Talking Tax Forms 2022

Broad City image via Giphy.com

It's finally 2022! Here's hoping that unfulfilled wish from 2021 is finally granted this year. You know the one, that we'll finally be done with COVID-19.

Until that happens, though, we've got to muddle through, both life and taxes.

And one thing is always the same when it comes to taxes. There are always forms, and they are always being tweaked.

OK, that's two things about forms. And that second thing, the changes, is why I'm continuing the ol' blog's special page on tax forms. This feature is now in its third year, evolving (like Internal Revenue Service paperwork) from Tax Form Tuesday in 2020 to Tax Forms Fiesta! in 2021.

On this 2022 iteration, you'll find posts that mention, and sometimes focus on, IRS forms you might run across while filing.

Some are documents you have to complete. Others are the statements (or forms) that you'll get to help you file your return.

While I'm filling out this new Talking Tax Forms 2022 page, you can always peruse the forms that were featured in the aforementioned 2020's Tuesdays and 2021's Fiesta!.

Keep an eye out for IRS letters on COVID relief money, advance Child Tax Credit payments (Form 1040 and Schedule 8812; posted Jan. 4, 2022)
Tax statements you need to file your 2021 return (W-2, W-G, 1095 series, 1098 series, 1099 series, Forms 5498 and 5498-ESA, Letter 6419, Letter 6475, and Schedule K-1; posted Jan. 11, 2022)
Final 2021 estimated tax payment due Jan. 18 (Form 1040-ES; posted Jan. 14, 2022)
Free File 2022 is open; 8 companies offer no-cost tax software (Form 1040, state returns, and tax software; posted Jan. 15, 2022)
Standard deduction amounts for 2021 tax returns (Forms 1040 and 1040-SR; posted Jan. 23, 2022)
Recovery Rebate Credit on 2021 tax return could help get missed COVID stimulus money (Form 1040; posted Jan. 26, 2022)
IRS halts issuance of automated 'missing tax return' notices (IRS Notice CP-80; posted Jan. 27, 2022)
A look at EITC changes on this year's EITC Awareness Day (Schedule EIC; posted Jan. 28, 2022)
Personal cash app transfers are NOT part of new IRS reporting rule (Form 1099-K; posted Jan. 30, 2022)
Made a tax return mistake? Fix it by X-filing an amended return (Form 1040-X; posted Feb. 2, 2022)
Tracking down 2020 — yes, two-year-old — missing EIPs (Form 3911; posted Feb. 9, 2022)
IRS suspends issuance of 14 more taxpayer notices (IRS Notices; posted Feb. 11, 2022)
Reporting gambling winnings, other income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040 Schedule 1; posted Feb. 12, 2022)
IRS sending 1099-INTs to taxpayers who got interest added to tax refunds (Form 1099-INT; posted Feb. 14, 2022)
What to do if you're still missing your W-2 (Form 4852; posted Feb. 23, 2022)
No itemizing needed to claim these 25 tax deductions (Form 1040, Schedule 1; posted March 14, 2022)
Owe the IRS? Got a big refund? Adjust your withholding (Form W-4; posted March 17, 2022)
7 ways to pay your tax bill (Form 1040-V; posted March 22, 2022)
11 medical costs that could make itemizing the best tax Rx (Form 1040, Schedule A; posted March 29, 2022)
Simplified home office tax deduction pays off for some small businesses (Form 8829 and Schedule C; posted March 30, 2022)
Options if you can't pay your tax bill in full (Form 9465 and Forms 433-A, 433-B and 433-F; posted April 7, 2022)
April 18 also is deadline to file FBAR foreign assets report (FinCEN Form 114; posted April 8, 2022)
Taxpayers abroad get until June 15 to file tax returns (Form 4868 and Foreign Earned Income Exclusion; posted April 10, 2022)
Maximizing your itemized tax deductions (Form 1040, Schedule A; posted April 12, 2022)
A quick estimated tax Q&A in advance of the April 18 deadline (Form 1040-ES; posted April 13, 2022)
Need more time to file your 1040? Submit Form 4868 (Form 4868; posted April 14, 2022)
IRS won't accept checks of $100 million or more (Form 4868 redux; posted April 17, 2022)
IRS refund late? At least you'll get some interest, which so far has totaled $3.3 billion (1099-INT; posted May 14, 2022)
$163 billion in unemployment fraud run up during pandemic (1099-G; posted May 15, 2022)
NM wildfire victims get Tax Day, other filing/payment deadlines, pushed to Aug. 31 (Form 1040-X; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return; posted May 17, 2022)
