Resources

YOU WILL FIND UPDATES and notes about this book on our special website: www.deducteverythingbook.com.

Get free answers to your tax questions from Team TaxMama. Visit TaxMama.com and click on “Ask a Question.” Note: This is the only place to get free answers from TaxMama. Please do not send emails expecting answers.

This section contains links that are elsewhere in the book, organized in a semi-logical fashion. It also contains links to resources that are favorites of TaxMama that you will enjoy using.

Oh yes, if you want TaxNerd gear or TaxMama swag, here are the places to go. You can even customize everything with your name, URL, or company name: http://www.zazzle.com/taxmama. Drop by www.TaxNerd.net if you don’t want to bother with customization and if you want lots more variety. (Besides, it’s an easier URL to remember.)

Disclosure: A few of the links might provide a commission to TaxMama. (Most do not.) But that’s not why they are here. She would recommend them without a commission. Incidentally, at some of the places TaxMama recommends, if you tell them TaxMama sent you, you might get a discount. Call them before you buy anything.

Before we get started, a bit of irony, or Catch-22ism. Here is the Forbes article by Robert W. Wood, “Amazingly, IRS Says You Can’t Rely on IRS Instructions”: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/11/11/amazingly-irs-says-you-cant-rely-on-irs-instructions.

Note: All URLs are subject to change. If you find errors, please let us know and we will post the changes at www.deducteverythingbook.com.

Recordkeeping Resources

• The Bean Counter site is adorable—http://www.dwmbeancounter.com
• The Bookkeeping Master—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYJbCAcCKE
• Mint—https://www.mint.com
• Outright—http://outright.com
• QuickBooks—http://quickbooks.intuit.com
• Quicken—http://www.quicken.com/stay-connected-your-money
• Shoeboxed—http://www.shoeboxed.com

Good, Old-Fashioned Paper-Based Systems

• Accordion Files—http://www.staples.com/Staples-Accordion-Letha-Tone-Expanding-Files/product_SS119099
• Dome Record Books—http://www.domeproductsonline.com/dome-books
• SafeGuard One-Write Systems—https://www.gosafeguard.com/business-checks/one-write-systems
• Tax MiniMiser—http://taxminimiser.com
• Wilson Jones Accounting Supplies—http://www.wilsonjones.com/wj/us/us/s/2252/accounting-suppliesaspx

Recordkeeping Apps

• DeductR—https://app.deductr.com/taxmama
• Expensify—https://www.expensify.com
• FreshBooks—https://taxmama.freshbooks.com/signup
• ItsDeductible by Intuit—https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible
• MetroMile’s mileage app—https://www.metromile.com/technology

Finding a Good Tax Professional

• AARP Tax-Aide—http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide or call 888-687-227
• Filing complaints about tax professionals—http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Make-a-Complaint-About-a-Tax-Return-Preparer
• Find Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)—http://www.aicpa.org/FORTHEPUBLIC/FINDACPA/Pages/FindACPA.aspx
• Find Enrolled Agents (EAs)—National Association of Enrolled Agents—http://www.naea.org
• Find a Tax Attorney—American Bar Association Tax Section—http://www.americanbar.org/groups/taxation.html
• IRS database of PTIN-holders with some sort of tax education—http://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf
• LITC—Low Income Taxpayer Clinics—http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/about/litc
• VITA & TCE—free help from IRS volunteer sites—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers

Prepare Your Own Tax Return

• Complete Tax—http://www.completetax.com/index.html
• Drake’s 1040.com—https://www.1040.com
• Free-File Alliance members the IRS—http://freefilealliance.org/free-file-alliance-members
• Free-File options from the IRS—http://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File%3A-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free
• H&R Block—http://www.hrblock.com
• TaxAct—https://www.taxact.com
• TaxSlayer—https://www.taxslayer.com/compare-tax-software
• TurboTax—https://turbotax.intuit.com

Prior-Year Software

• Free Tax USA (I don’t know them, but they look interesting)—http://www.freetaxusa.com/prior_year.jsp
• TaxAct—https://www.taxact.com/products/all_previous.asp
• Also, check your favorite tax software to see if they offer prior-year software, now that the IRS is accepting electronic filing for two to three prior years.

