By the Numbers 2013

Happy 2013 and welcome to this year's edition of By the Numbers.

As with the 2011 and 2012 numerical posts, each Sunday (most of the time!) will feature a new figure -- a percentage, dollar amount, piece of tax legislation, raw number and the like -- that has a tax connection.

If you miss one of the 2013 numbers, no worries. Links to each item are listed below, with the newest ones listed first.

$401,000
St. Louis Rams say they collected too much ticket sales tax (Dec. 29, 2013)
$27,393.17
True love's 12 Christmas gifts cost more in 2013 (Dec. 24, 2013)
$0.05
Tax deductible mileage rate drops by half-cent in 2014 (Dec. 15, 2013)
13,000
State tax refund debit card data exposed to hackers (Dec. 8, 2013)
80,000
French heroin dealer facing $108,000 (€80,000) tax bill (Nov. 30, 2013)
1.5
Oregon to test per-mile tax in place of gasoline tax (Nov. 27, 2013)
8
U.S. MexiCoke fans fear effect of Mexico's new soda tax (Nov. 17, 2013)
5,000
Military families among those affected by food stamp cuts (Nov. 11, 2013)
25 percent
Coloradans agree to a high tax to get high (Nov. 6, 2013)
319
Almost 700 IRS contractors owe $5.4 million in back taxes (Oct. 27, 2013)
29
Budget conference committee members named (Oct. 20, 2013)
4
4 Oct. 15 filing deadlines: 1 filing, 3 retirement related (Oct. 13, 2013)
20
Federal gasoline tax celebrates 20 years without an increase (Oct. 6, 2013)
15
IRS lays out plan to deal with federal government shutdown (Sept. 30, 2013)
7
7 Internet sales tax principles set for House consideration (Sept. 22, 2013)
$284 billion
Uncle Sam collects $284 billion more in taxes so far in 2013 (Sept. 15, 2013)
43%
More Americans are paying federal income taxes (Sept. 8, 2013)
12
Amazon now collects sales taxes in 12 states thanks to Georgia and Virginia levies that took effect Sept. 1 (Sept. 1, 2013)
30 million
Spaniards hot under the collar after government taxes the sun (Aug. 26, 2013)
17
Employers in 17 states could face higher unemployment taxes (Aug. 18, 2013)
$20
Lucrative loos' change leads to toilet tips tax evasion charges (Aug. 12, 2013)
078-05-1120
Tax-related identity theft: Its growth and IRS efforts to stop it (Aug. 4, 2013)
$19.2 billion
Farm bill subsidies feed America's junk food appetite (July 28, 2013)
94
The U.S. tax code is not very attractive (July 21, 2013)
73,954
The ever-growing tax code, or why we talk about tax reform (July 14, 2013)
1
Did IRS troubles play a role in delay of Obamacare tax penalty? (July 7, 2013)
6
Tax auditors' sixth sense helps them nab tax evaders (July 1, 2013)
3
Rethinking retirement as traditional 3-legged stool wobbles (June 24, 2013)
8
Global leaders to tackle tax evasion at G8 summit (June 17, 2013)
179
Supreme Court gay marriage ruling will affect 179 federal tax laws (June 10, 2013)
35
California's landmark tax-cutting Proposition 13 turns 35 (June 6, 2013)
56.5
Watching races, thinking about deducting business miles (May 26, 2013)
$92,724,192
There's a new Powerball multimillionaire. Winner, IRS rejoice (May 19, 2013)
2.7
IRS reports gains in criminal tax, other financial investigations (May 12, 2013)
5
5 tax tips for Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2013)
25
Did you get your $25 gift card from H&R Block yet? (April 28, 2013)
20
World governments mounting global effort against tax evasion (April 21, 2013)
5
Some federal and state tax filing deadlines still to come (April 16, 2013)
$2,790
Tax returns, refunds running behind last year's levels (April 9, 2013)
40%
Supreme Court to consider tax dodge penalty case (April 2, 2013)
75
Online sales tax a step closer with Senate budget amendment (March 26, 2013)
3
New Jersey taxpayers could face three-month wait for refunds (March 17, 2013)
$3,500,000,000
Federal workers owe $3.5 billion in back taxes (March 10, 2013)
$100
Taxing environmentally conscious drivers (March 4, 2013)
$1.51 billion
And the film tax credit goes to ... (Feb. 24, 2013)
77 percent
Fewer expected to pay IRS with credit cards this year (Feb. 19, 2013)
$161,392
Man gets $161,392 erroneous tax refund (Feb. 11, 2013)
100
Happy 100th birthday federal income tax (Feb. 4, 2013)
$246
What do you pay for professional tax preparation and filing help? (Jan. 28, 2013)
$4.35
Is New York's high cigarette tax rate why the Empire State tops the smuggler list? (Jan. 20, 2013)
$850,000,000,000,000,000
White House says no to Death Star (Jan. 13, 2013)
13
Congressional triskaidekaphobia (Jan. 6, 2013)

Happy tax counting!

