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!

Weekly Tax Tip

Tax breaks for military veterans — Much of our tax money goes to the military. Veterans Day, the 11th day of the 11th month, is set aside to officially remember and honor those armed forces members who sacrificed, sometimes ultimately, to protect us. But beyond this holiday, there are ways the tax code can help our service men and women, both those still on duty or having competed their obligations. (Nov. 8, 2019)
Check out all the latest post-Tax Day tax advice in the 2019 edition of Weekly Tax Tips. Many of these once-a-week tips will focus on planning moves to cut your 2020 tax bill. If, however, you're working on a filing extension for your 2018 return, you can get a refresher of the 2019 Filing Season Tax Tips at their respective monthly pages: January, February, March and April.

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 Year 2019 Countdown
It's over! The final 2018 tax year extended filing deadline has passed, unless you get more time because your filing was affected by a natural disaster like Tropical Storm Imelda. For most of us, though, the passage of Oct. 15 means it's time to focus on the tax return we'll file next year. We have until Dec. 31 this year to make moves that will reduce our already accruing 2019 tax bill. The countdown clock below will make sure you don't miss these crucial actions or any tax deadlines.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

Welcome November! We love your cooler weather, the family gatherings and all that good food (yay pumpkin pies!) and, of course, the extra hour we get thanks to falling back to Standard Time to work on cutting our tax bills.

Nov. 1: This 11th month starts with Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment, which runs through Dec. 15. Yes, the ACA, or Obamacare as it's still popularly known, is still here. You can enroll at HelathCare.gov or in some places at a state marketplace.

And while the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminated the federal individual mandate, the federal subsidy, aka the premium tax credit, to help pay for coverage remains in the tax code.

Nov. 3: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. today, as we fall back an hour to our local Standard Time.

Sure, you can spend the extra 60 minutes sleeping. Or you use the time to review and adjust your payroll withholding. The goal is to avoid owing a lot or getting a refund next filing season. A paycheck check-up is an especially good idea if you have a side hustle or other freelance earnings.

Nov. 11: Veterans Day is Nov. 11. That date marks the official, formal end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. It eventually evolved into a day to recognize veterans of all armed conflicts.

On this federal holiday, honor veterans however you feel is appropriate. If you're a business owner, consider hiring a veteran. Adding a new military-trained worker by year's end also might provide your firm a tax benefit thanks to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

Nov. 12: 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. This report usually is due on the 10th of each month, but that fell on Sunday and Monday was the Veterans' Day federal holiday, it is pushed to today, the next business day.

Nov. 18: Speaking of income, if you're looking for or have already landed a seasonal job to make a little extra holiday spending cash, pay attention to how you're paid. It makes a difference in your taxes. If you're an independent contractor instead of an employee, you're responsible for paying self-employment taxes, as well as the income taxes that are usually withheld from employees' paychecks. If you're unsure about your employment status, the Internal Revenue Service has some guidelines on when each work status applies.

Nov. 22: In many years, it's Thanksgiving week, but not in 2019. This annual celebration of gratefulness is next week. You can use this extra time to make things better for others. Consider giving to the many charities, both national and those in your own neighborhood, that help the less fortunate, from food banks to homeless shelters to funding educational programs in needier schools. As long as the group is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit, if you itemize you can claim your gift as a tax deduction on Schedule A.

Nov. 28: Happy Thanksgiving!

via GIPHY

Take a break from taxes for turkey, football and time with your family. If you also happen to have a little cash on some fantasy or, thanks to the Supreme Court, real games, remember that wagering wins on sporting events, like all bet payoffs, are taxable income.

Nov. 30: Finally! The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today.

The worst tropical damage came this year from Hurricane Dorian along the eastern seaboard and Tropical Storm Imelda in Texas.

While the countdown clock below is marking off the days left until the official end of the 2019 hurricane season, Mother Nature can throw many types of dangerous fits any time, anywhere.

So we can't let down our storm guards. You can find tips on getting ready, physically and financially, for all types of natural disasters, as well as tax help for recovery efforts and tax deductions for donations to those who are hit by such catastrophes at the ol' blog's Storm Warnings pages.

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.

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ...

Taxes are all about the numbers.
Check out these (mostly) weekly
By the Numbers figures.

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Mapping Your Tax Route

Do you get lost doing your taxes? Check out the Taxpayer Advocate Service's Taxpayer Roadmap.

This publication, designed along the lines of a subway map, shows the many routes and detours of a taxpayer's journey through our elaborate Internal Revenue Code and the Internal Revenue Service's enforcement of our tax collection system.

Kudos Et Cetera

National Association
for Women in Communications
Winner, Best Personal Blog
2012, 2014 & 2017
Plutus Financial Bloggers Awards
Celebrating the Best
in Personal Finance
Winner, Best Tax Blog
2011 & 2013

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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November 2019

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