Hacker News: camz

New comment by camz in "LLVM Foundation Granted 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status"

camz — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:31:56 +0000

It requires you fit into one of their accepted categories and about 8-10 months normally. If you expedite it, it may take as little as 2-4 months.

I was able to get mine done in about 3ish months.

New comment by camz in "Accounting for Developers"

camz — Thu, 28 May 2015 06:37:41 +0000

I wouldn't try to separate bookkeeping from accounting too much. As a cpa, the lines are blurred too often because we're usually making decisions and adjustments along the way.

But, a little information can definitely be dangerous. It can be a huge time sink to "restate" the books to suit someone's vision and at worst it allows people to misrepresent the information.

New comment by camz in "Accounting for Developers"

camz — Thu, 28 May 2015 06:13:16 +0000

I always appreciate new ways to make accounting easier. A lot of accounting should be automated because most of it is ministerial.

But, I do thinking that financials are something that each person should learn a bit more about. I find it too common that people aren't spending enough time to understand what their financials are trying to tell them. For example, they're generate awesome revenues, but failing to convert it into cash fast enough to meet their debts (statement of cash flows).

Always a fan of everyone gaining financial literacy =).

IRS Budget Cuts Decr. Tax Audit to Wealthy/Incr. Audits on Low-To-Mid Inc. Fam

camz — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:22:38 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2015/04/02/irs-budget-cuts-decreases-tax-audit-for-the-wealthy-increases-audits-on-low-to-mid-income-families/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9310841

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Entrepreneurs Shouldn't Incorporate, Trademark or Patent

camz — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:35:01 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/11/03/entrepreneurs-shouldnt-incorporate-trademark-or-patent/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8552124

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

White Collar Wage Theft:Using Jail and Illegal Arrangements Stop Engineers Leaving

camz — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:59:17 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/07/30/white-collar-wage-theft-is-trending-companies-using-jail-and-illegal-arrangements-to-prevent-employees-from-leaving/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8108562

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Employees That Stay In Companies Longer Get Paid Less

camz — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:05:55 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7928008

Points: 437

# Comments: 198

New comment by camz in "DSploit Scam and the Guy Who Made Our Small Income Gone Forever"

camz — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:26:25 +0000

I agree with essentially everything Tom suggests. I think that trademarks (TM) is something a lot of people forget to use, registered (R) trademarks is something I generally tell people to avoid because its often not going to help unless you have a significant amount of intangible monetary value. It does offer some protection like Tom suggests, but clearly it's not full proof. Still its better than nothing.

New comment by camz in "DSploit Scam and the Guy Who Made Our Small Income Gone Forever"

camz — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:35:53 +0000

I would've cut down on communicating with the person. He's obviously illiterate and his income is fueled by fraud. In my experience, you give them a single friendly but frank email with 24 hours to respond and then you just have to go through the proper channels. In this case removing his domain.

I'd like to believe the good in people. But, this individual's conduct from the outset demonstrates bad faith.

Bitcoin Must Create A Community-Backed FDIC

camz — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:34:48 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/03/20/bitcoin-must-create-a-community-backed-fdic/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7438521

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

The IRS is Shut-Down With Only a 5-Day Plan - We're On Day 3

camz — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 16:38:34 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/10/03/the-irs-is-shut-down-with-only-a-5-day-plan-were-on-day-3/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6490105

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act) Is Not An Insurance Or Healthcare Problem

camz — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 16:16:21 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/10/02/obamacare-affordable-care-act-is-not-an-insurance-or-healthcare-problem/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6483370

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Interns From Ivy Leagues Or Private Schools Are Unwanted

camz — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:09:57 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/09/23/interns-from-ivy-leagues-or-private-schools-are-unwanted/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6433795

Points: 18

# Comments: 17

The Era of Internships Are Over, Never Hire An Intern Again

camz — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:04:47 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/09/06/the-era-of-internships-are-over-never-hire-an-intern-again/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6350579

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Ask HN: A 50 State Sales Tax Guide/Chart for Internet Transaction Free Under CC

camz — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:46:56 +0000

Hey guys, im working on creating an creative commons resource thats free for the public related to all things sales tax. I'm focusing on internet transactions like online retail, software and information products.

Just trying to gauge the interest so that I know how much people care about it? Also, to see if anyone cares.

Thanks.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6292915

Points: 5

# Comments: 0

Bouncing Back From Bankruptcy & Losing My Home

camz — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:04:55 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/08/05/bouncing-back-from-bankruptcy-losing-my-home/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6160921

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

New comment by camz in "Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax"

camz — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 01:07:59 +0000

I practice tax law and write for forbes on tax law.. this area of law may seem confusing, but that is mostly for the media buzz. The law has generally been fairly clear.

Many states have long had laws that taxed "pre-written or canned software." MA is just one of the newer states that have enacted this law. New York has had the law in the books for years.

Pre-written software means that you've previously created software and you've literally re-used the code.

Professional, custom or designed software is still exempt as a "professional service."

What happens when you're like SAP and you start with canned software, but then customize it? Then, you pay sales tax on the canned portion and then you don't pay tax on the customization costs.

In sales tax audits, they test this by comparing code sold off the shelf to the code presented as "custom." Generally, consultants are used.

There are also sales tax on "informational reports." This started as paying sales tax for "stock tips" sent over the fax. But, today this has extended to informational reports that were created by software. Thus, a lot of businesses that "don't sell canned software" and provide a "service" cannot escape the tax law by simply providing the end product alone.

I can understand people getting angry, but the law has been around for a while... I've gone through multiple audits with companies such as reuters, bloomberg and etc. I don't particularly feel that its unfair, since if you provide a "custom service" then you're exempt.

Obviously, there are always going to be ways to "technically" get away with avoiding sales tax, but that doesn't mean that they're inherently unfair. Companies avoided paying sales tax on software for a while, until the states realized that they were being cheated by these businesses. Then, businesses decided that if we don't sell the software on "CDs" then its not tangible property and "legally not taxable." So, they would bring the CDs and install the software and then leave with the CD's to effectively avoid the sales tax.

Then, they started to allow the software to be hosted online and only provide the "end-product aka SaaS." Services are commonly exempt and hard to follow, thus they escaped the states radar for years. Its a cat and mouse game that will continue.

I think the best example is if an attorney or accountant were to provide the same exact tax return or memo to everyone, then it'd be taxable under sales tax law. But, because we provide a different memo or tax return to everyone (maybe using a system like turbotax or something), it is a custom product because the service is only applicable to that person. If the developer provides a copy of turbo tax, then its taxable because its always the same. But, if the developer uses RoR, Python or some other system to "create" the end product for the individual, then its not taxable. Hopefully, this crude example is decent enough to get the point across.

WARNING: Kickstarter's Policies Cause IRS Tax Audits

camz — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:54:48 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/04/17/warning-kickstarters-policies-cause-irs-tax-audits/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5564153

Points: 4

# Comments: 0

How WunWun Stops Amazon From Stealing & Creates 100 New Jobs

camz — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:29:12 +0000

Article URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2013/04/02/how-wunwun-stops-amazon-from-stealing-creates-100-new-jobs-3-mil-payroll/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5480305

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

New comment by camz in "Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer? (April 2013)"

camz — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:29:21 +0000

off topic, but you could use autotax.me to help deal with the freelancer tax stuff like W9s, security and 1099s (free) without having to fill out the same tax docs a million times.