Worth: All about finances in Austin Woman magazine

Worth: All about finances in
Austin Woman magazine

One of the first publications I picked up upon moving to Austin in 2005 was austinwoman. I was new to town, beginning my freelance life and the magazine appealed as a way to learn a bit about my new hometown, as well as serve as a potential job source.

I'm pleased to report that it has more than met both expectations. On the newcomer front, I've learned a lot about Austin and some of the city's many notable women. Professionally, I have been contributing to the magazine's monthly financial column, Worth, since its debut in June 2006.

In addition, I also get the chance to step off the money merry-go-round and write about other topics and interesting Austin and Central Texas women for austinwoman.

Here are PDF versions of the articles and columns I've written for austinwoman:

Worth columns

Making Business Travel Personal: Uncle Sam Can Help You Combine Business and Personal Trips, April 2011 -- You can enjoy a mini-vacation by tacking personal days onto a business trip and still deduct most of your business expenses.
Tax Moves to Make Now: The April Tax-Filing Deadline Is Approaching, March 2011 -- But you still have time to make some moves that could make the tax a little easier -- and less costly.
Becoming Financially Independent: Managing Money Poses Special Challenges for Women, February 2011 -- These 10 tips can help you get on the road to financial independence.
Budgeting: The Best Way to Meet Your New Year's Financial Goals, January 2011 -- If you always break your annual January 31st resolutions, you can keep your word this year, and beyond, by creating and sticking to a budget.
Philanthropic Kids: You're Never Too Young To Start Giving, November 2010 -- Parents, it's easy to channel your youngsters' compassion and good intentions into valuable charitable and money lessons.
Independent Appraisals: Knowing What Your Stuff is Worth, October 2010 -- You have a great collection of antique dishware, but do you really know what it's worth? An appraiser can help.
Cleaning Up Your Credit Score: Keeping a Top-Notch Credit Rating, September 2010 -- For better or worse, credit rules our lives. A good credit score is critical in ensuring we get the most out of it.
Coping With Credit Cards: Now Easier Under New Law, August 2010 -- We all have credit cards and sometimes we let them get away from us. A new consumer law, however, is helping us rein in our plastic.
Smoother Landings: Is Travel Insurance Worth It?, July 2010 -- When planning your much-needed vacation, take some time to consider whether travel insurance needs to be on your preparation itinerary. It could come in handy if your trip runs into trouble.
Homebuyer Homework: A Quick Lesson, June 2010 -- A little bit of pre-purchase study can ensure you get a good grand and a great house.
Retirement Planning by the Decade: Whether you plan to call it career quits next year or in 10, a retirement strategy is crucial, May 2010 -- Regardless of your age, there are steps you can take to ensure that your golden years truly shine.
Don't Cheat Yourself Out of Tax Savings: Last-minute tax moves, April 2010 -- April 15th is almost here, but there's still time to make sure you've taken every tax break possible. Here are five tax moves you may have missed.
Bring the Music Home: The advantages of setting up a personal stage, March 2010 -- Austin is the place for music. You can make the tunes even more personal by attending or even staging a house concert.
Personal Shoppers – A Good Buy: When help at the mall is worth it, February 2010 -- If you hate shopping, then a personal shopper could be your savior, both financially and emotionally.
Money Moves for the Young (and Young at Heart): Finances for every stage of your life, January 2010 -- We all know time is money, but the time of our life could also affect how we deal with our money. Here are some financial moves for the young – and young at heart!
Fabulous Festive Frugality: With a little creativity, you can fashion fine holiday cheer on the cheap, December 2009 -- Even if time and dollars are at a premium, you still can throw a party that pops everything but your budget.
It's Not Your Mother's Tupperware Party: Direct sales offer bright opportunities in a dim economy, November 2009 -- Direct sales, or network marketing as it's known today, offers promising career and financial opportunities that are especially appealing to women entrepreneurs.
Diamonds Can Be Your Best Friend: The perfect diamond is the dream of every woman, October 2009 -- But getting the precious stone you want can be intimidating ... unless you get the proper help.
Covering Your Bling (and Other Treasures): Do you own some unusual or expensive items? September 2009 -- Then you might want to make sure they're covered property via a rider to your homeowner's insurance policy.
Turning to a Tutor: Is your child having trouble making good grades? August 2009 -- A tutor may be the best lesson plan.
Why Risk it All? If someone depends on you financially, you probably need life insurance, July 2009 -- Too many of us, however, put off buying this critical policy. Not only are the choices confusing, but we tend to avoid dealing with such a tough subject. That's a bad move, for you and your family.
When Retirements Don't Coincide: He wants to retire, but you love your job. Or vice versa, June 2009 -- Either way, couples face a challenge of not only saving enough to one day quit work, but in deciding just when that "one day" will be.
E$tate planning: It's Not Just for the Wealthy, May 2009 -- Your estate might not be the biggest in Texas, but it's worth the world to you. Protect it and your heirs by putting a well-considered estate plan in place.
Don't Short-Change Your Business: Check out these tax tips, April 2009 -- Tax time is upon us, but there is still time to shave your company's IRS bill. Commonly overlooked tax deductions could add up to some nice tax savings.
Social Media: It's not Just for Kids, March 2009 -- Popular online ways to reach out to existing and potential customers could help your business survive, and even grow, in this tough economy.
