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September 2022 Tax Tips

September: Seasons change, but taxes continue unabated

Tax tip pencilSeptember's arrival means that summer is over. Twice.

First, there's the Sept. 1 start of Meteorological Fall, then on Sept. 22 with the Autumnal Equinox.

Maybe the double dose of seasonal change will finally mean cooler temperatures.

But one thing isn't changing this September. There still are lots of tax tasks to take care of as we move into fall.

Finally filing: Some procrastinators earlier this year got an extension until to file their 2021 tax returns.

Even though this year they have until Oct. 17, two extra days since the regular 10/15 deadline is on Saturday, there's no need to wait until the last minute (again). The Internal Revenue Service will gladly take your 1040 in September.

Disasters looming: The Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico hurricane season has been unexpectedly quiet this year. In fact, the first hurricane of the year, category 1 Hurricane Danielle, didn't get her name until 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, Sept. 2.

Danielle also is unusually far to the north in the Atlantic, about 885 miles west of the Azores Islands. In fact, it's one of the most northeasterly locations on record for a season's first hurricane to form.

Lucky for us here in the United States, we won't get any adverse weather from Hurricane Danielle, but this tropical lull is not likely to last. September traditionally is a busy ocean storm month, so if you haven't prepared, do so. Now. That includes being aware of the tax help available in the wake of a major natural disaster.

Crossover tax tips: September also is a good month for folks who are through with their annual tax filing task to make some moves to lower their current year's liability.

You'll find some ideas on how to do that here on this September tax tips page. The seasonal pieces of tax advice will be added as soon as they also are highlighted in the upper right corner of the ol' blog.

And don't worry if you miss one on its featured day. When you're ready to work on your 1040s or make other tax moves, this month's tax tips below will be here to help.

  1. 4 tax moves to make in September — It's a new month, finally bringing us cooler Fall temperatures. OK, it's still pretty hot in a lot of places. But seasonal change is coming. One thing that isn't changing, however, is the need to make some tax moves this September. Here are 4 suggestions. (Sept. 1, 2022)
  2. Student debt forgiveness could create state tax bills — College can be fun. Paying for it, not so much, especially when you have to take out loans. But now millions of student borrowers are getting loan relief. The White House college loan forgiveness is tax-free at the federal level, but it could create tax bills in a dozen or so states. (Sept. 2, 2022)
  3. Tax-favored retirement options for student debt money — If you'll soon be seeing some extra cash because your student loan has been forgiven, consider putting that money into retirement savings. In addition to building a nest egg, these retirement vehicles offer tax advantages, too. (Sept. 3, 2022)
  4. 12 common filing mistakes to avoid — To err is human. To err when doing your taxes also is all too common. These dozen tax errors that too many of us make all too often also could be costly. (Sept. 4, 2022)
  5. Labor Day salute to entrepreneurs — Many workers got Labor Day off, but those who are their own bosses probably didn't. Being a business owner is a lot of work, usually 24/7, 365 days a year. This Labor Day, we salute their entrepreneurial spirit and offer some tax tips for these bosses. (Sept. 5, 2022)
  6. Educator expenses tax deduction rises (finally!) to $300 — Students and their parents aren't the only ones who spend when it comes to school supplies. Most teacher also use their own, unreimbursed dollars for items that will enhance their students' classroom experiences. Now up to $300 of those expenses can be deducted. (Sept. 10, 2022)
  7. NFL bets pay off? That's taxable income — It's the first Sunday of the 2022 National Football League season. Have you placed your bets? Millions have (or will), and the Internal Revenue Service wants its portion of that taxable income from any of those winning wagers. Here's how to report gambling winnings, along with myriad other income, on Form 1040 Schedule 1. (Sept. 11, 2022)
  8. Estimated tax deadline is Sept. 15 — The third estimated tax payment for tax year 2022 is Thursday, Sept. 15. That means it's time for folks who had side hustle income or other earnings not subject to payroll withholding to send the IRS their latest 1040-ES. (Sept. 13, 2022)
  9. Hurricane season is heating up. Get ready! — If you put off getting ready for hurricane season because the tropics in 2022 have been unusually quiet, it's time to get in gear. Tropical Storm Fiona is taking aim at Puerto Rico, and possibly beyond. Prepare now, both physically and financially, including taking taxes into consideration. (Sept. 16, 2022)
  10. 18 states are sending their residents cash this fall — The COVID-19 pandemic has subsided a bit, but it's still tough economically for many folks. Now it's inflation taking bites out of budgets. So 18 states are offering their citizens some relief, in the form of tax refunds, rebates, or stimulus payments. The reasons vary as much as the names, but the cash, regardless of what it's called, will be welcomed by all who get any of it. (Sept. 19, 2022)
  11. Tips are taxable income — If your job is as a server at a restaurant, or at any other establishment where tips from customers are part of your compensation, don't forget that those gratuities, pooled or directly to you, are taxable income. They must be counted as earnings when you file your Form 1040. You also must report them to your boss if you get $20 or more in tips in a month. (Sept. 21, 2022)
  12. 1st hurricane of 2022 season heading toward Florida. Get ready! — It's late September, but the United States' mainland finally could face its first hurricane of 2022. Forecasters expect Ian to reach category 2, and possibly 3, before making landfall somewhere along Florida's west coast. If you put off getting ready for hurricane season because the tropics had been quiet, now's finally the time to get in storm prep gear. Prepare now, both physically and financially, including taking taxes into consideration. (Sept. 24, 2022)
  13. Sept. 30 is deadline to avoid COVID-related late filing penalty — The IRS is refunding penalties charged on 2019 and 2020 tax returns that were filed late due to COVID pandemic problems. It also will waive the penalty for those tax years' COVID-delated returns not yet filed, as long as the 1040s are submitted by Sept. 30. (Sept. 26, 2022)

*****

Multicolored fall leaves on blue boardwalk

*****

Looking for more tax tidbits? All the monthly tax tip page links below are live. If, however, you click on one in the last quarter of 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. 