IRS Forms Mentioned in This Book

• Form 211—Application for Award for Original Information (Application for Whistleblower Reward)—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f211.pdf
• Form 1023—Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf
• Form 1040—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf
  • Form 1040 Schedule C—Profit or Loss from Business—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf
  • Form 1040 Schedule E—Supplemental Income and Loss—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040se.pdf
  • Form 1040 Schedule H—Household Employment Tax—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sh.pdf
  • Form 1040 Schedule SE—Self-Employment Tax—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sse.pdf
• Form 1045—Application for Tentative Refund (for NOL carrybacks) https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-access/f1045_accessible.pdf
• Form 1098-C—Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1098c.pdf
• Form 1099-K—Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1099k.pdf
• Form 1099-MISC—Miscellaneous Income—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1099msc.pdf
• Form 2120—Multiple Support Declaration—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2120.pdf
• Form 3903—Moving Expenses—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3903.pdf
• Form 5329—Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5329.pdf
• Form 5498-SA—HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA Information—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5498sa.pdf
• Form 5695—Residential Energy Credits—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf
• Form 6251—Alternative Minimum Tax—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6251.pdf
• Form 8275—Disclosure Statement—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-access/f8275_accessible.pdf
• Form 8283—Noncash Charitable Contributions—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8283.pdf
• Form 8606—Nondeductible IRAs—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f8606-2015.pdf
• Form 8826—Disabled Access Credit—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8826.pdf
• Form 8829—Office in Home—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8829.pdf
• Form 8863—Education Credits—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8863.pdf
• Form 8889—Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-access/f8889_accessible.pdf
• Form 14039—Identity Theft Affidavit—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf
• Form W-7—Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf
• Form W-9—Request for Taxpayer Identification—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

IRS Publications and the Tax Code Mentioned in This Book

• The best Internal Revenue Code online—at Cornell University—https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/chapter-I (remember to donate once in a while)
• IRS Regulations—Code of Federal Regulations—http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR
• IRS Publication 17—Your Income Tax (the master of all IRS publications for individuals)—http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17
• IRS Publication 463—Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463
• IRS Publication 502—Medical and Dental Expenses—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502
• IRS Publication 521—Moving Expenses—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p521
• IRS Publication 525—Taxable and Nontaxable Income—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525
• IRS Publication 526—Charitable Contributions—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526
• IRS Publication 527—Residential Rental Property—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527
• IRS Publication 536—Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for Individuals, Estates, and Trusts—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p536
• IRS Publication 561—Determining the Value of Donated Property—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p561
• IRS Publication 915—Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p915
• IRS Publication 925—Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p925
• IRS Publication 936—Home Mortgage Interest Deduction—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p936
• IRS Publication 946—Depreciation—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p946
• IRS Publication 969—Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969
• IRS Publication 970—Tax Benefits for Education—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970
• IRS Publication 4524—Security Awareness for Taxpayers—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf
• IRS Publication 5027—Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5027.pdf