5 tax considerations for young workers and their parents (Form 1040 Schedule C; Schedule SE; W-4; posted June 8, 2022)
Taxpayer Advocate urges more tax e-filing options; IRS provides additional electronic 1040-X forms (Form 1040-X redux; Form 1040-NR; posted June 23, 2022)
IRS approves some fake charities. What's a donor to do now? (Form 1023; Form 1023-EZ; posted July 6, 2022)
OK & MT severe weather victims get IRS tax relief, new filing deadlines (Form 1040-X redux; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return redux; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return redux; posted July 8, 2022)
Kentucky flood victims get new Nov. 15 tax deadline (Form 1040-X redux; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return redux; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return redux; posted Aug. 4, 2022)
Missouri flood victims get new Nov. 15 tax deadline (Form 1040-X redux; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return redux; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return redux; posted Aug. 10, 2022)
Educators' expenses tax deduction rises (finally!) to $300 (Form 1040, Schedule 1; posted Aug. 15, 2022)
Welcome federal student debt relief could create some state tax issues (Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt; posted Aug. 27, 2022)
Teachers deserve more than the current paltry tax deduction for classroom costs (Form 1040, Schedule 1; posted Sept. 10, 2022)
Some Mississippi taxpayers get more time to file in wake of Jackson's water crisis (Form 1040-X redux; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return redux; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return redux; posted Sept. 13, 2022)
Feb. 15, 2023, new tax deadline for hurricane-hit Puerto Rico (Form 1040-X redux; Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return redux; Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return redux; posted Sept. 20, 2022)
Texas BBQ joint employees finally get improperly distributed taxable tips (Form 4070A, Employee's Daily Record of Tips; Form 4137, Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income; posted Sept. 21, 2022)
4 ways to authorize a tax representative (Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative; Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization; Form 1040; posted Sept. 26, 2022)
IRS stepping up crypto info and tax collection (Form 1040 tax year 2022; posted Sept. 27, 2022)
New gig economy reporting law could create tax confusion for online sellers of personal property (Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions; posted Oct. 1, 2022)
Texas border troops could face surprise tax bills due to underwithholding error (Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate; posted Oct. 6, 2022)
FBAR extended filing deadline is Oct. 17 (FinCEN Form 114; posted Oct. 11, 2022)
IRS warns that tax refunds in 2023 might be smaller. Here are 3 reasons why (Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions; Posted Dec. 4, 2022)
What to do if your 1099-K is not OK (Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions; Posted Dec. 5, 2022)
IRS seeking new ETAAC members to help it achieve its electronic goals (Form 13768, Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee [ETAAC] membership application; posted Dec. 9, 2022)
Reporting holiday and year-round taxable tip income (Form 4137, Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income; posted Dec. 13, 2022)
Heat pumps get special tax break in Inflation Reduction Act's home energy enhancements (Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits; posted Dec. 22, 2022)
IRS will delay $600 1099-K reporting for a year (Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions; posted Dec. 23, 2022)
Make retirement plans now to claim the Saver's Credit (Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions; posted Dec. 28, 2022)

And if you want more info on other forms not featured here, check out the ol' blog's Forms category. It will show Tax Form Fiesta! entries, as well as other tax documents that I've posted about over the years, with the newest post first. Just keep scrolling.

