Ask TaxMama Issue 542 – Poor Poor Purim

Dear Family,

Let’s start with a quick reminder – if you want to take a deduction for contributions to Haiti on your 2009 tax return, you must make your contribution by February 28th.

Speaking of February 28th, that is also the last day to take the 2009 EA Exam. Those of you planning to sit for the exam…get off your tushies and do it NOW!

I just heard from two people who truly did not believe they would be passing the exams by the end of this testing window. Our guy in Japan tells me that when I told in December that he would be able to finish his studies and pass before the testing deadline ended, he just couldn’t even imagine that he could learn that much, that quickly. He passed his last part yesterday – and is all done!

The other lady was in deep, deep despair two months ago. She was so burned out from family, studying, disappointments and failing the toughest exam, she wanted to throw in the towel and come back in the summer. She passed this week.

Why do I tell you this? Aside from intense pride in their success?
And aside from inviting you to join this year’s class?
http://irsexams.com/registration/

Because I want you to be inspired to accomplish the things YOU want to do in your own life. Sometimes, things look so dark, so dismal and problems impossible to overcome (especially tax problems), that you literally give up, withdraw into yourself and become emotionally catatonic. You may still function on some automatic level. But you’ve lost heart and all sense of life and purpose. You’re not alone.

In practically everyone’s life, we face such times. One person, speaking to a group this week told us that recently, he was so dejected, felt like such a failure, that he was going to walk away from everything he had built up – and just give up. He got over it because when he made the announcement, friends reached out to him from all over the world and brought him back to life. Which is why he is still around to teach me exciting new things.

If you’re feeling trapped, hopeless, or as if you can’t deal with another thing, please, take heart. Your problem, your set-back is temporary. Whether deal with it yourself (and that is often my nature, too…idiotic though that may be)or get help – break down your problem into components, like puzzle pieces. Work on just one piece of that puzzle at a time. Solving one problem, getting past one roadblock is much easier than trying to do it all once.

The first success will start a small spark of hope. The next one will raise that spark to a small flame of pleasure. By the third solution your hope and enthusiasm will be flaming bright. You will be on track again.

In fact, that’s a little bit like the events in the Book of Esther, the story of Purim. Listening to an online discussion by Rabbi Simon Jacobson this week, made me realize that the events that took place in Persia in the 5th century BC, took place over a period of years. Somehow, in the telling of the Story of Queen Esther, it feels as if all the events happened over a few months. And talk about Esther’s despair – learning that your entire race of people is about to be wiped out. Your choice is to go face the king uninvited and risk being put to death for your impertinence, or stay safe and watch everyone else die. And even then, even if you do risk your life to speak to your king, what’s if he annihilates all your people anyway? http://www.our-learning.com/blog

To all profound problems, there is a solution.
Faith and prayer were definitely a part of Esther’s solution.
But she didn’t rely solely on that (unlike the man in the flood).
Esther also had a plan.

She saved the Jews of Persia. And gave us THE most joyous holiday of the year – Purim.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm

In IRS News today we learn what to do when you move your home or office, and how to Check the Status of Your Refund.
http://taxmama.com/category/asktaxmama/irs-news/

This week TaxMama’s TaxWatch tells you all the different types of tax breaks you can use even if you don’t itemize.
http://www.marketwatch.com/taxes

In today’s Money Funny we meet a man waiting for God.
http://taxmama.com/category/asktaxmama/money-funnies/

In TaxQuips this week we get into an intense argument about whether your tax pro should give you a copy of your depreciation schedule with your tax return or not? What do you think?
http://taxmama.com/forum/taxquips/lack-of-depreciation-schedules/

The rest of the week, we learn about education credits, exotic medical travel, and funding retirement plans on the basis of rental income.
http://taxmama.com/category/tax-quips/

As always, we love your feedback, opinions and ideas.
You are what makes all this fun – and interesting!

Please use the Comments link online.
http://taxmama.com/ask-taxmama-issue-542-purim/

TaxNerd gear makes a bold statement year-round. And it helps attract the opposite sex!
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Hugs from your favorite TaxNerd,
http://www.zazzle.com/taxmama*

Eva Rosenberg, EA

Your TaxMama® is watching…out for you.

www.TaxMama.com
www.snurl.com/homebiz-tax
www.TaxMama.com/TaxQuips
www.IRSExams.com
www.TaxNerd.net

==========================————————————————————-
TAX CALENDAR
http://www.taxmama.com/taxcalendar.html————————————————————-

03/01/2010 File Paper copy W-3’s with Social Security Admin including copies of W-2’s
03/01/2010 File paper copy of US transmittal of US information Returns
03/01/2010 Farmers & Fisherman – Use Personal Income Tax Return – Sole Proprietor
03/16/2010 S-Corp Election Decision Due (if Applicable)
03/16/2010 S Corporate Returns Due / Calendar Year
03/16/2010 Issue K-1’s S Corporate Returns / Calendar Year
03/16/2010 Corporate Returns Due / Calendar Year
03/16/2010 Corporate Returns/S Corp Extensions Due / Calendar Year
03/16/2010 Foreign Persons US Income subject to withholdings
03/16/2010 Annual Tax Return of US Income subject to withholdings of Foreign Persons
03/16/2010 Employers Make Monthly Payroll tax deposit on the 15th of each month
03/16/2010 Electing Large Partnerships – Issue K-1s to partners – even if you’re on extension
03/31/2010 Electronic filing of W-3’s with Social Security Admin including issued W-2’s
03/31/2010 Electronic filing of US transmittal of US information Returns————————————————————-
From TaxMama® to You!————————————————————-

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http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/taxmamas-taxquips-daily-tax-podcasts

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http://snurl.com/taxcalendar

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