IRS Resources

• Certified Acceptance Agents—Locate someone, anywhere in the world, who is certified to help aliens get their ITINs without having to send original documents to the IRS (never to be seen again)—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Acceptance-Agent-Program
• Find your local IRS office—https://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1
• Get an IRS ID Number for Aliens—the ITIN—the Individual Tax Identification Number—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Individual-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-ITIN
• Glossary from the IRA VITA training site—https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/student/glossary.jsp
• Health Care Marketplace Tips from the IRS—http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1246e5b
• Identity Theft Resources—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection
• Internal Revenue Manual—https://www.irs.gov/irm
• IRS Criminal Investigation website, in all its glory!—https://www.irs.gov/uac/Abusive-Return-Preparer-Criminal-Investigation-%28CI%29
• IRS FIRE—Filing Information Returns Electronically—https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/e-File-Providers-%26-PartnersFiling-Information-Returns-Electronically-%28FIRE%29
• IRS First-Time Penalty Abatement or Other Administrative Waiver—https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Penalty-Relief-Due-to-First-Time-Penalty-Abatement-or-Other-Administrative-Waiver
• IRS Foreign Currency Rates—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Yearly-Average-Currency-Exchange-Rates
• IRS Lawsuits, Awards, and Settlements Audit Techniques Guide—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/lawsuitesawardssettlements.pdf
• IRS Penalties—https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Eight-Facts-on-Late-Filing-and-Late-Payment-Penalties
• IRS Standard Mileage Rates—http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Standard-Mileage-Rates
• IRS Warning to Avoid Tax Refund Products—http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Refund-Related-Products
• The Truth about Frivolous Arguments (a.k.a. Tax Protesters)—https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/The-Truth-About-Frivolous-Tax-Arguments-Introduction

IRS Charity Resources

• Applying to set up an Exempt Organization or Charity—https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Applying-for-Tax-Exempt-Status
• IRS Charitable Donations from IRAs—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Charitable-Donations-from-IRAs
• IRS Charity Look-Ups—https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Exempt-Organizations-Select-Check
• IRS Tax Information for Charities and Other Non-Profits—https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits
• Life Cycle of an Exempt Organization—https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Life-Cycle-of-an-Exempt-Organization

Other Charity-Related Resources

• Crazy Cat Lady Takes on the IRS—http://taxmama.com/tax-quips/crazy-cat-lady-takes-on-irs
• The Foundation Center—great place to look up exempt organization data and tax reports without having to log in—http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder
• GrantSpace—lots of information and resources about tools to help nonprofit organizations—http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/Funding-Research/Forms-990-and-990-PF/finding-990-990-pfs
• GuideStar—the original site with information about charities—must log in to get free information. Some reports require payment—http://www.guidestar.org/Home.aspx
• Shelters for Israel—a group started by housewives that disburses close to 100 percent of their revenue for charitable purposes—http://www.sheltersforisrael.com/about-us
• TechSoup—http://www.techsoup.org
• Volunteering Opportunities—What’s the point of sitting alone in your room? Come out to the world and play!—https://www.volunteermatch.org

IRS Retirement, Education, and Savings Resources

• ABLE new simplified guidance from the IRS—https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-15-81.pdf
• ABLE Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Disabled Individuals (IRC Section 529A)—https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/529A
• Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch07.html
• Employer-Provided Educational Assistance—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch11.html
• FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid—https://fafsa.ed.gov
• IRA Contribution Limits—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Plan-Participant,-Employee/Retirement-Topics-IRA-Contribution-Limits
• IRA Deduction Limits—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/IRA-Deduction-Limits
• IRA One Rollover per Year Rule—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/IRA-One-Rollover-Per-Year-Rule
• Qualified Tuition Program (Sec 529 Plan)—https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch08.html
• Required Minimum Distributions from all Retirement Plans—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Plan-Participant,-Employee/Retirement-Topics-Required-Minimum-Distributions-%28RMDs%29
• Roth IRAs—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Roth-IRAs
• Scholarships and Grants Information—https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421.html
• Sect 72t Election—Drawing Retirement Funds in Substantially Equal Periodic Payments—https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Retirement-Plans-FAQs-regarding-Substantially-Equal-Periodic-Payments
• Tax Theft Loss Notice 2004-27—https://www.irs.gov/irb/2004-16_IRB/ar09.html
• Tax Theft Loss and Ponzi Schemes, a-la-Bernie Madoff—https://www.irs.gov/uac/Commissioner-Shulman’s-Senate-Finance-Testimony-on-Ponzi-Schemes-and-Offshore-Tax-Evasion-Legislation

