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Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes: January-... 2022

Coronavirus COVID-19 CDC image

And the coronavirus is on its way beyond pandemic and becoming endemic.

That means we will be living with it in some form for a while. It also means that there might be more legislation and Internal Revenue Service guidelines that affect our taxes.

So we are here, at the ol' blog's fourth Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes page as we enter the new 2022 year. If you want to check out previous COVID-related tax posts, you can head on over to the original page with the March-July 2020 designation, the second page with posts from August-December 2020, or last year's third iteration covering January-December 2021.

I won't challenge the health or tax gods by predicting whether this will be the last COVID page. I don't want to tempt them and fate like I did last year, and have it come true like it did that the illness continues to linger. 

But I will note that while there are, for now, four COVID and taxes pages, a couple of things are on all of them.

First, the items are listed with the most recent post first.

Secondly, this page, like its COVID counterparts, starts off with posts from Don't Mess With Taxes because, well, it's my blog! Then the other sections with coronavirus links from official government websites, professional associations, law and accounting firms, and tax policy think tanks follow.

OK, enough with the housekeeping. Let's get to this fourth (and final; OK, I did it, I did tempt the medical powers that be!) collection of coronavirus tax+ matters with a quick caveat. I'm pulling a few from the 2021 page as they are also are of interest in 2022.

  • IRS Free File to stay open until Nov. 17 to help nonfilers claim missed tax credits (Oct. 16, 2022)
  • Nov. 15 is deadline for nonfilers to claim enhanced CTC (Oct. 5, 2022)
  • File 2019, 2020 tax returns by Sept. 30 to avoid IRS penalty (Sept. 22, 2022)
  • 2.9 million children escaped poverty in 2021 thanks to expanded Child Tax Credit (Sept. 18, 2022)
  • Tax pros seek official guidance on hybrid work arrangements (Sept. 9, 2022)
  • IRS current year filing backlog at 8.2 million tax returns (Sept. 2, 2022)
  • Secret Service returns $286 million in stolen pandemic loans to SBA (Aug. 26, 2022)
  • IRS refunding $1.2 billion to millions who faced COVID-related late-filing tax penalties (Aug. 24, 2022)
  • IRS Appeals wants public comment on video conferencing (Aug. 18, 2022)
  • IRS again issues potentially wrong tax-due notices (Aug. 2, 2022)
  • IRS urges Puerto Rican families to use online tool to claim Child Tax Credit (July 15, 2022)
  • IRS expects to finish processing 2021 filings this week (June 21, 2022)
  • IRS AI bots now helping taxpayers set up payment plans (June 17, 2022)
  • Don't fall for any of 2022's Dirty Dozen tax scams (June 11, 2022)
  • IRS refund tracking tool now can find status for 3 tax years (May 25, 2022)
  • $163 billion in unemployment fraud run up during pandemic (May 15, 2022)
  • IRS refund late? At least you'll get some interest, which so far has totaled $3.3 billion (May 14, 2022)
  • Child Tax Credit online filing portal is open again (May 12, 2022)
  • Some married parents could save this year by filing separate tax returns (April 16, 2022)
  • Crowdfunding tax consequences and reporting requirements (March 21, 2022)
  • A review of the 116th Congress' 8 tax bills (March 12, 2022)
  • IRS plans to end tax backlog by shifting jobs, hiring 10,000 new staff (March 11, 2022)
  • Voice and chat bots now part of IRS telephone tax help lines (March 10, 2022)
  • Ways to spend tax-favored FSA money if you're facing 3/15 (or later) deadline (March 9, 2022)
  • Child Tax Credit online portal is offline until after Tax Day (March 8, 2022)
  • VITA & TCE volunteers are back, helping taxpayers prepare & file returns for free (March 7, 2022)
  • IRS TACs open for walk-in tax help on Saturday, March 12 (March 6, 2022)
  • Make sure you claim your charitable tax deductions, on Form 1040 or Schedule A (Feb. 28, 2022)
  • 5 reasons your tax refund this year might be smaller (Feb. 15, 2022)
  • IRS sending 1099-INTs to taxpayers who got interest added to tax refunds (Feb. 14, 2022)
  • IRS suspends issuance of 14 more taxpayer notices (Feb. 11, 2022)
  • Tracking down 2020 — yes, two-year-old — missing EIPs (Feb. 9, 2022)
  • 3 medical tax breaks prompted by COVID-19 (Feb. 8, 2022)
  • A look at EITC changes on this year's EITC Awareness Day (Jan. 28, 2022)
  • Recovery Rebate Credit on 2021 tax return could help get missed COVID stimulus money (Jan. 26, 2022)
  • Don't let wrong IRS EIP or CTC letter info stop you from filing your taxes (Jan. 24, 2022)
  • Tax return checklist & questions to help you file your taxes (Jan. 13, 2022)
  • Top 10 Taxpayer Problems of 2021 likely to repeat in 2022 (Jan. 12, 2022)
  • Tax statements you need to file your 2021 return (Jan. 11, 2022)
  • Moves in 2021 motivated by COVID, family matters, & taxes (Jan. 8, 2022)
  • Keep an eye out for IRS letters on COVID relief money, advance Child Tax Credit payments (Jan. 4, 2022)
  • California wildfire filings, COVID-deferred payroll taxes due Jan. 3, 2022 (Dec. 30, 2021)
  • You got your last 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payment. Now what? (Dec. 15, 2021)

