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By the Numbers 2018

The new tax year started off with a bang. We finally got, regardless of whether we wanted it, some major changes to the tax code.

Numbers via 123BFNow comes the fun part, deciphering all the changes, determining what impact they'll have on our taxes and figuring out what we can do to ease any adverse effects.

That's going to take a while, especially since we still have to file our 2017 tax returns using, for the most part, the old tax laws.

All this means that we're going to be awash in lots and lots of tax-related numbers.

The good thing about all these figures, though, is that they provide plenty of fodder for the 2018 version of By the Numbers.

This is the eighth year 2017 for this numerical tradition here at the ol' blog.

And in keeping with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, I'll select a new figure.

The figures will range from tax rate percentages to dollar amounts to titles of tax legislation to raw numbers and much, much more. Basically, I'll choose any and every thing that has even a remote tax connection to be featured.

Again as in past years, I'll try to get the relevant figures up each weekend. But sometimes stuff happens, meaning the number goes up early or, more usually, late.

Regardless of the timing, you can always find a link to the new number on the ol' blog's home page under the multicolored numbers box (pictured on this page, too!), as well as on this special page. The newest post each week will go at the top of the list.

So welcome 2018. Let's get to counting!

  • W-4
    IRS issues new W-4 for 2019 tax year withholding (Dec. 30, 2018)
  • 800,000
    Tax and financial lessons from the government shutdown (Dec. 23, 2018)
  • 200,000
    Tesla buyers' tax break will be reduced in 2019 — if the federal tax credit is continued (Dec. 16, 2018)
  • 10
    10 unusual but allowable FSA expenditures (Dec. 9, 2018)
  • 1,660
    IRS opens an Instagram account (Dec. 2, 2018)
  • 92 percent
    IRS warns of email tax transcript scam containing malware (Nov. 25, 2018)
  • 2019
    2019 income tax rates and brackets adjusted for inflation (Nov. 15, 2018)
  • Nov. 11
    Remembering, on 11-11 and always, our veterans' sacrifices (Nov. 11, 2018)
  • 1 hour
    Celebrating standard tax deductions as we turn our clocks back to Standard Time (Nov. 4, 2018)
  • 11 percent
    Tax cuts + Trump ≠ midterm positives for GOP (Oct. 28, 2018)
  • 10 
    States that are tax lucky for lottery winners
    (Oct. 21, 2018)
  • 3
    Some Hurricane Florence and Michael taxpayers get more time to file Oct. 15 tax extensions (Oct. 14, 2018)
  • 16
    Few reports of private tax debt collection abuses, but IRS watchdog suggests improved oversight (Oct. 7, 2018)
  • 6
    Delusional tax protester deemed competent to face tax evasion sentencing (Sept. 30, 2018)
  • Sept. 28
    Hiding taxable money offshore? You've got until Sept. 28 to come clean via IRS' 'amnesty' program (Sept. 23, 2018)
  • 64-33
    Charles Rettig is approved as new IRS Commissioner (Sept. 16, 2018)
  • 44.4 percent
    GOP law means 75 million won't owe any 2018 income tax (Sept. 9, 2018)
  • 700
    Taxpayer Advocate argues for revised tax-related passport revocation process (Sept. 2, 2018)
  • 1 
    China considers tax break to encourage larger families (Aug. 26, 2018) 
  • Proposition 13
    California's property tax limits benefit real estate heirs (Aug. 19, 2018) 
  • $1,598,798,442
    Amazon's total tax breaks so far are nearly $1.6 billion (Aug. 12, 2018)
  • 8 
    8 cool tax moves to make during summer's last blast (Aug. 5, 2018)
  • 4.1 percent
    4.1% GDP is tied to tax cuts and tariffs (July 29, 2018)
  • $1,750 and $2,400 and $3,200
    Some combat-injured vets due tax refunds topping $3,000 (July 22, 2018) 
  • 5
    National Ice Cream Day is even better in the 5 states without a sales tax (July 15, 2018) 
  • 89 percent 
    Paying taxes is patriotic, say poll respondents (July 6, 2018)
  • 50 percent
    IRS commissioner nominee finally appears before Senate panel, but Trump property questions remain (July 1, 2018)
  • 34 percent
    Public support of GOP's new tax law has slipped (June 24, 2018)
  • 72 million
    5 tax tips for dads on Father's Day 2018 (June 17, 2018) 
  • 0.49 percent
    Auto tariffs could cost low-income earners tax cut money (June 10, 2018)
  • $1 billion 
    SCOTUS to decide billions in e-sales tax collections (June 3, 2018)
  • 40 percent
    Beer excise taxes across the United States (May 27, 2018) 
  • 41.7 cents
    California gas tax is target of ballot measure repeal effort (May 20, 2018)
  • 43.5 million
    3 Mother's Day tax gifts (May 11, 2018)
  • Line 20 Schedule A
    No federal tax help for Volcano Kilauea damage…yet (May 06, 2018) 
  • May 4
    W&M members demand IRS explain Tax Day system failure (April 29, 2018)
  • April 19
    How did you celebrate Tax Freedom Day on April 19 (April 21, 2018)
  • 17
    17 last-minute tax filing tips (April 15, 2018)
  • 40 percent
    Cardi B speaks, colorfully, for all of us about taxes (April 8, 2018)
  • 52 percent
    GOP tax cuts aren't showing up yet in most paychecks (March 31, 2018)
  • $1.3 trillion
    A look at some tax provisions in the FY18 spending bill (March 24, 2018)
  • 31 
    SCOTUS' online sales tax ruling might not be the final word (March 18, 2018) 
  • 1 hour
    DST and tax-deductible donations can help save wildlife (March 11, 2018) 
  • 20 percent
    Oscars' box-office bump helps increase tax revenue, too (March 4, 2018)
  • $29 billion 
    Buffett's Berkshire gets $29 billion boost from GOP tax bill (Feb. 25, 2018)
  • 10
    Know, and make sure IRS follows, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (Feb. 17, 2018)
  • 2,200
    IRS criminal agents had another good year (Feb. 11, 2018)
  • $207.16
    Hungry for some football watching food? Your Super Bowl party budget better include party snack taxes (Feb. 3, 2018)
  • Article 37
    Former Patriots QB could be big Super Bowl LII tax winner (Jan. 28, 2018)
  • $51,001
    Shutdown won't halt passports, but big IRS bill could (Jan. 21, 2018)
  • $7.4 million
    Pharma Bro's Nazi code breaking Enigma machine auctioned to pay New York tax bill
     (Jan. 14, 2018)
  • $211 million
    Mega Millions winner gets tax lucky, but professional gamblers lose a bit under new tax law (Jan. 6, 2018)