Taxpayer Advocate Resources and TIGTA

• Reports to Congress—http://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Reports-to-Congress
• The Taxpayer Advocate Service—Headed by Nina E. Olson. Call her team when you really need help and the IRS is ignoring you—https://www.irs.gov/Advocate
• TIGTA—Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration—J. Russell George, the man heading the team that audits the IRS—https://www.treasury.gov/tigta

Social Security Resources

• Social Security—Minimum Annual Earnings to Qualify for Benefits—https://www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/cola/QC.html
• Social Security Benefit Calculation Example—https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/retirebenefit1.html
• Social Security Disability Planner website—https://www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/disability/dwork2.html
• Social Security website—https://www.socialsecurity.gov

State Resources and Other Government Resources

• All state tax agencies—http://www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies
• All state tax forms—http://www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-forms
• American with Disabilities—http://www.ada.gov
• California Film Commission—http://www.film.ca.gov/How_to_Market.htm
• California Probate Referees—http://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_probate_contact.html
• California Publication 1005—Pension and Annuity Guidelines—https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2013/13_1005.pdf
• Energy.gov—Energy Credit Resources—http://energy.gov/savings
  • EnergyStar—https://www.energystar.gov
  • PACE—http://energy.gov/eere/slsc/property-assessed-clean-energy-programs
  • Scientific American—on Iceland’s use of geothermal power—http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/iceland-geothermal-power
• New York City Mayor’s Office—Filmmaker Programs—http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/for_residents/star.shtml

Asset, Basis, and Investment Resources

• Beneficial Owner Rules—when your parents’ names are on the title to your home
  • • Internal Revenue Regulation 1.163-1—https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.163-1
  • • Journal of Accountancy—http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2008/oct/equitableownerequalsdeduction.html
• College Application Training—http://collegeapptraining.com
• College Application Training TwitterChat with TaxMama—http://collegeapptraining.com/chatcollege-on-tax-tips-and-preparation-for-parents-of-college-bound-students-recap
• DirectInvesting.com—formerly the MoneyPaper—learn to make tiny investments in corporations with minimal or no fees—https://www.directinvesting.com/index.cfm
• How the IRS defines Basis—https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc703.html
• HUD-1 Escrow Statement—summary report you get whenever you buy real estate or get a home mortgage loan—http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=1.pdf
• myRA—mini Roth IRA resource from the US Treasury—lets you invest in tiny increments, with automatic withdrawals—https://myra.gov/how-it-works
• NetBasis—website designed to help you determine the tax cost of securities held long-term, and to determine all the splits and dividend reinvestments over decades of ownership—www.netbasis.com
• OANDA Foreign Currency Resource—http://www.oanda.com/currency
• Saving for College website—http://www.savingforcollege.com
• Tax Theft Loss Tips—TaxMama article—http://www.marketwatch.com/story/when-might-stock-losses-count-as-a-theft-claim

Credit Resources

• Equifax—http://www.equifax.com/idtheftprotectionkit (Disclosure: I have been writing a column for them for several years—http://blog.equifax.com/author/eva-rosenberg)
• Experian—http://www.experian.com/data-breach/newsletters/child-identity-theft.html
• FICO—Fair Isaac Corporation—credit scores—http://www.fico.com
• Trans Union—http://www.transunion.com/childidentitytheft

Money: Generating Cash

• AirBnB—rent your home or other real estate—https://www.airbnb.com
• Annual IRS Unclaimed Refund announcement—https://www.irs.gov/uac/Does-the-IRS-Have-Money-Waiting-For-You%3F
• DogVacay—get paid for pet sitting—https://dogvacay.com/how-it-works
• Lyft—like Uber, get paid for giving people rides—https://www.lyft.com
• Uber—get paid for giving people rides—https://www.uber.com
• Unclaimed Money site—https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money
• Wrapify—turn your car into a rolling display ad—http://www.wrapify.com/about

