Taxes

Otis Pitts Owes Miami-Dade $10 Million in Failed Liberty City Plan

Otis Pitts Jr. Owes Miami-Dade County $10 Million On Failed Project

​A prominent African-American builder just got a sweet bailout from Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the county commission. On March 20, commissioners quietly approved Gimenez's request to pay off $400,000 that Otis Pitts Jr. owes in property taxes on a complex he owns on NW 62nd Street at Seve ... More >>

Mitt Romney's Tax Forms' Craziest Revelations: Swiss Accounts, Mormon Payouts, Low Taxes

​Mitt Romney released his tax filings late last night as he desperately tries to run down Newt Gingrich's ballooning lead in Florida, telling a Tampa audience: "I'm proud of the fact that I pay a lot of taxes."But in the harsh light of morning, it's hard to see how Floridians will be swayed by see ... More >>

GOP Lawmaker Files Bill to Raise Florida's Sales Tax by 3 Percent

​It's not often you see Republican politicians filing bills to raise taxes, but that's exactly what Rep. Fred Costello of Ormond Beach has done. He has introduced a bill that would add a 3 percent surtax to Florida's sales tax. The bill also supports the idea of added taxes to Internet purchases a ... More >>

Miami On the Hook For Millions In New Taxes On Marlins Parking Garages

​When we recently counted down the six most absurd lies about the new Marlins Stadium, fib number one was that politicians were working for taxpayers. Even a casual glance over the deal made it clear: This $550 million stadium was a cripplingly expensive gift from struggling taxpayers to the milli ... More >>

Ryder, Miami-Based Fortune 500 Company, Paid No Federal Income Tax The Past 3 Years

Ever wonder what's in the back of all those Ryder trucks?Your tax dollars, apparently.According to a new study by Citizens for Tax Justice, the Miami-based Fortune 500 company paid -7.3 percent federal income tax from 2008-10. That's negative 7.3 percent. Kinda makes you want to torch the nearest mo ... More >>

Almost Half of Floridians Think Republicans Are Intentionally Trying to Hurt the Economy

Some Democrats have accused Republicans of intentionally trying to slow economic recovery for political gain. Republicans have tried to dismiss that theory, but it's not just partisan Dems who believe it. Nearly half of voters in Florida believe "Republicans are intentionally hindering efforts to bo ... More >>

Rick Perry: Awful politician, genius campaigner

Some Democrats have accused Republicans of intentionally trying to slow economic recovery for political gain. Republicans have tried to dismiss that theory, but it's not just partisan Dems who believe it. Nearly half of voters in Florida believe "Republicans are intentionally hindering efforts to bo ... More >>

North Bay Village Mayor Corina Esquijarosa might get the boot

Some Democrats have accused Republicans of intentionally trying to slow economic recovery for political gain. Republicans have tried to dismiss that theory, but it's not just partisan Dems who believe it. Nearly half of voters in Florida believe "Republicans are intentionally hindering efforts to bo ... More >>

No, Your $4,000 Tax Refund Was Not Legit

IRS: the tax man cometh.​Did you pay Tomeka Wimberly at Wizard Tax Services Inc. to fill out your return this year? Did she claim Doritos and Mountain Dew on your work expenses? How about the little known "new underwear credit"?And did you get a nice refund of roughly $4,000?If so, we hope you hav ... More >>

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia Owes IRS Nearly $200,000

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia.​No wonder Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia made it a point in his campaign to plead for lower taxes. Not only is there a $1,803.41 state tax lien on his company, ZMG Media, which we reported about last week, but on June 8 the IRS filed a $198,672.75 federa ... More >>

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia Delinquent on His Taxes

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia.​While his constituents watch taxes rise and home values slide, Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia has not paid property taxes and owes back taxes on his business.Since Riptide posted a story last week that reported Garcia was in foreclosure, details of other fisca ... More >>

Will the real Julio Robaina please stand up?

