Jan. 1: Once more for the official monthly tax moves — Happy New Year! Some people are champing at the bit to get their taxes filed, mainly because they are expecting an Internal Revenue Service refund. But remember, you need to get all your tax documentation before you can accurately complete your Form 1040. And even if you send the form(s) early, the IRS won’t start processing them until later this month. So, take a deep breath. We’ve a ways to go yet.
Jan. 6: It's the first official work week of 2025, with folks who took long holiday breaks finally returning to the office. Once you get settled at your desk, you might want to take some time for a couple of tax-related tasks that could pay off, this year and after you’re done with the 9-to-5.
First, check your paycheck withholding and, if necessary, adjust it. That might be necessary if you’ve experienced a major life change.
Second, if your workplace has a 401(k) plan and you’re not using it, sign up as soon as possible. Then contribute as much as you can. This will give your retirement account more time to grow tax-deferred if it’s a traditional 401(k) or tax-free if it is a Roth version.
Jan. 10: Is your adjusted gross income (AGI) $84,000 or less, regardless of your filing status? Then you qualify to use Free File, which became available today. The same eight software companies that participated last year are back for the 2025 filing season.
If your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Fillable Forms option. That will be available on Jan. 27 when the full 2025 tax season kicks off and the IRS starts processing all returns that were filed before then and that have been in a holding pattern.
Jan. 10: Do you work as a server at a restaurant or at any other establishment where gratuities from customers are part of your compensation? I hope you get all the tips you deserve for doing your job well. Remember, though, that those tips are taxable income.
Whether you're dining at your favorite eatery or getting food delivered to your home, if a tip isn't included on your restaurant or delivery bill, click the image above to calculate how much to tip the person who brought it to you.
And if you got at least $20 in gratuities in December for your extraordinary services as a food server or hair stylist or parking valet or whatever job where tipping is common, you must report that amount by today. Use Form 4070 to let your employer know the total tips you took in last month.
Jan. 15: Today is the due date for the final estimated tax tax payment for the 2024 tax year. This payment covers the earnings you got last October, November, and December that weren’t subject to withholding. You can pay your estimated amount electronically, or mail your check payment and voucher 1040-ES to the IRS in an envelope postmarked today.
Jan. 20: Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Every year on this federal holiday, millions of people commit to a day of service.
Click image to find out ways
you can volunteer on MLK Day. Taking time on the Rev. Dr. King's holiday to volunteer at a nonprofit isn't tax deductible, but some costs associated with volunteering could help reduce your tax bill if you itemize.
Jan. 20: Tonight also is title time. The 2025 NCAA College Football champion will be crowned this evening in Atlanta. It’s taken a while to get here. The championship playoff bowl games system was extended, with qualifying matchups starting on Dec. 21, 2024. It's been a fun run for college football fans and for those who bet on the games thanks to the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that allowed states to accept legal sports wagers, including on college competitions. If you're one of those gamblers and your game picks pay off, remember that you'll owe taxes on your winnings when you file your 2025 return next year.
Jan. 27: Tax Season 2025 officially starts. That includes processing of tax returns filed earlier, whether via commercial software, tax preparers, IRS Free File, or IRS Direct File, the IRS’ own free online tax prep and e-filing program. In addition to more than double the Direct File participating states from last year, the IRS operated site will offer more options that apply to more taxpayers’ situations.
Jan. 31: Wow! The first month of 2025 is over? So soon? Time really does fly when you're having tax fun. We'll keep it going here in this new year with new Tax Moves to Make each month, which you also can find on their monthly tax tips pages. January’s tips page is already is filling up!
Small Business Tax Calendar: Important filing, deposit and record keeping dates throughout the year that your company needs to know. The IRS is updating the online version. Until that link is operational, you can get the full year's important business and individual tax dates in IRS Pub. 509.
"But the compact of living in a society requires that sometimes we get things (and elected officials) we don't want. Here's to the day we can all afford our own private islands! ;-)"
LOL - I totally agree!
Posted by: Amy | Wednesday, October 06, 2010 at 06:21 PM
"And I'm very leery of, actually frightened by, people who make up their minds and never listen to the other side. Things change. Circumstances change. Needs change. People change. Being able to listen to differing opinions is crucial to being flexible when change needs to be made. "
I totally agree. However, I have met people who actively solicit a diversity of opinions but then disregard them completely if they don't match their own. In other words, they have all the appearance of open mindedness, think of themselves as such, but the reality is they've made up their mind long before you've met them. They are looking only for a confirmation of their opinions from others.
And truthfully, those situations were by far the worst I've been in a work situation. I've been subtly punished for the "wrong" answer (by my freely stating my opinion) and then alternately made responsible when I didn't speak up after figuring out the score. (It's an "open" environment after all.) It would not completely shock me to find out that perhaps Obama runs his office that way and it's the reason he's having a hard time keeping staff.
In fairness, I have never met Bush or Obama. All have is 3rd hand reports about them, which always tell me more about the person writing or speaking than it does about the object being written or spoken about.
I do know that Bush was the media's devil of the last 8 years for not being "open". However, I noticed his turn over was very low and he did manage to attract a fair amount of minority help, especially in Condoleezza Rice. He may not have been "open", but it may have set a consistent set of rules that reasonably competent people were willing to work under.
On the other hand, Obama has been hailed for his openness but he doesn't seem to generate any deep loyalty on a personal level from his staff. He also doesn't waiver much from standard Democratic or economic thinking and seems to offer few really alternative ideas.
Again, it's important to say that without spending time with them personally, on their staff, it's really pretty much impossible for me to judge. I'm just throwing out the other side to the mass thinking of both gentlemen, perhaps making both of them people who put their pants on one leg at a time. ;)
Posted by: Amy | Wednesday, October 06, 2010 at 06:19 PM
As for the services we don't want, welcome to living in a society. We don't all need or want the same things at the same time, but we or someone we know or are related to might. If not now, perhaps one day. Life has a funny way of deciding things for us that way. I wish I could direct my taxes to go only for certain things; many of them likely would not be services you want or need. But the compact of living in a society requires that sometimes we get things (and elected officials) we don't want. Here's to the day we can all afford our own private islands! ;-)
Posted by: Kay | Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 09:37 PM
Amy, maybe it's the reporter in me, but I like seeing all sides of an issue. No change once, doesn't mean no change ever. And I'm very leery of, actually frightened by, people who make up their minds and never listen to the other side. Things change. Circumstances change. Needs change. People change. Being able to listen to differing opinions is crucial to being flexible when change needs to be made. Kay
Posted by: Kay | Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 09:34 PM
"One thing I like about Obama is the fact that he likes to keep a devil's advocate or two around. Even if he isn't persuaded by their points of view, he at least gets them."
Sounds disingenuous to me. What's the point of hearing alternatives if you are never persuaded to act on them? Surround yourself with "yes" men and get at the point. At least everyone knows the score in that situation. ;)
"Also, the prez noted that to cover the cost of keeping the low tax rates for the wealthy could mean fewer government services enjoyed by middle- and lower-income taxpayers."
What if we don't want the services? Hmmm... ;)
Posted by: Amy | Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 07:30 PM