grant him any particular authority to remove your name. Especially without a court action for which you would have been served a notice to appear. Contact the registering authority and verify that your name was and still is on the title. If it has been removed, you need to find out how and why and what paperwork was filed to remove your name. My first suspicion leans towards a forgery on his part (your signature). If you name was on the title and it has been removed and you have paid (in part) for the home, this would be fraud on his part. An eviction notice is a private demand from the landlord to the tenant and is not enforceable except by your agreement to leave or a court order. He cannot legally hold or remove your belongings. He will have to file for an Unlawful Detainer and prove to the court why you should be evicted. He will have to show title at that point. If he has altered it, you will have the real document (certified copy) and can show fraud. He will have testified to it in court and cannot later recant. This is a serious crime. This is serious enough that if he proceeds with an eviction, you need to verify the title's history (your name was on it and now isn't) and contact an attorney for specific strategies. Comments :  I called the bank and they did indeed remove my name from the title and said if the word "and" instead of "or" would have seperated our names he would not have been able to remove my name. I called the title co. and they said he removed my name way back in March. I am in the process moving.
|
 |
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
I'm a 20 year old entering my second year of college. However, I'm very unhappy in the college setting and have always felt it just wasn't something that was made for me. I have a goal to become a certified yoga instructor and open my own studio, and I can do so in a year-long intensive program at a yoga studio in Minneapolis. I don't need a degree to do this program and my current major is Philosophy (so it wouldn't do much good anyway). My mother thinks the best option for me is to go to Minneapolis and start on my career right away. She believes me to be ready. My dad, however, has been pushing for me to get a degree very hard, and he is immensely attached to my school and the soccer playing that I do there. I can barely approach him about it. I don't know what to do--return to college for three years and push through it to get a degree, or do something big for myself for the first time in my life and go to yoga school. I don't want to disappoint anyone, but I also feel like I'm living for other people all the time. I would miss my soccer team very much, but I'm also losing my love for the game. I just can't seem to get everything worked out in order to make my decision, both have their ups and downs, and I feel I really need a objective third or fourth party to help me out. If you could, I would be very grateful at this vital time in my life. |
| Question found in Jobs & Careers |
|
|
You must choose whom to disappoint, yourself or your father. Which decision will carry the higher price? Which will afford you the best opportunities? Which life would you live? Yours or the vicarious life your father would live through you? So, you withdraw from school and take a year's training at yoga. At worst, you've lost a year and disappointed your father. Now you can teach yoga and go back to school. Teach yoga AT school! To the soccer team! Philosophy? Thinking great thoughts? Sometimes, the greatest thoughts are the simplest and most practical. A year in yoga could be a WONDERFUL new perspective on philosophy if you should return to school. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
Which way is the spotlight on a police car supposed to be facing? because I see some patrol cars with their spotlights facing the back, down or the sides. |
| Question found in Miscellaneous |
|
| Face it other than forward to prevent lens damage from road debris. Make certain it is facing the direction desired before turning it on. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
Can a Police Officer buy his/her own dash/deck lights for their patrol car? |
| Question found in Miscellaneous |
|
| In most cases, probably not. Department policy should specify equipment and it should be provided for department-owned patrol vehicles. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
Do you think that Reserve deputies which are sheriff deputies that work when they are available and perform the same duties as a full time deputy should be issued a take-home patrol car? |
| Question found in Miscellaneous |
|
|
The acquisition, maintenance and insurance costs on a take-home patrol car that would only be used occasionally is not in the best interests of the taxpayers. That money would be better spent on a spare patrol car, available 24/7 at the patrol station to any deputy (or Reservist) in time of need. A Sheriff would draw serious and well-deserved political heat if they issued a take-home car to a Reservist. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
My boyfriend just lost his best friend (he hung himself) my boyfriend tried to be a friend to his fiance, now shes stalking him. He tried to ignore her and shut his phone off but now she comes over to the house or calls my phone and she always tries to be alone with him. How do we stop this? |
| Question found in People & Relationships In General |
|
|
If he hasn't already, he needs to give her a direct statement in no uncertain terms to leave him alone. If she persists and it continues to be bothersome, he should tell her that he will obtain an order for protection restraining her from any contact. If she violates the order, she could be subject to arrest. If he goes to the trouble to obtain such a court order, he should follow through on its provisions if she will not leave him alone. If she will not stop calling your phone, you can do the same. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
Under what conditions do Police Officers get a take-home patrol car? |
| Question found in Legal Other |
|
|
It will depend on the department, its policies, budgets and the officers' assignments. Many K-9 officers will take their patrol car (and dog) home so they can respond immediately if needed. These cars are often specially-equipped for K-9 patrol and not suitable for normal patrol. Supervisors, investigators, command-level officers, special unit officers, etc. may also have take-home patrol cars so they may respond more quickly to a crisis situation directly from home. Many, if not most, state troopers also take their patrol cars home. This is often because they cover such a wide area that having them report to a central base can be extremely inconvenient for shift change and they are also capable of responding directly from home in the event of an emergency. |
|
| click to see other answers to this question |
| Discuss Answer |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
| Top of Page | • | Terms and Conditions | • | Privacy | • | Disclaimer |
© Simply Explained