I know you want to see him, so go ahead and click on October through December. I promise that timely tax info will replace that animated fellow when the calendar finally flips to those remaining 202w months.

You also might want to click on the January through August tips pages, too, especially if you're still working on your extended 2021 tax return. Of if you have some time to kill after you've finished raking all the fall leaves in your yard.

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

 

 

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Today's Tax Tip

  • Added summer income means more tax considerations — If you’re taking on added jobs this summer instead of taking a vacation, be aware of the tax implications. Students at their first paying job are encountering the Internal Revenue Service for the first time. And workers well past their school days but who are earning extra via summer gigs could face new self-employment tax challenges. (June 15, 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

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    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


  • ☀️ Hello 🌞 June! ☀️
    Your radiant face, bringing us the start of summer, is long overdue. We need your consistent warmth and a sunny attitude to fully recover from tax season, even one that didn’t throw us too many curveballs.

    via GIPHY


    And let’s be honest. We’re not really in the mood for summer tax tasks. But there are some that do need attention, especially if you got an extension to file back in April. Taking care of these tax matters now can make the coming 2026 filing season go smoothly. Even better, some tax moves can mean you’ll owe Uncle Sam less. So grab your sun visor, and let’s get to them!


  • June 1: Summer conjures dreams of lazy beach days. But for full-time coastal residents, June also brings the start of the annual Atlantic (and Gulf of Mexico) hurricane season, which runs through Nov.  30. Federal forecasters once again are forecasting a more active than usual hurricane season. And while the tropical storm season heats up in August and September, now is the time to get ready.

    Hurricane satellite image

    Uncle Sam's official forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center say we could get 13 to 19 total named storms, which are those with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, meaning winds of 74 mph or higher. Three to five of the storms this season could become major hurricanes; that’s 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 above can help you keep track of how many more days you have to worry about tracking any size or type of tropical storms. You also might want to check out the ol' blog's Storm Warnings collection of special pages with posts offer tax advice on preparing for, recovering from and helping those who sustain damages from the many ways that that weather goes wild.

    June 6: With school out, working parents need to make child care arrangements. Consider day camps. I know, many filled up earlier this year, but check out the options in your area. Not only do day camps offer some supervision of your kiddos while you're at the office, the activities' costs also count toward claiming the child and dependent care credit.

    June 10: 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.

    If you got at least $20 in gratuities in May 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. Use Form 4070 to let your employer know the total tips you took in last month.

    June 14: Happy Flag Day! It's not a day-off-work federal holiday, but Flag Day has been an official day to celebrate the Star-Spangled Banner since 1949. If you need to buy a U.S. flag to fly today, you also might get a tax break. Several states exempt the national symbol from sales tax. Check with your state's tax department to see if you can save on your patriotic display.

    June 15: Happy Father's Day!

    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 father is getting on up in years, take the time when you visit to make sure he doesn't need some added help from you. If you provide papa a little, or even a lot of assistance, there's a chance you could get some help from a couple of tax credits.

    June 16: It's Tax Day again, this time for taxpayers living and working abroad. That includes military personnel posted outside the United States or Puerto Rico. This automatic filing delay until mid-June officially is on 6/15, but is a day later this year because the 15th was on Sunday.

    Today, June 16, also is the one-day-later deadline for the second estimated tax payment for the 2025 tax year.

    June 19: It's Juneteenth. This date marks when Texans finally received word that all slaves were free. And although it is our newest federal holiday, and is celebrated on June 19, not on a nearby Monday, it is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

    Juneteenth


    June 20: At 10:42 p.m. Eastern Time it’s official. Summer is here, arriving on this longest day of the year.

    Summer sun

    It’s also a dangerous season for many who don’t have air conditioning. Many charitable groups help people cope with the heat. If you itemize, your gift to such IRS-qualified nonprofits this summer — or any day in any season in 2025 — could be tax deductible on the tax return you file next year.

    June 30: If you got an extension to file back in April, you don’t have to wait until the final Oct. 15 deadline to do so. You can get this tax task out of the way so you don’t have to think about it for the rest of the summer. You also might be able to file electroncally at no cost if your adjusted gross income (AGI), regardless of your filing status, is $84,000 or less by using the official IRS.gov Free File website.

    IRS Free File; click image for details

    Eight software companies are part of this year’s IRS-Free File Alliance partnership option at IRS.gov. They will be available through the Oct. 15 extension deadline, but again, you don’t have to wait. And if your income is too high, you still can file for free by using Free File's Fillable Forms option.

    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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  • 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 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:
    March-July 2020
    August-December 2020
    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

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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 — Congress and the White House for our tax laws. 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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