Don't Mess With Taxes

Welcome to the start of a new decade.

2020 is perfect for a feature on numbers. Not only is there its wonderful symmetry, but the obvious optical connotation is perfect for a look at tax-related numbers.

In fact, I even saw my way (see what I did there?) to getting a head start on the annual By the Numbers tabulating. The first numerical feature of this new year was posted on the first Friday of 2020 instead of the usual weekend day.

But that didn't stop another figure (actually figures) from getting recognized on schedule when the weekend rolled around.

Heck, at this rate, 2020 could be a momentous year for numbers from many and varied perspectives!

What remains the same, this 10th year of the ol' blog's numerical tradition is that the figures are more than just those we enter on our 1040s every year.

In keeping with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the selected digits each week[end] 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 a figure to be featured each week.

Also as in past years, I'll try to get the relevant figures up each weekend, usually on Sunday. But sometimes stuff happens, meaning the featured By the Number figure goes up a bit later.

Or if I run across some noteworthy numerals that deserve posting before the weekend, then By the Numbers will be posted before or in addition to the expected publication date, like this year. 

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 the year's special By the Numbers page. The newest post each week will go at the top of the list.

So welcome 2020. Let's make you count!

• 11
  Millions out of luck and money as federal unemployment assistance ends (Dec. 29, 2020)
  This post is the same as the one in the 17 featured below on Dec. 27, 2020. The new 11 figure references the 11 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits that the U.S. Department of Labor said would be paid even though the signing of the second COVID-19 relief law was late.
• 17
  Millions out of luck and money as federal unemployment assistance ends (Dec. 27, 2020)
  
• 671 Lincoln Avenue
  Real 'Home Alone' house provides nice annual tax present to property tax collector (Dec. 20, 2020)
• 12
  It costs less in 2020 to be a True Love 12 Days of Christmas gift giver (Dec. 13, 2020)
• $400,000
  Tax reform is a global concern in wake of COVID-19's costs (Dec. 6, 2020)
• Dec. 11
  Congress must meet Dec. 11 funding deadline to avoid another government shutdown (Nov. 29, 2020); Note: legislative extensions ultimately pushed this deadline day to Dec. 28.
• $435
  A few tax penalties nudged up in 2021 by inflation (Nov. 22, 2020)
• 21
  Watch out for continuing COVID-19 tax (and more) scams (Nov. 15, 2020)
• 60 days
  IRS offers tax help to those facing COVID money troubles (Nov. 8, 2020)
• 12
  12 year-end tax moves to make, or at least look into, in November 2020 (Nov. 1, 2020)
• CP501, CP503 and CP504
  IRS is resuming issuance of tax balance-due notices (Oct. 25, 2020)
• 1,659
  Sales tax jurisdictions across the United States (Oct. 18, 2020)
• 9.3 percent
  Joe Biden's tax proposals: a state-by-state breakout (Oct. 11, 2020)
• $1.625 million
  Colorado University nets $1.6 million in sports betting deal (Oct. 4, 2020)
• 4,966 & 10456
  COVID EIPs await non-filers nationwide, especially in some NY ZIP Codes (Sept. 27, 2020)
• 5.5 percent
  State revenue loss due to COVID-19 not as bad as feared (Sept. 20, 2020)
• 6
  6 more tax forms added to IRS digital signature list (Sept. 13, 2020)
• 29.2 million
  6 unemployment tax Q&A for COVID-tinged Labor Day 2020 (Sept. 6, 2020)
• 3,387
  Irish tax cheat reports skyrocket (Aug. 30, 2020)
• $18
  COVID-created tax refund interest payments going to nearly 14 million filers (Aug. 23, 2020)
• March 1 and July 15
  IRS knows some recently issued nonpayment notices are wrong. Now what? (Aug. 16, 2020)
• 4
  Trump COVID executive actions sidestep stalled Congressional relief talks (Aug. 9, 2020)
• 70 percent
  Considering more COVID-19 payments on Parents' Day (July 26, 2020)
• 555
  IRS' 555 telephone exchange is real (July 19, 2020)
• 1040-ES
  How to make the 2 estimated tax payments also due July 15 (July 12, 2020)
• 37 percent
  Options to deal with tax bills that many worry they can't pay (July 5, 2020)
• 6
  Most people use COVID stimulus money to cover expenses (June 28, 2020)
• 2 million
  Father's Day child tax credit tip, along with other tax breaks for all parents (June 21, 2020)
• June 15 and 29
  IRS employees returning to offices in 9 more locations (June 14, 2020)
• Form RD-109NR
  COVID-changed work patterns mean tax hassles, possible KC workers' refunds (June 7, 2020)
• 10 million
  IRS workers returning June 1 to offices and 10 million pieces of unopened snail mail (May 31, 2020)
  
• 152 million and $258 billion
  IRS has distributed 152 million COVID-19 relief payments worth $258 billion (May 24, 2020)
• 4
  Hurricane season 2020 early start means it's time to prepare (May 17, 2020)
• Noon on May 13
  May 13 at noon is deadline to give IRS info for direct deposit of COVID-19 money (May 9, 2020)
• May 5
  SSI, VA recipients must update family status by May 5 to get full COVID-19 payment (May 2, 2020)
• 88.1 million and $158 billion
  88.1 million have received COVID-19 payments, says IRS (April 24, 2020)
• 22 million
  Some states struggling to pay coronavirus-created unemployment claims (April 19, 2020)
• April 11
  IRS makes first COVID-19 payments, with online option to alter delivery coming soon (April 12, 2020) 
• $3,058
  Tax filings are still sluggish, but refunds are larger (April 5, 2020)
• $1,200, $2,400 and $500
  Compare COVID payments using 2019 or 2018 tax return (March 28, 2020)
• July 15, 2020
  July 15 tax filing and payment deadline Q&A (March 21, 2020)
• 3.14
  A tasty Pi Day tax tip on rounding tax form entries (March 14, 2020)
• $12,200, $18,350 and $24,400
  Time and tax deduction method changes (March 08, 2020)
• 19,513
  Special clinics help low-income taxpayers resolve IRS issues (March 1, 2020)
• 20%
  20% of Canadians say tax cheating worth the risk (Feb. 23, 2020)
• 2015
  Tax return filing & refunds are off to a slow 2020 start (Feb. 16, 2020)
• 5
  Oscars contender 'Joker' benefited from NJ film tax breaks (Feb. 9, 2020)
• 02022020
  Hurray for Palindrome Day 02022020 (Feb. 2, 2020)
• 10
  IRS watchdog report indicates continued tax refund delays (Jan. 26, 2020)
• 55 percent
  Esports join NFL, other traditional games as jock tax target (Jan. 19, 2020)
• Jan. 15
  Final annual estimated tax payment due Jan. 15 (Jan. 12, 2020)
• 31 and 1
  Babies' birthdays determine tax year tax breaks (Jan. 5, 2020)
• $18,428,370
  Mortgage relief scammers hit with $18.5 million judgment (Jan. 3, 2020)