http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/104462/Don't-Overlook-These-Itemized-Deductions
Smart taxpayers know deductions can cut a tax bill.
Smarter taxpayers develop their deductions strategy early, getting the most out of the tax breaks and avoiding filing-deadline panic.
Figuring out which deductions can help you is important because they aren't dollar-for-dollar tax-reduction tools. They can only cut your taxes on a limited basis by reducing your taxable income. Less income equals less tax.
That means every bit that reduces your taxable income is critical to cutting your final payment to Uncle Sam -- or getting a bigger refund. If you're going to add up your deductible expenses, add them all up on your Schedule A, especially since many deductions require you to reach a certain level before you can use them.
Tax-savvy filers know that some useful deductions get overlooked in the last-minute rush to find ways to cut a tax bill. So now, with plenty of time to spare, here are some itemized deductions you may have forgotten about.
Many medical costs to consider
There is never anything good about being sick, but don't add to your ailments by overlooking medical costs that you can deduct.
Since total medical expenditures must be at least 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, many taxpayers don't even bother with this one. But there are ways the Internal Revenue Service says you can get this deduction up to that ceiling.
* Count travel expenses to and from medical treatments. The IRS's Web site posts current mileage rates.
* If you made insurance payments from already-taxed income, add it in here. This includes the cost of long-term care insurance, up to certain limits based on your age.
* What about things your insurance didn't cover, but you needed anyway? This is where you can recoup some of their costs. This includes an extra pair of eyeglasses or set of contact lenses, false teeth, hearing aids and artificial limbs.
* The doctor told you to get that humidifier to help relieve your chronic breathing problems. That means the device -- and additional electricity costs to operate it -- could be at least partially deductible.
* The IRS also has deemed that costs for programs to help you kick the smoking habit are medically deductible, as are weight-loss programs undertaken at a physician's direction to treat an existing ailment such as heart disease.
Special medical needs
Do you have special needs? The medical-deductions section of your tax form is also where you account for the cost of a wheelchair, crutches and equipment that enables a deaf person to use the telephone or that provides television closed-captioning.
If you purchase a hearing or Seeing Eye guide dog, Fido's cost is deductible, too.
Even some home remodeling might be just the prescription for a tax break, as long as you follow your doctor's orders and the IRS's rules. If you need, for example, to add a chair lift to get up and down the stairs, this generally is considered a legitimate expense. Other deductible projects that make a house more accessible for a handicapped resident or individual with chronic medical problems are:
* Adding ramps
* Widening doors and hallways
* Lowering counters and cabinets
* Adjusting electrical outlets and fixtures
* Installing railings, support bars and other bathroom modifications
* Changing hardware on doors
* Grading exterior landscape to ease access to the house
A word of warning, however: Elevators generally aren't deductible. The IRS considers this a structural change that could increase the value of your house and therefore doesn't allow it as a medical deduction.
Yes, there are some good taxes
Some taxes really do come in handy.
If you live in a state with an income tax, you already know the value of deducting those taxes from your federal ones. But don't limit yourself here.
You also can deduct personal property taxes, intangible taxes on investments, real estate taxes, and in some cases the disability taxes you pay.
Tax-savvy filers know that some useful deductions get overlooked in the last-minute rush to find ways to cut a tax bill. So now, with plenty of time to spare, here are some itemized deductions you may have forgotten about.
Many medical costs to consider
There is never anything good about being sick, but don't add to your ailments by overlooking medical costs that you can deduct.
Since total medical expenditures must be at least 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, many taxpayers don't even bother with this one. But there are ways the Internal Revenue Service says you can get this deduction up to that ceiling.
* Count travel expenses to and from medical treatments. The IRS's Web site posts current mileage rates.
* If you made insurance payments from already-taxed income, add it in here. This includes the cost of long-term care insurance, up to certain limits based on your age.
* What about things your insurance didn't cover, but you needed anyway? This is where you can recoup some of their costs. This includes an extra pair of eyeglasses or set of contact lenses, false teeth, hearing aids and artificial limbs.
* The doctor told you to get that humidifier to help relieve your chronic breathing problems. That means the device -- and additional electricity costs to operate it -- could be at least partially deductible.
* The IRS also has deemed that costs for programs to help you kick the smoking habit are medically deductible, as are weight-loss programs undertaken at a physician's direction to treat an existing ailment such as heart disease.
Special medical needs
Do you have special needs? The medical-deductions section of your tax form is also where you account for the cost of a wheelchair, crutches and equipment that enables a deaf person to use the telephone or that provides television closed-captioning.
If you purchase a hearing or Seeing Eye guide dog, Fido's cost is deductible, too.
Even some home remodeling might be just the prescription for a tax break, as long as you follow your doctor's orders and the IRS's rules. If you need, for example, to add a chair lift to get up and down the stairs, this generally is considered a legitimate expense. Other deductible projects that make a house more accessible for a handicapped resident or individual with chronic medical problems are:
* Adding ramps
* Widening doors and hallways
* Lowering counters and cabinets
* Adjusting electrical outlets and fixtures
* Installing railings, support bars and other bathroom modifications
* Changing hardware on doors
* Grading exterior landscape to ease access to the house
A word of warning, however: Elevators generally aren't deductible. The IRS considers this a structural change that could increase the value of your house and therefore doesn't allow it as a medical deduction.
Yes, there are some good taxes
Some taxes really do come in handy.
If you live in a state with an income tax, you already know the value of deducting those taxes from your federal ones. But don't limit yourself here.
You also can deduct personal property taxes, intangible taxes on investments, real estate taxes, and in some cases the disability taxes you pay.
Go a bit further down the governmental tax chain, too. Did you pay city or county income or property taxes? Then throw them in here.
This means those taxes you paid directly, not just the ones withheld from your paycheck and that show up on your W-2.
For 2005 returns, taxpayers who itemize still get the chance to deduct state and local sales taxes they paid. If you live in a state that collects both sales and income taxes, you'll have to choose which tax amount you want to deduct on your Schedule A.
Residents of states that don't collect income tax but do levy sales taxes will find this is a great break. But it's worth checking out even if you do pay state income taxes. If your income tax is low, and you made a lot of expensive purchases during the year, the sales tax deduction might cut your IRS bill more than your income tax write-off.
An interest(ing) deduction
Every homeowner makes sure he gets that statement from the mortgage holder so that chunk of loan interest can be deducted.
But don't forget that second home or a vacation place with a mortgage. If it meets IRS guidelines for personal use during the tax year, then be sure to include interest paid on that property's loan on your Schedule A, too.
If it's a new loan, make sure you add in here any points -- money you paid the lender to get the loan. Even if the seller paid the points, you, the buyer, can write them offer on your return. If you don't get a statement from your bank with information on points you paid, pull out your closing paperwork and you'll find it listed there.
Investments can help you out here, too. Did you borrow money to buy that hot stock? Interest on that loan is deductible.
Countless charitable contributions
You got the receipt from the Red Cross for your cash donation. You have that one from the Salvation Army for that extra couch you got tired of seeing in the garage.
You're done here, right? Wrong.
There are many noncash contributions that taxpayers forget to add up.
The IRS allows you to deduct the miles you drove your personal car to the soup kitchen where you volunteer each weekend. Again, check the agency's Web site for the current per-mile rate for travel done to help out a charitable organization.
Are you a scout leader? Then the cost of your uniform and its upkeep -- dry cleaning, tailoring, repair -- is deductible.
Letting the IRS share your losses
Most taxpayers think they can deduct casualty losses only if they are victims of a catastrophic natural disaster.
But you don't have to suffer through a fire, flood, hurricane, tornado or earthquake to claim a casualty deduction. Losses from theft and vandalism are eligible losses, as are any damages from an automobile accident as long as it wasn't the result of driver negligence.
The IRS does limit, however, just how much of these losses you can use to reduce your taxable income. Any amount here must be reduced by $100, and then it must exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income.
Victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma do get some leeway here this filing season, thanks to tax-law changes that temporarily remove these limits for affected taxpayers.
Myriad miscellaneous expenses
This is a fun category, if you've got the patience -- and receipts -- to back up your spending. And you'll need the receipts because this category, like the medical one, is limited. The total of your miscellaneous deductions must be more than 2 percent of your adjusted gross income.
If you looked for a new job this year, be sure to count your job-hunting expenses here. Just remember that your job search has to be in the same field in which you're already employed. Any subscriptions to work-related publications also can be taken here, as can fees you paid for membership in a professional organization, as long as you weren't reimbursed by your employer.
Do you have a hobby that nets you a bit of extra spending money throughout the year? Any costs you had toward that hobby can be toted up as a miscellaneous expense. But you can't deduct more than you made on the hobby.
Maybe your hobby is a bit more glitzy -- trips to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, N.J., for a little recreational gaming. If it wasn't a good year at the roulette wheel, the IRS lets you deduct your losses. These losses aren't limited by the 2-percent cap, but you can't deduct in losses more than you won.
