Switched Keys

This is an update for those word game enthusiasts following my progress with Hoot. A month ago I released the first version (1.4.9) of a word game study tool called Hoot, and wrote a post describing some of its features. There are many on-line options… more »

With several tax law changes to education credit requirements over the past two years, the IRS regulations have become outdated. One of the changes requires that taxpayers have received a 1098-T in order to claim the credit… However, buried in the middle of the proposal is a section that taxpayers and preparers can rely on if the regulations do not become final before the next tax year. … more »

The seed About six weeks ago I was interviewed for a job with GenesisWorld for a software developer using C#/ASP.NET/T-SQL. The position I applied for was an entry-level job. As a part of the interview, I had to do some coding, in C#. I knew I had used… more »

Last month Google began implementing another change in their algorithms, but unlike the other changes we know precisely what is changing. On April 21, they began giving higher ratings to websites that are mobile-friendly… more »

Over the years tax law has been quite fluid based on changes and incentives Congress intends to provide to taxpayers in each session. This amoeba-like quality is what makes comparisons between different generations of the tax code difficult. It's more… more »

During tax season each year I occasionally come across issues that I need to research or verify. That's when I think a complete list of resources would be handy. I've started developing such a list and am making Volunteer Tax Assistance Resources available on-line. The page is at http://www.tylerhosting.com/voltax/. This is a collection of resources I've developed to assist me and others with our volunteer work at VITA and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide programs and includes … more »

This tax season has been one for IRA traps. IRAs are great, but meeting the rules can be a challenge. With hefty penalties on large sums, any mistake can be disastrous. Here's a few issues I've encountered this year. Don't Forget to Take RMDs. With most… more »