Photo by Kay Bell Spring has sprung, with the accompanying seasonal focus is on spring cleaning. One of our neighbors is focusing on sprucing up their yard. The pile of dirt in the street, shown in the photo topping this post, is now being transferred to flowerbeds. So, of course, it got me thinking about taxes. While this household and other people on our block pay crews to mow their lawns even in the dead of winter (go figure), landscaping generally is seasonal work. These companies tend to make most of their income during the warmer months of the year.... Read more →
Estimated taxes
You aren't legally required to file a federal tax return, but maybe you should. Here are six reasons why it might be a good idea. (Photo by Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images) Millions of taxpayers have filed their returns so far this year. Millions more are working on their taxes. But not you. You checked out my post on who has to file a tax return (thank you!) and confirmed that you're one of the lucky few who doesn't have to file a Form 1040 this year. You might want to rethink that no-filing decision. Even if you aren't... Read more →
Don’t forget to pay your final 2024 tax year estimated tax amount by tomorrow, Jan. 15. I know. I’m cutting it close with my reminder. But if your life is as hectic as mine is right now and this tax task has crept up on you, then better late than never. Electronic options: Since time is of the essence, the fastest and easiest way to pay is electronically. Those options include — Debit or credit card or digital wallet. This is fast, easy, and familiar to most of us. The two Internal Revenue Service-approved vendors Pay1040 and ACI Payments, Inc.... Read more →
Millions are getting ready to file federal tax returns so they can collect refunds. Crooks are among them. And things get even worse for the taxpayers whose identities were stolen and used to file false returns claiming fraudulent refunds. The average time it took the Internal Revenue Service to resolve identity theft cases and issue refunds to the affected victims in fiscal year 2024 was two years, according the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2024 annual report to Congress, issued today. These delays impacted nearly half a million taxpayers, noted National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Erin M. Collins, and were even worse than... Read more →
Updated, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 Millions of taxpayers already are filling out their 2024 tax returns. Now they just need to know when the Internal Revenue Service will start processing them. On Friday, Jan. 10, Free File opens. The no-cost online tax preparation and e-filing option can be used by taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $84,000 or less. Business taxpayers will be able to electronically file their returns on Jan. 15. As for individual filers who make more than the Free File AGI threshold, they can start using Free File's Fillable Forms on Jan. 27. That date follows... Read more →
Photo by Matheus Bertelli Happy New Year! I know, we’re well past the Jan. 1 hangover phase, but it is the first full work week of 2025, so I stand by my greeting. And I up it with Happy New Tax Year! On Jan. 20, Republicans who crafted that major tax reform bill will be in control of all three branches of federal government. They plan to keep and, if reports are true, expand the TCJA. As for paying for all those tax breaks, well that's another matter. Like I said, exciting tax times ahead. But while lawmakers on Capitol... Read more →
Saying "I do" also means saying hello to some tax changes in your new wedded life. (Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash) The end of each year is a good time to reflect on what happened the previous 12 months. For most of us, that includes some good events, some sad ones, and some still shaking out as we’re about to enter a brand new year. Many of these changes also could affect our taxes. So, as a bit of year-end preplanning, here are six ways that the Internal Revenue Code shows up when we encounter personal and lifestyle changes.... Read more →
I love Santa Claus, but even the Jolly Old Elf isn’t magical enough to provide the tax solutions you asked for in your letter to him. You’re going to have to make some tax moves, like the 10 below, yourself. (Photo by Kaboompics.com) Ho, Ho, Holy Moly! December sure got here quickly! Thanks to the 2024 calendar, we (or at least I) haven't even had time to sufficiently recover from Thanksgiving. But time, and taxes, march on, meaning we’ll just have to deal with a compressed holiday schedule as best we can. I hate to be the Tax Grinch adding... Read more →
Photo by Mikael Blomkvist The third estimated tax payment deadline was Monday, Sept. 16, but today the Internal Revenue Service eased the minds of some Pennsylvanians who missed it. The IRS announced that taxpayers in areas of the Keystone State that were deluged by Tropical Storm Debby as it moved up the country’s east coast are eligible for a variety of tax relief. They’ve been given until Feb. 3, 2025, to meet a variety of tax filing and payment deadlines, including this week’s estimated tax due date. You can read more about the tax relief for storm-affected Pennsylvania individual and... Read more →
UPDATE, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 — Glacial outburst flooding in Alaska in early August means Juneau filers have a May 1, 2025, tax relief deadline for a variety of tax filings and payments, including September's estimated amount. UPDATE, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 — Deadly Hurricane Helene has changed deadlines for areas in four states — Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina — that earlier were in Hurricane Debby’s path. Instead of Debby’s Feb. 3, 2025, deadline, affected taxpayers in those states now have a later Helene-prompted deadline of May 1, 2025. UPDATE, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024:The IRS today announced... Read more →