And finally, if this whole deduction process just got too taxing for you and you paid an accountant to figure it out for you, here's a final itemizing gift from the IRS. Fees paid to professional tax preparers are deductible, too.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
ZT: 沈殿霞去世(母女情)
为女儿，她坚守承诺不再婚
纵观肥肥这一生,最让人感动、心酸的莫过于她对女儿郑欣宜那份深厚的母爱。刚生下女儿，肥肥就意识到这个孩子可能就是今后陪伴她一生的人，而在肥肥生命的最后，她拖着病体到处奔波，燃尽仅有的生命，为女儿照亮前面的路。
出世：肥肥偷偷心酸
1986年，沈殿霞为了挽救自己和郑少秋的感情，用尽办法怀孕生子。冒着生命危险，人工授精怀上了一个孩子。沈殿霞悉心呵护这个孩子，在怀孕期间，哪怕离开电视台只有三分钟的路程，她也坚决打车。“我太胖，看不到脚，万一跌倒怎么办？”辛酸自知。1987年，因为体形过大和躲避媒体，沈殿霞跑到了国外生产。6月30日，她被推进了手术室，郑少秋拿着DV全程拍摄。手术进行到一半，麻药失效，钻心地疼。孩子便是在这样的情况下被医生交到她的手上。
养育：自觉亏欠太多
沈殿霞疼女儿，这在娱乐圈里人尽皆知。“欣宜减肥好辛苦，欣宜肥不是她的错，是我的错，我原来就是肥肥嘛。”更自己反思，从小给女儿吃得太好，小孩子不懂事，只是听大人的，所以造就女儿“肥”和“不自信”的罪魁祸首最终检讨下来就是自己。
肥肥照顾得太周到，郑欣宜从小开口就会说：“我吃得非常随便，简单煮鲍鱼、鱼翅就可以了。”有同学来她家玩，她会说：“你们吃多一点，我妈妈赚钱很容易的，只要上台说话就可以了。”
肥肥那种亏欠女儿的心情并不难理解。肥肥曾经亲口讲述过一件心酸往事，刚懂事的郑欣宜对她说：“妈妈你不可以再跟其他叔叔结婚，如果叔叔不要我，我怎么办。”肥肥说，当时女儿边说边哭，小眼睛里不停渗出豆大的眼泪。肥肥的心酸可想而知，她答应女儿：“以后不结婚了。”并坚守了这个诺言。
扶持：被传打强心针续命
大概是对没有父亲孩子的愧疚，也是随女儿的心愿，肥肥全力支持女儿进军娱乐圈。请好友教她唱歌，公开场合力推女儿。让人欣慰的是，郑欣宜也很懂事：“我是借了爸爸妈妈，得到了很多机会。”
肥肥病重之后，更是一直力撑着参加各种活动，尽最大可能为女儿铺路。去年，已经频传病危消息的肥肥，出席了TVB台庆颁奖典礼，据称在嘉宾休息室里，肥肥拉着女儿的手拜托TVB诸位高层日后要多加关照。据肥肥身边的友人及相关医护人员透露，为了在那几个小时里能够看起来精力充沛，肥肥注射了某种刺激类的药物，也就是强心针，但这种药物促使心脏跳动加快，血液流动加速，而她的生命危险也随之增加。
欣慰：郑欣宜长大了
郑欣宜踏入少女期，开始懂得爱美，在纤体公司帮助下，昔日的肥妹激减40公斤变成美女，惹来传媒到加拿大追访。欣宜一度变得反叛，不时以性感打扮出镜，身边男伴不停换。直到妈妈表示很痛心，欣宜才惊觉自己的过分，公开认错。
不过，肥肥病危以来，郑欣宜已经懂事了很多。前不久，母女俩在录制一档节目时，郑欣宜听母亲讲述自己出生故事的时候，怔怔地忘记看镜头，眼里泪光闪烁。郑欣宜在博客中表明“这些日子，让我感觉好像过了几十年那样漫长，我也一下子成长了很多”。
欣宜失去母亲后，痛不欲生，所有工作将全面暂缓。欣宜原本将在3月推出的全新单曲《连心》有可能会推迟发布，这也是欣宜送给母亲的礼物，只可惜母亲去得太快，未能等到那一天。
感情史
她最爱的人，伤害她最深
郑少秋是肥肥生命中唯一的男人，也是肥肥一生中的最爱。可惜的是，郑少秋（秋官）与官晶华发生了婚外情。肥肥后来反思婚姻失败原因，结论就是：“我爱他多于他爱我！”
感情缘自“分手信”
肥肥与秋官的感情，缘自一封“分手信”。当年秋官与无线花旦女友森森分手，女方托肥肥将分手信带给秋官。秋官被甩后大受打击，肥肥担心秋官自杀，故经常约他外出散心。肥肥最初很讨厌秋官的轻浮、花哨，但接触多了，才发觉他的为人与外表是两回事，两人终于擦出爱的火花。
仓促结婚酿苦果
两人相恋后不久即同居，并于1985年1月5日在加拿大秘密结婚。其实，肥肥与秋官原本没想过结婚，但当年肥肥陪秋官到台湾拍电视剧《楚留香新月传奇》期间，发现秋官与台湾演员官晶华眉来眼去。肥肥质问秋官，但他却矢口否认，说肥肥若不相信，他可以立即结婚。
离婚后曾想过自杀
肥肥后来主动提出与秋官离婚。1989年6月，即秋官与官晶华的女儿出世前一个月，肥肥与秋官办妥离婚手续。肥肥当时表示，离婚令她伤心欲绝，曾胡思乱想，更有过自杀及退出娱乐圈的念头。
“我爱他多于他爱我”
肥肥其后曾剖析过为何会与秋官婚姻破裂，她认为自己太爱秋官是原因之一，每项工作都为他安排妥当，令他感到失去男人的自尊。
2003年，肥肥在一出舞台剧的独白中说道：“在家里我是一个很凶的女人，我知道男人不喜欢女人比自己强，如果早知，我会扮纯情、无知同天真。”而在另外一次专访中，肥肥又说：“我和阿秋之间是我爱他多于他爱我，所以当日他可以离开得如此潇洒，而我就如此痛苦。”
纵观肥肥这一生,最让人感动、心酸的莫过于她对女儿郑欣宜那份深厚的母爱。刚生下女儿，肥肥就意识到这个孩子可能就是今后陪伴她一生的人，而在肥肥生命的最后，她拖着病体到处奔波，燃尽仅有的生命，为女儿照亮前面的路。
出世：肥肥偷偷心酸
1986年，沈殿霞为了挽救自己和郑少秋的感情，用尽办法怀孕生子。冒着生命危险，人工授精怀上了一个孩子。沈殿霞悉心呵护这个孩子，在怀孕期间，哪怕离开电视台只有三分钟的路程，她也坚决打车。“我太胖，看不到脚，万一跌倒怎么办？”辛酸自知。1987年，因为体形过大和躲避媒体，沈殿霞跑到了国外生产。6月30日，她被推进了手术室，郑少秋拿着DV全程拍摄。手术进行到一半，麻药失效，钻心地疼。孩子便是在这样的情况下被医生交到她的手上。
养育：自觉亏欠太多
沈殿霞疼女儿，这在娱乐圈里人尽皆知。“欣宜减肥好辛苦，欣宜肥不是她的错，是我的错，我原来就是肥肥嘛。”更自己反思，从小给女儿吃得太好，小孩子不懂事，只是听大人的，所以造就女儿“肥”和“不自信”的罪魁祸首最终检讨下来就是自己。
肥肥照顾得太周到，郑欣宜从小开口就会说：“我吃得非常随便，简单煮鲍鱼、鱼翅就可以了。”有同学来她家玩，她会说：“你们吃多一点，我妈妈赚钱很容易的，只要上台说话就可以了。”
肥肥那种亏欠女儿的心情并不难理解。肥肥曾经亲口讲述过一件心酸往事，刚懂事的郑欣宜对她说：“妈妈你不可以再跟其他叔叔结婚，如果叔叔不要我，我怎么办。”肥肥说，当时女儿边说边哭，小眼睛里不停渗出豆大的眼泪。肥肥的心酸可想而知，她答应女儿：“以后不结婚了。”并坚守了这个诺言。
扶持：被传打强心针续命
大概是对没有父亲孩子的愧疚，也是随女儿的心愿，肥肥全力支持女儿进军娱乐圈。请好友教她唱歌，公开场合力推女儿。让人欣慰的是，郑欣宜也很懂事：“我是借了爸爸妈妈，得到了很多机会。”
肥肥病重之后，更是一直力撑着参加各种活动，尽最大可能为女儿铺路。去年，已经频传病危消息的肥肥，出席了TVB台庆颁奖典礼，据称在嘉宾休息室里，肥肥拉着女儿的手拜托TVB诸位高层日后要多加关照。据肥肥身边的友人及相关医护人员透露，为了在那几个小时里能够看起来精力充沛，肥肥注射了某种刺激类的药物，也就是强心针，但这种药物促使心脏跳动加快，血液流动加速，而她的生命危险也随之增加。
欣慰：郑欣宜长大了
郑欣宜踏入少女期，开始懂得爱美，在纤体公司帮助下，昔日的肥妹激减40公斤变成美女，惹来传媒到加拿大追访。欣宜一度变得反叛，不时以性感打扮出镜，身边男伴不停换。直到妈妈表示很痛心，欣宜才惊觉自己的过分，公开认错。
不过，肥肥病危以来，郑欣宜已经懂事了很多。前不久，母女俩在录制一档节目时，郑欣宜听母亲讲述自己出生故事的时候，怔怔地忘记看镜头，眼里泪光闪烁。郑欣宜在博客中表明“这些日子，让我感觉好像过了几十年那样漫长，我也一下子成长了很多”。
欣宜失去母亲后，痛不欲生，所有工作将全面暂缓。欣宜原本将在3月推出的全新单曲《连心》有可能会推迟发布，这也是欣宜送给母亲的礼物，只可惜母亲去得太快，未能等到那一天。
感情史
她最爱的人，伤害她最深
郑少秋是肥肥生命中唯一的男人，也是肥肥一生中的最爱。可惜的是，郑少秋（秋官）与官晶华发生了婚外情。肥肥后来反思婚姻失败原因，结论就是：“我爱他多于他爱我！”
感情缘自“分手信”
肥肥与秋官的感情，缘自一封“分手信”。当年秋官与无线花旦女友森森分手，女方托肥肥将分手信带给秋官。秋官被甩后大受打击，肥肥担心秋官自杀，故经常约他外出散心。肥肥最初很讨厌秋官的轻浮、花哨，但接触多了，才发觉他的为人与外表是两回事，两人终于擦出爱的火花。
仓促结婚酿苦果
两人相恋后不久即同居，并于1985年1月5日在加拿大秘密结婚。其实，肥肥与秋官原本没想过结婚，但当年肥肥陪秋官到台湾拍电视剧《楚留香新月传奇》期间，发现秋官与台湾演员官晶华眉来眼去。肥肥质问秋官，但他却矢口否认，说肥肥若不相信，他可以立即结婚。
离婚后曾想过自杀
肥肥后来主动提出与秋官离婚。1989年6月，即秋官与官晶华的女儿出世前一个月，肥肥与秋官办妥离婚手续。肥肥当时表示，离婚令她伤心欲绝，曾胡思乱想，更有过自杀及退出娱乐圈的念头。
“我爱他多于他爱我”
肥肥其后曾剖析过为何会与秋官婚姻破裂，她认为自己太爱秋官是原因之一，每项工作都为他安排妥当，令他感到失去男人的自尊。
2003年，肥肥在一出舞台剧的独白中说道：“在家里我是一个很凶的女人，我知道男人不喜欢女人比自己强，如果早知，我会扮纯情、无知同天真。”而在另外一次专访中，肥肥又说：“我和阿秋之间是我爱他多于他爱我，所以当日他可以离开得如此潇洒，而我就如此痛苦。”
Friday, February 15, 2008
ZT:Five Homeownership Tax Myths
Five Homeownership Tax Myths
by Kay Bell
Friday, February 1, 2008provided byBankrate
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/104384/Five-Homeownership-Tax-Myths
Owning a home tops the dream list for most Americans, and for plenty of good reasons. It's a shelter for your family, a gathering place for your friends and a good long-term investment.
