April 2022 Tax Tips

2022: The year where, once again, April 15 isn't Tax Day.

Ah, April. The month of showers, spring-like weather, and Tax Day.

But not, at least tax-wise, in 2022.

As happened last year, the April 15 tax return filing and tax due paying deadline has been moved. However, this year it's not because of the coronavirus pandemic.

2022's new Tax Day is is just a couple of days from the regular deadline. It's April 18 because of the plain old calendar and how the Internal Revenue Service deals with tax deadlines falling on weekends or federal holidays. The affected due dates get bumped to the next business day.

April 15 this year is on Friday, which also is the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C. Tax law says that when this mid-April commemoration of the freeing of slaves in the District of Columbia falls on Tax Day, the filing deadline gets moved to the next business day. So we set our tax sites on Monday, April 18.

In addition to more time to get our 1040 forms done (and 2021 tax year bills paid), we also get another couple of days to put money into and count it as 2021 contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs, health savings accounts (HSAs), Archer Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSAs), and Coverdell education savings accounts (Coverdell ESAs).

Unless we are taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts. April 18 is Patriots Day, a legal holiday in these two New England states. So those filers get until Tuesday, April 19, to complete their tax filing.

I know, it's one day into April and I'm already exhausted by tax technicalities.

The following tax tips, however, should help all of us get our taxes done by the slightly extended due date. So, once you're rested and ready, here goes!

Don't fall for these 10 tax myths — The intrawebz and social media have made April Fools' Day even more sketchy, so be careful out there today! And on this April 1st or any day of the year, don't be fooled by these persistent tax myths. (April 1, 2022
5 April tax filing moves — Welcome to April, the month of spring showers, MLB baseball (finally!), and Tax Day. Yep, the Internal Revenue Service has us taxpayers back on a mid-April schedule after two seasons of COVID Tax Day delays. Here are some April Tax Moves to consider as this year's April 18 deadline nears. (April 4, 2022)
Ways to pay your tax bill — If you owe taxes this filing season, the IRS offers plenty of ways to pay . Five are electronic. (April 5 2022)
Some IRS TACs open Saturday, April 9 — If you need to talk with an Internal Revenue Service rep in person about a tax matter, 40 of the agency's Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) in 24 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, will be open this Saturday, April 9. Find the one near you and just walk in, no appointment required. (April 7, 2022)
Ways to pay a surprisingly large tax bill — You finished your tax return, but discovered you owe Uncle Sam much more than you expected. Worse, you don't have the cash to cover your total tax bill. What now? Here are some ways to deal with a tax balance that's just too darn big to pay in one fell swoop. (April 9, 2022)

Picking the proper filing status — Most folks' filing status stays the same from tax year to tax year. But a change (or two, or more) in your personal situation could mean you need to revisit how you file your return. The Internal Revenue Service gives us 5 filing status choices. Pick the proper one. It could make a big difference in your tax bill. (April 10, 2022)

Yes, it's tax time déjà vu.

In this last week leading up to Tax Day 2022,
some of the following tax tips are repeats
of ones run in prior months.
I'm just trying to make things a bit easier
for all the frantic filers rushing to meet the April 18 deadline.

For all y'all taxpayers who got your taxes done on time,
smugness is allowed. Thanks, too, for your patience
with those of us who are still, and will be
for the next few months,
working on our tax year 2021 Form 1040s.

Tips for tax-filing newbies — Are your filing your first-ever tax return this year? Welcome to the 150-million-plus taxpaying club. These 8 tips for tax newbies could help make your initiation a bit easier. (April 11, 2022)
Maximizing itemized tax deductions — Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction when they file their tax returns. In some cases, though, itemizing makes for more tax savings. Here's how to maximize the expenses you can claim on Schedule A. (April 12, 2022)
Time running out to claim 2018 tax year refunds — If you didn't file a tax year 2018 return three years ago and missed out on a refund back then, you've got until this approaching April 18 Tax Day to get that old paperwork to the Internal Revenue Service. If you miss the deadline, Uncle Sam gets to keep your money. Also, check out how much unclaimed, potentially forfeited refund money is available in your state. (April 12, 2022)
Estimated tax deadline also April 18 — Don't forget about estimated taxes if you make money that isn't subject to withholding. The first 1040-ES payment for the 2022 tax year also is due on Tax Day, Monday, April 18. (April 13, 2022)
25 tax deductions without itemizing — Most taxpayers don't itemize, especially since tax law changes back in 2017 created much larger standard deduction amounts. But standard deduction filers, and itemizers, too, can claim some write-offs directly on Form 1040's Schedule 1. There are 25 possibilities, still referred to as above-the-line deductions, and they include popular write-offs such as educators' out-of-pocket expenses, contributions to IRAs, and a variety of self-employed breaks. (April 14, 2022)
10 last-minute tax filing tips — Are you still working on, or about to start, your 2021 tax return? Here are 10 last-minute tax filing tips that could help you complete the job by Tax Day on April 18. (April 14, 2022)
Form 4868 will get you more time to file — The April 18 tax filing deadline is just days away, but you need much more time than that to finish filling in your return. No worries. Instead, file Form 4868 to get six more months to finish your taxes. Just be sure to pay any tax you owe when you get your extension so that you won't face added penalties and interest charges. (April 15, 2022)
FBAR filing deadline also is April 18 — If you've gone financially global by adding international assets to your holdings, a key deadline is nearly here. You must file Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBAR, by Tax Day, which this year is April 18. Here are some FAQ about these filings. (April 16, 2022)
Extra day for NE taxpayers — If you live in Maine or Massachusetts, you get 24 more hours to file your 2021 tax return. While Tax Day this year is Monday, April 18, because of the Emancipation Day holiday, as noted in the intro to April's tax tips, it's also Patriots Day in those two New England (yes, NE stands for that, although northeast works, too) states. So those filers get until Tuesday, April 19, to file their returns. (April 16, 2022)
Disasters delay Tax Day for filers in 5 states & Puerto Rico — Most U.S. taxpayers (except those noted New Englanders in #13) must meet tomorrow's April 18 tax filing (and paying) deadline. However, some in 5 states and Puerto Rico have even longer. May 16 is the due date for some of the states' filers; June 15 is Tax Day for those living in the U.S. island territory. Jealous? Don't be. These taxpayers get more time because they live in areas hit by major disasters. (April 17, 2022)
Don't forget your state taxes — If you have to file a federal tax return, you probably have to file a state one, too. Most states follow the Internal Revenue Service lead in asking their residents to submit returns electronically. Most also offer free online state tax filing options. (April 17, 2022)
7 tips to get you through Tax Day 2022 — Tax Day 2022 is here. If you're ready to finish up your tax return filing, great. If you're not, here are some tips that could help. You'll also find some tax moves you might want to consider regardless of where you are on the filing spectrum this April 18th. (April 18, 2022)
Didn't file on April 18? Do this now! — So you missed Tax Day. It happens. Don't panic. But don't dawdle. Here are some post-filing tax moves to make as soon as possible. They will limit any penalty and interest charges that started accruing at 12:01 a.m. April 19. And if you didn't legally have to file, check out #5 for a good reason to do so as soon as possible anyway. (April 20, 2022)
Form 1040-X can help fix tax filing mistakes — No one wants to file more than one tax return, but sometimes mistakes on a 1040 mean a re-do is required. Your amended return is filed on Form 1040-X. Here are 7 tips to make that additional filing easier. (April 25, 2022)
5 post-filing tax tasks to take care of now — You sent the IRS your 1040 so you're done with taxes for this year, right? Not quite. Here are five other post-filing tax tasks you might want to make before you close the 2022 filing season book. (April 27, 2022)

