And a Sequel

I promised no personal comments; this is a blog designed for the in-the-trenches tax preparer, and they have little time for “True Confessions”.

But I have to celebrate the rebirth of my old computer, Sir Andrew (I’ll explain the name infra, as the law review writers say).

In my most recent blogpost “A Sad Goodbye”, 7/5/13, I lamented his passing. Happily, like Mark Twain, the report of his death was an exaggeration. I removed the defective battery, pounded his back with my fists (CPR to the rescue!), and howled imprecations and invocations.

Sir Andrew returned to life. I backed up his innards, and here he is.

As the old Scots ballad put it:

“‘Fight on, my men,’ says Sir Andrew Barton,
‘I am hurt, but I am not slain;
I’ll lay me down and bleed a while,
And then I’ll rise and fight again.’”

Sir Andrew’s fighting again. Just in time for my 500th blogpost.

And now the sequel. I do get feedback from practitioners, and their replies wind up in the “Responses” to the blogpost at issue.

Very rarely do I get feedback from the taxpayer him/herself. And those I don’t post, as almost invariably they add nothing to the principles discussed.

But here’s a comment from the taxpayer’s spouse, a co-petitioner, that rounds out the facts of the case. See my blogpost “No Good Deed”, 4/18/13, for background.

“There’s a postscript to this story and it goes something like this — karma is a harsh mistress . . . Ruth died in April 2012, and the IRS chief Steven Miller was ousted in May 2013. To paraphrase Hamlet, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Mr. Taishoff, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”  P.S.   Haven’t yet heard about the US Tax Court, but won’t be surprised when I do.” –Christina Martin

Ms. Martin, there are those who would agree with you. As for me, I need material for this blog.