Tax breaks are also frequently cited as motivation for moving from renting to owning, and there are many ways a home can cut your tax bill.
More from Bankrate.com:
• Don't give Uncle Sam early access to cash
• Who qualifies as a dependent?
• Getting tax help to care for your parents
But, as is often the case with the U.S. tax code, homeownership tax benefits are not always clear-cut. That frequently leads to some bad information floating around.
While myths, half-truths and misconceptions may abound, we've narrowed it down to five that, if you buy into them, could cost you.
Half-truths, misconceptions and just plain hogwash
1. Mortgage interest will reduce my tax bill.
2. All costs related to my home are deductible.
3. I must use home profits to buy a new home.
4. Putting my children on the deed is tax-smart.
5. If I take a loss on a sale, I can write it off.
1. My mortgage interest will reduce my tax bill.
This is true for the majority of homeowners, but not for all. And this tax break won't work forever.
To take tax advantage of your home loan's interest, you must itemize and come up with a total that exceeds your standard amount. On 2007 tax returns, the standard deductions are $5,350 for single taxpayers, $7,850 for head of household filers and $10,700 for married couples who file jointly. These amounts increase a bit each year to account for inflation.
"Given home prices these days, most owners are itemizing," says Mark Luscombe, principal tax analyst with CCH Inc. of Riverwoods, Ill. By the time they count mortgage interest, property taxes and other nonhome deductions, such as state taxes and charitable gifts, their itemized totals easily surpass their allowable standard deductions.
But most is not all.
Want More Money-Saving Tax Tips?
Visit our 2008 Tax Center
Taxpayers who buy a home late in the year, for instance, might find the standard deduction is more beneficial, at least initially, says Kathy Tollaksen, a CPA at Sikich LLP in Aurora, Ill. In these cases, where you make only a few payments in a tax year, depending on your loan you might not pay much interest, at least not enough to exceed standard amounts.
Timing also could reduce or eliminate other home-related tax breaks.
"Quite a few states have real estate taxes that are calculated in arrears. That is, they have already been paid or mostly paid (by the seller) by the time you buy," says Tollaksen. "In the first year, you're seeing taxes that are someone else's responsibility so you're not getting the full tax value of your real estate taxes."
The benefit of mortgage interest also could be a myth if you've lived in your home for a long time. In this case, you likely are paying more toward your loan's principal instead of interest. So homeowners at the end of a loan term don't get much, if any, from this tax break.
Or, as Bob D. Scharin, senior tax analyst and editor of Warren, Gorham & Lamont/RIA's monthly tax journal "Practical Tax Strategies," puts it, "Every deductible expense you incur may not produce a deduction."
2. All costs related to my home are deductible.
There are no two ways about this one. It's flat-out false.
"Some buyers think, hope, they can write off everything connected with the house," says Tollaksen. "Not so. Association fees and property insurance costs are not deductible."
Neither, in most cases, is private mortgage insurance, which your lender probably required if your down payment was less than 20 percent. However, a new law changes the deductibility of PMI for mortgages originated or refinanced between Jan. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2009.
If you got your mortgage and policy in that time frame, you might be able to deduct your insurance premium payments. The law also extends beyond private insurance to others, including FHA, VA and rural housing.
There are some limits, though. The PMI deduction is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $100,000 and is totally elimitnated once AGI reaches $110,000.
Don't try to deduct basic maintenance, repair or home improvement costs either.
Tollaksen says, "I've had people say, 'I put a new roof on my home; can I deduct that?' No."
If you try to write off these expenses, expect to hear from the Internal Revenue Service and to pay a higher tax bill (and possible penalties and interest) after you refigure your taxes without the disallowed deductions.
However, you still need to keep track of these expenses.
"If you convert the home to rental property or sell it," she says, "these costs will affect the property's tax basis."
A home's basis is critical when it comes time to sell. And selling is also a tax area in which many people fall for myth No. 3.
3. I must use money from my home sale to buy another residence.
This used to be the only way to get around a tax bill on a home sale. Even then, you were only able to defer taxes by purchasing a new residence of equal or greater value with the profits from your other house. When you sold your final house, you'd owe those long-deferred taxes you had rolled over throughout the years. Home sellers age 55 or older were allowed a once-in-a-lifetime tax exemption of up to $125,000 in sale profit.
But on May 7, 1997, home-sale tax law changed. Still, almost a decade later, many homeowners are confused about the tax implications of selling.
"I recently heard some neighbors talking about having to buy another house when they sell to avoid the taxes," says Scharin. "If the last time you sold the house was before 1997, you're thinking of those old rules."
Don't worry. Most taxpayers still get a nice break. Now, if you live in the house for two of the five years before you sell, the IRS won't collect tax on sale profit of up to $250,000 if you're single or $500,000 if you and your spouse file a joint return.
"The law change has really affected people's behavior," says Luscombe. "Before, it didn't really matter much whether you sold frequently or held onto your home for a long term. You, basically, could roll over the gain into a larger home and people could avoid tax until they sold for the final time without putting it into a replacement home.
"Now the law rewards people who sell frequently. In this current market, people who sell every couple of years can get and keep their gain," Luscombe says. "But people who buy and hold might find they have reached the point where the gain exceeds the exclusion."
That means they face unexpectedly high tax bills, even at the lower 15-percent capital gains rate. The profit could also push them into a higher overall tax bracket, meaning they would make too much to claim some deductions, credits or exemptions. They also might even end up owing alternative minimum tax.
Another problematic consequence, says Luscombe, is that when the new rules took effect, people basically quit keeping records related to their homes.
"They thought: Since we're never going to be taxed on the sale, there's no need to keep track of what we paid and what improvements we made," he says. The improvements add to your home's basis, which you subtract from the sale price to determine your profit and whether any of it is taxable.
"Now with inflation in the housing market, a lot of people are selling homes in excess of the gains without any way to show that their tax bill should be less," says Luscombe.
4. Putting my child on my home's title is a smart tax move.
Worries about taxes on a residence sometimes lead homeowners to fall for this myth. It's a particularly tricky one, because it combines confusion about residential taxes with the even more complex estate-tax area.
"Sometimes we'll hear about taxpayers who, in doing some quick back-of-the-envelope estate planning, decide to put their home in the children's names," says Tollaksen. "The thinking is: My son or daughter won't have to worry about this when I die."
The goals: Avoid probate, keep the home in the family and get the property out of the parent's estate for those tax purposes. Such a move, however, could produce other tax problems for your children.