There also are some posts since the beginning of the pandemic that tangentially reference COVID-19's effects on taxes, but not enough so to make the official coronavirus cut for inclusion on this or the other pages.

If you're interested in seeing those, you can browse the new Coronavirus COVID-19 category. The posts above (as well as those on the other coronavirus pages) will show up, too, but just keep scrolling to find others that didn't make this coronavirus tax specific list.

Now to other off-blog resources.

Coronavirus US Government  alerts banner

First, there are the official government sites. The image above recommends Coronavirus.gov, which basically is a landing page (like this), so below are my suggestions.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments

Treasury: How the Treasury Department is Taking Action

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

Social Security Administration (SSA): Social Security & Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Coronavirus - What the FTC is Doing

Health and Human Services (HHS): COVID-19 Portal 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): A guide to COVID-19 economic stimulus relief

Department of Education (Ed): COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response (note the rumor control section)

U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS): Coronavirus/COVID-19 Related Scams 

USA.gov: Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19 

And, of course, there are other sites following the pandemic's tax effects.

Many of my fellow tax bloggers are doing great jobs tracking the intricacies of COVID-19 tax changes. So are the members of the great #TaxTwitter community.

Coronavirus COVID-19

But in order to keep this page from following the excessive pieces of coronavirus legislation when it comes to length, I've focused below on web pages posted by professional firms, associations and other taxcentric entities that are providing valuable coronavirus-related tax information and advice.

National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP): ​​​​​​​​​​COVID-19 Tax News & FAQ 

American Institute of CPAs (AICPA): Coronavirus (COVID-19) tax resources (n.b., the state tax roundup)

Thomson Reuters: COVID-19 resource center

Wolters Kluwer: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Tax & Accounting Professionals

KPMG: Coronavirus (COVID-19) tax developments

Deloitte: COVID-19 tax policy updates 

EY US: Responding to COVID-19

Grant Thornton: COVID-19 Resource Center 

RubinBrown: Coronavirus Preparedness Resource Center 

EideBailly: The New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Organiational & Individual Impacts

Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP): COVID-19 Tax Policy Resources

The Tax Foundation: Tax Policy And The Coronavirus (note the state-by-state legislative and global country-by-country fiscal measures trackers)

Avalara: COVID-19 Tax Relief Roundup

Employee Benefit News (EBN): Coronavirus Impact

But wait, there are more: Naturally, things will change as the virus itself and our tax reactions to it evolve, so I'm asking for your help.

I know I've missed some good sites. Please let me know. I'll probably see your suggestions sooner if you let me know via Twitter where, in case you don't know, I'm @taxtweet. You also can drop me an email note.

I'll update this page as regularly as I can. You'd think that I'd have more time by essentially being on house arrest during Austin's coronavirus stay-home order, but it seems that the hours in the days also are affected by these bizarre circumstances (and my discovery of new things to stream).

Thanks for your assistance and patience. And, of course, be safe!

Taxes are important, but they are just taxes. The well-being of everyone and your families is everything, the only thing.

Original post began April 4, 2020

 

 

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Today's Tax Tip

  • Summer's arrival brings sales tax holidays in Florida and Texas — Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. The long weekend also is the start of sales tax holiday season. Texas has three days of no taxes on certain energy- and water-saving products, starting May 27. In Florida, shoppers will start the holiday weekend with sales tax exemptions on hurricane preparedness products, followed season the Sunshine State's wide-ranging no-tax Freedom Summer. (May 27, 2023)

  • Tax Tip; click pencil for all tax tip links

  • The 2023 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
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    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 2023 Continues!