Crowdfunding and Gifts

• Give Forward—http://www.giveforward.com
• GoFundMe—https://www.gofundme.com
• TC Memo 2010-286 Lang v. Commissioner—winning on the issue of taking a medical deduction when someone else paid the bills for you—http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/InOpHistoric/La5ng.TCM.WPD.pdf
• YouCaring—https://www.youcaring.com

Other Useful Reference Materials

• About.com—Julie Garber, wills and estate planning expert, about the annual gift tax exclusion limits—http://wills.about.com/od/understandingestatetaxes/a/historygifttax.htm
• About.com—Diane Schmidt, moving expert, about moving insurance—http://moving.about.com/od/hiringamovingcompany/tp/Definition-Of-Moving-Insurance-Terms-You-Should-Know.htm
• MarketWatch.com by Dow Jones—http://www.marketwatch.com
• Small Business and Management website—the best place for clear tables and summaries about tax rates, vehicle information, depreciation and more—http://www.smbiz.com
• Tax Court Case—Lori Singleton v. Commissioner, the nurse who beat the IRS and deducted her MBA expenses—http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/InOpHistoric/singleton-clarke.sum.WPD.pdf
• TaxWatch column—http://www.marketwatch.com/topics/journalists/eva-rosenberg

Politics as Usual

• Reach out to your federal legislators and let them know what you want them to improve or fix—http://taxmama.com/special-reports/call-to-action
• The Tax Policy Center—http://www.taxpolicycenter.org

Some Favorite Resources and Writers

There is no doubt that I will leave people out. There are so many people whom I admire and respect. They will be added at the website: www.deducteverythingbook.com

• Affiliate Summit—Missy Ward and Shawn Collins took someone else’s failed idea and turned it into a thriving and profitable resource for all affiliate marketers. Use affiliate marketing to have other people sell your products and services, only paying them commissions when they actually perform. (Just like Amazon.com does.) The two annual Affiliate Summits are the best place to make contacts and connections and to learn about the tools you need to grow your sales beyond your wildest dreams. They even have a newcomer program to help you get started and to meet the right people—http://www.affiliatesummit.com
• American Citizens Abroad—a wealth of tax and other information for Americans living outside the United States—https://americansabroad.org/helpful-information
• Amit Chandel, CPA, a.k.a. the TaxGuru—a prolific blogger, tweeter, and Facebook-poster keeping up the latest IRS, CPA, and state news, announcements, and pronouncements with lots of humor. This man keeps me smiling each and every day—https://www.facebook.com/achandel.cpa
• Clark Howard—consumer advocate, radio show host, author, entrepreneur, and all-around good guy who looks out for your interests and helps keep you out of trouble—http://www.clarkhoward.com
• Deborah Carney—author, photographer, blogger, and a celebration of life in her own right. She’s been through a lot and helps others grow and thrive joyfully. Need someone to help promote your books? Talk to Loxly! She’ll be your biggest fan—http://bookgoodies.com
• Gail Perry, CPA—editor in chief of the CPA Practice Advisor, one of 2012’s Most Powerful women in Accounting, highly prolific author, instructor, and very patient editor. Gail is another of those people who can make complex concepts simple—like how to develop Excel spreadsheets, macros, and more. She writes books for Dummies and Idiots, too. Just my speed—http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/contact/11272907/gail-perry-cpa
• Ilyce Glink—personal finance, real estate, and consumer advice columns, books, and a radio show—http://www.thinkglink.com
• Jean Mammen, EA—immersed in international tax knowledge, author and, thankfully, a member of Team TaxMama, answering questions from visa holders, expatriates, and folks with dual residences and lots of things way above TaxMama’s head. Her book is well worth reading—http://1040nror1040.com
• Jim Blasingame, the small business advocate—award-winning radio host, visionary, writer, and advocate for the rights of all small businessfolks everywhere. TaxMama is proud to be a founding member of his brain trust and a regular guest on his daily radio show—http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com. If you are running a business, you must read his book, The Age of the Customer to understand how the market dynamics have changed—and how much more power the customer has than ever before (http://ageofthecustomer.com).
• Dr. Judy Rosenberg—Radio personality and founder of the Psychological Healing Center, cousin Judy (yes, I am proud to say she is my first cousin) developed a revolutionary method of therapy through her colorful MindMap. Patients coming to her have their issues resolved in only a few sessions, instead of several years—http://psychologicalhealingcenter.com

