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Don't Mess With Taxes

Translating taxes into money-saving English

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By the Numbers 2012

Welcome to 2012. This year, the popular By the Numbers feature continues.

As with the original numerical posts, I'll post each Sunday a new figure -- a percentage, dollar amount, raw number and the like -- that has a tax connection.

If you miss one of the 2012 numbers, no worries. Links to each item are listed below. This year, though, the newer By the Numbers posts will be shown at the top of the list.

Want more? Peruse the 2011 and 2013 lists.

  • $3,446
    Average tax bill increase if we fall off the fiscal cliff (Dec. 23, 2012; last Number of 2012)
  • $1,000,000
    Boehner offers Obama a $1 million top income tax bracket in fiscal cliff talks (Dec. 17, 2012)
  • 5%
    IRS sued over pulpit electioneering, but few got election messages at church (Dec. 9, 2012)
  • 65 to 74
    Attention Baby Boomers: Your aging parents could be in financial trouble (Dec. 2, 2012)
  • 1
    IRS issues 2013 mileage deduction rates (Nov. 25, 2012)
  • 6599
    Hostess bakery's closure prompts another try at a federal fat tax (Nov. 18, 2012)
  • 47
    IRS Commissioner Shulman outta here, leaving fiscal cliff hassles to new tax bossd (Nov. 11, 2012)
  • 30
    Voters get their say Nov. 6 on 30 tax-related state ballot initiatives (Nov. 4, 2012)
  • 1,627
    Who'es lobbying on Capitol Hill? (Oct. 28, 2012)
  • 2
    Income tax tables and much, much more missing from annual IRS inflation update (Oct. 21, 2012)
  • 10
    Top 10 tax moments in VP debate (Oct. 14, 2012)
  • 107
    Pastors' tax break for housing under renewed fire (Oct. 7, 2012)
  • 32
    Religious groups lead the charitable donation category (Sept. 30, 2012)
  • 3
    Romney will file an amended 2011 tax return on Nov. 7 … if he loses (Sept. 23, 2012)
  • 394
    Sequestration's blunt and indiscriminate budget cuts (Sept. 16, 2012)
  • 1
    Describe the White House candidates in one (printable please!) word (Sept. 10, 2012)
  • 56
    Most Britons say legal tax avoidance by big business is morally wrong (Sept. 2, 2012)
  • 48.9
    Fill up your vehicle soon. Isaac likely to bring higher pump prices (Aug. 26, 2012)
  • 2
    Romney's tax returns take 2 (Aug. 19, 2012)
  • 6
    Don't look for GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan's tax returns either (Aug. 12, 2012)
  • 30
    California's Proposition 30 would raise top income tax rate, sales taxes (Aug. 5, 2012)
  • $29,200,000
    Art's value to the IRS, states' bottom lines and your enjoyment (July 29, 2012)
  • 20
    Bicycling commuters, you might qualify for a tax-free workplace benefit (July 22, 2012)
  • 28
    At least Breaking Bad's Walter White doesn't have to worry about drug taxes (July 15, 2012)
  • 11
    Florida counties declared major disaster area in wake of Tropical Storm Debby (July 8, 2012)
  • 46
    Texans, don't forget the use tax (July 1, 2012)
  • 1.9%
    Tiny, but rich, percentage of Americans would pay more under Obama tax plan (June 24, 2012)
  • $1,900,000,000
    Single dads also get stiffed when it comes to child support payments (June 17, 2012)
  • 1099
    Old debt, uncollectable & not taxable (June 10, 2012)
  • 1
    IRS again eases Offer in Compromise tax payment plan requirements (June 3, 2012)
  • 2194
    Take a pre-disaster inventory (May 27, 2012)
  • 9
    Mr. and Mrs. Mark Zuckerberg and their community property taxes (May 20, 2012)
  • $2,716
    Tax refunds smaller in 2012 (May 13, 2012)
  • 15,000
    Is that charity still IRS approved? (May 6, 2012)
  • 6.25%
    Amazon relents on Texas and Nevada sales tax collections (April 29, 2012)
  • 1,437
    Earth Day 2012: Donating to IRS-qualified environmental organzations (April 22, 2012)
  • 15
    Why is April 15 Tax Day? (April 15, 2012)
  • 9
    The easiest way to cheat on your taxes? Run your own business (April 8, 2012)
  • 39.2%
    U.S. is #1 in corporate taxation (April 1, 2012)
  • 70%
    What made 'Mad Men' angry? High taxes (March 25, 2012)
  • 239,271,700
    IRS expects to process 239.3 million tax returns in 2012 (March 18, 2012)
  • 22
    22 hours needed to complete Form 1040 (March 11, 2012)
  • $637
    IRS has $1 billion for taxpayers who didn't file their 2008 return2 (March 4, 2012)
  • 5
    Most Oscar nominees for best movie made with help from state film tax credits (Feb. 25, 2012)
  • $3.523
    Gasoline prices are at record highs and gas taxes could increase in some states (Feb. 19, 2012)
  • 84%
    Most people say tax cheating is wrong (Feb. 12, 2012)
  • 350
    Super Bowl winning wagers, including crazy prop bet payouts, are taxable (Feb. 5, 2012)
  • 7.67
    Wyoming has best business tax climate (Jan. 29, 2012)
  • $3.10
    IRS saves $3.10 on each e-filed return (Jan. 22, 2012)
  • 15
    Taxpayer rights and responsibilities (Jan. 15, 2012)
  • 17%
    Tax Gap holds steady: 17 percent of taxpayers don't pay all they owe (Jan. 8, 2012)
  • 8
    Minimum wage increased in eight states but workers probably still EITC eligible (Jan. 1, 2012)

