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June 2021 Tax Tips

We made it to the great Tax Day 2021 after-times!
Most of use, that is. For others, deadlines still loom.

Tax tip pencilWe did it! We made it to and through the coronavirus-delayed Tax Day 2021 of May 17. Now what?

Well, that depends.

For some filers, Tax Day is still hanging out there.

That's the case for taxpayers who live in seven states that were slammed by major natural disasters earlier this year. The Internal Revenue Service decided they deserved extra time to finish filing their 2020 tax year returns. And meet other tax obligations.

Then there's Oct. 15. That's the new Tax Day deadline for those who got an extension to file their returns.

As for all the taxpayers who are done with 2020, good for you! I say that with just a tiny tinge of jealousy. OK, a lot of jealousy. However, you still have plenty of tax tasks to take care of these final seven months of 2021.

Regardless of which tax group you're in, don't worry. That's the reason the June Tax Tips exist.

Combination tax tips: Because of the variety of filers and their needs, June again is a crossover month. Dedicated tax tip readers will see some advice here that they checked out earlier this filing season.

But you'll also find some post-filing tips to use if you're an industrious done taxpayer.

And for all of us, there will be some suggestions on how to get a tax-saving head start on our 2021 returns due next year.

Also as in previous months, the featured tips will be highlighted in the upper right corner of the ol' blog. After each tip this month has its time in that spotlight, it will join all the other June tips here on this page. 

And speaking of this page, let's get to it!

  1. June tax moves — It's summer! But before you head out to enjoy the season, now a much more open one thanks to increased COVID vaccinations and eased restrictions, take some time to make a few June tax moves that could save you some money. (June 1, 2021)
  2. Tax tips for military personnel — Members of the U.S. armed forces have a lot of responsibilities. One they share with all us civilians is paying taxes. But there are some special tax breaks and considerations, like not having to file until June 15 if they're posted overseas, for our men and women in uniform. Here are some highlights. (June 7, 2021)
  3. Foreign housing tax break for U.S. expatriates — Living abroad can offer adventures and escapes. But one thing expatriate Americans can't get away from is U.S. taxes. Uncle Sam still gets his piece of your torta, der Kuchen or whatever pie is called where you've moved. There are, however, some tax breaks for U.S. taxpayers living and working overseas, including an exclusion for a certain amount of overseas housing costs. (June 9, 2021)
  4. June 15 is Tax Day for millions — Tax Day 2021 for most taxpayers was May 17. But not for all. Millions now are facing the annual federal tax-filing deadline — and more — on June 15. Taxpayers abroad, including military personnel posted overseas, must file their 2020 returns next week. It's also Tax Day for residents of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas who endured February's historic winter storm. And don't forget that estimated tax payment #2 is due on June 15, too. (June 11, 2021)
  5. Don't miss today's estimated tax deadline — June 15 is an estimated tax payment due date. Make sure you e-pay today, or get your mailed 1040-ES voucher and payment envelope postmarked, or you could face late charges! (June 15, 2021)
  6. Take a pre-disaster inventory — Yes, we're officially in hurricane season, but disasters strike year-round and all across the country. The best thing we can do is prepare. Part of that is taking a pre-disaster inventory of your household goods. It will help you with your insurance claims and, if the catastrophe is declared a major disaster major disaster, claim your losses as a tax deduction. (June 17, 2021)
  7. It's storm prep time — The 2021 Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico hurricane season began before the official June 1 start date. Now, just past the month's halfway mark, the third named system, Tropical Storm Claudette, is drenching Louisiana. If you haven't already prepared — physically, financially and tax-wise — for hurricanes or any other natural disasters, now is the time to do so. (June 19, 2021)
  8. Tips and tax breaks for single dads — On Father's Day 2021, here are some helpful resources for all the single dads. They include federal programs to help you do the solo job of caring for and feeding your youngsters, along with some programs that connect you with other single parents where you can share tips and tales of tribulation. And, of course, there are some tax benefits, like the child tax credit, which has been enhanced for tax year 2021. (June 20, 2021)
  9. Tax tips for newlyweds — Weddings are back, thanks to more of us being vaccinated against COVID-19. If you exchanged vows in a June ceremony, or plan to soon, here are some tax to-do's after you say 'I Do.' After the honeymoon, of course! (June 22, 2021)
  10. 5 tests a child must meet to be your tax dependent — Children can add a lot to your life. Love. Pride. Expenses. That last child-related factor can be substantial, but the tax code can help. There are several tax breaks for parents or guardians of youngsters. The key for all is that the youth is an eligible dependent. In some cases, the requirements are tweaked a bit; the latest example is the 2021 tax year changes to the Child Tax Credit. In general, however, a youngster must meet five requirements to be a taxpayer's dependent. (June 24, 2021)

 

June_bug-page-divider


Looking for more tax tidbits? All the Tax Tip page links below are live. If, however, you click on a month later in the year, you'll be greeted by a fun GIF of a man enthusiastically telling us to slow down, or Whoa Up! as we say here in Texas, instead of finding Internal Revenue Service and tax code tips.

I know you want to see him, so go ahead and click on December. I promise that tax info will replace that animated fellow when the calendar finally flips to the remaining 2021 months.

January July
February August
March September
April October
May November
June December

 

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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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  • 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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    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:
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    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
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    or TTY 1-888-720-7489.
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Tell it to the Hill

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