Unless the child moves into the newly deeded house with the parent and lives there long enough (two of the previous five years) to make the house the child's main residence, too, says Tollaksen, the son or daughter won't get the $250,000 or $500,000 residential tax break when the child later decides to sell. Without establishing primary residency in the house, either before or after the parent passes away, the child's ownership is viewed as an investment property.
Other parents opt to simply add a child's name along with theirs on the title to the house, known legally as a joint tenancy. It doesn't mean that all the owners live in the home, but simply that two or more people hold title to the property.
This, too, can produce tax complications.
Generally, when someone inherits a property, its value is stepped up. That means when the owner dies, the property becomes worth its fair market value that day.
But if the child co-owns the property with his parent, the child doesn't get to fully use stepped-up basis. Tax law considers the addition of the child's name to the title as a gift. And, along with that half of the home, the child receives half the basis that his or her parent has in the property.
This is known as the property's carry-over basis. And it could be costly.
Consider, for example, that you bought your house many years ago and your basis in the property is $50,000. You add your daughter to the title. When you die, she inherits your half of the home, which by then is worth $250,000. A buyer offers $300,000 for the home.
Pretty good deal, right? From a real estate perspective, yes. But not when it comes to your daughter's tax bill on the sale.
What had been done with the best parental intention turned out to carry a big price because of this homeownership tax myth.
5. If I take a capital loss when I sell my home, I can write it off.
This myth, like No. 2, was probably started by wishful homeowners. Sorry, it's just as wrong.
It is true that real estate, like any other asset, has the potential to go down as well as up in value. But unlike most of those other holdings, you cannot write off any loss you suffer if you must sell your main residence for less than what you paid.
That's because your residence, under tax law, is considered personal property.
"When you sell your home for a loss, it's not like other capital items," says Scharin. "You don't get to deduct personal property that you sell for a loss."
"It's the same as any personal property that declines in value," says Luscombe, "like that old TV you sold to the neighbor kid so he could take it to college. You sold it for much less than you paid, but you can't take a loss."
You do, however, have to pay tax on gains you make when selling personal property.
But at least you now know the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to your residential property, which will help you make appropriate real estate and tax decisions in the future.
by Kay Bell
Friday, February 1, 2008provided byBankrate
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/104384/Five-Homeownership-Tax-Myths
Owning a home tops the dream list for most Americans, and for plenty of good reasons. It's a shelter for your family, a gathering place for your friends and a good long-term investment.
Tax breaks are also frequently cited as motivation for moving from renting to owning, and there are many ways a home can cut your tax bill.
More from Bankrate.com:
• Don't give Uncle Sam early access to cash
• Who qualifies as a dependent?
• Getting tax help to care for your parents
But, as is often the case with the U.S. tax code, homeownership tax benefits are not always clear-cut. That frequently leads to some bad information floating around.
While myths, half-truths and misconceptions may abound, we've narrowed it down to five that, if you buy into them, could cost you.
Half-truths, misconceptions and just plain hogwash
1. Mortgage interest will reduce my tax bill.
2. All costs related to my home are deductible.
3. I must use home profits to buy a new home.
4. Putting my children on the deed is tax-smart.
5. If I take a loss on a sale, I can write it off.
1. My mortgage interest will reduce my tax bill.
This is true for the majority of homeowners, but not for all. And this tax break won't work forever.
To take tax advantage of your home loan's interest, you must itemize and come up with a total that exceeds your standard amount. On 2007 tax returns, the standard deductions are $5,350 for single taxpayers, $7,850 for head of household filers and $10,700 for married couples who file jointly. These amounts increase a bit each year to account for inflation.
"Given home prices these days, most owners are itemizing," says Mark Luscombe, principal tax analyst with CCH Inc. of Riverwoods, Ill. By the time they count mortgage interest, property taxes and other nonhome deductions, such as state taxes and charitable gifts, their itemized totals easily surpass their allowable standard deductions.
But most is not all.
Want More Money-Saving Tax Tips?
Visit our 2008 Tax Center
Taxpayers who buy a home late in the year, for instance, might find the standard deduction is more beneficial, at least initially, says Kathy Tollaksen, a CPA at Sikich LLP in Aurora, Ill. In these cases, where you make only a few payments in a tax year, depending on your loan you might not pay much interest, at least not enough to exceed standard amounts.
Timing also could reduce or eliminate other home-related tax breaks.
"Quite a few states have real estate taxes that are calculated in arrears. That is, they have already been paid or mostly paid (by the seller) by the time you buy," says Tollaksen. "In the first year, you're seeing taxes that are someone else's responsibility so you're not getting the full tax value of your real estate taxes."
The benefit of mortgage interest also could be a myth if you've lived in your home for a long time. In this case, you likely are paying more toward your loan's principal instead of interest. So homeowners at the end of a loan term don't get much, if any, from this tax break.
Or, as Bob D. Scharin, senior tax analyst and editor of Warren, Gorham & Lamont/RIA's monthly tax journal "Practical Tax Strategies," puts it, "Every deductible expense you incur may not produce a deduction."
2. All costs related to my home are deductible.
There are no two ways about this one. It's flat-out false.
"Some buyers think, hope, they can write off everything connected with the house," says Tollaksen. "Not so. Association fees and property insurance costs are not deductible."
Neither, in most cases, is private mortgage insurance, which your lender probably required if your down payment was less than 20 percent. However, a new law changes the deductibility of PMI for mortgages originated or refinanced between Jan. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2009.
If you got your mortgage and policy in that time frame, you might be able to deduct your insurance premium payments. The law also extends beyond private insurance to others, including FHA, VA and rural housing.
There are some limits, though. The PMI deduction is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $100,000 and is totally elimitnated once AGI reaches $110,000.
Don't try to deduct basic maintenance, repair or home improvement costs either.
Tollaksen says, "I've had people say, 'I put a new roof on my home; can I deduct that?' No."
If you try to write off these expenses, expect to hear from the Internal Revenue Service and to pay a higher tax bill (and possible penalties and interest) after you refigure your taxes without the disallowed deductions.
However, you still need to keep track of these expenses.
"If you convert the home to rental property or sell it," she says, "these costs will affect the property's tax basis."
A home's basis is critical when it comes time to sell. And selling is also a tax area in which many people fall for myth No. 3.
3. I must use money from my home sale to buy another residence.
This used to be the only way to get around a tax bill on a home sale. Even then, you were only able to defer taxes by purchasing a new residence of equal or greater value with the profits from your other house. When you sold your final house, you'd owe those long-deferred taxes you had rolled over throughout the years. Home sellers age 55 or older were allowed a once-in-a-lifetime tax exemption of up to $125,000 in sale profit.
But on May 7, 1997, home-sale tax law changed. Still, almost a decade later, many homeowners are confused about the tax implications of selling.
"I recently heard some neighbors talking about having to buy another house when they sell to avoid the taxes," says Scharin. "If the last time you sold the house was before 1997, you're thinking of those old rules."
Don't worry. Most taxpayers still get a nice break. Now, if you live in the house for two of the five years before you sell, the IRS won't collect tax on sale profit of up to $250,000 if you're single or $500,000 if you and your spouse file a joint return.
"The law change has really affected people's behavior," says Luscombe. "Before, it didn't really matter much whether you sold frequently or held onto your home for a long term. You, basically, could roll over the gain into a larger home and people could avoid tax until they sold for the final time without putting it into a replacement home.
"Now the law rewards people who sell frequently. In this current market, people who sell every couple of years can get and keep their gain," Luscombe says. "But people who buy and hold might find they have reached the point where the gain exceeds the exclusion."
That means they face unexpectedly high tax bills, even at the lower 15-percent capital gains rate. The profit could also push them into a higher overall tax bracket, meaning they would make too much to claim some deductions, credits or exemptions. They also might even end up owing alternative minimum tax.
Another problematic consequence, says Luscombe, is that when the new rules took effect, people basically quit keeping records related to their homes.
"They thought: Since we're never going to be taxed on the sale, there's no need to keep track of what we paid and what improvements we made," he says. The improvements add to your home's basis, which you subtract from the sale price to determine your profit and whether any of it is taxable.
"Now with inflation in the housing market, a lot of people are selling homes in excess of the gains without any way to show that their tax bill should be less," says Luscombe.
4. Putting my child on my home's title is a smart tax move.
Worries about taxes on a residence sometimes lead homeowners to fall for this myth. It's a particularly tricky one, because it combines confusion about residential taxes with the even more complex estate-tax area.
"Sometimes we'll hear about taxpayers who, in doing some quick back-of-the-envelope estate planning, decide to put their home in the children's names," says Tollaksen. "The thinking is: My son or daughter won't have to worry about this when I die."
The goals: Avoid probate, keep the home in the family and get the property out of the parent's estate for those tax purposes. Such a move, however, could produce other tax problems for your children.
Unless the child moves into the newly deeded house with the parent and lives there long enough (two of the previous five years) to make the house the child's main residence, too, says Tollaksen, the son or daughter won't get the $250,000 or $500,000 residential tax break when the child later decides to sell. Without establishing primary residency in the house, either before or after the parent passes away, the child's ownership is viewed as an investment property.
Other parents opt to simply add a child's name along with theirs on the title to the house, known legally as a joint tenancy. It doesn't mean that all the owners live in the home, but simply that two or more people hold title to the property.
This, too, can produce tax complications.
Generally, when someone inherits a property, its value is stepped up. That means when the owner dies, the property becomes worth its fair market value that day.