Today's Tax Tip

  • Ways to pay your tax bill — The Internal Revenue Service still accepts paper tax payments, like checks and money orders. However, it prefers that we use one of these 6 e-payment options to settle our tax liability. (March 19, 2023)

  • Tax Tip; click pencil for all tax tip links

  • The 2023 Tax Tips offer ways to file your annual return, along with post-filing advice, important tax news and, of course, ways to cut your current tax year bill. You'll find the monthly assemblages on their own respective pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Remember, tax tasks and tips don't stop after you file your annual return!

All About Kay

  • OK, some about Kay
    Open sign
    Kay Bell — Native Texan
    (the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.

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Tick ... Tick ... Tick

  • Tax Year 2023 Countdown!

    Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2022 tax return? Me neither. But at least this year we're getting some extra time to file and pay any tax we owe. Even better, it's not COVID-19 pandemic related. Tax Day 2023 is Tuesday, April 18. This later date is because April 15, 2023, is on Saturday, and the next business day, Monday, April 17, is Emancipation Day.
    When this Washington, D.C., holiday falls on the day our federal taxes are due, it bumps Tax Day nationwide to the next business day. So this year, we have until Tuesday, April 18, to finish our federal forms and, if we find we owe, come up with the money for Uncle Sam. The states that follow the federal tax calendar, which is most of them, also tend to abide by this date change.

    The countdown clock below should help us from missing out on making important tax-saving moves the rest of this year. Plus, the Tax Moves below the counter will list some timely tasks to take care this first month of 2023, and each of the remaining 11 when they arrive. They'll speed by quickly when you're having tax fun!
    Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.


Time for Tax Tasks


  • monthly tax moves


  • Hello ☘ March.
    Your 2023 arrival is welcome, officially bringing us spring and getting us closer to the end of the main tax filing season. In fact, it's even closer, since this third month of the years also has us spring forward into Daylight Saving Time. So let's not waste any more precious hours and, ahem, march right into this month's tax tasks.


    via GIPHY


    March 1: It's the last full month of the tax-filing season, so that's a good reason to come at our taxes in the proverbial like a lion March entry mode. The first thing to attack like the feline king is the gathering of all the tax statements you'll need to fill out your 2022 return. This includes the paper ones that you tossed on a stack when they arrived, as well as those sent electronically and that you need to download or at least look at.

    March 6: Official tax statements aren't the only things you'll need to help you file. Other documents have information that's relevant to your tax return. So are the answers to some basic life questions. This tax checklist can help guide you as you work on your return. And don't forget about your previous tax return. That prior tax year filing is a good template, especially if your tax life hasn't changed that much.

    March 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 got lots of financial thanks for doing your job well, but remember that those tips are taxable income.

    restaurant check tip iStock
    Whether you're dining in or, still COVID leery and 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.

    If you got at least $20 in gratuities in January, you must account for the tips today by using Form 4070 to report last month's tips total to your employer.

    March 12: Feeling a bit tired after losing an hour of sleep earlier this morning? I'm right there with you. But I do love the extra end-of-day sunshine.

    Daylight Saving Time clock springs forward

    We can use that late-day natural light to work on our tax returns, including state filings if you, like most U.S. residents, live where state (or District of Columbia) personal income taxes are collected.