NOTE, Sept. 18, 2024: This estimated tax deadline is extended for taxpayers in officially designated major disaster areas. To date, such extensions apply to today's tax due date (and more) in 20 states and two U.S. territories. Millions of taxpayers will be sending Uncle Sam some more money next week. Monday, Sept. 16, is the due date for their third 2024 tax year estimated tax payment. At least we — yes, I’m a long-time payer of estimated taxes — have an extra day to fulfill this tax obligation, since the regular Sept. 15 deadline is on Sunday. But we all... Read more →
So how was your summer? That’s right, it’s that time of year again. The summer break officially ended on Sept. 1 with the arrival of meteorological fall, which runs through Nov. 30. I know, it’s kind of an arcane tidbit, but we have other more recognizable autumnal indicators. Youngsters across the country are back in classrooms. Their parents are back to the 9-to-5 grind after the long Labor Day holiday, with the next extended break not until the holidays. And temperatures here in Central Texas have dropped into the upper 80s! Yes, that’s early fall weather for us. I hope... Read more →
Keeping track of your finances when you're older can alert you to the possibility that you might owe tax on some of your Social Security benefits. Most of us look forward to retirement. Some of us also get a tax shock once we start collecting Social Security. Some of our federal retirement benefits, in some cases as much as 85 percent of our annual payout, could be subject to federal taxation. Not only is that tax an unwelcome surprise to older taxpayers, it also has become part of the current presidential campaign “Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security,”... Read more →
Unsplash+ in collaboration with Olivie Strauss Hello, July! We are soooo ready for this first full month of official summer. This first week of July will be a short one for many of us. We’ll be taking advantage of July 4 falling on Thursday, making it an extra-long Independence Day holiday weekend. But once the fireworks are over, it’s back to the regular grind where we never are independent of taxes. That’s why we also need to also make some time in July for tax moves. Here are five to consider. 1. Get ready for disastrous weather. Even though I’m... Read more →
It’s not even officially summer yet, and already taxes are intruding on seasonal fun for taxpayers across the United States. Specifically, June 17 is Tax Day for individuals who are in one of three special categories. Since that’s less than a week away, they need to get to work now so they meet the fast approaching deadline. In most cases, missing it will mean owing even more to Uncle Sam thanks to tax penalties and inters that will be added to any tax due next Monday. Estimated taxes: Millions of taxpayers make estimated tax payments every year on income that’s... Read more →
Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images School’s out for the summer. That means many young people are working summer jobs. If it’s your first time in the workplace, congratulations on your earnings effort. And good luck with the tax lessons you’re about to learn. Here’s a quick CliffsNotes on paychecks and taxes. Income Tax Withholding: Getting your first paycheck is reason for celebration. That joy, however, tends to be offset a bit when you realize that Uncle Sam, and probably your state tax collector, too, took some off the top. That’s the income tax withholding that all wage-earning workers face.... Read more →
June is here! Summer officially arrives in a few weeks. And many of us already are making vacation plans. Great! Have fun. But also make some time this month to deal with tax tasks. Really. Taxes definitely aren’t a day at the beach, but some summer tax moves can help make next year’s filing easier, and potentially less costly. Here are five tax moves to make, or at least consider, this June. 1. Pay your estimated taxes. Millions of us must make these extra tax payments each year. The payments cover income we get that’s not subject to withholding, such... Read more →
Millions of people will be celebrating on Monday, April 15. The arrival of Tax Day means they are done with dealing with the Internal Revenue Service for another year. For many others, however, it's just the beginning of another round of collections. The annual federal filing (and paying) deadline also is the start of the current year's estimated tax payment cycle. Extra payments for certain income: The U.S. tax system is pay as earn. That's taken care via paycheck withholding if you're an employee. But even if you have a job where income (federal and state, if applicable) tax is... Read more →
Daisies enjoying the result of an April shower. (Photo by Kay Bell) Tax Day is almost here, no fooling! We've readjusted, after the COVID-19 pandemic delays, to having Tax Day fall in the middle of this fourth month. This year, it's officially April 15 again for most of us. So filing our return or extension request by then obviously is a prime focus. But there are some other tax matters to consider or complete this April 2024. Here are six. 1. Finish (or start) your 2023 return. Tax Day is just 14 days away, and the Internal Revenue Service is... Read more →
March's arrival means it's time to start stalking some tax savings. (Photo via Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images) While the saying that March comes in like and goes out like a lamb usually is a reference to this month's weather transition from winter to spring (or, here in Central Texas, to summer already), feline aggressiveness could come in handy at tax filing time. There are plenty of tax moves you can make during this final full month before Tax Day, which is this year is the normal April 15 due date. Here are five tax matters to consider in... Read more →