Oct. 1: OK, let’s cut to the October chase. The deadline for most procrastinators to file their extended 2023 tax year returns is just 15 days away. Whether you’re just starting on that Form 1040 (really?) or just need to add the finishing touches, check out the ol' blog's monthly tax tip links a bit higher up in this column. The January through April ones that focused on the main Tax Day deadline should be most helpful.
Most taxpayers file electronically, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Free File option is still available through Oct. 15 for taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less, regardless of your filing status.
One of the eight tax software companies participating this year should meet your no-cost filing needs. If your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Free Forms option.
Oct. 7: Halloween brings us all types of scary situations, but Mother Nature can be a true witch. She showed her dark side late last month as deadly and devastating Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend, and then barreled through the south. Even as rescue and recovery efforts continue for Helene, our eyes remain on the tropics. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30 and late-season storms are not uncommon. So, if you haven’t already, make your storm preparations.
We’re still far from the predicted number of tropical systems for the 2024 season. Uncle Sam's official forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center said we could get 17 to 25 total named storms, which are those with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes, meaning winds of 74 mph or higher. Four to seven becoming major hurricanes; that’s category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher.
Here’s hoping their storm predictions were too high. But regardless of the count, it only takes one to wreck your world. So, get ready for whatever dangerous weather that’s common where you live. If that is hurricanes, 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 special 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.
Oct. 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 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 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 September 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.
Oct. 14: Today is the federal Columbus Day holiday. Yes, that is what is still officially on the federal calendar. But many states, cities, and even the White House now also designate today as Indigenous People's Day.
If today is a holiday for you, it’s the perfect time to finish up your extended 2023 tax return. You must get the form to the IRS by tomorrow, or at least have the envelope postmarked 10/15 if you are snail mailing a paper tax return, or you’ll get hit with late-filing and, if you owe more than you paid when you got your extension, late-payment penalties and interest charges. So get to work! See the Oct. 7 info for some help here.
Oct. 15: It’s extension Tax Day!
File. Now!
Oct. 21: With your 2023 tax return finally done, it's time to work on reducing your 2024 tax bill. One way to do that is to reduce your taxable income, but in a way that’s to your benefit. Yes, I’m talking about contributing to your retirement plan(s), either your workplace 401(k) and/or a traditional or Roth IRA .
Oct. 28: Been seeing some frost on the pumpkins or whatever you grow in your yard? That’s a signal to get yourself and your home ready for the coming colder weather. The Inflation Relief Act includes extension of older and addition of new energy-related tax breaks, including some for residential energy improvements.
Oct. 31: Boo and Happy Halloween! No time for taxes today. Got to get your costume ready for tonight’s trick-or-treating with the kiddos, or if you’re on your own, for that theme party with a cauldron of some fitting potent potable! Whichever way you celebrate, have fun and stay safe!
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.
i never thought this could be possible, taxing cosmetic surgery operations!!!
Posted by: cosmetic surgery Sydney | Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Why pay extra tax for looking beautiful. It seems that law body is trying to loot people this is not good at all. If some one want's to look young and beautiful than why charge extra from them I just can't understand and this should never happen at all.
Posted by: dr usha rajagopal | Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 12:46 AM
I absolutely agree that just wanting a facelift does not ensure you are rich...have to check out other things also.It is a personal choice to spend ones money.
Posted by: Atlanta Plastic Surgeons | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 11:13 AM
That's crap. Lots of people having plastic surgery use carecredit to pay for it. They certainly aren't rich. That was just an all around bad idea. I'm glad it hasn't gone through....yet. But it could in the future. I think those lawmakers are just jealous that plastic surgery patients have the guts it takes to improve their looks and are determined enough to go under the knife to get what they want.
Posted by: CAPlastic Surgeon | Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Great article. I find it very frustrating how Washington feels it's okay to tax everything.
Posted by: Cosmetic Surgery Philadelphia | Tuesday, August 03, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Doctor's are already charged with taxes for their professions, consumers/people pay's taxes every payday, government shouldn't ask for taxes on this kind of matter.
Posted by: Cosmetic surgeon Los Angeles | Wednesday, June 02, 2010 at 11:41 PM
I agree, taxes should be equal to all. Not all surgery is for vanity purposes only, it is also used to improve confidence on oneself for work purposes. Cosmetic'>http://www.drcalvertmd.com">Cosmetic
Posted by: Cosmetic Surgery | Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 06:22 PM
That's it! being vain really is a pain in the pocket.