But if the child co-owns the property with his parent, the child doesn't get to fully use stepped-up basis. Tax law considers the addition of the child's name to the title as a gift. And, along with that half of the home, the child receives half the basis that his or her parent has in the property.
This is known as the property's carry-over basis. And it could be costly.
Consider, for example, that you bought your house many years ago and your basis in the property is $50,000. You add your daughter to the title. When you die, she inherits your half of the home, which by then is worth $250,000. A buyer offers $300,000 for the home.
Pretty good deal, right? From a real estate perspective, yes. But not when it comes to your daughter's tax bill on the sale.
What had been done with the best parental intention turned out to carry a big price because of this homeownership tax myth.
5. If I take a capital loss when I sell my home, I can write it off.
This myth, like No. 2, was probably started by wishful homeowners. Sorry, it's just as wrong.
It is true that real estate, like any other asset, has the potential to go down as well as up in value. But unlike most of those other holdings, you cannot write off any loss you suffer if you must sell your main residence for less than what you paid.
That's because your residence, under tax law, is considered personal property.
"When you sell your home for a loss, it's not like other capital items," says Scharin. "You don't get to deduct personal property that you sell for a loss."
"It's the same as any personal property that declines in value," says Luscombe, "like that old TV you sold to the neighbor kid so he could take it to college. You sold it for much less than you paid, but you can't take a loss."
You do, however, have to pay tax on gains you make when selling personal property.
But at least you now know the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to your residential property, which will help you make appropriate real estate and tax decisions in the future.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
ZT: BT options
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/740779/
This thread is supposed to quickly summarize the methods for getting cash from a BT. This is the method I have been using in order of the quickest methods:
(Edit: I'm also trying to get a thread started for when you must pay the BT back to avoid finance charges (exact period from when applied, or by payment due date), and if you can use statement date movements to extend the BT period: See here)
1) If you haven't received 0% checks you can use yet, call and try for direct deposit to checking.
2) If the checks are coming, verify terms and use them. Always make sure when writing it to yourself it is not a cash advance, or at least at the BT terms. Make sure you get the CSR's name and number you spoke to in case they should mislead you so you can rectify the situation.
3) If no checks are coming, request a 0% check be issued to you. Always call from a home phone for this request becuase it does influence the options the CSR's have for checks.
4) If you cannot use the check in your own name, such as with AMEX, ask if you can write it to a friend, have them DEPOSIT it, not cash it, then they can write you a check. You can even write the check to another person who is a joint account holder with you, as long as it is too another person. AMEX has told me this is a fine practice with them. DO NOT WRITE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO THE BANK AND WRITE DOWN YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER (THIS WILL BE A CASH ADVANCE) (Make sure you call AMEX and tell them a you wrote a big check to a person and to clear it on your first BT check. Otherwise, until they get your signature on file, they will call you for authorization and deny the check if they can't contact you). Read point 4 above carefully so you don't mess up with AMEX and get cash advance or get your check voided!!!
5) If you cannot use the checks in any way to a person and cannot direct deposit to checking, send the BT money to accounts that you already have 0% no fee checks for so that you can immediately go to the bank with them when your card receives the funds. Make sure your checks are still valid. When transferring money to another card, first send to cards with no fees for BT that already have a high utilization on them so that you do not have a credit balance, which can annoy credit companies. When the money gets in, take it right back out with your checks.
6) Open a HELOC with a 16 digit card that is attached to it. Then, you can either draw from that account a few days in advance, and BT into it to avoid large credit balances, or just BT into it and request the credit balance or access it with a check if you have some for that account. This looks like a very good way to request large BT amounts and avoid lengthy delays and fraud investigations! (Thanks Kanosh)
When transferring to a savings account from your checking account, make sure to wait until the check has cleared before putting in a request to transfer the money.
These are my tactics, if I have missed any please advise and I will update the list. This should help those newbies starting the AOR game.
EDIT: Below is a detailed list of how I got the BT money from each card I applied for. If others post thier results or confirm mine, I will update this post. This is my data from my personal June 4th, 2007 AOR.
Discover More – Had to call in and request BT checks. They mailed them to me within 5 business days and I wrote it out to myself.
BoA Plat. Plus MC – Had them direct deposit into my checking over the phone. Took 3 business days to get the funds.
Citi AT&T Platinum Card – Never received welcome package with BT checks. Called in and had them mail me a check payable to me for deposit to checking. Took 5 business days to get. (Debited credit account immediately and you cannot cancel these checks once they are issued).
Citi Home Rebate Card - Never received welcome package with BT checks. Called in and had them mail me a check payable to me for deposit to checking. Took 5 business days to get. (Debited credit account immediately and you cannot cancel these checks once they are issued).
Barclays National Parks – Used included BT checks to make out to myself and deposit to checking. There was one check that came with the card, then I called in and asked for three more to be mailed to me for possible future use (watch expiration dates).
Chase VW Platnium – Used single BT check to deposit to checking. The check came with the card.
HSBC GM Flex Card – Used a BT check I got in the welcome package. These checks came seperate from the card in the welcome package about 5 days later.
RBS Kroger 1.2.3 – Used a BT check I got in the welcome package. These checks came seperate from the card about 5 days later.
GE Money Rewards Card – Note: This card had a straight 3% fee, but I did it anyway to help my slim credit history and make a little profit. Sent BT directly to my no fee BoA card which already a utilization from my BoA Bt on it, causing the entire balance to be paid off on BoA card. . Took 4 days to get $ on BoA card. Then called BoA and had them do another direct deposit over the phone to my checking, took 3 days to get to my checking from BoA.
PNC Bank Personal Platinum – Used single included BT check to deposit into checking. They included one check with the card and I called in for more. (When I applied for this card, I called in and they gave me a special capped BT fee promo, so try calling them.).
Citi Professional – After waiting two weeks for welcome package checks, called in and had them mail a check already made out and payable to me. Took 5 business days to get.
Advanta Business Rewards – Called in and did direct deposit over the phone to a personal checking account. Be careful of the checks they send you, most are at Cash Advance rate.
Citi Business Thank You – Actually received this welcome package and used a BT check. The welcome package came about 9 days after I received the card (Citi is very slow with welcome packages, I recommend calling and getting a filled out check that will come in 5-7 business days, (they tell you 7-9). Do not get the blank ones, b/c they are processed through the same place as the welcome package checks and take almost 30 days to get here!)
Chase Platinum Business Visa – Used single included BT check to deposit to checking. Check came with card. Called in and requested/got more mailed to me via expidited shipping.
Chase GM Business - Used single included BT check to deposit to checking. Check came with card.
National City Visa – Called in and had them mail a check to me payable in my name. I never received any BT checks without asking for them made out to my name from National City.
AMEX In: Chicago – Online CLI from 3.6k to 24.9k. Called in and requested BT checks be sent in mail. Took one week to get check booklet of 4 checks. Made check out to girlfriend for her to deposit to her account. Then she wrote me a check. (Note: AMEX will always call first about the first big check on a new account to verify. They denied my first check as they couldn’t reach me by the end of the business day about verifying my first check to another person. Therefore, make sure you call AMEX and tell them you are writing a large check to another person to prevent this. Once they have your signature on file, this shouldn’t be a problem anymore they said.)
AMEX In: NYC – Called in CLI from 2.3 to 10.3 (all I asked for). Had them mail me BT checks, took a week to get. Wrote check to girlfriend for deposit, she then wrote one back to me.
WAMU ESPN Card – Used included BT checks for deposit. These checks came in the welcome package within one week after receiving the card.
RBS Platinum – I’m actually not using this card as it only came with a 1k limit, but it did include BT checks in the welcome package which came 4 days after the card.
Most of my ideas for this page came from here. However, I think this single page should be a little more concise. Hope it helps and thanks to the others for posting thier experiences.
Message edited by: MikeR397 on 2008-01-24 08:12:33 CST
The earlier thread for this topic is still active: Creative ideas on doing 0% BT with CCs that don't do transfer to checking...
The CC Issuer FAQ contains fields such as BT Checks, BT to checking, BT to LOC w/ app, App-o-rama notes. As always, everyone is encouraged to add useful details.
edit
Message edited by: cardjuggler on 2007-07-29 22:04:14 CDT
This thread is supposed to quickly summarize the methods for getting cash from a BT. This is the method I have been using in order of the quickest methods:
(Edit: I'm also trying to get a thread started for when you must pay the BT back to avoid finance charges (exact period from when applied, or by payment due date), and if you can use statement date movements to extend the BT period: See here)
1) If you haven't received 0% checks you can use yet, call and try for direct deposit to checking.
2) If the checks are coming, verify terms and use them. Always make sure when writing it to yourself it is not a cash advance, or at least at the BT terms. Make sure you get the CSR's name and number you spoke to in case they should mislead you so you can rectify the situation.
3) If no checks are coming, request a 0% check be issued to you. Always call from a home phone for this request becuase it does influence the options the CSR's have for checks.