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia.​While his constituents watch taxes rise and home values slide, Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia has not paid property taxes and owes back taxes on his business.Since Riptide posted a story last week that reported Garcia was in foreclosure, details of other fisca ... More >>

Rick Scott's Major Failure: Legislature Won't Eliminate Corporate Income Tax

​Florida is undergoing a radical conservative transformation under Gov. Rick Scott, but one of his top proposals seems to be a bridge too far and too soon even for the Republican supermajorities in the state House and Senate.Even at a time when billion-dollar deficits have become the norm for Flor ... More >>

Watch Protestors Dance the "Tax the Rich Shuffle" Outside Carnival Headquarters

Photo by Tim Elfrink​To celebrate Tax Day, the folks at Right to the City and MoveOn.org decided it was high time to combine the best traditions of 1985-era Chicago Bears dancing and progressive lefty political agitation. The result? Behold the "Tax the Rich Shuffle." William "The Fridge" Perry wa ... More >>

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina Doesn't Pay Taxes On Building He Owns

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina owes the county for property taxes.​While Miami-Dade County residents paid higher property taxes last year, Hialeah Mayor and Miami-Dade County mayoral candidate Julio Robaina did not pay property taxes on a shopping center he owns in his city. In fact, it appears Robai ... More >>

Bob Graham Thinks Florida Has Lost Its Way

​To talk about respected, legendary Florida politicians is to talk about Bob Graham. The former Governor and Senator was one of the few politicians to manage sustained cross-party popularity and still looms large over the state as an occasional source of wisdom. Yesterday, the retired moderate Dem ... More >>

Tea Party Claims Victory in Alvarez Recall ...Uh, Wait, What?

Fox News declares a Tea Party Revolt​"Tea Party Revolt: Miami Mayor Recalled," proclaims Fox News' Fox Nation website, while other Tea Party segments of the world wide web take glee in the ousting of Carlos Alvarez. True some of the politics involved share similarities: raising property taxes was ... More >>

Carlos Alvarez Responds to Our Plea to Support Norman Braman's Recall

​In this week's New Times, we lay out four reasons you should support billionaire Norman Braman's efforts to recall County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. We're obviously not alone in believing the measure has merit -- Braman announced last night that more than 90,000 folks in Dade County have already signe ... More >>

Norman Braman Launches Petition to Recall Mayor Alvarez

​When most citizens have a problem with the county government they maybe write their commissioner, show up at a meeting or leave an angry comment with The Miami Herald. Not Norman Braman. The billionaire is once again throwing his over-sized wealth and influence around and is launching a recall ef ... More >>

Alex Sink Supports Permanent Extension of Bush Tax Cuts, Putting Her At Odds With Obama

via MSNBC​Yesterday we noted Alex Sink's tricky new TV ad that put distance between her campaign and President Obama. Today on MSNBC, she explicitly sided with Republicans against Obama on the issue of permanently extending all of the "Bush Tax Cuts." She claims they help small businesses, but the ... More >>

Old People Hate the Tanning Tax

via BartBaKer's Youtube​Vanity Fair and 60 Minutes have come together to commission a wide ranging poll that includes questions on the ability of Sarah Palin to be President (most don't think she can) and whether or not people would still see a Mel Gibson movie (most would). Though perhaps ones of ... More >>

Marco Rubio Calls for More Tax Cuts, But Could That Hurt The Economy More?

​It seems so simple that Republicans have taken it as fact: tax cuts will lead to greater economic strength. Lower taxes mean people have more money to spend, businesses have more payroll to add jobs, and hence our economy should get a jolt, right? It's no surprise that Marco Rubio has now come ou ... More >>

Two-Thirds of Voters Have Negative Opinion of Mayor Alvarez, 46 Percent Support Recall

Jonathan Postal Miami-Dade Mayor Alvarez and the County Commission have thrown sizable pay raises to staffers like they were life-vests on a sinking ship. They've simultaneously tossed funding to cultural efforts and other social programs overboard. That hasn't proven popular with voters ... More >>

Feds Indict Miami Man Who Tried To Steal $14 Trillion from the IRS

They don't call Marlon T. Moore "X-Large" for nothing. Back in December 2007, Moore, a 38-year-old Miami resident, walked out of the federal pen in Coleman, Florida after serving a six year sentence on felony money laundering charges as part of a cocaine smuggling ring. Soon after his release, Moore ... More >>

Does Bill Nelson Want to Raise Taxes on Your Alcohol?

