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ND lawmakers exploring ‘homestead’ property tax credit for all homeowners

ND lawmakers exploring property tax credits

NY may try to collect taxes on Indian cigarettes, estimated $400M could help close $3B deficit

NY may try to collect taxes on Indian cigarettes

Scan the neighbors in Scandinavia: Who’d release private tax data? A Norwegian would

OSLO — It’s the moment nosy Norwegian neighbors have been waiting for — the release of official records showing the annual income and overall wealth of nearly every taxpayer in the Scandinavian country.

Lawmakers look at problems in home buyer credit as Congress considers extension

WASHINGTON — The rush to implement a tax credit for first-time home buyers opened the program up to potential fraud by people who hadn’t bought a home or already owned one, Congress was told Thursday.

Lawmakers look at problems in homebuyer credit as Congress considers extension

WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of people may have taken advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit to defraud the government, an IRS watchdog office said Thursday, in testimony that could jeopardize efforts to extend the popular program.

Questions arise on first-time homebuyers tax credit; congressional leaders want it extended

WASHINGTON — Key congressional leaders want to extend the tax credit for first-time homebuyers beyond its scheduled end-of-November expiration despite complaints of fraud and Obama administration concerns about the costs.

Congress looks to extend homebuyer tax credit despite more than 100,000 questionable claims

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday it was concerned about the cost of extending a popular tax credit for first-time homebuyers, a program already under scrutiny for fraudulent claims.

IRS decides to keep retirement contribution limits same for 2010

DES MOINES — The maximum contribution limits for your 401(k) and other retirement plans will stay the same next year, the IRS says.

APNewsBreak: Records show Christie topped federal guidelines on travel while US attorney

TRENTON, N.J. — The Republican candidate for New Jersey governor, who has campaigned on a platform of ethical integrity and cutting government waste, regularly spent beyond federal guidelines on business travel while U.S. attorney, records show.

Baucus says has ‘high hopes’ of finishing work on health bill Thursday; final vote next week

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said Thursday he wanted to complete work on a sweeping health care bill by nightfall, opening the way for Democratic leaders to bring the historic legislation to the floors of both the House and Senate as early as mid-October.

Democrats eye mid-October launch for health care debate in the full House and Senate

WASHINGTON — Historic health care legislation could be on the floor of both houses of Congress as early as mid-October as Democrats work to answer President Barack Obama’s call for greater protections for those who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

Health care vote predicted soon by Senate panel; GOP challenges swept aside as emotions rise

WASHINGTON — A White House-backed overhaul of the nation’s health care system weathered repeated challenges from Republican critics over taxes, abortion and more on Wednesday, and the bill’s architect claimed enough votes to push it through the Senate Finance Committee as early as week’s end.

Commission’s recommendations for new Calif. business tax faces criticism from lawmakers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A state commission is expected to submit a report Tuesday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers that recommends bold changes to California’s tax system. But it’s being met by political skepticism before the ink dries.

Schwarzenegger calls on Legislature to give tax panel’s plan a fair hearing, finish this year

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A proposal to dramatically reshape California’s tax system drew criticism Tuesday from across the political landscape, even before the Legislature begins considering the plan.

Report: Tax commission looks to replace sales, corporate taxes to stabilize Calif. revenue

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A commission charged with updating California’s tax system is making bold recommendations to the governor and Legislature.

‘Girls Gone Wild’ founder pleads guilty to filing false tax returns, will be sentenced in Nov.

LOS ANGELES — “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis pleaded guilty Wednesday to filing false tax returns and will avoid further jail time in a tax case that spanned two states and several years.

October angst: Small business owners face tax deadline with some in disarray, some can’t pay

NEW YORK — These are anxious times for some small business owners who face an Oct. 15 due date for their 2008 income tax returns. These owners got extensions of the deadline for filing their returns back in April but aren’t ready to file. Or, they can’t pay the government the money they owe.