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Don't Mess With Taxes

Translating taxes into money-saving English

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Tax Carnival Time!

While you can have too many taxes, you can never have enough information, or ways to access it, about taxes.

And so was born, on June 5, 2006, the Carnival of Taxes. And as you can see from our archives, we've been going strong ever since.

C'mon. Admit it. A tax carnival is a natural. By the time you finish filing your forms, you feel kind of queasy, like you just got off a Tilt-A-Whirl. Sometimes it's a full-blown nausea, reminiscent of too many hot dogs or cotton candy consumed as you strolled the carnival grounds.

And when it comes to taxes, we too often empty out our wallets, handing our money over to the IRS like the agency was one of the game operators lining the midway.

Carnival_duck_hunting_players_2 At a carnival, though, when you play one of the games, you at least have a chance to win a prize. The Carnival of Taxes aims to offer you the same opportunity.

But instead of handing out stuffed animals, this carnival will be distributing tax saving tips, tax planning strategies, commentary and humor (hey, carnivals are supposed to be fun!) from throughout the blogosphere.

Below you'll find some general information on and guidelines for the Tax Carnival. If you're a frequent participant in blog carnivals, most of this info probably will sound a bit familiar, but please give it a look before submitting an item.

What is a blog carnival? It's a community of like-minded bloggers who share their insights on a particular topic. In the financial area alone, you'll find many valuable blogs (several of them listed in my left nav bar). I hope these folks will see fit to send their tax-relevant offerings this way.

When is the Carnival of Taxes published? During tax season -- which I have deemed to begin in December when folks are making some frantic year-end tax moves and run through April -- we will post a Tax Carnival every other Monday.

During the off season, May through November, we will go to once a month.

This schedule, of course, is subject to change depending upon myriad variables, the most important being my workload! When an edition publication date is changed, I'll announce the change as a regular post in Don't Mess With Taxes.

In addition, you can check upcoming Tax Carnival dates in the "future hosts" tab at our Blog Carnival page. More on this page in a minute.

What will go in the Tax Carnival? Any and all items of tax interest. It will be a continuing compendium of tax-related postings, ranging from tax news updates to commentary on taxes (and the politics and politicos who create them) to tips to tax-filing and tax-saving strategies to paying, and paying less of, them.

What won't go in the Tax Carnival? While I want to have a pretty big carnival tent, I do ask that submissions be primarily tax-focused. For example, a thorough look at an investment strategy that then throws in the sentence "Of course, you'll owe taxes on the earnings." at the end won't cut it. How much of a tax bill? Can you reduce or avoid them (preferably legally)? If you don't want to address that tax aspect, then you won't make it into the Carnival of Taxes.

And while opinion pieces aren't expressly excluded, I do ask that you send reasoned ones and stick with facts that can be supported and rationally argued. We all have our personal and political perspectives on tax policy and those who create it, but this carnival isn't designed to be a rampant tax and/or politician slamfest. When someone or some tax deserves a tougher look, even castigation, we'll let you at them, as long as you show why such criticism is warranted.

Other content not deemed appropriate, either because of its content and/or presentation, also won't make it into the Carnival. Carnies, cyber and terrestrial, have a tough enough rep without adding questionable content into the mix. I consider myself a pretty easygoing sort and liberal in most senses of the word, but sometimes holds need to be barred. You know the standard: I can't tell you what won't make the cut, but I'll know it when I see it. And in that case, Carnival readers won't see it.

Who decides what goes in the Carnival? The host, who usually is moi. Some fellow tax bloggers have hosted past editions and I'm always open to guest hosts. So if you'd like to be Lord of the Tax Midway for one or several carnivals, just let me know.

What's the deadline for submissions? To make it into a Carnival, please submit your blog item by 11 p.m. host time (that's Central for me) the Saturday before the scheduled posting date. That will give me all day Sunday to sort through the many submissions and pull them into the carnival they deserve.

How many items may I submit? So that we get as much participation as possible but also keep the Carnival from getting out of control, please submit only one item per person and/or per carnival. When a blog has multiple members/contributors, exceptions can be made at the discretion of the carnival host (usually me). If I get more than one, I'll make the call as to which one gets in what particular carnival. If you submit an item, then find you have one later that is more timely, send the time-sensitive one and note that it needs to go sooner rather than later. I'll bump the evergreen item to a later carnival.

Where do I send my submissions? You can e-mail me at taxcarnival@gmail.com or via the Carnival of Taxes page.

Finally, there's one thing that can't be repeated enough: this is a Tax Carnival. Don't even think of trying to slip a nontax item past me. I will spot it and reject it and if you persist on such carnival spam, you will make my [fill in your expletive of choice] list. Once you get on that, I'll automatically delete your submission even if you finally get it through your head that I'm looking for tax posts only and send one my way.

I think that's all you ever wanted to know about Tax Carnivals but were afraid to ask … for now! These guidelines, publication schedule, etc., may be revised as necessary, or at my whim; it is, after all, my Tax Carnival!

For the complete and continuing list of Tax Carnivals, check out our Archives.

To see the dates of upcoming Tax Carnivals check the "future hosts" tab at our Blog Carnival page.

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions that I didn't address here, drop me a line at taxcarnival@gmail.com. The same goes if you just want to chat about taxes or are interested in hosting an edition.

Thanks for your interest in the Tax Carnival. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and getting your contributions to festivities where, to paraphrase Prince (and 007), we  party like its 1040, Form 1040!

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.

My Other Accounts

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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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  • You can read more
    of Kay's tax insights in ...


  • Kay Bell helps you build
    a solid tax foundation in
    "Personal Finance: An Encyclopedia
    of Modern Money Management"




    Kay Bell breaks down taxes and
    estate planning for millennials in
    "Future Millionaires' Guidebook"



    A collection of Kay Bell stories
    is included in
    "The Gambler's Guide to Taxes:
    How to Keep More
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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.

Kudos Et Cetera

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    2012, 2014 & 2017

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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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    is a registered trademark
    of S. Kay Bell.

    All content on this site is
    © 2005-2023 S. Kay Bell
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    SKB Editorial Services, LLC

  • And a bit of housekeeping.
  • Note 1: Some of the links on this site
    are affiliate links. That means that
    if you click through from
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    and then buy the product,
    I receive a commission.

    Note 2: Links to outside content
    might become inactive due to changes
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    If you discover dead links, please e-mail me the details. Thanks.

    Note 3: The banner art for the ol' blog
    is courtesy Pictures of Money
    via Flickr Creative Commons.
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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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