Author Archive | Borbala Banto, CPA

On Sunday, quarterback Peyton Manning led his uncharacteristically hapless Denver Broncos to the second-most-lopsided Super Bowl loss ever. Manning & Company just couldn’t catch a break, from the safety they gave up on the game’s first play, to Manning’s two interceptions, to Percy Harvin’s second-half kickoff return, to . . . you get the picture. […]

When you think of France, you probably think of food. The French are known throughout the world for their truffles, foie gras, and fine champagne. French chefs have spread the gospel of rich food and fine wine across the globe. Most of us think of “French” dining as the highest form of cuisine. But it […]

So-called “tax protestors” have dreamed up dozens of excuses for not paying the taxes the rest of us grumble about. They argue that the Sixteenth Amendment, which authorizes the government to levy an income tax without apportionment among the states, was never “properly ratified.” They accuse the “alleged” Internal Revenue Service of being a massive […]

On September 1, 1914, “Martha,” the last remaining passenger pigeon (ectopistes migratorius), died at the Cincinnati Zoo. On September 7, 1936, “Benjamin,” the last Tasmanian tiger (thylacinus cynocephalus), died at Australia’s Hobart Zoo. And on June 24, 2012, “Lonesome George,” the last living Pinta Island tortoise (chelonoidis nigra abingdoni), died in Ecuador’s Galapagos National Park. […]

2014 is here, and it’s time for New Years’ resolutions. Americans across the country are pledging to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise, and find new jobs. Some of them will succeed, others will lose faith before the first snowmelt. (Want to make a fortune? Open a gym that turns into a sports bar on February […]

2013 has been a big year for taxes. The “fiscal cliff” deal boosted the top federal income tax rate to 39.6%; “Obamacare” added new taxes on top earners; and dozens of state and local governments raised their taxes, too. Congress will finish 2013 even more divided than it began, which will probably protect us from […]

Christmas is almost here, and that means millions of parents across America are telling their kids to behave themselves or risk winding up on the “Naughty List.” (Admit it – if you’ve got kids, and you celebrate Christmas, you’ve done it yourself.) But while kids may be on their best behavior, grownups sometimes fail to […]

Tax collectors generally don’t choose their line of work for the pay. Glassdoor.com, a gossipy website covering salaries and careers, reports the average Revenue Agent earns $73,967. Careerbliss.com tells us the average criminal investigator earns $99,000 — which makes sense considering there’s at least a chance they get shot at while working. That’s not bad […]

December is here, and for millions of college football fans, that means following their favorite coach to a New Year’s bowl game. In Birmingham, Alabama’s Nick Saban is reeling from the Crimson Tide’s last-second loss to arch rival Auburn in this year’s “Iron Bowl.” In Columbus, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer is celebrating 24 straight victories […]

The holidays are here, and millions of Americans kicked off the season with “Black Friday” shopping. Braving the crowds and the cold, facing scorn from family they’ve left behind, they lined up at obscenely early hours (or ducked out of Thanksgiving dinner before the pumpkin pie was even served) to save $20 on a DVD player […]