  Her new book, Be the Cause: Healing Human Disconnect was released in time for Thanksgiving 2015 (http://www.amazon.com/Be-The-Cause-Healing-Disconnect/dp/1514793032/mywishlistA).

• Kathleen Pender—San Francisco Chronicle columnist with a financial beat and a Net Worth column. Excellent insights on the latest tax and financial news, breaking complex concepts down to plain English—http://www.sfchronicle.com/author/kathleen-pender
• Kay Bell—Bankrate editor, writer, and very funny tax blogger, with her finger on the pulse of tax news. With her background and experience, she knows enough to be a tax professional, but isn’t—http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com
• Kelly Phillips Erb, LLM, JD, and so on, known as the TaxGirl—tax attorney, author, Forbes senior editor and columnist, and coffee addict with a biting wit—http://www.taxgirl.com/about-taxgirl
• Kris Hix, EA, NTPI Fellow—one of the very first students at TaxMama’s EA course has flourished as a writer, instructor, and Intuit Tax Answer Expert, as well as an accomplished tax professional in her own right. These days she’s also an occasional teaching partner with TaxMama—http://www.northernkentuckytaxservices.com/index.asp
• Larry Lawler, CPA—founder of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers. He teaches tax professionals how to save the lives of taxpayers. He teaches CPAs, EAs, and attorneys how to negotiate with the IRS to reduce peoples’ tax burdens. Those taxpayers can finally sleep at night and rebuild their lives—http://www.astps.org/staff-committees
• Liz Weston—author, speaker, and nationally syndicated personal finance columnist who can make the most complex money topics understandable to the average reader—http://asklizweston.com
• Melinda Emerson, the Small Biz Lady—a generous, positive force in the universe teaching people to build, smart, ethical business that succeed. She never fails to include TaxMama in her annual tax round-up and TwitterChat—http://succeedasyourownboss.com
• Michael Rozbruch, CPA—my teaching buddy at CPE Link and a great inspiration to me. Michael built a multimillion dollar tax resolution practice ethically. His practice even survived a detailed IRS ethics audit—how many people can say that? These days, besides teaching with me, he has built a coaching practice to help other tax professionals market their tax resolution practices. So, like Larry Lawler and Michael, himself, they can save lives too!—http://www.rozstrategies.com
• Mike Reed, EA—based in California and our world traveler, joined TaxMama’s EA course at the same time as Susan Holtgrefe, EA. Together they created tools, cheat sheets, and spreadsheets to help organize their own studies and shared them with other students. A longtime member of Team TaxMama, Mike can be counted on to clear up confusion in the TaxQuips Forum when it comes to complex issues. Who knows, someday he will be persuaded to teach for us—https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-reed-687a4232
• Pat Lynch—CEO and editor in chief of WomensRadio.com and a variety of related sites to help empower and educate women and men. Along with her husband and daughter, she has built a springboard for men and women to build their careers and to get involved in volunteering—http://www.womensradio.com/author/radiopat/. In fact, she has been hosting all the TaxQuips podcasts for more than a decade—http://taxmama.audioacrobat.com
• Rita Lewis, EA—and active member of Team TaxMama, providing answers and guidance in the TaxQuips Forum. She is our go-to person for issues relating to New York and Connecticut taxes, especially for people who work/live across those state lines—http://www.dollarssense.com
• Roger B. Adams, EA—based in Portugal, international tax maven, with a very diverse background and a fascinating perspective on tax issues—https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Acceptance-Agents-Portugal. You will find many of his articles at the American Citizens Abroad website: https://americansabroad.org
• Sid Kirchheimer—author and Scam Alert columnist for AARP, a versatile consumer and financial writer who tells it like it is—http://www.aarp.org/money/experts/sid_kirchheimer
• Steven J. Fromm—a real Philadelphia lawyer and top tax blogger with powerful insights into estate and tax issues—http://www.sjfpc.com
• Susan Holtgrefe, EA—stepped into TaxMama’s life as a student and brightened her entire school. This “stay-at-home mom” is never at home because she’s busy building a tax practice, volunteering at a VITA site then taking it over as a paid manager, creating tools and resources and study sessions for our students, and teaching in TaxMama’s EA course. Meanwhile, she’s raising lots of children and their friends with sleepovers, campouts, sports and more—a whirlwind, an inspiration, and a positive force—http://erietaxprep.com/susan-holtgrefe-ea
• “Uncle Bill” Porter, EA—Goodness, has it only been three years since Bill graduated from TaxMama’s EA course? He’s a valuable member of Team TaxMama, often correcting TaxMama herself when she answers too quickly or without looking things up. Uncle Bill keeps TaxMama honest and is a terrific researcher. Based in Minnesota, he’s our go-to guy for Midwest and ACA tax issues—http://www.pridetaxpreparation.com
• Virginia Lawrence, PhD—creator of award-winning websites, and articles, formats authors’ books for the Kindle (especially Patricia Fry’s charming Klepto-Cat series). You met Virginia in Tip #157 where she started volunteering on the Tall Ships well after the age of Social Security. When I grow up, I want to be like her and Patty Fry—http://www.cognitext.com
• William Perez, EA—tax planning guide at About.com with lots of reliable, updated resources, and one of TaxMama’s first instructors in her online EA Exam School—http://taxes.about.com
• Willie Crawford—one of the kings of the online marketing kingdom is a man who knows about everything, speaks a dozen or more languages, has flown hot, military aircraft, taught martial arts, written a host of books, ebooks, and cookbooks, has been everywhere—and is still inspiring new generations to reach new heights. And he’s not even all that old—https://twitter.com/WillieCrawford