Today's Tax Tip

Take a pre-disaster inventory — Disasters strike year-round and all across the country. Just ask Texans who were hit in Feb. 11, 2021, with a freakishly cold winter storm. The best thing we can do is prepare. Part of that is taking a pre-disaster inventory of your household goods. It will help you with your insurance claims and, if the catastrophe is declared a major disaster major disaster, claim your losses as a tax deduction. (Feb. 24, 2021)
The 2021 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. While we're waiting for the 2021 calendar pages to flip and fill up with timely tax tidbits, check out 2020 (and earlier) tax years' advice.

COVID-19 & Taxes

Coronavirus has wreaked havoc
on the 2020 tax season.
These three Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
March-July 2020,
August-December 2020, and
January-… 2021

All About Kay

OK, some about Kay

Kay Bell — Native Texan (the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.

My Other Accounts

Tick ... Tick ... Tick

Tax Season 2021 is here!
Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2020 tax return? Me neither. With all the delays last year due to COVID-19, it seems like that prior tax season just finished. But time and taxes wait for no taxpayer. The Internal Revenue Service, which started 2021 by delivering more coronavirus economic relief payments, says it will be ready for our returns. So let's get prepared, too. The monthly tips and reminders a little further down this column should help us focus on our taxes and make the filing of them by go more smoothly. Also keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It will help us keep track of how much time we have until Tax Day on April 15, just in case some of us want to put things off until the final hours. .
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

Welcome March!
It's the last full month
of high tax-filing season.

How did this happen so quickly?!?
Back in simpler tax times, all we had to worry about was whether to attack our tax returns like a lion.

Now, however, health concerns have complicated things. The persistent COVID-19 pandemic and associated precautions are making lambs of many filers. That's OK. Health and safety always rank ahead of taxes. When you are ready to get to work on your taxes, regardless of your March tax animal persona, these tips are aimed to help you cope with your tax obligations under these new and sometimes frightening times.

March 1: The easiest first tax-filing step is to gather all the tax statements you'll need to fill out your 2020 return. Even with slow snail mail delivery, you should have most by now. Also check your email box for notifications that tax documents can be downloaded from your employer's or other statement issuers' websites.

March 4: 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. 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 8: Tax reform enacted in 2017 greatly increased the standard deduction amount. That's meant that even more taxpayers use these set amounts when they file. But maybe last year you had large medical expenses that could mean you'd be better off itemizing. The standard deduction amounts are shown directly on Form 1040. But before you take that easy deduction route, examine the issues that will help you determine whether it's better to claim the standard deduction or itemize.

March 10: Coronavirus vaccines are rolling out, albeit slowly, and some pandemic precautions are being lifted. That means some restaurants are opening for a limited number of diners. Other eateries are continuing with curbside pickup meals and deliveries. Whether you're able to enjoy table service or still relying on food brought to your house, remember to tip your server or delivery person.

If a tip isn't included in your food delivery charge, click the image above to calculate how much to tip the person who brought it to you.

As for servers who are still on the job, remember that your tips are taxable income. If you at least $20 in job-related gratuities in January, you need to account for them today by using Form 4070 to report your tips today to your employer.

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 schedules) and S corporations (Form 1120S).

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!

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. Even better, for 2020 and 2021 tax year filings, you don't have to itemize to get some tax benefit from your generosity. A new COVID-19 inspired charitable deduction law allows cash donations up to $300 to be claimed directly on your 2020 Form 1040. Next year, the no-itemizing-needed deduction is $300 for single taxpayers and $600 for married couples filing jointly.

March 23: Last year, the COVID-19 toll on investments prompted lawmakers to waive required minimum distributions (RMDs). They are back for 2021 and although the RMD trigger age now is 72 instead of 70½, the withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts still are due on April 1. No fooling. Note, too, that if you were taking RMDs before the law change, the return of the RMD deadline still applies even if you haven't yet turned 72.

March 27: With a few March days to spare, you're ready to finish your filing. The IRS recommends you use tax software and e-file your return. That will speed up the processing of your 1040 and, if you're due a refund, get the money on its way to you sooner. The IRS also suggests you use Free File, the online no-cost tax preparation and e-filing partnership between the IRS and Free File Alliance.

The official Free File site at IRS.gov has been accepting returns since Jan. 15. You can use one of this year's nine participating tax software options if your adjusted gross income is $72,000 or less, regardless of filing status.

March 31: Wow! March is over? Time really does fly when you're having tax fun. Or even if it's not so much fun. If you need filing help but can't afford to hire a tax professional, look into Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) options. These sites across the nation are staffed by IRS-trained volunteers who can help low-to-middle-income and older taxpayers prepare and e-file their returns for free.

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

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 Fiesta! page.

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Taxes are all about the numbers.
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Kudos Et Cetera

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2012, 2014 & 2017
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Celebrating the Best
in Personal Finance
Winner, Best Tax Blog
2011 and 2013
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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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March 2021

Tell it to the Hill

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, use the federal legislator locator above to find just who on Capitol Hill should hear your concerns. And for matters tax or otherwise closer to home, you can find info on your state and local elected officials at USA Gov.

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