4) If you cannot use the check in your own name, such as with AMEX, ask if you can write it to a friend, have them DEPOSIT it, not cash it, then they can write you a check. You can even write the check to another person who is a joint account holder with you, as long as it is too another person. AMEX has told me this is a fine practice with them. DO NOT WRITE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO THE BANK AND WRITE DOWN YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER (THIS WILL BE A CASH ADVANCE) (Make sure you call AMEX and tell them a you wrote a big check to a person and to clear it on your first BT check. Otherwise, until they get your signature on file, they will call you for authorization and deny the check if they can't contact you). Read point 4 above carefully so you don't mess up with AMEX and get cash advance or get your check voided!!!
5) If you cannot use the checks in any way to a person and cannot direct deposit to checking, send the BT money to accounts that you already have 0% no fee checks for so that you can immediately go to the bank with them when your card receives the funds. Make sure your checks are still valid. When transferring money to another card, first send to cards with no fees for BT that already have a high utilization on them so that you do not have a credit balance, which can annoy credit companies. When the money gets in, take it right back out with your checks.
6) Open a HELOC with a 16 digit card that is attached to it. Then, you can either draw from that account a few days in advance, and BT into it to avoid large credit balances, or just BT into it and request the credit balance or access it with a check if you have some for that account. This looks like a very good way to request large BT amounts and avoid lengthy delays and fraud investigations! (Thanks Kanosh)
When transferring to a savings account from your checking account, make sure to wait until the check has cleared before putting in a request to transfer the money.
These are my tactics, if I have missed any please advise and I will update the list. This should help those newbies starting the AOR game.
EDIT: Below is a detailed list of how I got the BT money from each card I applied for. If others post thier results or confirm mine, I will update this post. This is my data from my personal June 4th, 2007 AOR.
Discover More – Had to call in and request BT checks. They mailed them to me within 5 business days and I wrote it out to myself.
BoA Plat. Plus MC – Had them direct deposit into my checking over the phone. Took 3 business days to get the funds.
Citi AT&T Platinum Card – Never received welcome package with BT checks. Called in and had them mail me a check payable to me for deposit to checking. Took 5 business days to get. (Debited credit account immediately and you cannot cancel these checks once they are issued).
Citi Home Rebate Card - Never received welcome package with BT checks. Called in and had them mail me a check payable to me for deposit to checking. Took 5 business days to get. (Debited credit account immediately and you cannot cancel these checks once they are issued).
Barclays National Parks – Used included BT checks to make out to myself and deposit to checking. There was one check that came with the card, then I called in and asked for three more to be mailed to me for possible future use (watch expiration dates).
Chase VW Platnium – Used single BT check to deposit to checking. The check came with the card.
HSBC GM Flex Card – Used a BT check I got in the welcome package. These checks came seperate from the card in the welcome package about 5 days later.
RBS Kroger 1.2.3 – Used a BT check I got in the welcome package. These checks came seperate from the card about 5 days later.
GE Money Rewards Card – Note: This card had a straight 3% fee, but I did it anyway to help my slim credit history and make a little profit. Sent BT directly to my no fee BoA card which already a utilization from my BoA Bt on it, causing the entire balance to be paid off on BoA card. . Took 4 days to get $ on BoA card. Then called BoA and had them do another direct deposit over the phone to my checking, took 3 days to get to my checking from BoA.
PNC Bank Personal Platinum – Used single included BT check to deposit into checking. They included one check with the card and I called in for more. (When I applied for this card, I called in and they gave me a special capped BT fee promo, so try calling them.).
Citi Professional – After waiting two weeks for welcome package checks, called in and had them mail a check already made out and payable to me. Took 5 business days to get.
Advanta Business Rewards – Called in and did direct deposit over the phone to a personal checking account. Be careful of the checks they send you, most are at Cash Advance rate.
Citi Business Thank You – Actually received this welcome package and used a BT check. The welcome package came about 9 days after I received the card (Citi is very slow with welcome packages, I recommend calling and getting a filled out check that will come in 5-7 business days, (they tell you 7-9). Do not get the blank ones, b/c they are processed through the same place as the welcome package checks and take almost 30 days to get here!)