Non-Tax-Related—But Interesting and Fun

• Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics—http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html
• Assistance Dogs International—http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/about-us/types-of-assistance-dogs/service-dog
• Doctors without Borders—http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
• Isaac Asimov—http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_home_page.html
• Los Angeles Conservancy—https://www.laconservancy.org
• Los Angeles Tall Ships—http://www.tallshipsfestivalla.com
• Paradise Regained Utila—http://www.paradiseregainedutila.com
• Scientific American—http://www.scientificamerican.com
• Vgo Robots—remote presence resources for students and others—http://www.vgocom.com

TaxMama’s Courses That Might Help You

• TaxMama’s EA Exam Course—become an Enrolled Agent in about 6 months (it’s like a 3-year college course in taxation, plus an exam review course, all rolled into 6 months)—http://irsexams.com
• Live and self-study courses and resources at CPE Link—http://www.cpelink.com/teamtaxmama. Here are some you might find useful:
  • Doing Tax Research Online Using Free Resources—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6221&s=85iz6kg
  • Filing for Innocent Spouse Relief—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6233&s=85iz6kg
  • Marijuana’s Tax Paradox—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6219&s=85iz6kg
  • Mortgage Interest—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6097&s=85iz6kg
  • Tax Checklist for Knotty Divorces—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6181&s=85iz6kg
  • Ten Steps to Release IRS Levies on Paychecks or Bank Accounts—http://www.cpelink.com/product/detail/?p=6197&s=85iz6kg