Posted by: Plastic Surgery Los Angeles | Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 04:29 PM
Keep up the great blogging!!!
San Antonio Dentist
Posted by: john | Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 01:58 AM
Clearly, the government will COST you money. And free markets will SAVE you money. Example. Professional Teeth Bleaching. You pay: 110% with the new tax. 50-75% in a free market economy, through available discounts. See http://dentalcool.blogspot.com/2009/11/cosmetic-teeth-whitening-dental-plan.html Your pick. Now of course, you don't want companies in bed with the government, that is just not free markets anymore.
Posted by: Katterine re: cosmetic dental plan vs TAX | Monday, November 23, 2009 at 01:23 PM
This has nothing to do with race or gender. this is a take over of the american people so the goverment can control our society. I find this crazy, insurance companies wont pay for the surgery, it is paid by the individual and with the assumption that the money they are useing is from working and has already been taxed to the hilt. this is all about goverment control. so whats next vacation tax??? If this goverment passes this who's next? If they would stop wasteing tax payers money and focus on our country we would be ok, but instead we go in and bomb the hell out of china, iraq etc then pay to rebuild them so our tax dollars go towards the destruction of other countries then the rebuild of those countries. plastic surgery tax, ha, I never thought I would be alive to hear this one and I am 39 yrs old. and I may want that option to have a surgery, just like 3 years ago I had lasik for my eyes and had to finance that if it would have had a tax I would have never been able to afford the procedure. soon they will have a telivision tax for anyone who has cable or dish. tax more on alcohol, tabaco. I think if we let this tax pass with out a fight soon they will tax medications! eating out, etc. for any of you whom believe this is ok, it's not, this is not about the luxury of changing ones appearance or improving it this is all about GOVERMENT CONTROL. what happened to the land of the free, we are all caged like animals with the satelite cameras etc. some of you mention taxing other things and events, NO. the Goverment needs to take a pay cut and fund the defecit, do you really think the house, senate etc worry about food, electric, gas, living expense. look at the payroll of our goverment. why should we the american people suffer any more, WHY SHOULD WE TRY TO CONSIDER SOME OTHER CRAZY TAX OVER THIS ONE. They take and take from us with empty promise and hope! look around yourselves we are not free, I know now in my life time I will be on this earth to see GOVERMENT LOCKDOWN. boarders closed, guidelines and new rules (laws) as well as curfews around the nation. we will have the rich and the poor as the poor will die off and the mass production of human kind will be limited. how much is a marraige license??? why not triple that fee, marraige this day and age is nothing because it is easy to do and easier to divorce. taxing couples for each child they produce, taxing the elderly for medications they need to survive so they wont be able to purchase it and they will die sooner saving the goverment from supporting them any longer. I disagree with all of this. I believe we should stand as one nation and do not allow the goverment to take over our personal lives. I know I will not go down with out fighting every tax they try to impose because of poor spending on the goverments part! I am proud to be an american but who ever is laying in bed at night dreaming up these crazy ways to raise money to save the goverment is insane! when is enough going to really be enough??? some may not agree with my view on this but I do, and it will boil down to a controlled society and if you dont blend well with it and conform then your gone! I'm going to go write a book now a best seller, I bet they will try to tax me on every letter I write. to anyone who reads my comment peace be with you and believe in yourself and what you believe is right and wrong.
Posted by: West | Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Really liked this post. I will have to bookmark this site to tell my friends.
Posted by: denver plastic surgery | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 11:18 AM
As far as I see it, when an industry does well, the government is just so eager to tax it. It only means more revenue to abuse.
Posted by: KL Karrington | Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 12:36 AM
It is unjust to single out one industry for higher taxes if that industry is not harmful to society. What harm does cosmetic medicine commit? What does it have to do with healthcare reform any more than the automobile or the computer industry? If they want to raise taxes do it across the board rather than scapegoating individuals.
Posted by: Alex | Saturday, August 01, 2009 at 02:37 AM
The medical aesthetics industry is under attack!
The US Government is pushing for 10% Plastic Surgery Tax on cosmetic procedures which are not deemed medically necessary.
This includes Botox, Liposuction, Rhinoplasty, Teeth Whitening, Face Lift, Tummy Tuck and more!
Your action is needed now! Help us stop the 10% Plastic Surgery Tax!
Sign the STOP Bo-Tax petition today!
http://www.stopbotax.org/
Posted by: Stop Botax | Friday, July 31, 2009 at 01:02 PM