Getting all the Credit You Deserve: Borrowing money is tougher in a tight economy, but it's not impossible, February 2009 -- Improve your chances of getting that loan, and at the best rate, by keeping an eye on your credit history and score.
Financial Resolutions to Make (& Keep!): Too often, New Year’s resolutions are wasted efforts. But some simple fiscal pledges can really pay off for years to come, January 2009 -- This year, don't let these good financial intentions fall by the wayside.
Financial Gifts That Pay Off: Be a savvy Santa this holiday season by throwing away your usual list. Instead, make your gifts the kind that keep on giving for years, December 2008 -- Better than a sweater, these presents are priceless, not pricey.
Telling Your Story by Yourself: Ease, economy and autonomy make self-publishing an appealing solution for writers who wish to stay in control of their work, November 2008 -- Sometimes the best move for an author is doing it all yourself.
Don't Move. Remodel!: Sometimes all it takes to get the prefect home is remodeling the house you already have, October 2008 -- These tried-and-true renovations can enhance your home's livability and value.
Top 10 Ways to Tackle Tough Times: Recession is in the air, but there are ways to cope, September 2008 -- Make these financial moves to survive an economic downturn.
Family + Business = Success & Happiness: Franchising as a family business, August 2008 -- One Austin Woman's business plan makes a worldwide company her family business in every respect of the word.
Medical travel could be good for your health: A trip abroad could Be the right Rx, July 2008 -- With U.S. medical costs continuing to rise, many patients are choosing medical tourism.
Coming up with college cash: The cost of college keeps going up, June 2008 -- Luckily for most students (and their parents) educational aid options abound.
Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting: Helping Latinas create strong financial futures, May 2008 -- Young women are getting a firm footing in the financial sector thanks to Austin's professional and student members of ALPFA.
Taking a Bite Out of Your Grocery Bill: Ways to save on food, April 2008 -- Food prices keep rising, but savvy shoppers can keep their food budgets under control.
Make Your Musical Career Perform: Meshing music and business, March 2008 -- Austin arts organizations offer local performers help turning talent into a profitable business.
Making a Pretty Penny: A simple regimen can maximize your investments, February 2008 -- Regular rebalancing of your portfolio can keep your finances looking good.
An Uncharted Road: Texas' New Franchise Tax, January 2008 -- State officials are working to map out directions for businesses encountering this levy for the first time.
Volunteering: Can the Tax Man Giveth, Too? December 2007 -- Spending time at your favorite charity certainly is good for the soul. And with just a little more effort, it could also pay off for you at tax time.
Giving (and Getting) With a Donor Advised Fund: Giving like high rollers, November 2007 -- These combo investment/philanthropic accounts offer the rest of us a way to donate like the rich.
FSAs: An Rx for Healthcare Costs, October 2007 -- Flexible spending accounts can be a tax-effective way to pay medical expenses.
Organization Can Really Pay Off: A place for everything and everything in its place, September 2007 -- Getting your living space in order can save not only room, but time and money, too.
Home Sweet Second Home: Making the vacation last, August 2007 -- A getaway home can offer recreational, as well as financial, benefits.
Raising Money-Smart Kids: Beyond the allowance, July 2007 -- Today's kids are probably the most money-conscious generation ever. Make sure your children know how to manage it well.
When Roles Rever$e: Taking care of aging parents, June 2007 -- With the graying of America, more Baby Boomers are finding it's their turn to provide help to their folks.
Plus, 7 Signs an Older Parent May Need Help.
Is an HSA the Right Rx? Pros and Cons of a Health Savings Account, May 2007 -- For some, a high-deductible health insurance policy and accompanying health savings account could be the right medical and financial prescription.
Breaking Out of the Cubicle: Starting Your Own Business, April 2007 -- Being your own boss has lots of advantages, but before you tell your boss goodbye, make sure you're ready for entrepreneurship's responsibilities.
Wedding Planners: Saving Dollars, Cents and Sanity, March 2007 -- In addition to saving your mental health, hiring a bridal consultant also could soothe your pocketbook.
Dealing with Divorce: Break-up Financial Basics, February 2007 -- Steps women can take to keep from becoming just another number on the deficit side of the divorce ledger.
Digging Out of December's Debt: Credit card overindulgence can produce a hefty holiday debt hangover, January 2007 -- Here are some surefire remedies.
Happy Holiday$: Give like Santa on Scrooge's budget, December 2006 -- By planning large during the holidays, you can spend small and still make your gift recipients happy.
Giving + Getting Back: How philanthropy pays, November 2006 -- Your contributions can provide a nice return, to both your favorite charity and your own finances at tax time,
Moving Through the Mortgage Maze: Mastering your largest financial transaction, October 2006 -- But with a little preparation, it doesn't have to be your most difficult one.
College Costs 101: A Short Course on Paying for Your Child's Education, September 2006 -- College costs keep going up but you don't need an advanced degree to find ways to save for it. Just check out these financing options.
Beauty on a Budget: You don't have to spend a fortune to look your best, August 2006 -- Simply approach your personal beauty treatments as investments in yourself and look for the biggest return on those investments.
Bright Buyer or Savvy Seller? What every home buyer and seller should know, July 2006 -- You can get a bargain when you buy, and the best price when you sell. These strategies will help, regardless of whether you're in a hot or cold real estate market.
His, Hers and Theirs: How couples manage their money, June 2006 -- Money is a contentious issue for many couples. Luckily, they have several financial options that can minimize a relationship's money problems.