Today's Tax Tip

Bunch your itemized expenses — There's not a bunch of time left in 2023, but enough to look into bunching itemized tax-deductible expenses. This deduction strategy essentially means alternating each year between your standard or itemized deduction amount. To get a Schedule A total that's larger than your allowable standard deduction, you'll have to pull your itemized expenses into one tax year, or push them into the next, aka bunch them! It takes some planning, calculating, and guesstimating, but when it works, it maximizes all those itemized amounts (and receipts) that are too often lost because they're just not quite enough to claim. (Dec. 8, 2023)
The 2023 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

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

My Other Accounts

Tick ... Tick ... Tick

It's the final
2023 tax countdown!

It's over! We cleared 2023's extended filing deadline, unless you get more time because your filing was affected by a major natural disaster, military service, or some other Internal Revenue Service recognized special situation. If that's you, be sure to check out all the ol' blog's earlier Tax Tips, listed by month just under the old-school No. 2 yellow pencil tip atop this column.

For most of us, though, the passage of Oct. 16 means it's time to focus on the Form 1040 that we'll file next year. In most cases, we have until Dec. 31 to make moves that will reduce our still accruing 2023 tax bill.

The countdown clock below should help us from missing out on making important tax-saving moves the rest of this year. Plus, the Tax Moves below the counter will list some timely tasks to take care of in each of these final 2½ months of 2023.
Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.

Time for Tax Tasks

Ho 🎅 Ho 🎅 Ho!
December is here!
You better watch out. You better not cry. But you better make some year-end tax moves this December or next April 15 could turn out to be the tax equivalent of Santa Claus putting coal in your stocking.

Click image to hear a musical Santa message from Bruce Springsteen.
St. Nick can't deliver a festively wrapped, already prepared tax return for you (unless he's even more magical than I think!) to file next year, but he does have a tax connection. Santa's tracking of naughty and nice boys and girls basically is the same method that the Internal Revenue Service uses. That's why we all need to be nice, especially to ourselves, in this final month of the year by making some important tax-saving moves. Let's get to it!
Dec. 1: This last filing season was more-or-less back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic normal, but if your own personal filing circumstances remained a mess, it's time to act. Maybe you realized you need professional tax help. If so, now is the time to find a tax preparer who can help ensure your return filing next year goes more smoothly. You have lots of options.There's also a December bonus. If you hire a tax pro this month, you might get some year-end tax tips!

Dec. 4: Are you taking on a variety of gig work to make some extra holiday cash? Those added jobs mean you're an independent contractor. And that means you're responsible for paying income taxes due on the money, as well as any self-employment tax. Now is the time to start gathering those records and tallying this taxable income so you're not surprised at filing time.

Dec. 11: If your job, over the holidays or full-time, 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 extra seasonal financial thanks this month for doing your job well. Remember, though, that those tips are taxable income

Whether you're dining at your favorite eatery, or during the coronavirus pandemic discovered you really like getting food 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 November 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.

Dec. 15: Christmas is just 10 days away! If you're still shopping for gifts, you're probably searching for the perfect present online. But beware and be wary. Internet crooks also are logged on, looking to steal your money and identity, using many of the techniques they employ in tax scams. Any personal information they get now can be used at tax time to file a fake return in your name and claim a fraudulent refund. So be careful out there, now and next filing season, and, well, unfortunately all the time.

Dec. 18: Many of us are trying to concentrate this final work week before Christmas. As far as taxes go, it's a good time to revisit your estimated tax situation, especially if you got some money from those previously mentioned gigs. Since these amounts typically aren't subject to withholding, you'll need account for the December earnings in your January 2024 final 1040-ES amount for 2023.
Better to know that amount now, than on Jan. 16's due date.

Dec. 22: It's Christmas Weekend! That means holiday treats, final decorations — or first, if you wait until the very end to get a tree — and frantic last-minute shopping! Rather than worry about how you'll get the perfect gift under the tree on time, consider instead some easy tax-favored gifts. Open a Roth IRA for your child or grandchild who earned some money this year. Or pay tuition for classes that will start in the first quarter of 2024 by Dec. 31. Those college costs then can be used to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve!
No taxes tonight. It's early to bed for kiddies of all ages. Santa's on his way!

Click image to watch
Santa's delivery route as tracked by NORAD.

Dec. 25: Merry Christmas! My gift to you is another day without tax thoughts.
Just enjoy the holiday and your family and friends.

