Don't Mess With Taxes

Filing season 2013 is here, sort of. And while no tax season is easy, this year's has its own special complications that I examined last week at my other tax blog.

Since Congress waited until Jan. 1, 2013, to approve a variety of tax laws that apply to the 2012 tax year, it was no big surprise that there would be a slight delay in filing federal tax returns.

The question then became just when would taxpayers, especially those who are depending on refunds, be able to submit their 1040s? The IRS' answer: It would start accepting 2012 tax returns on Jan. 30.

Of course, when folks finally get around to filling out their taxes they have to deal with a perennial problem. The tax code is just too dang complex.

That's not just taxpayers complaining. Tax code complexity was the number one taxpayer problem (again) in the National Taxpayer Advocate's 2012 annual report to Congress.

You can check out what's on my mind over at the Bankrate Taxes Blog, usually each Tuesday and Thursday.

But if you happen to miss them there, you can find a wrap-up here the following weekend. 

You also might find these items of interest:

• IRS will begin accepting 2012 tax returns on Jan. 30
• Top taxpayer problem? Continuing tax code complexity
• Remaining taxpayer problems in 2012