Keeping up with all the IRS rules and regulations can be a real hassle. The tax code keeps getting more and more complex every year, in spite of countless promises by politicians to "simplify" the system.

This book does give some useful tips on how to avoid taxes. It points out specific ways that you can legally reduce your tax burden, along with key mistakes to avoid, unless you like the idea of being audited.

This book is written in an outline format, with boldface and bulleted text throughout. This is helpful, for finding specific information. You can quickly turn to a chapter that interests you, and then narrow down your reading by looking for the sub- topic that interests you.

Thw way this book portrays the the American tax system might not sit too well with some people. The author talks about the IRS, not necessarily as a great, friendly institution, but not as something to take caution with, either. He paints a picture of the IRS as being a firm, but reasonable institution and points out that we should not fear the IRS at all. We all can think of many, many occasions where this has not been the case. The IRS has abused its authority in many instances, and many feel that some of its unethical actions are directly the result of political manipulation against enemies, like in the case of auditing of high- profile individuals. But this book avoids talking negative, making the IRS seem like an institution that is reasonable and accommodating.

This book shows the reader many ways to avoid taxes, and much of the advice is sound, but I found this book to be a yawner overall. It's one of those books that could be viewed as a reference book, or a reading book. However, if you try to read the book from cover to cover (it's more than 450 pages in length), don't be surprised if your eyelids seem to become very heavy after every few pages of reading. This isn't exciting material, and it can induce drowsiness quickly.

This book has been updated and revised many times to keep it current with the ever- changing tax laws. It's the type of book that becomes outdated very quickly, and needs constant revisions to keep up with the times. My edition is already a couple years old, and I can already see where the technology chapter is way behind.

This is an ok book to have around, as a reference guide to reducing taxes and complying with IRS rules. If you don't want to pay a tax professional and you enjoy the challenge of working on your own taxes, then this book could prove to be very beneficial. For everyone else, it will likely just sit on a shelf and collect dust. Buy it only if you feel that you really need it.

I bought TaxCut software, then read this book, I end up with a tax professional to do my 2001 tax. I am glad I read this book though, I avoided making mistakes and I followed carefully to my tax attorney's advice. This book is informative and insightful.

Now available in a revised and updated eighth edition, What The IRS Doesn't Want You To Know: A CPA Reveals The Tricks Of The Trade is a compendium of solid, up-to-date tax advice for 2002. Chapters survey such topics as what the latest IRS targets are; ten ground rules one must never break to win with the IRS; the thirty-four greatest taxpayer misconceptions; commonly overlooked credits and deductions; what forms should never be filled out; new tax laws enabling an innocent spouse to get out of debt; how to plan IRA and pension plans; the latest taxpayer rights; and what IRS people are really like and how to work with them. What The IRS Doesn't Want You To Know is a highly practical book and strongly recommended reading for every taxpayer!

My annual salary grew steadily each year since graduating from college in 1994. However, there was hardly any money to pay off my credit card bills and forget about nice vacations or investing! I'd had enough. I heard of IT jobs that paid $50/hr. (or more). One day I had a conversation with an IT contractor with 7 years experience. This man had incorporated his own business and suggested that I did for the tax benefits. However, he was not very articulate as to EXACTLY what benefits there were to incorporating. I had to know. So I purchased Marty Kaplan's 3rd edition in late 1997. On May 20, 1998 I paid a law firm $300 to formally incorporate my very own company. I was instanly a President!(I still get a kick out of my title!) I have been contracting ever since. I think that I would have been contracting whether I purchased this book or not. However, Marty Kaplan's book provided a detailed comparsion between the different types of businesses. (i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company, C-Corporations, & S-Corporations) Marty explained the financial realities, that precious few people understand. These truths showed me the pros and cons to each business model. All the financial decisions that I made were based on the information I gleened from this book. I assure you that I am infintely better off today than I would be if I were still at my 1998 job. But, what's more is that I'm better off today than I would be if I had contracted as a "W2 employee." (which is much easier in the beginning!) It was Marty's text that enlightened me! Also, Marty speaks plainly about being audited - "...it may happen and don't panic." Marty is completely ethical. His text simply shows readers how to prevent raising red flags. (i.e. certain IRS forms have been found to be guaranteed red flags and Marty advises how to legitamately report those same expenses on the "right" forms) Marty provides excellent anecdotes that will help readers predict the IRS's behavior and steer clear of its wrath. Marty spends the remainder of the book showing you how to maximize your legitimate deductions while minimizing your tax liabity. This book paid for itself in a split second. Thank you Marty!