Don't Mess With Taxes

We've only got five days left in 2017 and just three business days. That means that if you're making any tax moves, you'd best get on the stick!

You also need to look at how your 2017 year-end tax actions might be affected by the new tax laws that take effect on Jan. 1, 2018.

I've been writing about the latest tax changes for months now. You could find those stories by simply looking at the ol' blog's archives and checking out all the posts tagged as "tax reform" (even though this latest bill is really more tax cuts than reform).

But since Congress has been trying to accomplish tax reform every one of the 12 years I've been blogging (and before that, too!), that's a lot of copy. 

Or, you can simply check the links below.

Note: As new posts about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changes are added to the ol' blog, I'll put those links in this post. That's why you'll see dates below that are after this item was originally posted.

That's right. So that you don't have to surf through the entire ol' blog — although that's quite alright by me if that's what you really want to do — you can check these posts, listed chronologically, to see how Public Law 115-97, which became H.R. 1's name when Donald Trump signed it on Dec. 22, might impact your tax life:

Home equity tax deduction loss complicates a popular way to pay for college (Jan. 13, 2018)

New IRS withholding tables reflect lower tax rates, but Treasury says most people still will get refunds next year (Jan. 11, 2018)

Beer, wine and liquor get savings under new tax law (Dec. 31, 2017)

Your current W-4 will work with new tax law (for now) (Dec. 28, 2017)

7 tax moves to make now in light of 2018's new tax laws (Dec. 26, 2017)

It's official! Trump signs GOP tax rewrite into law (Dec. 22, 2017)

Tax code rewrite done, so Congress turns to expired tax laws (Dec. 21, 2017)

You may, or may not, see the new tax law's changes in your February paycheck (Dec. 20, 2017)

Calculators provide an idea of tax bills under GOP plan (Dec. 19, 2017)

How taxes on pass-through businesses would work under the GOP tax plan (Dec. 18, 2017)

More (oh joy!) GOP tax bill proposed changes (Dec. 17, 2017)

Highlights of the GOP tax bill that's about to become law (Dec. 16, 2017)

Tax bill's $10,000 deduction cap to include state and local income and sales taxes, too (Dec. 14, 2017)

Tax reform will lead to tax law abuse. Duh! (Dec. 13, 2017)

States warily watching federal tax reform (Dec. 12, 2017)

Casualty loss tax deduction elimination fires up some California lawmakers (Dec. 8, 2017)

Tax reform conferees named. Let the tax mixing begin! (Dec. 7, 2017)

Sexual harassment settlement tax deduction eliminated in tax reform bills (Dec. 6, 2017)

Loss of exemptions could cost some taxpayers (Dec. 5, 2017)

Tax reform's $10K property tax deduction is worthless (Dec. 4, 2017)

The tax writing's on the bill, some of it possibly from more than 6,200 lobbyists (Dec. 3, 2017)

8 differences to be reconciled in House & Senate tax bills (Dec. 2, 2017)

10 tax moves to make by Dec. 31 — and before Congress changes the tax laws (Dec. 1, 2017)

Black Friday shopping for tax breaks … for the final time? (Nov. 24, 2017)

Obamacare provision muddies Senate tax plan chances (Nov. 16, 2017)

Lawmaker goes to bat for Texas Rangers' ballpark tax break (Nov. 15, 2017)

Pass-through taxation, part 2: The Senate tax reform bill (Nov. 13, 2017)

GOP tax plans would rub SALT in some Red State tax wounds (Nov. 12, 2017)

The great tax reform plan duel of 2017 is on! (Nov. 10, 2017)

Filing season 2018 starts … IRS not sure yet (Nov. 6, 2017)

Tax reform could cost charities $13 billion a year (Nov. 5, 2017)

Pass-through problems in the GOP tax reform bill (Nov. 4, 2017)

Which bracket will you be in under the GOP tax reform plan? (Nov. 3, 2017)

How the GOP tax reform plan could affect you (and me!) (Nov. 2, 2017)

Getting personal with the GOP tax reform proposal (Sept. 28, 2017)

Expect tax reform fight to keep state and local deductions (Sept. 26, 2017)

Thanks for reading. And stay tuned.

As noted earlier, this link list will grow as P.L. 115-97, formerly and unofficially known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, takes effect and we start to see questions arise about the hurriedly created law's ambiguities (check out the comments on the pass-through posts!) and unintended consequences.