We know you didn’t mean to do it. Now you’ve filed a totally incorrect tax return and you’re freaking out. “Why? Why did I tell the IRS I had a farm in Guam?”
Government Policy
Iowa Microsoft Users Can Get Some Class Action Settlement Cash
By 4.20.07
Under the settlement, individuals and businesses that purchased certain Microsoft software between May 18, 1994 and June 30, 2006 are eligible for benefits, as well as Iowa state and local governments that purchased software between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2006. The OSes included in the settlement range from MS-DOS all the way up through Windows NT and Windows XP, and the other applications include Word, Except, and various versions of Office.
TurboTax Apologizes And Gives Refunds For Filing Slowdown
By 4.20.07
TurboTax sent an email this morning to customers saying sorry for the big server slowdown on April 17th, and pledging refunds to any one who tried to file that day.
FCC Chairman Supports a la Carte Cable, Needs Congressional Support
By 4.19.07
The FCC official said Martin testified that an a la carte law was justified because nominal cable rates kept rising and because consumers who tend to watch 15-17 channels still need to buy dozens of channels they don’t want in order to see their favorites.
Pet Food Recall: Second Tainted Ingredient Found, Recall Expanded Again
By 4.19.07
“This has exposed that the safety standards for pet foods are not in place in any significant way and the kind of drumbeat, day after day, of recalls has shaken consumers’ confidence in the pet food industry’s adherence to food safety standards,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States.
Sony Recalls Broken DRM-Filled DVDs
By 4.18.07
Sony’s latest bright idea was to issue DVDs with DRM that made them unplayable in their own DVD players. Yes, they’re just that committed to you, their valuable customers. Anyhow, they’ve decided to recall the discs. From IMDb:
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has discovered the source of a problem in their recent DVD releases that prevented them from being played on some players, including some manufactured by the consumer electronics division of Sony itself. The company said the problem was caused by an update of its copy-protection system, which it continually updates in order to derail potential hackers. Among the DVD movies affected were the new James Bond film Casino Royale, The Pursuit of Happyness and Stranger Than Fiction. Sony said that anyone who had purchased one of the discs and has experienced problems playing it may receive a replacement disk free of charge by phoning 800-860-2878.
Reader Mick will be happy about this, as he started a blog about the issue. The recall is probably due in part to his reporting. Good job, Mick! —MEGHANN MARCO
IRS Won't Penalize Turbo Tax Late Filers
By 4.18.07
Tax procrastinators can stop biting their cuticles, the IRS says they won’t fine anyone who couldn’t file due to Turbo Tax server difficulties.
Man Gets Brand New Laptop After Suing HP In Small Claims Court For Losing His
By 4.18.07
HP seemed to have “lost” David Barzelay’s laptop when he sent it in for repairs. After a month of no laptop, HP wouldn’t replace it or return it.
Overwhelmed Turbo Tax Servers Slow To Crawl For E-Filers
By 4.18.07
Yep, looks like Turbo Taxes servers were totally bunged up last night. Some people were sitting there for hours, waiting for a confirmation after hitting submit. Intuit, makers of Turbo Tax, contacted the IRS but there’s been no official word whether people unable to submit their taxes by the midnight deadline will get an extension. Some statement from the IRS should be out today.
Turbo Tax's Servers Down?
By 4.18.07
Reader Derek reports he can’t e-file taxes because Turbo Tax’s servers are down. Not sure if others are experiencing this, but he could still file by printing out his return and rushing to a local post office. There may indeed be one nearby open until midnight. — BEN POPKEN
IRS Offers Extension To Those Affected By The Virginia Tech Shooting
By 4.18.07
This relief applies to the victims, their families, emergency responders and university students and employees.
Vending Machine Jewelry Poses Lead Poisoning Risk
By 4.17.07
If your child bought a vending machine necklace for $0.25 this past year, you might want to take it away from him or her and throw it away. According to the CPSC the paint on some of the jewelry (about 900,000 necklaces and bracelets) contains high levels of lead and should not be handled by children.
Post Offices Open Late For Last-Minute Tax Filers
By 4.17.07
If you’re scrambling to get your taxes mailed tonight in Manhattan, there’s a post office open until midnight at 31st st & 8th av.
If You're Getting A Refund, File Whenever You Feel Like It
By 4.16.07
Kiplinger’s says that if you’re getting a refund this year, you don’t need to stress about filing on-time.
Recall: There's Botulism In the Olives
By 4.16.07
The olives are sold under the following brands:
Borrelli, Bonta di Puglia, Cento, Corrado’s, Dal Raccolto, Flora, Roland and Vantia, and have codes that start with the letter “G” and are followed by 3 or 4 digits. All sizes of cans, glass jars and pouches of Cerignola, Nocerella and Castelvetrano type olives are affected.
Middle Class? Get Ready For Your Audit!
By 4.16.07
If you make from $25,000 to $100,000 dollars, the IRS is much more likely to audit you this year, and those caught cheating can expect to pay about $4,100 more in taxes.
Tax Season: Last Minute Tax Tips
By 4.16.07
Geek Squad Peeker Plead "No Contest" To Privacy Invasion
By 4.14.07
When former Geek Squad Agent Hao Kuo Chi appeared in court on April 3rd, 2007, he plead “no contest” to one count of unlawful invasion of privacy, according to the LA County DA’s office. He received this sentence:
