By the Numbers 2019

The 2019 tax year started awkwardly. The Internal Revenue Service is getting ready to open a filing season that involves the first major tax law changes in more than three decades but it's stymied by a partial government shutdown.

While we're waiting for the folks in Washington, D.C., to get their acts together, life and taxes go on. We still have to deal with the annual onslaught of forms and documents and, of course, numbers.

Then when that's done and we're assessed the damage, we have to make tax moves for 2019 so that our result will be less taxing this time next years.

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

At least from my standpoint, all these figures provide plenty of fodder for the 2019 version of By the Numbers.

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

And in keeping with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017 and 2018, I'll select a new figure each week.

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 can be counted in even a remote tax way as the weekly feature.

Again as in past years, I'll try to get the relevant figures up each weekend, usually on Sunday. But sometimes stuff happens, meaning the number goes up early or, more often than not, 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 2019. Let's make you count!

1.4 percent
Trump's tariffs caused job losses and price increases, says Federal Reserve report (Dec. 29, 2019)
2020
Tax law changes, from extenders to disaster relief to retirement and more, now official (Dec. 22, 2019)
30 percent
Greece to require digital transactions to fight tax evasion (Dec. 15, 2019)
100
IRS criminal investigators tout 2019 successes, look to year 101's tax crime challenges (Dec. 8, 2019)
4
States continue court fights over SALT deduction limit (Dec. 1, 2019)
36
Drought-stricken farmers, ranchers get more time to report tax on livestock forced-sale gains (Nov. 24, 2019)
$3,900
Cryptocurrency tax compliance effort a success for asset owners and IRS (Nov. 17, 2019)
10
10-part series on the 2020 inflation adjustments to popular tax provisions (one post a day from Nov. 6, 2019, through Nov. 15, 2019; link goes to Part 1, which has an index to the other 9 posts)
23 trillion
National debt passes $23 trillion for first time ever (Nov. 2, 2019)
7.25 percent
Chicago mayor seeks increase in city's cloud tax (Oct. 27, 2019)
$115,000
Philadelphia collects $115,000 in soda tax fines (Oct. 20, 2019)
$?
The last fee-free PTIN season starts Oct. 16 (Oct. 13, 2019)
20
Taxpayers in 19 states & D.C. now can get special IRS IP PIN to fight tax identity theft (Oct. 6, 2019)
$1 million
KC Chiefs take $1M sales tax fight to MO Supreme Court (Sept. 29, 2019)
281
281 people arrested in connection with global email scams (Sept. 22, 2019)
$15 trillion
Tax version of 'Phantom Menace' comes to $15 trillion in global tax haven money moves (Sept. 15, 2019)
100
IRS celebrating 100 years of capturing tax criminals (Sept. 8, 2019)
$460
New tariffs today mean higher prices for U.S. consumers (Sept. 1, 2019)
$74 million
Projecting marijuana tax revenue is an iffy exercise (Aug. 25, 2019)
$230,000
Treasury and IRS tax auctions offer bargains (Aug. 17, 2019)
18 U.S. Code Section 1030
Former college student pleads guilty to trying to hack Trump's taxes (Aug. 11, 2019)
229
U.S. Coast Guard, created to collect some taxes for a young America, turns 229 (Aug. 4, 2019)
1
Tax scores upset win, this time in horse race, not Congress (July 28, 2019)
34
Remembering former IRS Commissioner Mortimer Caplin (July 21, 2019)
1040
IRS proposes Form 1040 changes for 2019 filings (July 14, 2019)
900,259.362
Tax audits drop, according to latest IRS data (July 7, 2019)
85 percent and 95 percent
Tax cheating is wrong, say most U.S. taxpayers (June 30, 2019)
$2,215,587 and $735,933
Former government tax attorney pleads guilty to tax evasion (June 23, 2019)
$4.8 million and $1.4 million
Tax Court judges reject companies' payment plan offers (June 15, 2019)
47.6 percent
Big Jeopardy winner owes more than $1 million in taxes (June 9, 2019)
W-4
IRS reworks W-4 to help taxpayers withhold correct amounts (June 2, 2019)
$102 million
Trump's golf outing costs reach $102 million and counting (May 26, 2019)
570,000
Mismatched tax ID numbers worry workers, employers and Social Security (May 19, 2019)
80 percent
Tax break gifts for moms on Mother's (and every) Day (May 12, 2019)
51 percent
Most small business owners happy with new tax law (May 5, 2019)
Rev. Proc. 2019-18
Pro athlete trades get tax relief from IRS (April 28, 2019)
$2.7 billion
IRS technology upgrade will require up to $2.7 billion (April 21, 2019)
50 million
5 tax tips for snail mail filers (April 14, 2019)
$50,851
IRS audit interest piqued by DIFferent deduction amounts (April 7, 2019)
$2,915
Tax refund wait prompts alleged assault (March 31, 2019)
12
2019's Dirty Dozen tax scams repeat last year's list (March 24, 2019)
$1,408,482,000
More than $1.4 billion in tax refunds awaiting claims by taxpayers who didn't file in 2016 (March 18, 2019)
$3.50 and $16
Taxes on your St. Patrick's Day green beer (March 17, 2019)
July 31
Alabama tornado victims' tax deadline now July 31 (March 10, 2019)
$3,143 and $3,226
2019's average tax refunds finally surpass 2018 amounts (March 1, 2019)
$2,640
Smaller tax refunds could slow U.S. economy (Feb. 24, 2019)
26
Expired tax extenders not yet on track for renewal (Feb. 17, 2019)
$30,000
Grammys swag bag worth a taxable $30,000 (Feb. 10, 2019)
33
Super Bowl prop bets could pay off nicely for gamblers and the IRS (Feb. 3, 2019)
14,000
IRS workers calling in sick by thousands during shutdown (Jan. 25, 2019)
$1,000
IRS offers tax penalty relief to some who didn't have enough withheld or paid too little estimated taxes (Jan. 20, 2019)
22* 35
22 days and counting into the longest federal government shutdown ever (Jan. 12, 2019) *Day count will be updated, well, daily until the shutdown ends.
6
6 top tax issues of 2018 and what to expect in 2019 (Jan. 6, 2019)

Today's Tax Tip

IRS (and other) help for Hurricane Helene’s victims — People dealing with Hurricane Helene's horrific aftermath aren't worrying about taxes. But the IRS made it official anyway. Taxpayers in seven states ravaged by the deadly storm don't have to deal with many tax tasks until May 1, 2025. (Oct. 2, 2024)
The 2024 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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Tick ... Tick ... Tick

Tax Season 2024 continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2024 is finally over. For most of us. An estimated 19 million taxpayers got an extension to file their 2023 tax year return. That's fine.
In fact, the Internal Revenue Service appreciates some of us spreading out our filings. It gives the agency time to process the surge of returns
that came in on April 15.

But enough about Uncle Sam's tax collector and its 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 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 still adding up 2024 tax bill.

Finally, keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will help you track yet more days tick, tick, ticking off toward that absolutely final fall filing due date.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

👻 👻 👻 👻 👻
Hello Boys & Girls & Ghouls!
Spooky October is here!
👻 🕷️ 🎃 🕸️ 👻

Halloween, of course, is one reason that October is the most BOOtiful month of the year.
But the impending Oct. 15 extended tax filing deadline also is pretty darn scary!

Read about the history of jack o'lanterns

There’s no way to escape the seasonal 😱 frights. But the October tips below should help ease any tax fears this month.
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.

State Tax Help

Don't forget your state taxes!
Forty-three states and D.C. collect personal income taxes. But even if you live in of the seven states without an 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 2024 page.

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Tax Reading Room
You also might enjoy these other tax tips from some of my tax-writing colleagues:
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Taxes for Dummies 2024
Tax Savvy for Small Business

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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
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

October 2024

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Photo by Kay Bell
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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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