Questions And Answers

Members of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants are answering readers' tax questions through April 15.Q: How much is the personal exemption for 1996?A: Each exemption you claim on your 1996 tax return is worth $2,550, up $50 from 1995. Certain higher-income individuals may lose part or all of the $2,550 deduction if their adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold amount for their particular filing status. Phase-out begins at $117,950 for single individuals, $176,950 for surviving spouses and marrieds filing jointly, $88,475 for marrieds filing separately and $147,450 for heads of household.

Members of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants are answering readers' tax questions through April 15.Q. I have heard that in Maryland, hours spent in volunteer work may be tax deductible. Is this true?A. No. Labor is generally not deductible; however, money, property and unreimbursed expenses directly related to the volunteer work performed generally are deductible. You are permitted an automobile allowance of 12 cents per mile on your federal return if you itemize and a 31 cents per mile on your Maryland state return for travel to and from volunteer activities.

WASHINGTON -- After a nervous start, Condoleezza Rice carefully groomed the Bush administration's mussed account of the road to Sept. 11 yesterday, easily disposing with the 9/11 commission's comparative nitpicking. Concentrating on more superficial disagreements, the commission let slip by its best opportunity to date for public insight into why 9/11 happened, what could and should have been done and whether our government has learned any meaningful lessons. Commissions -- like congressional committees -- are born convinced that if each member asks their own set of questions, sheer repetition will assure thoroughness.

Last week, we asked The Sun's readers to tell us what questions they had about the Persian Gulf crisis. We said we'd go to the experts to try to answer as many as possible. More than 250 of you responded, with thought-provoking and, often, tough queries.The big question, of course, is whether force will be used if Iraq refuses to withdraw from Kuwait by Tuesday's deadline; the latter now appears likely. Many experts believe the chances for war increased last week when talks between Secretary of State James A. Baker III and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz failed to make progress toward peace.

In response to The Sun editorial claiming that "Benghazi deserves a real review," (May 10), all I can say is, no, it does not! What we need to do is stop the political charade concerning this issue. The Accountability Review Board asked and answered all the questions necessary to get beyond this tragic case of typical bureaucratic bumbling and stumbling last year. Political wedge issue withstanding, right, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Boehner? Disgusting, both of you! Col. Joseph C. Kopacz, U.S. Army (ret.)