Dec. 26: Happy Boxing Day. This unofficial holiday on St. Stephen's Day is celebrated by additional giving.
If you donate to your favorite charity on this Boxing Day or any other day by Dec. 31, on your 2023 taxes you'll have to itemize your gifts on Schedule A to claim them. The option to claim a limited amount directly on your Form 1040 expired at the end of 2021. What didn't expire is the IRS' tax donation deduction rules.

Dec. 31: This is it. The drop-dead deadline to make most 2022 tax moves. A quick and easy action today is to zero out your medical flexible spending account (FSA) by buying over-the-counter medications for which the funds can be used. This is especially important if your employer doesn't offer a grace period to use the money or let you roll it over into 2024. Without those alternatives, you'll lose any FSA funds you don't use.

Done? Great! Make sure the champagne is chilling and settle in for your New Year's Eve party or a cozy night at home with your friends and loved ones. Either way, cheers and Auld Lang Syne as the ball drops at midnight.

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 Forms 2023 page.

What are you looking for?

Looking for something in particular? Start with the Table of Contents.
Or check out the Archives, where you can review posts by month and category. Or enter specific keywords in the box below to search
Don't Mess With Taxes.

Search

Subscribe:
E-mail, RSS or both!

Enter your Email

Powered by FeedBlitz
RSS

Privacy Policy

Wondering what happens to your information once you subscribe? Don't worry. Don't Mess With Taxes respects your wish not to be a mere data source. Check the ol' blog's privacy policy at the Table of Contents page, as well as on the separate Privacy Policy page.

Affiliate Books

The Truth
About Paying Fewer Taxes
Are you a tax geek? Got tax geek friends? Do you or they just want to make sure you don't overpay the IRS? Then my book, "The Truth About Paying Fewer Taxes," is for all y'all.

Look for it on bookstore shelves
or order a copy (or two!) from
Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Find out more about my book and excerpted chapters at the FT Press
Truth About Paying
Fewer Taxes Web page.
You can read more
of Kay's tax insights in ...

Kay Bell helps you build
a solid tax foundation in
"Personal Finance: An Encyclopedia
of Modern Money Management"

Kay Bell breaks down taxes and
estate planning for millennials in
"Future Millionaires' Guidebook"

A collection of Kay Bell stories
is included in
"The Gambler's Guide to Taxes:
How to Keep More
of What You Win"

Tax Reading Room
You also might enjoy these other tax tips from some of my tax-writing colleagues:
JK Lasser 2023 taxes
Dealing With the IRS
JK Lasser 1001 Deductions
~~~~~~~
Don't Mess With Taxes
is an Amazon Affiliate.
If you click on the product links above and/or buy the items,
I will be compensated.

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.

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 and 2013
Lifetime Achievement Nominee 2020

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.

©©©©© & ®®®®®

Don't Mess With Taxes®
is a registered trademark
of S. Kay Bell.

All content on this site is
© 2005-2023 S. Kay Bell
dba Write Here, a division of
SKB Editorial Services, LLC
And a bit of housekeeping.
Note 1: Some of the links on this site
are affiliate links. That means that
if you click through from
a Don't Mess With Taxes link
and then buy the product,
I receive a commission.

Note 2: Links to outside content
might become inactive due to changes
at the copy's originating website.
If you discover dead links, please e-mail me the details. Thanks.

Note 3: The banner art for the ol' blog
is courtesy Pictures of Money
via Flickr Creative Commons.

Blog powered by Typepad
Member since 11/2005

COVID-19 & Taxes

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
You can find medical coronavirus resource links in the next section.

COVID-19 Resources

Need help finding a coronavirus vaccine in the United States?
Call 1-800-232-0233
or TTY 1-888-720-7489.
More information and resources at:
CDC Vaccines
CDC Booster Shots
HHS Combat COVID
USA.Gov COVID Info

December 2023

..................................................

Photo by Isaac Martin on Unsplash

.................................................................

Tell it to the Hill

While it's easy to rail at the IRS, for the most part we can thank — or blame — our tax laws on Congress and the White House. 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.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31