Chase Platinum Business Visa – Used single included BT check to deposit to checking. Check came with card. Called in and requested/got more mailed to me via expidited shipping.
Chase GM Business - Used single included BT check to deposit to checking. Check came with card.
National City Visa – Called in and had them mail a check to me payable in my name. I never received any BT checks without asking for them made out to my name from National City.
AMEX In: Chicago – Online CLI from 3.6k to 24.9k. Called in and requested BT checks be sent in mail. Took one week to get check booklet of 4 checks. Made check out to girlfriend for her to deposit to her account. Then she wrote me a check. (Note: AMEX will always call first about the first big check on a new account to verify. They denied my first check as they couldn’t reach me by the end of the business day about verifying my first check to another person. Therefore, make sure you call AMEX and tell them you are writing a large check to another person to prevent this. Once they have your signature on file, this shouldn’t be a problem anymore they said.)
AMEX In: NYC – Called in CLI from 2.3 to 10.3 (all I asked for). Had them mail me BT checks, took a week to get. Wrote check to girlfriend for deposit, she then wrote one back to me.
WAMU ESPN Card – Used included BT checks for deposit. These checks came in the welcome package within one week after receiving the card.
RBS Platinum – I’m actually not using this card as it only came with a 1k limit, but it did include BT checks in the welcome package which came 4 days after the card.
Most of my ideas for this page came from here. However, I think this single page should be a little more concise. Hope it helps and thanks to the others for posting thier experiences.
Message edited by: MikeR397 on 2008-01-24 08:12:33 CST
The earlier thread for this topic is still active: Creative ideas on doing 0% BT with CCs that don't do transfer to checking...
The CC Issuer FAQ contains fields such as BT Checks, BT to checking, BT to LOC w/ app, App-o-rama notes. As always, everyone is encouraged to add useful details.
edit
Message edited by: cardjuggler on 2007-07-29 22:04:14 CDT
Thursday, February 7, 2008
zt 艳照门事件背景
http://bbs2.creaders.net/tea/messages/1582423.html
送交者: km 2008年2月07日13:05:28 于 [茗香茶语]http://www.bbsland.com
先谈本次事件的几大疑点及几点基本判断：
疑点
1，如果说是陈的私人仇家报复，为什么放出的都是女星不堪的照片？大家看得清楚，那些照片对女主角的伤害比男主角大得多，陈只是露个脸罢了，谁家报私仇是这么报法？
2，照片有千张之多，还有视频，为什么只遮遮掩掩地放出几张？而且张柏芝的是单人清晰极度不堪大照，钟和陈只是模糊照；为什么这么安排？
3，如果说是修电脑时不慎泄露，为什么发布者敢于如此嚣张地挑战警方？而且曝光的成本如此之高，是几个修电脑的不道德好事者愿意承担的么？
几点基本判断
1，这件事绝不是明星的私人照片被不道德者（或有私仇的人）泄露这么简单，百分百是香港娱乐界大佬级别的人物操作的一场利益争夺；
2，事件主要针对的是张柏芝（对比一下钟和张的照片区别就明白了，陈文媛的那张更说明问题）；
3，陈冠希事先知道照片要被泄露，他至少是被利用的参与者；
4，有人说谢霆锋会因为张柏芝的不堪照和她离婚，简直令人喷饭喷水加喷血，我只能说做这样判断的人过于单纯了。首先，谢是浸身香港娱乐圈这个大酱缸的老油条，只要他的智商在正常值之上，就会明白此事的前因后果（张被搞，主因是为他，甚至可以说是为他做牺牲），也会明白任何女星都有把柄在大老板手里。其次，谢霆锋不是第一天认识张柏芝，也不是初恋就结婚，谢即使没见过张被曝出的照片，也肯定很清楚张以前的事情，你以为他当张是处女么？再次，谢霆锋和张柏芝的结合，即使用最大的善意来揣度，其中也会包含很多利益的因素，他们的婚姻不是一两张照片可以瓦解的。
明白了以上几点，就可以顺着脉络清理一下事情的内涵和发展。
张被毁，毫无疑问，是因为她得罪了大佬，这位大佬是谁呢？综合网上的各种分析来看，就是她的前东家向华强！向的公司费了很多心血把张捧成影后，马上就可以成为天后。但张在这个时候嫁人生子，放弃工作，断了大佬的财路，又和杨受成勾勾搭搭，秋天的菠菜一车一车地来回送，能不令人恨得牙痒么。更重要的是，张的做法破坏了江湖规矩，如果每个女星成名之后都任性而为，为个人婚姻牺牲老板利益，那大佬们的位子都不要坐了。要知道，中国人从古至今最大的罪就是恃功而骄不听调遣（想想岳飞吧），所以，张必须被惩罚，以堵决后来者的效尤之路，避免产生“张柏芝效应”。
那么这件事为什么又扯上钟欣桐了呢？简单说两句，因为钟已经老大不小了，twins不能一直装纯，她要找个办法转型。转型当然有更温柔的办法，但大佬们既然决定搞，就由不得她了。好在，钟被曝的照片只是普通级别的床照，震撼级别和清晰度都远远比不上张，借助原来的人气和后期宣传引导，她可以轻易以“受害者”的身份，用“私欲正常”论获得原谅，顺便装可怜换同情，借机突破固有形象，向成熟、性感、激情转型（又一个舒淇？）
想想看，如果只曝张的照片，太露痕迹，一看就是报复。张可以大声宣布照片是被胁迫、下药拍摄的，张就成了另一个刘嘉玲，不但不会被臭，反而成了真正的受害者，甚至会收益。这绝对不是大佬们的初衷。所以，必须扯上别人垫背，转移视线和性质，钟欣桐和陈文媛这次就是当绿叶干粗活的。
那么，为什么又说谢霆锋是最大的受益者呢？这主要基于两方面分析，第一：谢卖身英皇，年届转型，之前的市场积累还远远不够，必须有一个腾飞的契机。第二：谢霆锋是张柏芝的正式丈夫（为什么要用正式呢？）第三，大佬们不会直接出头，必须通过一个工具攫取利益，而谢是最合适的。
具体来说，谢霆锋的受益之处在于：
一，利用张正式丈夫的身份，既可以表现丈夫的真情又可以表现男人的坚强。只要谢现在对张不离不弃，媒体上说一些支持张爱护张的话，再在公开场合陪护一下张，就可以顺势树立起好男人好丈夫的形象，一举从扮酷装帅的低档偶像跃升为成熟受尊重的实力男星，成功把受众群从25岁以下无知女青年扩展到30岁以上的对家庭、感情有一定感受的少妇。这对艺人来说是最重要的收益。可以说很多人故意求都求不到这样的机会。
二，可以借机与英皇谈价码，逼杨受成或其它的什么大老板做出某种妥协安抚，改善自己的地位。
三，可以借机彻底降伏张柏芝，如果他愿意维持家庭，就利用张的愧疚感巩固自己在二人感情中的主导地位；如果他日后不想维持家庭，现在这件事就是最好的杀手锏，可以在离婚大战中占据主动。
当然，这种收益在普通人来看是得不偿失的，是肮脏龌龊的，但谢和张以及这次事件中的参与者，都是娱乐圈的人，对于娱乐圈来说，没有什么不可以被出卖，没有什么不可以被交换，这就是游戏规则。
至于钟欣桐和张柏芝日后的发展，也可以简单做点揣测——
先说钟欣桐。最大的可能，像前面说的，沉寂一段，期间断断续续真真假假地传出一些“自杀”啦、“痛哭”啦、“抑郁”啦之类的消息，然后以受害者身份出现在公众面前，娱乐界高层和一帮明星站出来力挺，一帮无脑粉丝帮腔大叫性无罪、私欲正常等制造舆论，先获得原谅。然后，twins解散，钟单飞，渐进式地拍一些艳片，市场接受，陈功转型。
张柏芝，情况会复杂一些。分几种可能：一，张降伏，向大佬认错妥协。然后大佬帮助操作舆论，也使她借受害人的身份重出江湖，但不会再重上云霄，大概会成为大佬力捧的下一代女星的陪衬、人梯，不过这也不错了。二，张不降伏，利用大佬间的矛盾进行反击，掀起江湖恶斗，说不定要牵扯进更多的人。三，张超脱，从此相夫教子不问世事，做个居家女人。我个人认为第一种可能性大。
其实，即使张真的决定退出娱乐圈当全职太太，谢也说不出什么。我相信他们之间有真实的感情，何况不管姓什么，孩子是有了。再说，张柏芝要不是为了和谢霆锋结婚，也不会闹出这么多江湖恩怨，张对的起谢，谢应该多珍惜担待一些。
最后谈谈陈冠希，这个烂仔，我之所以判断他是知情人，是因为这件事几乎伤害不到他什么。那几张照片，暴露的主要是女星的隐私，陈不受什么影响。对名声是不好，但娱乐圈男星谁在乎名声？而且，陈冠希在娱乐圈本来就半红不紫的，歌演双疲，除了些无脑幼稚的低龄男女，愿意为他掏钱的观众有几个？在港台大陆东南亚市场都没什么前途。再加上他本身也不是特别追求艺人成就的人，在娱乐圈就是玩票，所以，借他的路曝出张柏芝的事是最合适的。
我的以上猜想都可以验证。只要大家注意一下谢、张、钟日后的表现是不是和我判断的相仿就可以了。
总之，这次艳照门事件，根本就是一次娱乐江湖利益争夺，或者说几家摊牌肉搏。春节前的贺岁片。如果说对社会有益，就是借此帮我们看清所谓偶像的真面目，以后不必把他们当纯男圣女看，小朋友们少为这些龌龊的男男女女捧臭脚吧。另外，大陆娱乐界应该尽快推出自己的优质健康偶像，不要总让港台那些三流的痞子艺人来大陆轻轻松松地骗钱骗名，太骄纵他们了。
