NY State has budget problems, so is it any surprise that the NY State Department of Taxation wants to make sure it's getting every single penny from people who spend time in NYC? The NY Times reports, "This year, the state tax department, which collects both state and city income taxes, is adding a new line to 2010 tax forms, asking state residents who own second, or perhaps third and fourth, homes to specify how many days they spent in New York City. A number nearing 183 will be a red flag" and the person could be subject to paying city taxes. more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel, the long-serving Democratic Congressman from Harlem, is reportedly still in talks with the House Ethics Committee to settle charges ahead of today's trial. However, there's a big sticking point: Rangel apparently doesn't want to admit he did anything unethical. A source told the NY Post, "He feels, I think very strongly, that he has not done anything that was wrong." more ›

Hey, late tax filers, the James A. Farley Main Post Office (Eighth Avenue between 31 and 33 Streets) is open until midnight tonight. The USPS also tells us, "For additional convenience mobile postal retail units will also be parked in front of the Post Office on Eighth Avenue with postal employees selling stamps and accepting mail. Many New York City Post Offices throughout the five boroughs are regularly open until 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. on weeknights like April 15. Consumers can call toll free 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or go on-line to usps.com for the business hours and Post Office locations closest to their ZIP Code." And more tips for last minute tax filers after the jump: more ›

It's tax time and the Finance Department wants big-time evaders to pay up. To that end, it's asked the IRS to hand over a list of rich city dwellers outed for keeping funds in Switzerland's UBS bank. Last year the offshore money repository was forced to give clients' names to the IRS and fined. So far it's unclear how many New Yorkers are enumerated on the list, but according to the Post many of the offenders are thought to live here. "Presumably, they haven't paid taxes for some period of time," said Finance Commissioner David Frankel more ›

While facing criticism for being a carpetbagger, former Tennessee congressman and likely Senate candidate Harold Ford swore he was an authentic New Yorker based on his taxes: "I pay taxes there, and once you pay taxes there, you feel like a New Yorker." But records show that Ford has never filed a tax return in New York state. more ›

Last night, the State Legislature struck a deal on the budget. According to the Times-Union, "In broad strokes, the agreement closes the state's estimated $16.2 billion budget deficit through $6 billion in federal stimulus dollars, $6 billion in cuts to an array of programs, and $4 billion in new revenue through an increase in the personal income tax on affluent New Yorkers." more ›

Charles Rangel sure seems to know how to get himself tangled up these days. While his tax liabilities remained a top story yesterday, he became the center of new controversy when he referred to Sarah Palin as "disabled." more ›

After reports yesterday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked Representative Charles Rangel to step down as the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, his fate is unclear. NY1 reports he's keeping the chairmanship, while Politico reports that Pelosi says no decision has been made. more ›

Rangel claims that he just discovered the errors and that once an accounting expert performs a "thorough, independent review," he will publicly release his tax returns from the past 20 years. Rangel continues to defend himself that since these are all errors of omission that he has "done nothing to dishonor myself, my colleagues, or this House." He also refuses to entertain the idea that he will have to step down as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. more ›