• Home
  • Table of Contents
  • Tax Tips
  • Credits
  • Deductions
  • Refunds
  • State Taxes
  • Politics/Laws
  • Tax Terms
  • Archives

Don't Mess With Taxes

Translating taxes into money-saving English

Home Table of Contents Tax Tips Credits Deductions Refunds State Taxes Politics/Laws Tax Terms Archives

Weekly Tax Tips 2019

Tax Day is gone, but the tax fun keeps rolling along!

Tax tip pencil

Hallelujah! Tax Days 2019 — and yes, Days is correct, since there were two April deadlines this year — are done!

Now it's time to downshift our tax focus a bit.

Sure, some of us got an extension to file our 1040s by Oct. 15.

And others will likely discover they need to correct an entry or two and will amend their 2018 taxes sometime this year.

But for the most part, it's time to focus on what we can and should do for the rest of 2019 to limit or reduce this year's tax bill.

It should be a bit easier since we just made it through the first filing season under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changes.

And since we don't have major deadlines to meet — just make our estimated payments on time over the next few months and, for many of us, finally finish our extended 2018 returns by mid-October — tax matters aren't so hectic.

So the ol' blog has shifted to our annual Weekly Tax Tips.

Once a week through 2019: As in previous years, a new piece of tax advice will be featured each week, usually each Friday. I know, it's a perfect lead-in to weekend tax reading!

And it's still in the upper right corner of the ol' blog.

Many of the items will be for the majority of taxpayers who are done with their tax year 2018 returns and now are looking for ways to trim this year's tax bill.

A few, though, will be aimed at helping those of us who've yet to file get that job done, especially as October nears.

The once-a-week tax tips will continue, as they've done in past years, until 2019 is a wrap. That will be on Dec. 27, the last Friday of this year.

Also, don't be surprised if a stray weekly tip or two also shows up in the opening week/weeks of January 2020 before I transition to the New Year and the return of the 2020 Filing Season Tips.

But wait. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. There's lots of 2019 left.

So let's get back to this year and the latest round of Weekly Tax Tips. Here goes!

  1. Missed Tax Day? Do this now — Some folks didn't file their federal taxes on April 15 (or 17). If you're among those who missed the deadline and also neglected to get an extension, you need to make these four tax moves ASAP. (April 17, 2019)
  2. Tax record keeping tips — Now that you've filed your taxes, it's time to deal with all the materials, either literally or digitally, that you used to fill out your Form 1040. You should keep most of the documents for at least a few years. (April 25, 2019)
  3. Employee or contractor distinctions — How a job is done makes a big tax difference to both employers and workers. With the trend today toward a gig economy, the variables determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor is even more critical. Here's what the IRS says about making the payroll call. (May 3, 2019)
  4. How kids can help cut your tax bill — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka Harry and Meghan, don't qualify for (or need) them to care for their new son Archie, but these five popular U.S. tax breaks can help us non-royals offset the ever-escalating cost of child rearing. (May 10, 2019)
  5. Form 1040X gives you a filing do-over — Made a mistake on your 1040? Found a tax break you overlooked? Then Uncle Sam's X file, aka Form 1040X that lets you amend prior filings, can help you get the truth about your taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. (May 17, 2019)
  6. Time to assess, adjust withholding — With all the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes, the IRS eased up on underwithholding penalties for the 2018 tax year. That's not happening with our 2019 returns. So now is a good time to examine and, if necessary, adjust how much tax you're having withheld from your paycheck. (May 24, 2019)
  7. Take a pre-disaster inventory — It's hurricane season again. One of the first moves you should make is taking a pre-disaster inventory of your household goods. It will help you file insurance claims and, if the catastrophe is declared a major disaster, you could also get some federal tax relief. (May 31, 2019)
  8. Wedding tax tips — Regardless of whether you tie the know in June or some other month, you'll have some tax tasks to take care of once you get back from your honeymoon. Here are 6 tax moves that newlyweds should make. (June 7, 2019)
  9. Appealing an IRS decision — You and the Internal Revenue Service disagree about what you owe. The tax collector's finding isn't necessarily the final word. You can appeal. Here's how. (June 14, 2019)
  10. 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)
  11. DSIRE-able government help to PACE your summer energy usage — Summer is just beginning, but it's not too soon to think about tuning up your air conditioning system or replacing it with a more energy efficient unit. In some states, PACE loan programs can help. Others types of assistance are tracked by DSIRE, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. And Congress is looking into renewing a tax credit that would provide a bit of a federal tax break for energy efficient home improvements. (June 28, 2019)
  12. Maximizing business meal tax deductions — The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act kept, for the most part, the tax deduction for business meals in the tax code. Here's how to make sure you get the most tax benefit from those work-related dining experiences. (July 5, 2019)
  13. 5 disaster preparedness moves for businesses — Hurricane Season 2019 is underway. We've had two storms so far, with the annual storm number peaking in September. That will be here before your know it. So in addition to making individual storm (and tax) preparation moves, if you're the boss check out these ways to get your business ready for any disaster. (July 12, 2019)
  14. 6 sales tax holiday shopping tips — Sixteen states are holding sales tax holidays this year. If you plan on shopping during one of them, these six tips can help you maximize your tax and overall savings and minimize the mall hassle. (July 19, 2019)
  15. Know your tax notices — The Internal Revenue Service is sending letters to virtual currency owners, but there are lots of other notices issued by Uncle Sam's tax collector. Here's a look at the IRS' most common error and/or payment notices, along with some tips on how to handle them. (July 26, 2019)
  16. Capital gains taxes under the new tax law — The Internal Revenue Service is alerting virtual currency owners of the taxes they owe on that new-fangled asset. But owners of traditional assets who sell them for a profit also face capital gains taxes. Check out what the investment earnings' tax rates are under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and with the latest income inflation adjustments. (Aug. 2, 2019)
  17. 3 popular retirement plans for the self-employed — One of your tasks when you're the boss of yourself is to take care of your business retirement plan. Self-employed workers have a variety of options that can help you save for your post-work years plus cut your current tax bill. (Aug. 9, 2019)
  18. