2010
FBI Kept Tabs For Decades On ‘Press Box Red’ (Newly released documents show agency earmarked Daily Worker lefty sports editor Lester Rodney for arrest in event of security incident) (Informer), Forbes.com, December 23, 2010.
Deutsche Bank’s $554 Million Tax Shelter Settlement Highlights Its Greedy Customers (Tycoons wanted a tax rate of 0% for their big deals), Forbes.com, December 21, 2010.
Court: False Claims Act Lawyer Took Improper Tax Deductions (Judge also upholds accuracy-related penalties against Dean F. Pace), Forbes.com, December 14, 2010.
Heisman Trophy Trust Is One Stingy Charity (Its pledge that all proceeds go to good works is not obvious from financial statement), Forbes.com, December 11, 2010.
Death In Prison For Ex-Forbes 400 Member (John E. du Pont was serving a 13-to-35 year sentence for murder), Forbes.com, December 10, 2010.
Los Angeles Ranks Lowest, Minneapolis Highest in Retirement Readiness (New survey gauges how well prepared and how confident residents are), with SLIDE SHOWS OF MOST AND LEAST, Forbes.com, December 7, 2010.
How To Make Being Your Own Boss Less Taxing (Tax code offers numerous breaks for the newly self-employed), with SLIDE SHOW OF TIPS, Forbes.com, December 3, 2010
If You Want To Join Wesley Snipes In Prison, Try These Tax Moves (The feds brings thousands of criminal tax cases a year), with SLIDE SHOW, Forbes.com, December 3, 2010. Also, A DEFENSE OF SNIPES!
Wesley Snipes Ordered To Start Tax Sentence (Globe trotting actor faces three years for not filing tax returns), Forbes.com, November 19, 2010.
America’s 200 Largest Charities (Annual Forbes list highlights financial efficiencies and top pay) with SLIDE SHOWS of MOST EFFICIENT, LEAST EFFICIENT, 10 BIGGEST and TIPS TO AVOID RIP-OFFS, Forbes.com, November 17, 2010.
Protection Racket (The trouble with indexed annuities is what’s unsaid), Forbes, December 6, 2010, p. 186
Names You Need to Know in 2011: Robert Gallucci (He runs the foundation that hands out those “genius” awards), Forbes.com, November 12, 2010.
An Inefficient Way To Honor Veterans Day (Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation spent just 7% of money raised on stated main purpose) (Informer), Forbes.com, November 11, 2010.
Lamar Odom Seeks Tax Deduction For NBA Fines And Fitness Fees (Fighting the IRS, Los Angeles Lakers star says $190,000 he paid were “necessary” expenses) (Informer), Forbes.com, November 9. 2010.
Names You Need to Know in 2011: Blaine, Washington (It’s the most strategically important 4,000-population city you never heard about—but will), Forbes.com, November 3, 2010.
Feds Play Coy On What Makes A Criminal Tax Case (IRS and Justice officials won’t say when a civil case becomes criminal), Forbes.com, October 26, 2010.
IRS Official’s Speech Is Grist For Tea Party Mill (Chris Wagner tells how agency builds “profiles” of individual taxpayers), Forbes.com, October 26, 2010.
Drilling Drowns Out Big-Time Tax Pros At Beverly Hills Hotel (Annual Tax Controversy Institute focuses on new rules for tax preparers), Forbes.com, October 26, 2010.
Facebook Movie Is Hardest On Larry Summers (Film highlights his propensity for very bad predictions), Forbes.com, October 17, 2010.
Hey, Big Secret Political Donor, Don’t Forget The 35% Gift Tax ( Gifts to 501(c)(4) organization like Crossroads GPS might not be free of tax) (Informer), Forbes.com, October 14, 2010.
Boy, Do We Know Tzemach Ben David Netzer Korem (Forbes stories help jail the former Branch Vinedresser, founder of the phony country Dominion of Melchizedek) (Informer), Forbes.com, October 8, 2010.
The Best And Worst States For Drivers (South Carolina is tops among the 50 while California comes in last), with SLIDE SHOWS OF TOP 10 AND BOTTOM 10 (Informer), Forbes.com, October 8, 2010.
No Medical Deduction For Hookers And Porn, Judges Rule (Retired Brooklyn lawyer William G. Halby, 79, loses bid to write off “therapy”) (Informer), Forbes.com, October 7, 2010.
For $1, Sidney Harman Buys A Copy Of Newsweek—All Of Them (Washington Post Co. gives away famed publication) (Informer), Forbes.com, October 7, 2010.
20 Incredibly Stupid Mistakes To Avoid With Your 401(k) (Slide show lists ways to make sure your nest egg isn’t cracked) with FULL STORY, Forbes.com, October 1, 2010.
Is Electronic Arts Helping To Do In A Football Coach? (There’s open talk in Albuquerque about firing New Mexico’s Mike Locksley, whose team is 1-15) (Informer), Forbes.com, September 29, 2010.
SEC Alleges Bait-And-Switch Using Hollywood Lure (Feds say Atlanta men raised $3.2 million from investors that ended up in a different company) (Informer), Forbes.com, September 20, 2010.
Can Electronic Arts Football Game Give Edge to Gamblers? (Computer video correctly predicted 72-point Oregon rout of New Mexico) (Informer), Forbes.com, September 17, 2010.
For Charity, Heisman Trophy Trust Promises More Than It Delivers (Amount given is less than half of “100% of the net proceeds” claimed on Web site) (Informer), Forbes.com, September 15, 2010.
Back To The City—For Retirement (An inner-city neighborhood can be a good, and affordable choice ) with SLIDE SHOW OF 10 TOP SPOTS, Forbes.com, September 15, 2010.
Be wary of Web scams about floods in Pakistan (Natural disasters bring out cons), Forbes.com, September 7, 2010.
EnnisKnupp drinks the Kool-Aid (‘Conflict-free’ pension consultant completes sale to firm with stock brokerage) (Informer), Forbes.com, September 2, 2010.
Pension planner tells the IRS suing him: Bring it on! (William Alexander denies claim he set up fake pension plans), Forbes.com, August 31, 2010.
No horsing around, IRS tells ex-NFL star Bill (Romocop) Romanowski (He sues to block $6 million tax bill from fraudulent thoroughbred breeding), Forbes.com, August 30, 2010.
IRS: Those small-business pension plans were too good to be true (Los Angeles area man William Alexander accused of peddling “sham” schemes) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 26, 2010.
Is “conflict-free” EnnisKnupp selling its soul? (Pension consultant that long touted its independence to join Hewitt Associates and Aon, which have brokerages and do underwriting) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 23, 2010, Selling Its Soul, Forbes, September 13, 2010, p. 31.
“Tax Lady Roni Deutch” is no lady, Jerry Brown says (California Attorney General sues her over tax-workout advertising) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 24, 2010.
Big-Time politically connected bad checks at Freehold Raceway (Brother of ex-New Jersey governor faces jail term after plea) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 20, 2010.
Watch what you tell the new help (Decision upholding $21 million unfair competition verdict against Village Voice Media units contains a lesson for managers) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 12, 2010.
Sidney Harman Ain’t No Billionaire (But media outlets, Web sites and bloggers find it more fun to say Newsweek’s new owner is worth $1 billion) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 11, 2010.
Billionaire Leon Cooperman: I Got Bad Tax Advice (Hedge fund manager claims bum steer on $43 million in charitable deductions) (Informer), Forbes.com, August 9, 2010.
More Colleges See Bonds Downgraded (Brandeis, Howard on growing list of schools hit by Moody’s in 2010) (Informer), with SLIDE SHOW OF 10 COLLEGES WITH DOWNGRADED BONDS, Forbes.com, August 4, 2010.
From Jail, Conrad Black Fights $71 Million Tax Bill (IRS says ex-media mogul paid no U.S. taxes despite $120 million in taxable income) (Informer), Forbes.com, July 14, 2010.
The 10 Richest Presidents (Despite populist rhetoric, poor men don’t get to White House) (Informer), with SLIDE SHOW, Forbes.com, July 14, 2010.
George Steinbrenner Death Was Well Timed for Estate Tax (Kin could reap huge benefit from 2010 federal death levy), Forbes.com, July 13, 2010.
Tax Informant Wins Ruling in Clarence Dillon Fortune Case (Tax Court gives whistleblowers right to appeal IRS brush-off) (Informer), Forbes.com, July 10, 2010.
Did Tax Ploy Help Saints Win Super Bowl? (IRS disputes New Orleans team’s claim that $8.5 million annual payment from Louisiana wasn’t taxable as income) (Informer), Forbes.com, July 6, 2010.
In Tax Court, Noted Horse Racing Writer Finishes Out of the Money (But IRS loses bid to handicap Bill Christine with penalties) (Informer), Forbes.com, July 2, 2010. CHRISTINE RESPONDS!
The Best Foreign Retirement Havens (New list includes a dozen worthy of consideration), with SLIDE SHOW, Forbes.com, July 1, 2010.
Celebrity Charities: Good for Image, But What About Good Works? (Some have high overhead, while others keep it low, with co-author), and SLIDE SHOW: Celebrities and Their Charities, Forbes.com, June 30, 2010; Dialing for Celebrity Dollars (table lists inefficient celebrity charities), Forbes, July 19, 2010, p. 32.
‘Homegrown Madoff’ (Ex-Albuquerque resident William P. Barrett writes ‘slightly flippant’ story for Forbes about alleged New Mexico Ponzi scammer Douglas Vaughan), Albuquerque Journal, June 12, 2010.
Too Good to Be True (Lessons abound for investors in the Ponzi scheme that authorities say Douglas Vaughan ran in New Mexico), Forbes, June 28, 2010, p. 90, with SLIDE SHOW: 10 WARNING SIGNS OF A PONZI, Forbes.com, June 9, 2010.
Investigate Before You Expatriate (Thinking of retiring abroad? Here’s how to check out possible pitfalls), Forbes, June 28, 2010, p. 68, with SLIDE SHOW, Forbes.com, June 9, 2010.
Economic Stimulus: More Cash Rewards To Solve Crime (Bounties offered for all sorts of wrongdoing) (Informer), Forbes.com, May 21, 2010, with SLIDE SHOW OF 20 CURRENT REWARDS FOR INFORMATION.
Can IRS Be Forced To Check Out Informant’s Tip? (Tax Court set to rule on requests involving squabbling heirs of famed financier Clarence Dillon) (Informer), Forbes.com, April 30, 2010.
CEOs’ Looks Affect Their Compensation (Duke study finds execs whose faces look “competent” get paid more) (Informer), Forbes.com, April 27, 2010, with SLIDE SHOW: BEAUTY RATINGS OF 20 CEOs.
Tails You Lose (The feds tax your gambling winnings to the max; loss deductions are a littler harder to come by), Forbes, May 10, 2010, p. 48.
Family Swindled by Madoff Fights $61 Million IRS Bill (Estate tax battle is latest hit for heirs of real estate tycoon Norman F. Levy) (Informer), Forbes.com, April 21, 2010.
Tax Preparer Vows to Fight IRS Bid to Ban Him for Life (Tobias Elsass says agency approved “99%” of his claims for Madoff-like theft losses) (Informer), Forbes.com, April 20, 2010.
IRS: Tax Preparer Wrongly Claimed Madoff-Like Losses (Lawsuit says Ohio man flouted rules limiting investment loss break to theft) (Informer), Forbes.com, April 19, 2010.
On April 15, Feds Bring Big Criminal Tax Charges (Seven UBS clients accused of hiding $100 million offshore), Forbes.com, April 15, 2010.
How To Not Get Audited by the IRS (There are some not-so-smart ways to draw the attention of the feds), Forbes.com, April 8, 2010, with SLIDE SHOW ON 10 WAYS TO ATTRACT AN AUDIT.
My Vintage Trade (Clothing maker My Vintage Baby share collapse offers lessons in spotting pump and dumps), Forbes, April 26, 2010, with SLIDE SHOW ON HOW TO SPOT THEM , Forbes.com, April 7, 2010.
Tycoon Tax Bite Down Two-Thirds Since 1955 (Wealth for the Common Good, group of wealthy liberals, support big tax boost), Forbes.com, April 6, 2010.
Bad News For Telecommuters (New Jersey tax court decision could give companies another reason to avoid the state—and turn down telecommuting requests), Forbes.com, March 30, 2010.
“Tax Snitches” Article Wins Prize (2009 Forbes cover story on tax bounty hunters tops category in Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards of New York State Society of CPAs), March 26, 2010. READ STORY HERE.
