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By the Numbers 2015

It's that time again. The passage of 365 days has delivered a spanking new year. Here's hoping your 2015 is a great one, tax and otherwise.

Numbers via 123BFAs has been the tradition here at the ol' blog for the last four years, it's also time to start the new collection of By the Numbers figures.

As with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012 , 2013 and 2014, a new figure -- ranging from percentages to dollar amounts to titles of tax legislation to raw numbers and more -- that has a tax connection will be featured.

I try to get the relevant figures up each weekend, but sometimes I'm early and sometimes I'm late.

But whenever a new number goes up, you can find the link to it here, with the newest posts topping the list and working back to the first one of the year.

  • 26
    Happy Boxing Day! If you donate to a charity on Dec. 26, or any day, check out your possible tax deduction (Dec. 26, 2015)
  • 43.6 million
    2015 was a record-setting year for MLB's sin luxury tax (Dec. 20, 2015)
  • $100,000
    Houston-based energy company gives every employee a $100,000 bonus & yes, the workplace reward is taxable (Dec. 11, 2015)
  • £2.5 million
    U.K. targeting adult entertainment tax evaders (Dec. 6, 2015)
  • $2,500
    Small businesses welcome post-Thanksgiving shoppers and IRS' increased $2,500 tax expensing threshold (Nov. 28, 2015)
  • 15 percent
    Is Alaska getting closer to enacting a state income tax? (Nov. 22, 2015)
  • 7
    7 former IRS commissioners chastise Congress for slashing the tax agency's budget, urge full funding (Nov. 14, 2015)
  • $6.8 million
    NFL to repay sporting event 'paid patriotism' tax money (Nov. 7, 2015)
  • $330,000,000
    Movie and TV production tax credits, trick or treat? (Oct. 31, 2015)
  • 897
    DoJ closes IRS-Tea Party probe, won't bring charges (Oct. 24, 2015)
  • $3,248,723,000,000
    Treasury takes in record $3.25 trillion in FY15 taxes (Oct. 17, 2015)
  • 77 percent 
    77% of corporations, partnerships e-file tax returns (Oct. 11, 2015)
  • $2,550 
    Time to make your flexible spending account choices (Oct. 3, 2015)
  • 2018
    Cadillac tax changes looking more likely (Sept. 26, 2015)
  • $520 million
    Georgia truckers sue to force fuel taxes be spent on roads (Sept. 19, 2015)
  • 40 percent
    Alabama proposes 40% tax on pornographic materials (Sept. 12, 2015)
  • 89.57 percent
    Donald Trump seeks 90% property tax cut on NY golf club (Sept. 5, 2015)
  • $10
    Treasury Secretaries are fans of 'Hamilton' musical (Aug. 29, 2015)
  • 9 percent
    Puerto Rico ramps up efforts to collect online travel taxes (Aug. 22, 2015)
  • 10.25 percent
    City and other local taxes add to overall sales tax takes (Aug. 15, 2015)
  • 1.8 million
    1.8 million must file 1040s ASAP to get ACA APTC benefits (Aug. 8, 2015)
  • 32,421
    FairTax petition fails to get White House meeting (Aug. 2, 2015)
  • $107,140 
    Star scientists prefer low-tax states (July 26, 2015)
  • 5 percent
    Early tax payment ends up costing company (July 19, 2015)
  • 89.5 percent
    Poor tax collection contributed to Greece's debt woes (July 12, 2015)
  • 2 percent
    Fireworks and taxes continue on America's 239th birthday (July 4, 2015)
  • $18.8 million
    IRS gave tax-owing companies contracts worth nearly $19 million (June 27, 2015)
  • 27
    Tax identity thief gets record 27-year prison term (June 20, 2015) 
  • $945,875
    U.K. pays a record amount for tax cheat tips (June 16, 2015)
  • 13 million
    H&R Block explores virtual tax preparation (June 7, 2015)
  • 15 percent
    Are we tax sheep? A U.K. collection effort says 'yes' (May 30, 2015)
  • $1.6 billion
    F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone fighting UK over $1.6 billion tax bill (May 24, 2015)
  • $7.5 million
    Alabama woman charged with $7.5 million tax identity theft (May 17, 2015)
  • 1,335
    U.S. on pace to lose record number of citizens to expatriation (May 9, 2015)
  • 5-2-15
    A big day for sports gamblers & those taking their bets (May 2, 2015)
  • 1
    Will Michigan voters raise the state sales tax to fix roads? (April 25, 2015)
  • $3.23 billion
    IRS files $3.2 billion tax lien against Texas man, his brother's estate (April 19, 2015)
  • 13
    Above-the-line deductions offer tax breaks without itemizing (April 11, 2015)
  • $1.25
    Cigarette tax hike seen as way to fill Alabama budget gap (April 5, 2015)
  • 4
    Some Final Four teams could suffer under seat tax proposal (March 29, 2015)
  • $25,000
    IRS refunds $25,000 in fines to Denver marijuana shop (March 22, 2015)
  • $835
    April 15, 2015, is deadline for unclaimed 2011 tax refunds (March 15, 2015)
  • 16
    Federal debt limit March 16 deadline showdown looms (March 8, 2015)
  • 0
    Jeb Bush reportedly won't sign no-tax pledge (March 2, 2015)
  • 8
    All of 2015's best picture Oscar nominees got tax break help (Feb. 22, 2015)
  • 38
    More same-sex married couples celebrating Valentine's Day (Feb. 14, 2015)
  • 12,000
    Get free, in-person tax help at VITA, TCE and military sites (Feb. 7, 2015)
  • 500
    Super Bowl XLIX prop bets are fun and taxable if you win (Feb. 1, 2015)
  • 28 percent
    Capital gains gain in income reporting, but tax hike unlikely (Jan. 25, 2015)
  • 48 percent
    Terrorism, not taxes, rank high on policy priorities survey (Jan. 18, 2015)
  • $405 million
    St. Louis says no added taxes for new NFL Rams stadium (Jan. 11, 2015)
  • 111
    Cigarettes are a bigger tax target than booze (Jan. 4, 2015)

