Tax Carnival #39: Dog Days of Summer 2008

Here we are, smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer.

It's hot (so far here in Austin, we've had 46 days of 100 degree or higher temps) and although I'm dog tired, I'm dogged by a ton of things still nipping at my heels. That's why this 39th edition of the Carnival of Taxes is a week late.

I hope this slight delay hasn't landed me in the dog house.

But I've finally gathered this month's many offerings. They're presented below in no particular order, aside from the first one. C'mon! It had to go there considering the topic. 

Instead, I'll let you pick your own top dog from the eclectic tax litter that makes up Tax Carnival #39.

Andrea of Queercents wonders, "Should we be able to claim pets as dependents?" Check out her thoughts in Reducing Pet Costs: Tax Deductible Pets?

Madison details an Unconventional Roth IRA Strategy to Lower Tax Bill at My Dollar Plan.

Todd discusses an alarming situation in IRS Cash Withdrawal, posted at TaxDollarsAndSense.

Walter from IRS For Dummies offers advice on Taking Care of Your IRS Problem.

For those of you seeking personal, professional tax help, we have some tips.

Ian Cunningham offers advice on How to choose an accountant, posted at The Business Lounge. Although Ian's in the UK, many of his tips translate here across the pond.

Back here in the colonies, FMF of Free Money Finance tells us When to Hire a Tax Professional.

Dan Meyer tells us that the IRS Tries to Get Tough on Tax Shelters, posted at Tick Marks.

Marriage is on the minds of a couple Tax Carnivalistas.

"Here is an entry for the dunk tank of your carnival," says Kim Greenblatt of profitable. "All too often I've seen couples getting married without taking into consideration what their tax bracket will look like when they file until it is too late." Kim has details in Bad Tax Idea: Getting married without checking on the tax ramifications.   

Meanwhile, Beckie at A Tax Consultant for All Seasons notes that some married filers have special status consideration in Community Property States-Married Filing Separately.

Diane looks at the tax value of Charitable Contributions, posted at Need IRS Help? 

In that same giving vein, Dave warns Donating Clothing? Beware For-Profit Drop Boxes. It's posted at Money Under 30.

Hanna Kassis looks at Tax Breaks for College Students: pt. 2, posted at College Finance 101.

Robert D Flach, known as the blogosphere's WANDERING TAX PRO, offers us a mini-carnival within the Tax Carnival with What's the Buzz? Tell me what's a happenin'.

Jim looks at Tax Credit vs. Tax Deduction, posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Bruce at "the tax guy" wants to know, Are You Having Enough Withheld?

From rothira at Roth IRA Explained we get Social Security Affected by Roth IRA Conversions.

Have you got your eye on the latest, greatest info-product that's launching, asks Kristine of Ebiz Tax Tips. You might be able to write it off. Details in IM Courses May Be Tax Deductible.

Kevin Colby looks at IRS data on who pays how much in taxes, posted at  KevinColby.com.

David Gross of The Picket Line continues his look at the history of tax resistance with Quaker resistance to tithes was an influential ancestor to war tax resistance.

Kent Anderson looks at Two Tax Years For the Price of One, posted at Bankruptcy Law Network.

Leon Gettler of Sox First has news on Crocodile Dundee's challenge to Australian and U.S. tax officials, Come and get me, you bastards!

Staying abroad, Raag Vamdatt tells Indian readers How to fill Income Tax Return Form 2 (ITR2), posted at Financial Planning Demystified. 

And Mike Gogulski of nostate.com explains his issues with the Liechtenstein tax shelter investigation in Stealing for thieves.

Returning to United States issues, Madeleine Begun Kane has a poetic take on our tax-driven economy in Wham! Bam! No Thank You, Phil Gramm! It's posted at Mad Kane's Political Madness.

And we close with, for your viewing pleasure, Overlooked Tax Deductions, A Photo Essay, presented by Silicon Valley Blogger and posted at The Digerati Life.

I hope you enjoyed our canine collection of tax bloggings. Our next Tax Carnival is coming up in three short weeks, on Labor Day Monday.

You can be a part of it by submitting your blog article via our carnival submission form. Also be sure to check out our carnival guidelines, as well as our archives.

Dog images courtesy of American Kennel Club.

Comments

[profitable]

Thanks for letting me be part of the carnival.

Kim Greenblatt

[Bruce]

Very cool as soon as I figure out how I will add a track back to here. Ready for another.