Richard Chapo

Alimony, Child Support and Taxes

Society seems to change daily as time passes. The once proud institution of marriage has definitely taken a hit. With roughly half of all marriages failing, tax issues have to be addressed. Divorce is an ugly subject no matter how you look at it. Braw... Read >

Beware the Part Time Tax Preparer

If there is something people enjoy less than preparing their tax returns, it is hard to imagine. If you look to another to do the job, be very careful who you pick. The internal revenue code is a beast of government inefficiency and confusion. I dare ... Read >

Types of Income that are Not Taxable

As you know, the income you earn is taxed by the government. Alas, not all income is treated the same. In fact, some is considered off limits and is not taxed at all. The federal income tax is perhaps the most abused, misunderstood and chaotic financi... Read >

What State Taxes Can Businesses Deduct

If you run a business, you are looking for as many deductions as possible to knock down the tax you have to pay. Following are some highlights of the taxes you can deduct that are collected by anyone other than the federal government. How confusing is... Read >

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Tax Return

Preparing your tax return is a task similar to mating with an elephant. It takes a long time, there is a lot of yelling and you usually have a headache by the end. All of this can lead to mistakes on your return. Most taxpayers set out to tell the who... Read >

Basic Advice on Dealing with Jet Lag

Jet lag can put a real crimp in the first few days of your trip. To avoid it, there are some basic steps you can take so your first couple days are not miserable. Jet lag occurs because the body is adjusting to a new cycle. Whether you realize it or n... Read >

Dealing with Long Flights

If you are going to explore exciting and interesting foreign lands, you have to get there. This almost always means sitting on a long flight. It is rather ironic that sitting for long periods of time can wear you out. It isn't the exertion that gets y... Read >

Things to Check Before Going Birding

If you enjoy bird watching, sooner or later you are going to be heading out on field trips. While they can be a blast, there are a couple of things to check up on before you head out. A field trip is pretty much a staple of active birding. You identif... Read >

Things To Take When Bird Watching

Once you get hooked on bird watching, you will start getting up early and heading out on field trips. You will see have some tremendous sightings, but you need to take some things will you. In most cases, the best birding happens at the crack of dawn ... Read >

Staying Comfortable When Bird Watching

The early bird gets the worm, a cliché that rings true in nature. If you are going to head off for some bird watching, you need to go early and stay comfortable. The old saying is the early bird gets the worm, a suggestion that this is true for all a... Read >

A Guide to River Obstructions

As you probably know, most rivers do not just flow unimpeded. There are obstructions that force the water to flow out and around them. These obstructions can be rocks, sandbars, trees and just about anything that can stand up to the force of the water. Wh... Read >

Kayaking with the Flow

If you are taking up kayaking, you need to become one with the flow. No, I am not talking about Star Wars. I am talking about the motion of the water in your river of choice. The river giveth and taketh away. The river is going from here to there rega... Read >

Understanding River Rapid Classifications

There is something about rapids on a river that make people excited. Oh, yeah. I gotta try that! Before you hop into the river on a kayak, raft, canoe or branch, you need to take a minute to understand river classifications. Not all whitewater on a ri... Read >

Strange and Bizarre Tax Deductions

It was Albert Einstein who said physics was easy compared to trying to prepare his taxes. You probably feel the same way. The tax code is full of oddities, and here are a few that will make you roll your eyes. The internal revenue code is thousands of... Read >

Do You Have To File A Tax Return?

The general assumption is that everyone must file a tax return each year. This is not entirely true. In some situations, an individual or married couple need not file. As you probably know, the tax code is a tiered system. By this, I mean that it taxe... Read >