Happy tax counting!

Today's Tax Tip

  • Bunch your itemized expenses — There's not a bunch of time left in 2023, but enough to look into bunching itemized tax-deductible expenses. This deduction strategy essentially means alternating each year between your standard or itemized deduction amount. To get a Schedule A total that's larger than your allowable standard deduction, you'll have to pull your itemized expenses into one tax year, or push them into the next, aka bunch them! It takes some planning, calculating, and guesstimating, but when it works, it maximizes all those itemized amounts (and receipts) that are too often lost because they're just not quite enough to claim. (Dec. 8, 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

  • It's the final
    2023 tax countdown!


    It's over! We cleared 2023's extended filing deadline, unless you get more time because your filing was affected by a major natural disaster, military service, or some other Internal Revenue Service recognized special situation. If that's you, be sure to check out all the ol' blog's earlier Tax Tips, listed by month just under the old-school No. 2 yellow pencil tip atop this column.

    For most of us, though, the passage of Oct. 16 means it's time to focus on the Form 1040 that we'll file next year. In most cases, we have until Dec. 31 to make moves that will reduce our still accruing 2023 tax bill.

    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 of in each of these final 2½ months of 2023.
    Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.


Time for Tax Tasks


  • monthly tax moves


  • Ho 🎅 Ho 🎅 Ho!
    December is here!

    You better watch out. You better not cry. But you better make some year-end tax moves this December or next April 15 could turn out to be the tax equivalent of Santa Claus putting coal in your stocking.

    Santa Claus is watching YOU!
    Click image to hear a musical Santa message from Bruce Springsteen.

    St. Nick can't deliver a festively wrapped, already prepared tax return for you (unless he's even more magical than I think!) to file next year, but he does have a tax connection. Santa's tracking of naughty and nice boys and girls basically is the same method that the Internal Revenue Service uses. That's why we all need to be nice, especially to ourselves, in this final month of the year by making some important tax-saving moves. Let's get to it!