St. Louis Rams Buyer Gets Penalty Flag on Taxes (Shahid Khan will pay more in tax shelter case) (Informer), Forbes.com, March 18, 2010.
Retirement Catch-Up: How to Start in Your 50s (You have no savings but you’ve have a job: Don’t panic), with SLIDE SHOW ABOUT LATE-IN-LIFE RETIRMENT PLANNING, Forbes.com, March 16, 2010.
Barack Obama, Annuity Salesman (He isn’t say which is the good kind, so we will), Forbes, March 29, 2010, p. 42.WITH SLIDE SHOW ON THINGS TO KNOW, Forbes.com, March 16, 2010.
U.S. Sales Tax Rates Hit Record High (Shopping blues: Top rate is 12%) (Informer), with SLIDE SHOW OF AMERICA’S WORST SALES TAXES, Forbes.com, March 8, 2010.
SEC: Charity Pushed $97 Billion Bond Fraud (Pacific Asian Atlantic Foundation and president Samuel M. Natt agree to sanctions) (Informer), Forbes.com, March 2, 2010.
Lump of Coal (Shares of Americas Energy have risen 4,500% in a year despite no revenue, no cash and a negative net worth), Forbes, March 1, 2010, p. 52.
IRS: Methane Tax Credits Full of Gas (Federal judge bars 12 tax preparers from claiming bogus landfill tax break for clients) (Informer), Forbes.com, February 24, 2010.
Miami Vice: Phony Home Buyer Tax Credit Claims Alleged (IRS says Florida preparers falsely claimed dozens of tax breaks for home purchases) (Informer), Forbes.com, February 23, 2010.
“IRS 400” Suggests Path to Forbes 400 (Build unrealized capital gains and cash them in when tax rates are lowest), Forbes.com, February 18, 2010.
Will Your Tax Pro Get You Audited? (Since the IRS doesn’t regulate preparers—yet—here’s how to spot the problems), with SLIDE SHOW OF A DOZEN DODGY PREPARERS, Forbes.com, February 16, 2010.
Delay Sought in California Internet Tax (Tax agency board members calls for small businesses to be given more time to comply), Forbes.com, February 11, 2010.
California Web Tax Grab Hits Small Business (Push to collect sales tax on Internet sales might inspire your state), Forbes.com, February 9, 2010.
Tough Times Are Boom Times for Scams (Complaints abound as con artists, often using the Web, target the down and out) (Informer), with SLIDE SHOW LISTING 10 SCAMS, Forbes.com, February 8, 2010.
Worst Than Taxes (“Roth My IRA Without Feeling The Tax Bite” Internet pitch, made by Philadelphia-area advisor Thomas Quinn of Epiphany Wealth, requires borrowing large amounts of money and buying life settlements), Forbes, February 8, 2010, p. 32.
The Honor Roll (Annual Forbes roster lists 10 mutual funds that outperform in markets good and bad), Forbes, February 8, 2010, p. 50.
IRS Workers with Conviction (Tax agency deals with rogue employees engaging in everything from celebrity snooping to extortion) (Informer), with SLIDE SHOW OF ROGUES, Forbes.com, January 26, 2010.
IRS Hits Cardinals’ Antrel Rolle With $2.2 Million Bill (Football safety sues after audit nixes his big business and charitable deductions) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 26, 2010.
Taxes Gone Wild (“Girls Gone Wild” creator Joseph R. Francis loses bid to void IRS tax seizure of $22 million in accounts) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 20, 2010.
Green Bubble (Shares of Westport Innovations have nearly tripled since March despite no profits and declining revenue), Forbes, January 18, 2010.
Ex-Convict Registers Haiti Charity Web Addresses (Frederick Ray McKoy did federal prison time for fraud involving Atlanta Falcons players) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 15, 2010.
How to Spot Dubious Haiti Charity Pleas (Make sure your dollars get to the earthquake victims, not the scamsters) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 13, 2010.
Silver Griper Gets Breathing Room (California judge eases speech restriction against unhappy Monex customer) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 8, 2010.
Veterans Charity Posts Misleading Data (Roger Chapin’s Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation overstates efficiency) (Informer), Forbes.com, January 6, 2010.
Automatic 401(k) May Not Boost Retirement Savings (Bosses kick in less at companies, new study finds), Forbes.com, January 6, 2010.