Profiles

Pat Hayes: A lifelong leader, committed to community, July 2006 -- Pat Hayes came to Austin 22 years ago, not knowing a soul. Now, newly retired from the Seton Healthcare Network, she's an integral member of the community she helped build.
Mommy and Me: The women behind Austin's 24-hour music/entertainment network, October 2006 -- Constance Wodlinger and Jacqueline Renee, the mother-daughter team behind METV, are committed to making sure the musical revolution in the Live Music Capital of the World is televised.
Sara Pantin: Tackling finances, the Texan way, July 2007 -- This proud Texas native made her way back home to impart her independent attitude and financial savvy to family and clients of her financial services firm.

If you're in the Austin/Hill Country area, you can pick up your own copy of austinwoman at these locations.

A version of this page originally appeared as the Sept. 7, 2006, blog post Electronically thumbing through austinwoman.

Today's Tax Tip

What the one big tax bill could mean for you — It’s official. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is law, signed at a White House July 4th ceremony. Taxes are a major part of the nearly 1,000-page measure. Here’s a collection of articles on what the new tax (and more) law could mean for your tax planning and ultimate Internal Revenue Service bill. (July 5, 2025)
The 2025 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

Kay Bell — Native Texan
(the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.
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Tax Year 2025 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 27, the IRS said it expected more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed by April 15. When the month started, the agency was around 39 million short of that number. While many taxpayers no doubt got their 1040s in by Tax Day, million every year get an extension to file. That's fine.

In fact, the Internal Revenue Service appreciates some of us spreading out our tax submissions. It gives the agency time to process the surge of returns that arrive en masse on April 15.

But enough about Uncle Sam's tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y'all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Let's get started on meeting that new Oct. 15 deadline. It will be here before you know it.

The monthly tips and reminders a little further down this column can help you finish up your extended Form 1040. There also will be tax tidbits each month that make sure you meet other tax deadlines. And, of course, you'll find advice on ways to cut your 2025 tax bill.

The monthly tips and reminders a little further down this column can help you finish up your extended Form 1040. There also will be tax tidbits each month that make sure you meet other tax deadlines. And, of course, you'll find advice on ways to cut your 2025 tax bill.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

Welcome July!
🗽 USA 🎆 Birthday 🎉 Time! 🦅

This first full month of summer really knows how to get the season started: Fireworks across the country on July 4!
Or, if your neighborhood is annoyingly like mine, fireworks from July 1 through July whenever the pyrotechnics are all boomed!

Even more exciting, tax-related sparklers continue through the month. In fact, as the calendar of tax tasks below notes, they started before the wicks on any official Independence Day firecrackers were lit.

Click on the image for some fireworks safety tips and warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

I know, you're feeling like the youngster above, not quite ready yet to hear about taxes. But when you do take your hands off your ears to hear — or rather, scroll down to read — you’ll find some tax information to note and tax moves to make in July.
July 1: The majority of state individual and corporate income tax policy changes follow the calendar year and take effect each Jan. 1. But, notes the Tax Foundation, many sales and excise tax changes take effect today, July 1, which is the beginning of the fiscal year for all states except Alabama, Michigan, New York, and Texas. That’s why that notable tax changes will take effect in several states today.

