Don't Mess With Taxes

It's no wonder Uncle Sam is not very happy here. His vault is empty.
Don't Mess With Taxes aims to keep him cranky by providing tax and personal finance tips and advice that will put more money in your bank account, not the government treasury.

Nov. 3: Vote! Most attention has been on the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. But all elections are important. Make sure you do your civic duty.

Nov. 6: If your withholding is too much or not enough, head to your payroll office and turn in a new W-4 to adjust your payroll withholding.

Nov. 10: Does your job include tips? If so and you received $20 in tips in October, use Form 4070 to report them today to your employer.

Nov. 13: Does the number 13 scare you? Then you best stay home today and check out these 13 financial superstitions.

Nov. 17: The stock market has recovered somewhat this year, so now's a good time to analyze your stock transactions. Roughly calculate your profits and losses so far in 2009 so that you can do some tax planning before the end of the year. Capital gains are taxed at lower rates, but even losses could help offset a potential IRS bill.

Nov. 23: It's Thanksgiving week, and those of us with much to be grateful for might want to consider giving to those who don't. And your donation to a nonprofit that helps the needy also might provide you a tax deduction on your 2009 return.

Nov. 27: Happy Black Friday! Retailers look forward to this busiest buying day of the year. So do state and local governments, which get a share of sales taxes collected on most of the purchases. So that you'll know the full cost, taxes included, of your early holiday shopping trip, check out your state's sales tax rate.

Nov. 27 & 28: If you buy a gun this Friday and Saturday in South Carolina, you won't have to worry about the sales tax. It's the Palmetto State's second annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday.

Nov. 30: Unless Congress acts soon, the first-time homebuyer credit will end today. But it you're still home shopping, don't worry. It looks like lawmakers will extend it at least a few more months.

November Small Business Tax Calendar: Important filing, deposit and record keeping dates your company needs to know.

Making good works work:
The tax value
of charitable giving

Blogcritics:
Fading Homeownership Dream
>The Dream, 43 years later
>Super Bowl monkey business
>Shopgirl and aging comics
>Ho, Ho, Hand Over Your Taxes
>Government support of the arts

A collection of Kay Bell stories
is included in "The Gambler's Guide
to Taxes: How to Keep More of What You Win"

Citizen Volunteers,
Valued for Improving
IRS Services

Looking for something in particular? If you know the general topic, you can click on it in the "Categories" section that follows. Or you can enter specific keywords in the box below for a Lijit search of
Don't Mess With Taxes.

Earned income -- It's just like it sounds: Compensation you receive from work, including wages, salaries, commissions, tips and self-employment endeavors. Learn more...

Unearned income -- Money that is not gained by work or delivery of a service or product. It's most well-known source is from investments. Learn more...

Tax rates/brackets -- The U.S. tax system is a progressive one, in which the greater the earnings, the higher the tax rate. Learn more...

The content on Don't Mess With Taxes is my personal opinion based on my study and understanding of tax laws, policies and regulations. It’s provided for your private, noncommercial, educational and informational purposes only. It’s not a recommendation or endorsement of any company or product. I strongly suggest that when it comes to filing your taxes, you get additional, professional, paid-for guidance from your accountant and other financial advisers who are familiar with your individual circumstances. In other words, don't blame me!

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The income tax has made
more liars out of the American people than golf has.
-- Will Rogers, humorist

I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is,
I could be just as proud for half the money. -- Arthur Godfrey, comedian

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. -- Author unknown, from a Washington Post word contest

"Internal Revenue Service: The world's most successful mail order business.” -- Bob Goddard, writer

"If you are truly serious about preparing your child for the future, don't teach him to subtract. Teach him to deduct." -- Fran Lebowitz, writer

"The United States has a system of taxation by confession." -- Hugo Black, Supreme Court Justice