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Looking for some more tax tips? Then click on the links below to see what was featured that month. One warning, though, in the months yet to come, which right now is May through December, you won't find any tips.

Instead, you'll be greeted by an animated nay-saying fellow making good use of one of my favorite Texas sayings. Tax info will replace that fun and folksy GIF as the months arrive.

January	July
February	August
March	September
April	October
May	November
June	December

Today's Tax Tip

Added summer income means more tax considerations — If you’re taking on added jobs this summer instead of taking a vacation, be aware of the tax implications. Students at their first paying job are encountering the Internal Revenue Service for the first time. And workers well past their school days but who are earning extra via summer gigs could face new self-employment tax challenges. (June 15, 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

☀️ Hello 🌞 June! ☀️
Your radiant face, bringing us the start of summer, is long overdue. We need your consistent warmth and a sunny attitude to fully recover from tax season, even one that didn’t throw us too many curveballs.

via GIPHY

And let’s be honest. We’re not really in the mood for summer tax tasks. But there are some that do need attention, especially if you got an extension to file back in April. Taking care of these tax matters now can make the coming 2026 filing season go smoothly. Even better, some tax moves can mean you’ll owe Uncle Sam less. So grab your sun visor, and let’s get to them!
June 1: Summer conjures dreams of lazy beach days. But for full-time coastal residents, June also brings the start of the annual Atlantic (and Gulf of Mexico) hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30. Federal forecasters once again are forecasting a more active than usual hurricane season. And while the tropical storm season heats up in August and September, 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.

Regardless of the count, it only takes one to wreak havoc. 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.

June 6: With school out, working parents need to make child care arrangements. Consider day camps. I know, many filled up earlier this year, but check out the options in your area. Not only do day camps offer some supervision of your kiddos while you're at the office, the activities' costs also count toward claiming the child and dependent care credit.

June 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 May 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.

June 14: Happy Flag Day! It's not a day-off-work federal holiday, but Flag Day has been an official day to celebrate the Star-Spangled Banner since 1949. If you need to buy a U.S. flag to fly today, you also might get a tax break. Several states exempt the national symbol from sales tax. Check with your state's tax department to see if you can save on your patriotic display.

June 15: Happy Father's Day!

Dad might not say so, but he appreciates being recognized, so take time today to let him know you care. And if your father is getting on up in years, take the time when you visit to make sure he doesn't need some added help from you. If you provide papa a little, or even a lot of assistance, there's a chance you could get some help from a couple of tax credits.

June 16: It's Tax Day again, this time for taxpayers living and working abroad. That includes military personnel posted outside the United States or Puerto Rico. This automatic filing delay until mid-June officially is on 6/15, but is a day later this year because the 15th was on Sunday.

Today, June 16, also is the one-day-later deadline for the second estimated tax payment for the 2025 tax year.

June 19: It's Juneteenth. This date marks when Texans finally received word that all slaves were free. And although it is our newest federal holiday, and is celebrated on June 19, not on a nearby Monday, it is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

June 20: At 10:42 p.m. Eastern Time it’s official. Summer is here, arriving on this longest day of the year.

It’s also a dangerous season for many who don’t have air conditioning. Many charitable groups help people cope with the heat. If you itemize, your gift to such IRS-qualified nonprofits this summer — or any day in any season in 2025 — could be tax deductible on the tax return you file next year.

June 30: If you got an extension to file back in April, 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 electroncally 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.

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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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

June 2025

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Photo by Hans Isaacson on Unsplash
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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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