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Don't Mess With Taxes

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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

  • 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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  • Tax Reading Room

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

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I gotta tell ya ...

  • AKA Disclaimer:
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    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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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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