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Yet another Cabinet tax evader

March 3, 2009

OK. This isn't funny any more. Heck, it's not even surprising any more.

Ron Kirk, former Dallas mayor and nominee to be U.S. Trade Representative in the Obama Administration, has — are you sitting down? — an unpaid tax issue.

I'm about as "Shocked, shocked I say!" as Inspector Renault when he discovered gambling was going on at Rick's Cafe Americain in Casablanca.

Kirk, following in the footsteps of too many previous Obama Cabinet appointees, apparently failed to pay almost $10,000 in taxes during the past three years because of a series of mistakes.

According to the Senate Finance Committee, which will hold a confirmation hearing on Kirk next Monday, Kirk's problems come from speaking fees, as well as the cost of sports games, for which he deducted too much, and improper treatment of accounting fees on his income taxes.

Kirk has agreed to file amended returns. Ya think?

Also expected is eventual approval of Kirk for the trade post. Finance Committee Chair Sen. Max Baucus (D- Mont.) released a statement saying, "Mayor Kirk is the right person for this job and I will work to move his nomination quickly."

Usually, you don't want to be at the end of a long line of problems because people tend to say "enough already!"

But the way the Obama nominees are going, just being another appointee with tax problems now looks like the way to approval.

Ho hum, move along, folks. Nothing to see on these returns that you haven't seen way too many times before.

The big question is how many spots does Obama have left to fill?

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Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • It makes his plans to reduce the deficit seem much more realistic. Apparently, all he have to do is ask his friends to pay their taxes.

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