Yeah I Love Soda, Pick Your Own Poison: Soda tax ballot measures fizzle in California

I'm not a smoker and I rarely drink alcohol (at least now) but I do LOVE my soda. We have to die of something.

Mitt Romney wasn't the only loser in the elections. Voters in two California cities rejected measures that would have imposed the nation's first penny-per-ounce taxes on businesses that sell sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to boost municipal revenue and fight obesity.

In El Monte, 76.8 percent of voters said no, while in Richmond, 66.9 percent opposed the measure, according to final results from last Tuesday's election.

Calls to tax sugary drinks have gathered steam as more cities and states struggle to close budget gaps and American waistlines continue to expand.

The American Beverage Association - which represents PepsiCo Inc, Coca-Cola Inc, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc and other beverage companies - has spent millions of dollars to beat back soda taxes around the country. The ABA has a strong record of defeating soda tax efforts.

Even though I'm about 6'5 and 90 pounds, I do love my soda. Please don't make it more expensive. All soda drinkers are not obese. Taxes will not stop an obese person from drinking Pepsi.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Tax protester admits to filing false tax returns

The tax revolution will not be televised and that is how the IRS likes it.

A tax protester from north central Idaho has pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently receiving more than $85,000 from the Internal Revenue Service during an eight-year period.

 

Federal prosecutors say 71-year-old Gary Raymond Harvey of Peck entered the pleas after three days of trial. Harvey pleaded guilty to 10 counts of making a false claim for a refund from the IRS.

 

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Harvey created and filed tax returns for The Organic Assembly of Circle JB. Harvey claimed the organization was entitled to tax refunds ranging from $8,800 to $54,000 in the tax years of 2002 through 2010.

 

On the stand, Harvey admitted he was not entitled to the refunds and to filing false tax forms.

 

He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 14.

Good luck Mr. Harvey! I bet you didn't think you would spend your golden years locked up in prison. I'm pretty sure your grandchildren will return the gifts you brought them......NOT!!!

Tax Preparers' Hall of Shame: Tax preparer pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns using stolen identities

New inductee of the Tax Preparers' Hall of Shame goes to Antoinette Djonet

Antoinette Djonret, a former Premier Tax preparer, has pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns using stolen identities, according to reports. In August, a federal grand jury in Montgomery indicted Djonret and five others for conspiring to file false tax returns using stolen identities and various other charges. According to the Department of Justice, Djonret had earlier been charged with making false claims in a criminal complaint that was filed on February 22 and in an indictment filed on March 28. According to court documents, Djonret obtained stolen identities from state of Alabama databases, and she and her sister then filed false tax returns using the stolen identities and directed the false tax returns to prepaid debit cards. In total, the defendants filed over 800 false tax returns and requested over $1.2 million in tax refunds.

Congrats goes out to Djonret. Thanks for making tax preparers look bad. Was it worth the money.....nope!