I was reading I Can Has Cheezburger in my RSS Reader when I saw this ad below all the LOLcats. Apparently, Sen. Bill Nelson wants to raise the taxes on my wine by 233 percent! The ad leads to the Freedom Work's website, where it explains "a massive new tax hike" to pay for health care, which also in ... More >>

Charlie Crist's Lame Attempt To Distance Himself From Obama

When Charlie Crist stood on stage with President Obama in February I wonder if Crist had any idea that he'd actually be running for Senate. As a popular incumbent running for re-election the political risk would be lessened. Well, the risk of standing with a popular, newly elected pre ... More >>

Castroneves Acquitted

Two days after everyone paid taxes, and thousands protested this basic fact, one guy got off free on charges of evading his taxes. Indianapolis 500 and Dancing With The Stars champion Helio Castroneves was acquitted on tax evasion charges. Castroneves was charged last October with failing to report ... More >>

Tea Party Protests Make Less Sense than Pro Wrestling

You know what never made sense to me? Back in the '90s, the WWF (now WWE) teamed up "The Million-Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, a character who was a millionaire, with Irwin R. Schyster, AKA I.R.S., a tax man. Together they won three tag-team titles, but, dude, millionaires friggin' hate the IRS more than ... More >>

Killing Yourself Slowly with Cigarettes Will Remain Relatively Cheap

Late last year, there was a bit of buzz that the long-proposed cigarette tax hike might come to fruition. Florida has some of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, but the idea of raising the tax a dollar per pack was struck down today in the state's special legislative session. Rep. Jim Waldma ... More >>

Florida Supreme Court Takes Three Amendments Off the Ballot

Late last year, there was a bit of buzz that the long-proposed cigarette tax hike might come to fruition. Florida has some of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, but the idea of raising the tax a dollar per pack was struck down today in the state's special legislative session. Rep. Jim Waldma ... More >>

Weekly News Wrap - Super Tuesday, Money Laundering, Cuba Criticism and more

Late last year, there was a bit of buzz that the long-proposed cigarette tax hike might come to fruition. Florida has some of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, but the idea of raising the tax a dollar per pack was struck down today in the state's special legislative session. Rep. Jim Waldma ... More >>

Beenie Man

Late last year, there was a bit of buzz that the long-proposed cigarette tax hike might come to fruition. Florida has some of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, but the idea of raising the tax a dollar per pack was struck down today in the state's special legislative session. Rep. Jim Waldma ... More >>

Christmas in Key West

Late last year, there was a bit of buzz that the long-proposed cigarette tax hike might come to fruition. Florida has some of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation, but the idea of raising the tax a dollar per pack was struck down today in the state's special legislative session. Rep. Jim Waldma ... More >>

Miami: Screwed Again

The legislature helped taxpayers, but not in the Magic City

Tax Troubles

The legislature helped taxpayers, but not in the Magic City

Are Newspapers Pocketing Illegal Taxes?

The legislature helped taxpayers, but not in the Magic City

Axing the Property Tax

Potamkin’s homestead has a market value of $21 million.... Raul Masvidal owes $33,639 in taxes for his four-bedroom residence.

Prosperity One Step at a Time

A cleverly subversive scheme for creating something Miami desperately needs: a middle class

Busted!

Greed, thievery, corruption, and betrayal -- the sordid tale of Miriam Alonso's downfall

BEST RESOURCE FOR RECENT ARRIVALS

El Paracaidista: La guia del recien llegado a Miami

Whichever Way the Wind Blows

El Paracaidista: La guia del recien llegado a Miami

All Herald BrandsMart

El Paracaidista: La guia del recien llegado a Miami

As Nasty as They Can Possibly Be

El Paracaidista: La guia del recien llegado a Miami

Sweet Redemption

Why invest in tobacco companies or overseas sweatshops when you can capitalize on your neighbor's misfortune right here at home?

Letters

Why invest in tobacco companies or overseas sweatshops when you can capitalize on your neighbor's misfortune right here at home?

Letters

Why invest in tobacco companies or overseas sweatshops when you can capitalize on your neighbor's misfortune right here at home?

Land of Opportunity

Dade's property tax assessment appeals system features sloppy record-keeping, a lack of oversight -- and a whole lot of money for those who know how to ask for it

It's Only Money

Owing to bureaucratic bad judgment, Miami Beach taxpayers will have to pay (and pay, and pay) for the city's vaunted new parking garage

The Owe Zone

Most people pay their taxes. Some people don't. Some people get their name in the newspaper.