Last week at my other tax blog (2016)

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Last week at my other tax blog (2016)

It's that time again. A new year has arrived, bringing with it the hopes, fears, frustrations and confusion of another 365 days of taxes.

Actually, 2016 brings us 366 days, since it's a Leap Year. And that one extra day could make all the tax difference in the world.

The new year has gotten off to a relatively smooth start, tax-wise. Will that continue? I vote no, not because I want tax chaos, but because some sort of chaos generally accompanies taxes.

Whatever happens in the tax world, you'll find it here on the ol' blog, as well as at Bankrate Taxes Blog.

As I've done for the last five years, I'll continue in 2016 to recap on the ol' blog the tax topics that I discussed over at Bankrate. I'll try to get the highlights and links to my other tax blog up each weekend, but I can't commit to a specific weekend day or time.

You can keep checking the ol' blog for those Bankrate-related highlights (thanks!). Or you can check out his special directory page. Either way, enjoy!

No, I haven't been slacking off when it comes to updating this page.
Effective Oct. 5, 2016, I am no longer blogging for Bankrate.com.
But no worries!
That means I have even more time and topics for the ol' blog.

Nov. 4, 2016: Don't fall for phone or email tax scams (OK, this is the last Bankrate blog post, which I turned in back in September, but was held until the accompanying video was ready.)
Oct. 9, 2016: Add EAs to the tax preparation -- and privacy -- mix
Sept. 30, 2016: Wyoming: wild, western and welcoming to businesses seeking a friendly tax climate
Sept. 25, 2016: Taxes are part of travel, but at least many business trip expenses are deductible
Sept. 18, 2016: Tax code tweaks could help increase retirement savings
Sept. 12, 2016: Most people pay more payroll than income taxes
Sept. 2, 2016: Making sure your property tax bill is correct
Aug. 28, 2016: A possibly deductible tax tune worth learning
Aug. 21, 2016: U.S. Olympians might get a tax victory, too
Aug. 13, 2016: Tax ID thieves are hard at work this summer
Aug. 5, 2016: Shoppers in 12 states can pocket tax holiday savings as long as they read the eligible items' fine print
Aug. 2, 2016: Trump vs. Buffett in proposed tax return throwdown
July 20, 2016: Look for additional Koskinen impeachment action when Congress reconvenes in September
July 14, 2016: Private Mike Pence, Trump's possible VP pick, might not release his tax returns either
July 10, 2016: Las Vegas strip club gets 1099 from Floyd Mayweather
July 3, 2016: July is a big birthday month for IRS & Baby Boomers
June 27, 2016: Electronic advisory committee urges IRS to dive even deeper into the digital pool
June 18, 2016: Bloomberg taking effort to tax sugary drinks nationwide
June 12, 2016: No posts last week at my other tax blog. Even tax geeks take a vacation now and then.
June 5, 2016: Moving expenses are tax deductible, but don't go crazy with claims
May 27, 2016: Small businesses are easy state tax scam targets
May 23, 2016: DEA considering easing federal marijuana law
May 15, 2016: Texas former billionaire Sam Wyly convicted of tax fraud
May 10, 2016: Panama Papers players revealed in massive online database, but no big name Americans on the list
April 30, 2016: Tax gap hits $458 billion
April 26, 2016: IRS needs to address its insider tax ID theft risks
April 17, 2016: Fix the tax code, not just the tax-filing process
April 10, 2016: Near a 7-Eleven? Pop in, pick up a Slurpee and pay your IRS tax bill in cash … but plan ahead and be careful
April 3, 2016: IRS refunds still trickling out
March 27, 2016: Problems with prepaid card tax refunds
March 20, 2016: IRS 2016 refunds around same amount, at same pace; not so in many states
March 10, 2016: Ways & Means chairman promises more Congressional scrutiny of IRS security procedures
March 6, 2016: IRS 'Future State' plans and service, security concerns
Feb. 27, 2016: A look at IRS seizure, civil forfeiture rules
Feb. 18, 2016: IRS issues an extra tax phishing alert on the heels of its annual Dirty Dozen tax scams list
Feb. 11, 2016: Super Bowl jock taxes mean some players pay more in taxes than they made from the NFL championship game
Feb. 6, 2016: TaxSlayer data breach is the 3rd tax software-related security issue so far this filing season
Jan. 30, 2016: Global income inequality tied to worldwide tax havens
Jan. 24, 2016: Taxpayers want up-front pricing from paid tax preparers
Jan. 17, 2016: Lotteries aren't budget bonanzas for states
Jan. 10, 2016: 24 top taxpayer problems of 2015
Jan. 3, 2016: 6 reasons why a flat tax is not a good idea. Although these posts are from last week of December 2015, I've included them here since the ol' blog's post about them went up on the first Sunday of 2016.