作者：我知道真相了
看香港艺人淫乱照片事件有感
最近，香港艺人陈冠希在网上被暴与14名女艺人床上淫乱照片，惊动香港、大陆警
方，四处追捕散发照片的地方。
一开始，大家以为是假照片，因为作假很容易，不料最后发现是真的。当然，警方
依然追究，因为即便真照片，仍然算私自散发别人隐私，当然属犯法。但这和伪造
照片，破坏人家名誉不能同日而语！
但可笑可叹的是大陆警方称看照片了就是犯法，简直是狗 屁不通。什么是名人？怎
么知道是名人？除非任何黄照看一眼就抓起来，非此无法保护名人。
我是不关心这些所谓被受害人的名声的，我本来就对其中任何人有任何兴趣。但我
现在还是知道了：香港艺人，很多是垃圾，狗苟之辈，却要装什么清纯，好骗钱。
现在好了，这种偷鸡摸狗的照片一出，是撕下了清纯的伪装。前久阿娇被人偷窥，
哭闹翻天，骗取了许多同情，如果碰到现在，哭死没有人会睬，当然，她也不会费
力再去假哭了。
如果是一个大写的人，一个有人格的演员，被偷窥了，被偷拍了，热爱她的观众当
然要愤怒，而且会谴责看这照片的人，虽然看仍然不至于算犯法。但是，最近香港
发生的丑闻，完全是流氓男女的淫乱活动。这种人，本身无法得到观众的热爱，因
为是垃圾。她们这种照片，和网上无数的类似照片，除了有名有姓，已经没有任何
区别。即便看，又有什么特别意义？如果有一点，那就是摧毁她的伪装。
香港，这个被称为文化沙漠的地方，从前其实是贡献了不少，包括流行歌曲，翻唱
外国歌曲，电视剧等等。但是，香港小家败气，洋奴文化，商业俗气，流氓黑社会
却也不等闲视之。香港无高尚，香港无格调，香港无纯真。纯真的人在香港不能立
足，只好自杀。陈的这些照片，相信不过是冰山一角,对香港，实在应该像老毛49年
横扫大陆时那样，把黑社会，狗男狗女，一个晚上一扫而光。
送交者: km 2008年2月07日13:05:28 于 [茗香茶语]http://www.bbsland.com
先谈本次事件的几大疑点及几点基本判断：
疑点
1，如果说是陈的私人仇家报复，为什么放出的都是女星不堪的照片？大家看得清楚，那些照片对女主角的伤害比男主角大得多，陈只是露个脸罢了，谁家报私仇是这么报法？
2，照片有千张之多，还有视频，为什么只遮遮掩掩地放出几张？而且张柏芝的是单人清晰极度不堪大照，钟和陈只是模糊照；为什么这么安排？
3，如果说是修电脑时不慎泄露，为什么发布者敢于如此嚣张地挑战警方？而且曝光的成本如此之高，是几个修电脑的不道德好事者愿意承担的么？
几点基本判断
1，这件事绝不是明星的私人照片被不道德者（或有私仇的人）泄露这么简单，百分百是香港娱乐界大佬级别的人物操作的一场利益争夺；
2，事件主要针对的是张柏芝（对比一下钟和张的照片区别就明白了，陈文媛的那张更说明问题）；
3，陈冠希事先知道照片要被泄露，他至少是被利用的参与者；
4，有人说谢霆锋会因为张柏芝的不堪照和她离婚，简直令人喷饭喷水加喷血，我只能说做这样判断的人过于单纯了。首先，谢是浸身香港娱乐圈这个大酱缸的老油条，只要他的智商在正常值之上，就会明白此事的前因后果（张被搞，主因是为他，甚至可以说是为他做牺牲），也会明白任何女星都有把柄在大老板手里。其次，谢霆锋不是第一天认识张柏芝，也不是初恋就结婚，谢即使没见过张被曝出的照片，也肯定很清楚张以前的事情，你以为他当张是处女么？再次，谢霆锋和张柏芝的结合，即使用最大的善意来揣度，其中也会包含很多利益的因素，他们的婚姻不是一两张照片可以瓦解的。
明白了以上几点，就可以顺着脉络清理一下事情的内涵和发展。
张被毁，毫无疑问，是因为她得罪了大佬，这位大佬是谁呢？综合网上的各种分析来看，就是她的前东家向华强！向的公司费了很多心血把张捧成影后，马上就可以成为天后。但张在这个时候嫁人生子，放弃工作，断了大佬的财路，又和杨受成勾勾搭搭，秋天的菠菜一车一车地来回送，能不令人恨得牙痒么。更重要的是，张的做法破坏了江湖规矩，如果每个女星成名之后都任性而为，为个人婚姻牺牲老板利益，那大佬们的位子都不要坐了。要知道，中国人从古至今最大的罪就是恃功而骄不听调遣（想想岳飞吧），所以，张必须被惩罚，以堵决后来者的效尤之路，避免产生“张柏芝效应”。
那么这件事为什么又扯上钟欣桐了呢？简单说两句，因为钟已经老大不小了，twins不能一直装纯，她要找个办法转型。转型当然有更温柔的办法，但大佬们既然决定搞，就由不得她了。好在，钟被曝的照片只是普通级别的床照，震撼级别和清晰度都远远比不上张，借助原来的人气和后期宣传引导，她可以轻易以“受害者”的身份，用“私欲正常”论获得原谅，顺便装可怜换同情，借机突破固有形象，向成熟、性感、激情转型（又一个舒淇？）
想想看，如果只曝张的照片，太露痕迹，一看就是报复。张可以大声宣布照片是被胁迫、下药拍摄的，张就成了另一个刘嘉玲，不但不会被臭，反而成了真正的受害者，甚至会收益。这绝对不是大佬们的初衷。所以，必须扯上别人垫背，转移视线和性质，钟欣桐和陈文媛这次就是当绿叶干粗活的。
那么，为什么又说谢霆锋是最大的受益者呢？这主要基于两方面分析，第一：谢卖身英皇，年届转型，之前的市场积累还远远不够，必须有一个腾飞的契机。第二：谢霆锋是张柏芝的正式丈夫（为什么要用正式呢？）第三，大佬们不会直接出头，必须通过一个工具攫取利益，而谢是最合适的。
具体来说，谢霆锋的受益之处在于：
一，利用张正式丈夫的身份，既可以表现丈夫的真情又可以表现男人的坚强。只要谢现在对张不离不弃，媒体上说一些支持张爱护张的话，再在公开场合陪护一下张，就可以顺势树立起好男人好丈夫的形象，一举从扮酷装帅的低档偶像跃升为成熟受尊重的实力男星，成功把受众群从25岁以下无知女青年扩展到30岁以上的对家庭、感情有一定感受的少妇。这对艺人来说是最重要的收益。可以说很多人故意求都求不到这样的机会。
二，可以借机与英皇谈价码，逼杨受成或其它的什么大老板做出某种妥协安抚，改善自己的地位。
三，可以借机彻底降伏张柏芝，如果他愿意维持家庭，就利用张的愧疚感巩固自己在二人感情中的主导地位；如果他日后不想维持家庭，现在这件事就是最好的杀手锏，可以在离婚大战中占据主动。
当然，这种收益在普通人来看是得不偿失的，是肮脏龌龊的，但谢和张以及这次事件中的参与者，都是娱乐圈的人，对于娱乐圈来说，没有什么不可以被出卖，没有什么不可以被交换，这就是游戏规则。
至于钟欣桐和张柏芝日后的发展，也可以简单做点揣测——
先说钟欣桐。最大的可能，像前面说的，沉寂一段，期间断断续续真真假假地传出一些“自杀”啦、“痛哭”啦、“抑郁”啦之类的消息，然后以受害者身份出现在公众面前，娱乐界高层和一帮明星站出来力挺，一帮无脑粉丝帮腔大叫性无罪、私欲正常等制造舆论，先获得原谅。然后，twins解散，钟单飞，渐进式地拍一些艳片，市场接受，陈功转型。
张柏芝，情况会复杂一些。分几种可能：一，张降伏，向大佬认错妥协。然后大佬帮助操作舆论，也使她借受害人的身份重出江湖，但不会再重上云霄，大概会成为大佬力捧的下一代女星的陪衬、人梯，不过这也不错了。二，张不降伏，利用大佬间的矛盾进行反击，掀起江湖恶斗，说不定要牵扯进更多的人。三，张超脱，从此相夫教子不问世事，做个居家女人。我个人认为第一种可能性大。
其实，即使张真的决定退出娱乐圈当全职太太，谢也说不出什么。我相信他们之间有真实的感情，何况不管姓什么，孩子是有了。再说，张柏芝要不是为了和谢霆锋结婚，也不会闹出这么多江湖恩怨，张对的起谢，谢应该多珍惜担待一些。
最后谈谈陈冠希，这个烂仔，我之所以判断他是知情人，是因为这件事几乎伤害不到他什么。那几张照片，暴露的主要是女星的隐私，陈不受什么影响。对名声是不好，但娱乐圈男星谁在乎名声？而且，陈冠希在娱乐圈本来就半红不紫的，歌演双疲，除了些无脑幼稚的低龄男女，愿意为他掏钱的观众有几个？在港台大陆东南亚市场都没什么前途。再加上他本身也不是特别追求艺人成就的人，在娱乐圈就是玩票，所以，借他的路曝出张柏芝的事是最合适的。
我的以上猜想都可以验证。只要大家注意一下谢、张、钟日后的表现是不是和我判断的相仿就可以了。
总之，这次艳照门事件，根本就是一次娱乐江湖利益争夺，或者说几家摊牌肉搏。春节前的贺岁片。如果说对社会有益，就是借此帮我们看清所谓偶像的真面目，以后不必把他们当纯男圣女看，小朋友们少为这些龌龊的男男女女捧臭脚吧。另外，大陆娱乐界应该尽快推出自己的优质健康偶像，不要总让港台那些三流的痞子艺人来大陆轻轻松松地骗钱骗名，太骄纵他们了。
作者：我知道真相了
看香港艺人淫乱照片事件有感
最近，香港艺人陈冠希在网上被暴与14名女艺人床上淫乱照片，惊动香港、大陆警
方，四处追捕散发照片的地方。
一开始，大家以为是假照片，因为作假很容易，不料最后发现是真的。当然，警方
依然追究，因为即便真照片，仍然算私自散发别人隐私，当然属犯法。但这和伪造
照片，破坏人家名誉不能同日而语！
但可笑可叹的是大陆警方称看照片了就是犯法，简直是狗 屁不通。什么是名人？怎
么知道是名人？除非任何黄照看一眼就抓起来，非此无法保护名人。
我是不关心这些所谓被受害人的名声的，我本来就对其中任何人有任何兴趣。但我
现在还是知道了：香港艺人，很多是垃圾，狗苟之辈，却要装什么清纯，好骗钱。
现在好了，这种偷鸡摸狗的照片一出，是撕下了清纯的伪装。前久阿娇被人偷窥，
哭闹翻天，骗取了许多同情，如果碰到现在，哭死没有人会睬，当然，她也不会费
力再去假哭了。
如果是一个大写的人，一个有人格的演员，被偷窥了，被偷拍了，热爱她的观众当
然要愤怒，而且会谴责看这照片的人，虽然看仍然不至于算犯法。但是，最近香港
发生的丑闻，完全是流氓男女的淫乱活动。这种人，本身无法得到观众的热爱，因
为是垃圾。她们这种照片，和网上无数的类似照片，除了有名有姓，已经没有任何
区别。即便看，又有什么特别意义？如果有一点，那就是摧毁她的伪装。
香港，这个被称为文化沙漠的地方，从前其实是贡献了不少，包括流行歌曲，翻唱
外国歌曲，电视剧等等。但是，香港小家败气，洋奴文化，商业俗气，流氓黑社会
却也不等闲视之。香港无高尚，香港无格调，香港无纯真。纯真的人在香港不能立
足，只好自杀。陈的这些照片，相信不过是冰山一角,对香港，实在应该像老毛49年
横扫大陆时那样，把黑社会，狗男狗女，一个晚上一扫而光。
Sunday, February 3, 2008
ZT: 回应艺人“床照门”
汪明荃：不想被看到就不要拍(图)
2008-02-03 10:52:00 来源: 中国新闻网(北京) 网友评论 0 条 点击查看
http://news.163.com/08/0203/10/43P7OLK3000120GU.html
中新网2月3日电汪明荃(阿姐)昨日在严寒天气下到天水围，向500名长者大派礼物，令长者暖在心头。不过提到近日的床照风波搞到满城风雨，阿姐即斥责事件十分离谱：“希望警方快点抓到源头，我自己没有看过照片，希望大家都不要看，个个人身体都一样，有什么好看的？”
据香港太阳报报道，有指狄波拉为事件恼火，问到有否致电谢霆锋？阿姐说：“年轻人不可以太开放，交朋友要小心，不过我没有霆锋电话，所以没有打给他。”问到会否害怕跟男友罗家英的亲密照外泄？她说：“始终是人的素质问题，人要有操守，不想被人看到就不要拍，我不会拍这种照片，我个人没有秘密，能把相片传上网就不会见不得光。”
2008-02-03 10:52:00 来源: 中国新闻网(北京) 网友评论 0 条 点击查看
http://news.163.com/08/0203/10/43P7OLK3000120GU.html
中新网2月3日电汪明荃(阿姐)昨日在严寒天气下到天水围，向500名长者大派礼物，令长者暖在心头。不过提到近日的床照风波搞到满城风雨，阿姐即斥责事件十分离谱：“希望警方快点抓到源头，我自己没有看过照片，希望大家都不要看，个个人身体都一样，有什么好看的？”
据香港太阳报报道，有指狄波拉为事件恼火，问到有否致电谢霆锋？阿姐说：“年轻人不可以太开放，交朋友要小心，不过我没有霆锋电话，所以没有打给他。”问到会否害怕跟男友罗家英的亲密照外泄？她说：“始终是人的素质问题，人要有操守，不想被人看到就不要拍，我不会拍这种照片，我个人没有秘密，能把相片传上网就不会见不得光。”
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