Tax Returns

A Wichita tax preparer has been convicted on charges of filing false federal income tax returns.        Lata L. Tomlinson, 33, was convicted on 19 counts of preparing false income tax returns for a total of 17 people during tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Prosecutors said that Tomlinson had a college degree in accounting and worked for various tax preparation companies before starting her own business in 2006 called Talking Taxes And More.   In tax returns she prepared, she falsely stated deductions for depreciation, home improvements, business repairs, contract labor, legal fees, home repairs, medical expenses, advertising, insurance, car and truck expenses, hay and grain expenses, cell phones and care of dependents.

About 1,400 Wichita city employees incorrectly filed their 2011 tax returns.  They are now being asked to amend those return or face a penalty. The state notified the city that several employees didn't report their retirement contributions as taxable state income. The city sent a notice to employees explaining the issue.  "If you have already filed your 2011 taxes, please review your Kansas tax return to ensure your retirement withholding (Box 14 of your W-2) was added to the adjusted gross income from your Federal return.  If not, an amended return should be completed by April 15, 2012 to avoid penalties.

By Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) Nearly 10-percent more Kansans filed their tax returns early compared to last year, and that's helped add up to budget problems for the state. While citizens are enjoying the money the state owes them, the state will now have to figure out a way to deal with less money in a time where there wasn't much to spare. In February, the state came up $71 million short of expected revenue, and a large chunk of that came in the form of tax return money.

Republican Kansas Congressman, Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), challenged billionaire investor Warren Buffett to release his full tax return last month. Buffett has said he earned $62 million in 2010 but was only required to pay taxes on 17.4% of his income - a number that Buffett believes is far too low. Buffett wrote an opinion article for the New York Times in August saying the government needs to stop “coddling” the super-rich and argues...

The IRS says more and more Americans are filing tax returns on their home computers. So far, 19-million tax returns have been filed that way, an increase of almost 6-percent over last year. The IRS reminds you that families with adjusted gross income of $58-thousand or less can use Free File softwear. It's available at www.irs.gov/freefile.  

Free E-File income tax preparation help will be available at sites across Kansas starting Monday, Jan. 28. One of the largest sites will be at the Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison St., Room 163. The assistance sites are a partnership between the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, called VITA. Community IRS trained and certified volunteers will be on site to help complete electronically filed Federal and State individual income tax returns and limited Kansas Homestead Claims & Property Tax Relief Claims.

Note: The questions Eyewitness News asked Congressman Tim Huelskamp were not recorded on the video. The questions and answers are listed below. Q1: Warren Buffett says he made more than $62 million last year but that he was taxed on only 17.4% of his income - a rate that he says is lower than his secretary's. How much, what percent, do you think is fair to tax someone who makes $62 million? A1 : Well the real question here is what's going on in Washington.

Nobody likes to do taxes. In fact about 60 percent of Americans pay someone to prepare their tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service. But if you're looking for ways to save, Consumer Reports says an online program lets you prepare and file free—and can even provide step-by-step guidance along the way. It's via a government website, www.freefile.irs.gov. Anyone can use it to prepare and file federal tax forms at no cost. And for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $58,000 or less, it offers a lot more free help.

Time now for Eye on Your Money with Financial Advisor Bryce Matteson of the local Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. office.  It's always nice to help someone and today we're doing just that with a follow-up on something we talked about during the holidays in December. The information comes from new federal legislation called the Pension Protection Act of 2006.  Believe it or not, some people have enough money and don't want any more - even if it's their own.  The Pension Protection Act may allow them to give money away tax-free and help their favorite charity at the same time.

A Wichita tax preparer has been convicted on charges of filing false federal income tax returns.        Lata L. Tomlinson, 33, was convicted on 19 counts of preparing false income tax returns for a total of 17 people during tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Prosecutors said that Tomlinson had a college degree in accounting and worked for various tax preparation companies before starting her own business in 2006 called Talking Taxes And More.   In tax returns she prepared, she falsely stated deductions for depreciation, home improvements, business repairs, contract labor, legal fees, home repairs, medical expenses, advertising, insurance, car and truck expenses, hay and grain expenses, cell phones and care of dependents.

Tax related identity theft is a problem that's only getting worse.  It's one of the fastest growing complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. “It makes me feel like what else is out there under my name,” says Mary Payne who went to file her taxes at H&R Block, but quickly discovered there was a problem. “At the end...it's like oh…wait you have a dispute,” Payne said. Someone not only filed using her personal information, they took out a loan on the expected refund.

The law passed three years ago.  Still, a lot of Kansans have no idea how the so-called "Affordable Care Act" will affect them starting in October. Some will get a subsidy, some will have have to pay a penalty, for others it'll be neither.  It's all based on your 2012 tax returns. "Man, I don't know," Wichita resident Zeb Harrington says.  "I haven't done enough homework on it. " Everybody who gets their taxes done at H and R Block this year is getting a free health care assessment.  It gives them their first look into what health care reform will mean for them.

Free E-File income tax preparation help will be available at sites across Kansas starting Monday, Jan. 28. One of the largest sites will be at the Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison St., Room 163. The assistance sites are a partnership between the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, called VITA. Community IRS trained and certified volunteers will be on site to help complete electronically filed Federal and State individual income tax returns and limited Kansas Homestead Claims & Property Tax Relief Claims.

About 1,400 Wichita city employees incorrectly filed their 2011 tax returns.  They are now being asked to amend those return or face a penalty. The state notified the city that several employees didn't report their retirement contributions as taxable state income. The city sent a notice to employees explaining the issue.  "If you have already filed your 2011 taxes, please review your Kansas tax return to ensure your retirement withholding (Box 14 of your W-2) was added to the adjusted gross income from your Federal return.  If not, an amended return should be completed by April 15, 2012 to avoid penalties.

Republican Kansas Congressman, Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), challenged billionaire investor Warren Buffett to release his full tax return last month. Buffett has said he earned $62 million in 2010 but was only required to pay taxes on 17.4% of his income - a number that Buffett believes is far too low. Buffett wrote an opinion article for the New York Times in August saying the government needs to stop “coddling” the super-rich and argues...

Note: The questions Eyewitness News asked Congressman Tim Huelskamp were not recorded on the video. The questions and answers are listed below. Q1: Warren Buffett says he made more than $62 million last year but that he was taxed on only 17.4% of his income - a rate that he says is lower than his secretary's. How much, what percent, do you think is fair to tax someone who makes $62 million? A1 : Well the real question here is what's going on in Washington.

Click the link below to see President Obama's tax return http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/POTUS_taxes.pdf

The IRS says more and more Americans are filing tax returns on their home computers. So far, 19-million tax returns have been filed that way, an increase of almost 6-percent over last year. The IRS reminds you that families with adjusted gross income of $58-thousand or less can use Free File softwear. It's available at www.irs.gov/freefile.  

Nobody likes to do taxes. In fact about 60 percent of Americans pay someone to prepare their tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service. But if you're looking for ways to save, Consumer Reports says an online program lets you prepare and file free—and can even provide step-by-step guidance along the way. It's via a government website, www.freefile.irs.gov. Anyone can use it to prepare and file federal tax forms at no cost. And for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $58,000 or less, it offers a lot more free help.