If you've got some spare time and enjoy tax retrospectives, you can digitally thumb through the archives of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 posts on the ol' blog about what I posted those last weeks at my other tax blog.

And finally, thanks for reading -- here, there and everywhere!

Weekly Tax Tip

Day camp tax break — School's out for the summer. If you're sending your children to day camp, hold onto the receipts. Not only do these seasonal diversions give working parents some peace of mind about who's taking care of their kiddos now that classes are done, camp costs count toward claiming the child and dependent care tax credit. (June 21, 2019)
Check out all the latest post-Tax Day tax advice in the 2019 edition of Weekly Tax Tips. Many of these once-a-week tips will focus on planning moves to cut your 2020 tax bill. If, however, you're working on a filing extension for your 2018 return, you can get a refresher of the 2019 Filing Season Tax Tips at their respective monthly pages: January, February, March and April.

All About Kay

OK, some about Kay

Kay Bell — Native Texan (the blog title totally makes sense now, right?). Professional journalist. Tax geek.

My Other Accounts

Tick ... Tick ... Tick

Tax Season 2019 continues!
Are you among the almost 15 million taxpayers the IRS estimates are now on extension to file their 2018 tax returns? That new Oct. 15 tax filing deadline will be here before you know it. The countdown clock below will help you track the days until that absolutely final filing due date arrives. Maybe in the next six months, we'll have a better handle on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes!
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

via GIPHY

June's here!
The sixth month of the year brings good things, like warm weather and weddings, and bad things, like potentially destructive hurricanes. It's also a month full of plenty of tax tasks. Let's get to them!
June 1: The Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico hurricane season officially begins today. Actually, the 2018 tropical storm season started a bit early. Subtropical Storm Andrea popped up May 20, but evaporated without doing damage. It would be nice to have similar development (or not) the rest of the 2019 season, which runs through November, but that's unlikely.

Forecasters expect 2019 to bring 9 to 15 named storms, with 4 to 8 possibly becoming hurricanes, including 2 to 4 that will reach major status (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). Regardless of the count, it only takes one to wreak havoc. The countdown clock below can help you keep track of how many more days you have to worry about tracking any size or type of tropical storms.

You can find more on getting ready, physically and financially, for hurricanes, as well as tax help for recovery efforts and tax deductions for donations to those who are hit by natural disasters at the ol' blog's Storm Warnings page.

June 5: With school out, working parents need to make child care arrangements. Consider day camps. The activities' costs also count toward claiming the child and dependent care credit.

June 10: Do you get tips as part of your job compensation? Did you receive $20 or more in tips in May? If you answered "yes" to both questions, use Form 4070 to report your tips today to your employer. Note that if you participate in a tip-splitting arrangement, like the tip-pooling option recently approved by the Department of Labor, you only have to report the tips you receive and retain.

June 14: Happy Flag Day. If you need to buy a banner to fly today, you also might get a tax break. Several states exempt the Stars and Stripes from sales tax. Check with your state's tax department to see if you can save on your patriotic display.

June 16: Happy Father's Day!
Dad might not say so, but he appreciates being recognized, so take time today to let him know you care. And if your Pop is getting on up in years, take the time when you visit today to make sure he doesn't need some added help from you. If you provide enough financial assistance to your father, you also might be able to claim the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's (TCJA) $500 tax credit for other dependents.

June 17: With the usual June 15 deadline falling on Saturday, today is a key deadline for payers of estimated tax. Your second estimated tax installment for 2019 is due.

It's also is the due date for annual Form 1040 filings by U.S. citizens or resident aliens living and working abroad, as well as military personnel stationed outside the United States.

June 21: OK, summer officially arrives today for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Stay cool and help others do so, too.

Many charitable groups help people cope with the heat. Your gift to such IRS-qualified nonprofits could be tax deductible.

June 25: If your youngsters are college age and you're looking for financial help to meet 2019-2020 school year costs, you need to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 30. Time is running short, but the good news is that you can use the Internal Revenue Service's online tool to help you complete the FAFSA.

June 30: You still have almost four months to file the Form 1040 you extended in April, but why wait? You might be able to finish up your 2018 return filing at no cost by using Free File.

The IRS-tax software industry's no-cost return prep and e-filing option is open for business through the Oct. 15 extension deadline for taxpayers whose income is $66,000 or less.

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.

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ...

Taxes are all about the numbers.
Check out these (mostly) weekly
By the Numbers figures.

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Kudos Et Cetera

National Association
for Women in Communications
Winner, Best Personal Blog
2012, 2014 & 2017
Plutus Financial Bloggers Awards
Celebrating the Best
in Personal Finance
Winner, Best Tax Blog
2011 & 2013

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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