Tax Returns

With five locations, in Northeast Philadelphia, Ridley Township, Bensalem, Clementon and Turnersville, Nifty Fifty's restaurants are nostalgia-themed throwbacks to the glory days of sock hops and drugstore-fountain milkshakes. "Not just another restaurant," the company touts on its website, "but a way of life. " Federal prosecutors, in a criminal case filed Wednesday, say that way of life included a long-running scheme by the company's owners and top managers to evade more than $2.2 million in federal employment and personal income taxes by skimming mountains of cash from the 26-year-old chain.

A Narberth man who owned and operated a company that processed dental claims for labor union health and welfare funds was convicted by a federal jury Tuesday of willfully filing false tax returns from 1999 through 2002. Jonathon Felix, 51, who owned and operated United Professional Plans, Inc., which received management fees on a per claim or per person basis to process claims and resolve disputes between labor union members and dental providers. Among the unions UPPI worked for was District Council 33 of AFSCME, which represents the city of Philadelphia's blue-collar workers.

FLORENCE, S.C. - His wealth and taxes suddenly a campaign focus, Mitt Romney said yesterday that he pays an effective federal tax rate of about 15 percent. That's far less than if his earnings were wages rather than gains from investments and dividends, and the disclosure under pressure triggered a sharp response from the Democratic White House, as well as from one of his GOP presidential rivals. Romney also told reporters that he received money from speechmaking before he announced his presidential candidacy early last year "but not very much.

Mayor Goode, the only mayoral candidate who has not released tax returns during the 1987 primary campaign, will make tax records for the years 1983 through 1986 available for public inspection next week, his campaign spokesman said yesterday. Spokesman Todd Bernstein made the disclosure after Goode's Democratic primary opponent, Edward G. Rendell, released his 1986 return and called on Goode to do the same. Bernstein said Goode's returns will be placed in the public file of the city Records Department "by the end of next week.

The tax returns submitted by Center City lawyer Thomas L. McGill Jr. were examined in microscopic detail in U.S. District Court yesterday as federal prosecutors tried to show that he intentionally evaded paying about $47,000 in federal taxes owed on income from 1980 through 1987. Through testimony and documents, the prosecution showed that McGill submitted his returns late six times between 1980 and 1987, did not enclose the amount of money he owed and made only one voluntary payment of $3,000 between 1980 and 1987 - a period in which he had taxable income of about $210,273.

Democrat George R. Burrell Jr. yesterday became the last of the eight mayoral candidates to release his income tax returns, and the reports raised new questions about his personal finances. For instance, in 1987, the year he won election to City Council, Burrell reported an adjusted gross income of $35,836 and claimed $31,759 in deductions, including $15,577 in business expenses and other miscellaneous deductions. He ended up paying $32 in federal income taxes. The average taxpayer reporting $35,000 in income in 1987 claimed $1,624 in business expenses, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Pennsylvania and Delaware residents on active duty in the reserve or National Guard can get free assistance in preparing their 1990 standard federal and state tax returns through certified public accountants' organizations in those states. Both groups will provide the same aid for families of eligible military personnel. Although men and women serving in the Persian Gulf need not file federal returns until after leaving the combat zone, those on active duty elsewhere must file by April 15 to avoid penalties.

About 20 business students at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown Township are preparing tax returns for needy individuals and families. The students, working with the Bucks County Opportunity Council, assist those who qualify for earned-income tax credits. Fifteen other students help with child care and marketing. Accounting professor Elizabeth Kolar, who reviews the student-prepared returns, said the program would continue through April 14, with the volunteers available on Thursdays and Saturdays.

TRENTON - Gov. Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, will get more time to complete their family's 2011 income-tax returns. The Governor's Office said the Christies had filed for a six-month filing extension, though it did not specify why the delay was sought. This is the third straight year the Christies have sought a filing extension. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno filed her family's tax forms by Tuesday's deadline. But Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said copies of Guadagno's returns would not be released until the Christies filed their tax paperwork.

A Narberth man who owned and operated a company that processed dental claims for labor union health and welfare funds was convicted by a federal jury Tuesday of willfully filing false tax returns from 1999 through 2002. Jonathon Felix, 51, who owned and operated United Professional Plans, Inc., which received management fees on a per claim or per person basis to process claims and resolve disputes between labor union members and dental providers. Among the unions UPPI worked for was District Council 33 of AFSCME, which represents the city of Philadelphia's blue-collar workers.

