Streamlining various state sales taxes
It's nearing 10 a.m. on Black Friday. That means that for the last six or so hours all across America, shoppers have piled into stores looking for bargains. In a couple of states, South Carolina and West Virginia, shoppers will get even better deals as certain purchases -- guns in S.C. and energy-efficient appliances in W.V. -- are free from sales tax. Many other folks are shopping online today, with a

Texas, taxes, close enough
What a difference one little letter makes. see more Epic Fails Where's Vanna and her supply of vowels when you really need them? Texas-sized thanks: On this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for every

Giving thanks for tax amnesties
Taxpayers in 18 states and cities have a great reason this year to be thankful. Their revenue offices offered them tax amnesties. These folks were given a chance to make things right with the tax man. Even better, the programs typically waive some, if not all, of the penalties and interest that usually are tacked on to late payments. The reason for the offers? States in dire need of revenue have jumped on the

Pieces of the health care financing pies
In conjunction with the impending Thanksgiving holiday, specifically the dessert portion of the day, a blog item containing pie charts seemed fitting. And since Turkey Day-related overeating or reckless wielding of a carving knife or straining your voice yelling for (or at) your favorite football team could result in a trip to the doctor, it's even more appropriate that we've found some pie charts dealing with health care reform.All of us tax geeks and political wonks can be very thankful that instead of forcing us to squint at rows and rows of tiny numerals,

'Pay as you fight' war surtax introduced
"Obamacare" has been replaced as the current catch phrase, at least momentarily, by "Pay as you fight." That's the headline grabbing name (yeah, I went there, too) given to a proposal to impose a surtax all taxpayers to help fund the ever-growing Afghan war costs. Officially dubbed the Share the Sacrifice Act by its sponsors, the would impose a surtax most taxpayers. The levy would increase with the amount of income earned, reaching 5 percent on those in th