Does IRS Hate Cats ?
If you are thinking of making a large bequest to a small charity, you might want to consider whether they have the infrastructure in place to deal with it. It may be that if Mr. Campbell had left money to a community foundation with instructions to support the small charities, more would have ended up with the cats.
Do Not Be Pressured Into Blindly Signing A Joint Return
Many tax preparers only deal with either the husband or the wife when preparing a joint return. Particularly when dealing with a return where you know the balance due will not be paid, you should be sensitive to the fact that the interest of the couple may not be aligned. The option of filing separately should be communicated to both of them.
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Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.