  • Dec. 1: This last filing season was more-or-less back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic normal, but if your own personal filing circumstances remained a mess, it's time to act. Maybe you realized you need professional tax help. If so, now is the time to find a tax preparer who can help ensure your return filing next year goes more smoothly. You have lots of options.There's also a December bonus. If you hire a tax pro this month, you might get some year-end tax tips!

    Dec. 4: Are you taking on a variety of gig work to make some extra holiday cash? Those added jobs mean you're an independent contractor. And that means you're responsible for paying income taxes due on the money, as well as any self-employment tax. Now is the time to start gathering those records and tallying this taxable income so you're not surprised at filing time.

    Dec. 11: If your job, over the holidays or full-time, is as a server at a restaurant or at any other establishment where gratuities from customers are part of your compensation, I hope you get extra seasonal financial thanks this month for doing your job well. Remember, though, that those tips are taxable income

    restaurant check tip iStock
    Whether you're dining at your favorite eatery, or during the coronavirus pandemic discovered you really like 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 November 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.

    Dec. 15: Christmas is just 10 days away! If you're still shopping for gifts, you're probably searching for the perfect present online. But beware and be wary. Internet crooks also are logged on, looking to steal your money and identity, using many of the techniques they employ in tax scams. Any personal information they get now can be used at tax time to file a fake return in your name and claim a fraudulent refund. So be careful out there, now and next filing season, and, well, unfortunately all the time.

    Dec. 18: Many of us are trying to concentrate this final work week before Christmas. As far as taxes go, it's a good time to revisit your estimated tax situation, especially if you got some money from those previously mentioned gigs. Since these amounts typically aren't subject to withholding, you'll need account for the December earnings in your January 2024 final 1040-ES amount for 2023.
    Better to know that amount now, than on Jan. 16's due date.

    Dec. 22: It's Christmas Weekend! That means holiday treats, final decorations — or first, if you wait until the very end to get a tree — and frantic last-minute shopping! Rather than worry about how you'll get the perfect gift under the tree on time, consider instead some easy tax-favored gifts. Open a Roth IRA for your child or grandchild who earned some money this year. Or pay tuition for classes that will start in the first quarter of 2024 by Dec. 31. Those college costs then can be used to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

    Dec. 24: Christmas Eve!
    No taxes tonight. It's early to bed for kiddies of all ages. Santa's on his way!

    Santa Claus is on his way!
    Click image to watch
    Santa's delivery route as tracked by NORAD.


    Dec. 25: Merry Christmas! My gift to you is another day without tax thoughts.
    Just enjoy the holiday and your family and friends.

    Dec. 26: Happy Boxing Day. This unofficial holiday on St. Stephen's Day is celebrated by additional giving.
    If you donate to your favorite charity on this Boxing Day or any other day by Dec. 31, on your 2023 taxes you'll have to itemize your gifts on Schedule A to claim them. The option to claim a limited amount directly on your Form 1040 expired at the end of 2021. What didn't expire is the IRS' tax donation deduction rules.

    Dec. 31: This is it. The drop-dead deadline to make most 2022 tax moves. A quick and easy action today is to zero out your medical flexible spending account (FSA) by buying over-the-counter medications for which the funds can be used. This is especially important if your employer doesn't offer a grace period to use the money or let you roll it over into 2024. Without those alternatives, you'll lose any FSA funds you don't use.

    Done? Great! Make sure the champagne is chilling and settle in for your New Year's Eve party or a cozy night at home with your friends and loved ones. Either way, cheers and Auld Lang Syne as the ball drops at midnight.

    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
    Dealing With the IRS

  • JK Lassers 1001 Deductions
    JK Lasser 1001 Deductions
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  • Numbers
    Taxes are all about the numbers.
    Check out these (mostly) weekly
    By the Numbers figures.

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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 five Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
    March-July 2020
    August-December 2020
    January-December 2021
    January-December 2022
    …and so it continues into 2023
    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

December 2023

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2
3 4 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            

..................................................




  • Christmas presents phot by Isaac Martin on Unsplash
    Photo by Isaac Martin on Unsplash


  • .................................................................

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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