"The United States Code is the official codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States of America. The Code was first published in 1926, and a new edition of the code has been published every six years since 1934. The 2012 edition of the Code incorporates laws enacted through the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, the last of which was signed by the President on January 15, 2013. It does not include laws of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, enacted between January 2, 2013, the date it convened, and January 15, 2013. By statutory authority this edition may be cited "U.S.C. 2012 ed." As adopted in 1926, the Code established prima facie the general and permanent laws of the United States. The underlying statutes reprinted in the Code remained in effect and controlled over the Code in case of any discrepancy. In 1947, Congress began enacting individual titles of the Code into positive law. When a title is enacted into positive law, the underlying statutes are repealed and the title then becomes legal evidence of the law. Currently, 26 of the 51 titles in the Code have been so enacted. These are identified in the table of titles near the beginning of each volume. The Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives continues to prepare legislation pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 285b to enact the remainder of the Code, on a title-by-title basis, into positive law. The 2012 edition of the Code was prepared and published under the supervision of Ralph V. Seep, Law Revision Counsel. Grateful acknowledgment is made of the contributions by all who helped in this work, particularly the staffs of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel and the Government Printing Office"--Preface.

Who says taxes and accounting are dull and boring? This remarkable book weaves entertaining and educational stories on how American and world history have been influenced and molded by the not-so-well-known history of taxes. Unique, quirky, interlaced with personal accounts, and always enlightening, consider a few of the amazing tax stories that have involved some of our best-known leaders and celebrities:Martin Luther King survived a six-day jury trial, avoiding prison for underpaying his income tax by $318.81.Prior to 1933, U.S. presidents were exempt from paying income tax.President Franklin Roosevelt saved Congressman Lyndon Johnson from prison for criminal tax fraud.Sixty years ago, the IRS was so corrupt that if you didn't offer the IRS agent a bribe, he might shake you down for one. Abolish the IRS? Andrew Jackson actually did so. But it came back 28 years later.Al Capone was just one of many Americans with notorious tax problems. Lesser tax problems faced Alan Jay Lerner, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Nelson, Wesley Snipes, Liberace, Groucho Marx and Jack Benny. Many fascinating tax stories fill this book, including tales of gifts to Anna Nicole Smith, Irving Berlin's songs and much more.Through his decades-long experience as a practicing tax accountant with an insider's knowledge of tax policy and legislation, Jay Starkman provides a fresh and provocative perspective on taxes and accounting. He also gives unconventional and invaluable advice on dealing with IRS.