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!

Filing Season Tax Tips

Self-employed pay payroll taxes, too — Being your own boss has lots of advantages. It also has tax responsibilities, including the payment of self-employment (SE) taxes. This is the independent worker's version of the traditional paystub payroll tax levies collected for Social Security and Medicare. (Feb. 16, 2020)
Did you miss a tax tip posted above? No worries. They are, or eventually will be, collected in the 2020 Filing Season Tax Tips pages, one for each of the three-and-a-half months that we focus on our 1040s: January, February, March and — tah-dah! — April. After a brief break to catch our post-filing deadline breath, the Weekly Tax Tips, like these from 2019, will return.

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 Year 2020 Countdown
Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2019 tax return? Me neither.
But we need to start thinking about it now because April 15 will be here before we realize it. At least the 2020 filing season should be a bit easier than last year, when we submitted our first filings under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Right? Let's be optimistic: Right!
To help make sure things go smoothly and you don't overlook any tax breaks or upcoming filing deadlines, check out the tips a little further down this column. And keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It will help you keep track of the arrival of Tax Day 2020.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

Time to get hopping
on your 2019 taxes!

Click image for some fun
Leap Year/Leap Day facts.

OK, bad but easy pun (aren't they all?) about this being a Leap Year, but I couldn't resist. Joking aside, it's always good to have any extra time to work on your taxes. So let's, ahem, leap right into this February's 29 days of tax filing, planning and saving moves.
Feb. 1: If you haven't received all the tax statements you need to file your Form 1040, be patient. Issuers were supposed to have the tax docs at least on their way to you by Jan. 31, so they should show up in your email or snail mail box by next week.

Feb. 2: Happy Groundhog Day!

Don't get caught in a Bill Murray loop and end up doing your taxes over and over. Get your 2019 return right the first time. Once you get your tax docs, then review this filing checklist to make sure you have all you need to file.

Feb. 2 also is Super Bowl LIV day, which is fitting since pro football fans are happy to see this sporting event come around each year. So are gamblers. This is the biggest single betting day of the year and much of the money goes toward those goofy NFL championship prop bets. Just remember, if any of them pay off, then you owe tax on your winnings. Note, too, that even if your winnings are part of a fantasy sports bet, the associated taxes are very real.

Feb. 6: Finally! Your tax statements are here, you're ready to file and you've decided to do it yourself using tax software. Be sure to check out Free File, which, as its name sounds, offers eligible taxpayers access to tax software and e-filing at no cost. It's available for taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $69,000 or less.

There are 10 software companies participating this year at IRS.gov's Free File webpage. If you make too much to use the online software, look into using Free File's fillable forms.

Feb. 10: Does your job include tips? If so and you received at least $20 in gratuities in January, use Form 4070 to report them today to your employer.

Click image
to calculate how much to leave your server.

Feb. 12: Black History Month is celebrated every day this month, commemorating the achievements by black Americans and recognizing the role of African Americans in U.S. history.

This day is notable, however, because National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's oldest and largest grassroots-based civil rights organization, was founded on Feb. 12, 1909. That was the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation twice.

One of the NAACP's key divisions is its Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
If you want to support the Fund's work, you can donate to it and, since it is a 501(c)(3) organization, you can claim it as a charitable tax deduction
if you itemize.

Feb. 14: Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you and your better half file a joint return? Most married couples do. Remember to look over the 1040 carefully before you sign it. When both spouses sign their jointly filed 1040, each is jointly and severally liable for the entire tax amount due. This means the Internal Revenue Service can come after either spouse for payment of a tax bill, even the husband or wife who is in more dire financial circumstances.

Feb. 17: Today is Presidents Day, officially honoring George Washington, the Father of Our Country. Over the years, however, this federal (three-day, yay!) holiday has come to commemorate the contributions of all our Commanders in Chief. And we've got to give a (another) special shout out to Abraham Lincoln, who essentially was father of our income tax system, signing into law a tax on earnings to help pay Civil War costs.

Feb. 24: You filed your 1040 back on Jan. 27, the first day that filing season 2020 opened. Now you want to know when you're getting your refund. Check the status of your return online using the IRS' online "Where's My Refund?" tool.

Feb. 29: Happy Leap Day!

Click image for some more about Leap Day.

This extra day of the tax season is a great opportunity to do a little tax planning. Regardless of whether you owed tax (or will when you file) or got (or are expecting) a refund, you might want to consider adjusting your withholding. The IRS' online Tax Withholding Estimator can help you get just the right amount. .

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

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 Form Tuesday page.

Mapping Your Tax Route

Do you get lost doing your taxes? Check out the Taxpayer Advocate Service's Taxpayer Roadmap.

This publication, designed along the lines of a subway map, shows the many routes and detours of a taxpayer's journey through our elaborate Internal Revenue Code and the Internal Revenue Service's enforcement of our tax collection system.

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Kudos Et Cetera

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2012, 2014 & 2017
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Winner, Best Tax Blog
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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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