    March 15: This date is more than a literary reference. The Ides of March apply each year to many business taxpayers. Today is the tax filing deadline for partnerships (Form 1065 with K-1 or K-3 schedules) and S corporations (Form 1120S, again with the K schedules).

    March 17: Erin Go Bragh and
    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    via GIPHY

    Enjoy this day, but don't trust lucky charms to get you through tax filing season. Double check your 1040 to ensure you haven't overlooked any tax breaks or made any common filing mistakes.

    March 20: Spring has sprung!

    Spring; click image for the Farmer's Almanac take on the vernal equinox

    That means it's time for spring cleaning. Your gifts won't help with your current tax return, but they could pay off next year as charitable donation deductions if you itemize.

    March 27: If you have a tax-deferred retirement account, such as a traditional IRA or workplace regular 401(k), and are in your 70s, you could be facing a required minimum distribution (RMD) due date in just more than a week. If you turned 72 last year and didn't take your initial RMD by Dec. 31, you must do so by April 1. A quick planning note, too, for septuagenarian savers not yet facing RMDs. These mandatory distributions this year kick in when you celebrate your 73rd birthday, thanks to the new SECURE 2.0 retirement law.

    March 31: This is it. March is over, which for taxes means you best shed your out like a lamb attitude and get to work on your Form 1040. The IRS recommends we file electronically, which will speed up processing of returns and issuance of any refunds. The tax agency also urges taxpayers to check out Free File, the no-cost online preparation and electronic filing web page for eligible taxpayers created by the IRS' partnership with the Free File Alliance. This year, seven tax software companies are participating.

    IRS Free File; click image for details

    The Free File income threshold this year remains at adjusted gross income (AGI) of $73,000 or less, regardless of your filing status.

    Small Business Tax Calendar: Important filing, deposit and record keeping dates throughout the year that your company needs to know. You can get more tax calendar information at the IRS' online calendar page and view the full year's important business and individual tax dates in IRS Pub. 509.

State Tax Help

  • Don't forget your state taxes!
    Forty-three states and D.C. collect personal income taxes. But even if you live in of the seven states without an income levy, you still face other state (and local) taxes.

    State Tax Departments provides links to your state's Web page. The companion page, Tax Tidbits, is the compilation of blurbs about each state's tax laws. And for more state tax news, check out all our state tax bloggings.

Tax Forms

  • Tax Forms
    Thanks to our increased use of tax preparers and computer software, many of us don't see our tax forms until we sign and file them. But knowing what's on these documents, either in paper or digital form, and why the IRS wants it is key to understanding our tax system. And knowledge definitely is power, especially when it comes to tax savings. Find this valuable information in the ol' blog's special Tax Forms 2023 page.

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  • Kay Bell helps you build
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  • Tax Reading Room

    You also might enjoy these other tax tips from some of my tax-writing colleagues:

  • JK Lasser 2023 Taxes
    JK Lasser 2023 taxes

  • Dealing With The IRS
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  • JK Lassers 1001 Deductions
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I gotta tell ya ...

  • AKA Disclaimer:
    I am a professional journalist who has been covering tax issues since 1999.
    I am not a professional tax preparer.
    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 is provided for your private, noncommercial, educational and informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation of any specific tax action(s) you should or should not take. Similarly, mentions of products or services are not endorsements. In other words, my ramblings on the ol' blog are free advice and you know what they say about getting what you pay for. That's why when it comes to filing your taxes, I urge you to get additional, professional, paid-for guidance from an accountant, Enrolled Agent or other qualified tax preparer who is familiar with your individual tax circumstances.

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COVID-19 & Taxes

  • COVID-19
    Coronavirus has wreaked havoc
    on the 2020 and 2021 tax seasons.
    These three Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
    March-July 2020,
    August-December 2020,
    January-December 2021, and
    January-December 2022
    You can find medical coronavirus resource links in the next section.

COVID-19 Resources

  • COVID-19
    Need help finding a coronavirus vaccine in the United States?
    Call 1-800-232-0233
    or TTY 1-888-720-7489.
    More information and resources at:
    CDC Vaccines
    CDC Booster Shots
    HHS Combat COVID
    USA.Gov COVID Info

March 2023

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31  

Tell it to the Hill

  • DMWT Politics Posts
  • While it's easy to rail at the IRS, for the most part we can thank — or blame — our tax laws on Congress and the White House. So if you have an issue with tax legislation or want a tax bill passed, you need to let your federal legislators and the White House occupant know of your concerns. You can find out who in Washington, D.C., to contact (and how), as well as get information on your local lawmakers for matters, tax or otherwise, closer to home, at USA Gov.

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