    Tax Day 2023 is finally over … unless you're one of the millions who have more time to file — looking at you taxpayers abroad and those in major disaster areas — or you got an extension to file your 2022 tax year return. That's fine. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service appreciates some of us spreading out our filings, especially when it means we are taking the time to submit a complete and correct return.

    This tax focus shift means the ol' blog will continue to provide filing tips through the Oct. 16 extension deadline. Yep, it's a day later this year, since 10/15 is on Sunday. But I haven't forgotten my organized taxpayer readers, who are looking for ways to reduce their 2023 tax year bills. Yep, that amount already is adding up, but there are moves you can make. The monthly tips and reminders a little further down this column can help everyone, regardless of which tax year now is in your sights.

    Those on extension should also keep a keen eye on the countdown clock below. It will help you track the days tick, tick, ticking off toward that absolutely final fall filing due date. They'll speed by quickly when you're having tax fun, and aren't we always having tax fun?!?
    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!!! 💐

    Those exclamation marks and emoji bouquets are sincere and deserved. I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for May flowers.
    Plus, you've got to love a month that starts with a celebration.

    May Pole Dance via GIPHY


    After the May Day dances are done, the commemorative days just keep coming. There are well-known ones, like Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day, as well as some more obscure ones, like Pick Strawberries Day, Be Millionaire Day (if only!), and my favorite, Eat What You Want Day.

    But even with all these (and more!) celebrations, there's still time to make some money-saving May tax moves. Let's get to it!

    May 1: While May Day isn't a big holiday in the United States, globally the first day of May is a time for celebrating workers' contributions. But that can apply here, too, in connection with some employment-related tax tasks. If you got a big refund or owed more tax than you expected when you filed (or got an extension) last month, today's the perfect time to do adjust your paycheck withholding.

    May 5: ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

    Feliz Cinco de Mayo

    Fiestas are always en vogue in Tejas, but the epitome of them is this Mexican holiday. 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. With every Cinco toast, remember that the cost of state and federal alcohol taxes are included in the mixing. Your state tax collector also will raise a glass to your fiscal contribution, since sin taxes usually are a revenue bright spot for many states.

    May 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 got lots of financial thanks for doing your job well, especially from those Cinco celebrants. But don't forget that those tips are taxable income.

    restaurant check tip iStock
    Whether you're dining in or, still COVID leery and 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 you, as the server or delivery person, must account for those tips. If you got at least $20 in gratuities in April, you must report the amount by today by using Form 4070 to let your employer the total of the tips you took in last month.

    May 14: Happy Mother's Day!

    Happy Mother's Day

    If you're just this year making up for pandemic paused family visits (side note: May 18 is Visit Your Relatives Day), give your mom a longer 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 while getting some tax-advantaged help from their families.

    May 22: Just because you got an extension to file your 2022 tax return doesn't mean you have to wait until the Oct. 16 deadline to finish it. And you might be able to complete all those forms at no cost. Free File, the online preparation and electronic filing web page for eligible taxpayers created by the IRS' partnership with the Free File Alliance is still operational for, as its name says, free.

    This year, the income threshold is adjusted gross income (AGI) of $73,000 or less, regardless of your filing status. You should be able to find a software that works for you from the seven tax prep companies that are participating.

    IRS Free File; click image for details


    May 26: If you're heading out early today to further extend the already long Memorial Day weekend, be sure to plan for added costs, like the price of getting to your holiday destination. Most travelers this weekend that marks the unofficial start of summer will hit the highways, so even though gasoline prices are at the exorbitant levels they were this time last year, pump prices still will take a bite of travel budgets. Maybe that will get you to look more closely at getting an electric vehicle (EV) before your next road trip. Check out the tax rules to see if your new EV comes with a $7,500 tax credit

    May 29: This Memorial Day as you honor the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice, don't forget about their families. There are some tax considerations offered survivors of lost soldiers, sailors, and air crew.

    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

  • 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 2023 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 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. It is not a recommendation of any specific tax action(s) you should or should not take. Similarly, mentions of products or services are not endorsements. In other words, my ramblings on the ol' blog are free advice and you know what they say about getting what you pay for. That's why when it comes to filing your taxes, I urge you to get additional, professional, paid-for guidance from an accountant, Enrolled Agent or other 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 three Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
    March-July 2020,
    August-December 2020,
    January-December 2021, and
    January-December 2022
    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:
    CDC Vaccines
    CDC Booster Shots
    HHS Combat COVID
    USA.Gov COVID Info

May 2023

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31      

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 — our tax laws on Congress and the White House. 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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