 

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Today's Tax Tip

  • Tax-saving HSA contribution limits go up in 2026 — The amounts that health savings account (HSA) owners can put into this tax-advantaged medical plan is going up next year. The increase is part of the IRS’ adjustment this week of the 2026 limits for HSAs, associated high deductible health plans (HDHPs), and the lesser-used health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). (May 2, 2025)


  • Tax Tip; click pencil for all tax tip links

  • 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
    Open sign
    Kay Bell — Native Texan
    (the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.
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My Other Accounts

Tick ... Tick ... Tick

  • 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


  • monthly tax moves


  • 💐 May 💐 is 💐 here! 💐

    You've got to love a month that starts with a celebration, at least globally. But even though May Day isn’t an official or very big deal here in the United States, there still are lots of other May celebrations. Cinco de Mayo. Mother’s Day. Memorial Day.

    May Pole Dance via GIPHY


    In between, we can celebrate the arrival of the month that, for most taxpayers, means the main 2025 tax task of filing our returns is behind us. Now it’s on to shower-fed flowers, balmy days, and additional tax moves to take care of so that the rest of the year goes smoothly. Let the May tax merriment begin!


  • May 1: It’s not such a merry day for some taxpayers. Not only did the residents of eight states have to earlier deal with a major natural disaster, their Tax Day that was delayed because of those damages is today, May Day, no doubt prompting a mayday call from some affected filers.

    May 2: The rest of us made it through last month, the one that is home to the annual U.S. filing deadline. Did Tax Day mean you got or are expecting a big refund from that filing? Or did you end up owing Uncle Sam a lot? Either way, with your most recent taxes fresh in your mind, it's a good time for a paycheck checkup to determine whether you should adjust your payroll income tax withholding.

    May 5: ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Fiestas are always en vogue in Tejas, but the epitome of them is this Mexican holiday.

    Feliz Cinco de Mayo

    No, it is NOT Mexican Independence Day, and May 5 tends to spur more festivities here north of the border, especially when it comes to imbibing margaritas, the Lone Star State's unofficial cocktail. With every Cinco toast, remember that the cost of state and federal alcohol taxes are included in the mixing.

    May 11: Happy Mother's Day!

    Happy Mother's Day

    Your mom meant it when you were young and she told you she didn’t need a gift today. But she definitely will appreciate a longer-than-usual hug on her special day. Love, flowers, and the best of health and happiness to every mother, from the new ones just discovering the joys, tax and otherwise, of new parenthood to those gracefully maneuvering their Golden Years and getting some year-round tax-advantaged help from their families.

    May 12: 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.

    restaurant check tip iStock
    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.

    And if you got at least $20 in gratuities in April 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, a bit late since the normal 10th of the month deadline fell in May on Saturday. Use Form 4070 to let your employer know the total tips you took in last month.

    May 19: Millions of taxpayers got an extension to file, or automatically got a later Tax Day due to a major disaster declaration. These individuals can still file electronically, which the IRS recommends. E-filing will speed up processing of returns whenever they are filed, as well as help Uncle Sam get refunds out more quickly. And yes, some late filers are due refunds.

    The IRS-Free File Alliance partnership offers no-cost online tax preparation and electronic filing to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $84,000 or less, regardless of filing status at the official IRS.gov Free File website.

    Even better for eligible late filers, Free File will be available through the Oct. 15 extension deadline, with the same eight software companies that participated last year back for the 2025 filing season.

    IRS Free File; click image for details

    If your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Fillable Forms option.

    May 23: Millions of Americans will be welcoming the unofficial start of summer this long Memorial Day weekend. It’s also when gasoline prices always seem to increase. Some of the pump price is attributable to fuel excise taxes. If pump prices climb too much, that may prompt you to look more closely into getting an electric vehicle (EV) before your next road trip, and before the current White House and Congress eliminate the potential $7,500 tax credit for some EVs.

    May 26: Yes, the end-of-May long weekend is a time for fun. But don’t forget the real reason for the Memorial Day holiday. Take time to honor the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. And don't forget about their families. There are some tax considerations offered survivors of lost soldiers, sailors, and air crew.

    May 31: You filed your tax return six-plus weeks ago and you’re still waiting on your refund. What the what?! Quit fuming and check your refund’s status using the IRS' "Where's My Refund?" online tracking tool.

    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


  • 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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    You also might enjoy these other tax tips from some of my tax-writing colleagues:

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    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

  • COVID-19
    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

  • COVID-19
    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:
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    CDC Booster Shots
    HHS Combat COVID
    USA.Gov COVID Info

May 2025

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25 26 27 28 29 30 31

..................................................


  •  Rain-dappled red yucca and spider by Kay Bell
    Red yucca and orb spider after April shower. (Photo by Kay Bell)
    ...............................................

Tell it to the Hill

  • DMWT Politics Posts
  • 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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