With five locations, in Northeast Philadelphia, Ridley Township, Bensalem, Clementon and Turnersville, Nifty Fifty's restaurants are nostalgia-themed throwbacks to the glory days of sock hops and drugstore-fountain milkshakes. "Not just another restaurant," the company touts on its website, "but a way of life. " Federal prosecutors, in a criminal case filed Wednesday, say that way of life included a long-running scheme by the company's owners and top managers to evade more than $2.2 million in federal employment and personal income taxes by skimming mountains of cash from the 26-year-old chain.

H ERE'S WHAT will be making news in Philly this week: CITY HALL The British are coming! Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, will pay a royal visit to Philadelphia on Thursday to mark the 60th year of his mother's rule. The prince - who is seventh in line for the throne - will plant a tree at Girard College and tour Independence National Historic Park before attending a private dinner at the Restaurant School. If you want to catch sight of the blue blood, he is scheduled to arrive at Girard College at 12:30 p.m. and tour Independence Park at 5 p.m. COMMON PLEAS COURT Ex-cop to be tried for murder For the second time this year, a disgraced ex-Philadelphia police officer will go on trial for first-degree murder.

TRENTON - Gov. Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, will get more time to complete their family's 2011 income-tax returns. The Governor's Office said the Christies had filed for a six-month filing extension, though it did not specify why the delay was sought. This is the third straight year the Christies have sought a filing extension. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno filed her family's tax forms by Tuesday's deadline. But Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said copies of Guadagno's returns would not be released until the Christies filed their tax paperwork.

With the Republican nomination in hand but skeptics remaining on his right, Mitt Romney told a "tax day summit" of tea party activists at the Franklin Institute Monday night that he was determined to shrink the federal government and keep runaway regulation and high taxes from killing jobs. "The economy is struggling because the government is too big, and we're going to bring it down to size," Romney told about 400 cheering people at the event organized by the Independence Hall Tea Party.

An IRS employee and her boyfriend were arrested Wednesday and charged in a tax-refund scam that defrauded the federal government. In an indictment, federal prosecutors charged IRS worker Patricia Fountain, 34, with conspiring to file false claims, filing 15 false tax returns, extortion, and related offenses. Codefendant Larry Ishmael, 39, was charged with conspiracy to file false claims and aiding in the filing of a false tax return. Authorities said Fountain and Ishmael, of North Philadelphia, shared a residence, money, and assets, including a 2007 Mercedes-Benz R350.

HERE'S WHAT will be making news in Philly this week:   CITY HALL Budget discussions Public safety will be in the hot seat at City Council budget hearings on Wednesday. Police, fire and prison officials are all scheduled to testify on their budgets during the day. Mayor Nutter's budget plan includes money for new hires for police and fire. Council plans to take public testimony after those hearings, so if you want to sound off, come to City Hall at 5:30 p.m.   Henon gets an app Trash, graffiti and potholes could soon be reported via an iPhone application created by freshman City Councilman Bobby Henon.

T. Milton Street Sr., a former hot dog vendor, mayoral candidate and prison inmate who was first elected to the state House in 1978, will appear on North Philadelphia ballots next month with a shot at joining the legislature again. Street, 72, submitted nominating petitions Monday with enough signatures to win an independent spot in the April 24 special election, to fill out the term for the House seat vacated by Jewell Williams, now the city sheriff. Street's candidacy is still subject to challenge, but he cleared the first hurdle by collecting more than 335 signatures and turning them in to the state Election Bureau in Harrisburg.

Can you avoid an IRS audit by staying on the straight and narrow when preparing your tax return? There's no guarantee, but some forethought may help you avoid hassle later. Audit predictors. Several factors can predict whether you'll be audited by the IRS, suggests Jim Wang at U.S. News and World Report. The IRS has formulas, based on millions of returns, to pick out problem filings. Possibilities: Your return doesn't match your W-2 and 1099 Forms, including interest paid to you by banks; you have a Swiss bank account.

Let's face it: Tax time this year could be confusing with all the extensions and proposed legislative changes. With just two months left to tax time, we thought it would be helpful to unearth some free tools on calculating and filing your taxes this year, as well as to outline some of the expiring deductions for 2011 taxes and possible expirations for 2012. Your 2011 federal income tax returns are due April 17 (April 15 is a Sunday, and April 16 is Emancipation Day - a Washington holiday)