July 4: Happy 249th Birthday, America!

Most of us will never be totally independent of taxes, but we can celebrate fewer tax hassles by paying attention to what we might owe and how we can reduce that amount throughout the year. As for that owed amount, if you meet most of your annual tax federal obligation via paycheck withholding, now is a good time to review that amount. If you need to adjust your withholding, the amounts will be less noticeable by being spread across 2025’s remaining six months.

July 10: If your job 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 all the tips you deserve for doing your job well. Remember, though, that those tips are taxable income.

Whether you're dining at your favorite eatery or getting food, groceries and/or prepared meals, 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 June 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.

July 11: Today kicks off the first of the annual summer state sales tax holidays. During these special shopping events, usually touted as back-to-school tax holidays, certain items are exempt from the states’ and usually the local sales taxes. Announced July sales tax holidays are (so far) in —
Mississippi from July 11 to 13;
Alabama from July 18 to 20;
New Mexico from July 25 to 27, and
Tennessee from July 25 to 27.

July 18: If back in April you got an extension to file your 2025 tax return, you don’t have to wait until the final Oct. 15 deadline to do so. You can get this tax task out of the way so you don’t have to think about it for the rest of the summer. You also might be able to file electronically at no cost if your adjusted gross income (AGI), regardless of your filing status, is $84,000 or less by using the official IRS.gov Free File website.

Eight software companies are part of this year’s IRS-Free File Alliance partnership option at IRS.gov. They will be available through the Oct. 15 extension deadline, but again, you don’t have to wait. And if your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Fillable Forms option.

July 24: Millions of us head to the beach to beat summer’s heat. But when the waters heat up, too, they can feed tropical systems. So far, the 2025 Atlantic (and Gulf of Mexico) hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30, hasn’t been that bad. But federal forecasters say just wait. They once again are forecasting a more active than usual hurricane season. Before another tropical system forms, now is the time to get ready.

Uncle Sam's official forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center say we could get 13 to 19 total named storms, which are those with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, meaning winds of 74 mph or higher. Three to five of the storms this season could become major hurricanes; that’s category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher.

The countdown clock above can help you keep track of how many more days you have to worry about tracking any size or type of tropical storms. You also might want to check out the ol' blog's Storm Warnings collection of special pages with posts offer tax advice on preparing for, recovering from and helping those who sustain damages from the many ways that that weather goes wild.

July 31: Summer is a great time to make home improvements. And there’s some added urgency this year if you’re relying on tax credits to help cover the cost of energy-efficient residential upgrades. Congress has targeted green energy tax breaks in its massive One Big Beautiful Bill. Many of the tax breaks will expire sooner than originally scheduled, so get your home improvements — and other environmentally friendly moves, like buying an electric vehicle — in under the tax law change wire.

Small Business Tax Calendar: If you run your own company, you know there are myriad important filing, deposit, and record keeping dates throughout the year that your company needs to meet. You also can track key business and individual tax deadlines in IRS Pub. 509.

State Tax Help

Don't forget your state taxes!
Forty-two states and D.C. collect personal income taxes. But even if you live in of the eight states without any 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 2025 page.

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The Truth
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Look for it on bookstore shelves
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Find out more about my book and excerpted chapters at the FT Press
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You can read more
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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
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A collection of Kay Bell stories
is included in
"The Gambler's Guide to Taxes:
How to Keep More
of What You Win"

Tax Reading Room
You also might enjoy these other tax tips from some of my tax-writing colleagues:
J.K. Lasser 2025 Taxes
Tax Savvy for Small Business 2025

Taxes, Accounting, and Bookkeeping
3-in-1 Bible 2025

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Kudos Et Cetera

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2012, 2014 & 2017
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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 interpretation and 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. While I work to ensure each post's accuracy, the items are not recommendations of any specific tax action(s) you should or should not take. Similarly, mentions of commercial tax products or services are not endorsements.

In other words, my ramblings on the ol' tax blog are free advice, and you know what they say about getting what you pay for. That's why when it is time for you to file your own taxes, I urge you to get additional, professional, paid-for guidance from an accountant, Enrolled Agent, or other reputable, qualified tax preparer who is familiar with your individual tax circumstances.

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COVID-19 & Taxes

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
…and, alas, into 2024
It is 2025 and, yes, it's still an issue
You can find medical coronavirus resource links in the next section.

COVID-19 Resources

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

July 2025

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Uncle Sam on vintage postcard.
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Tell it to the Hill

While it's easy to rail at the IRS, for the most part we can thank — or blame — Congress and the White House for our tax laws. 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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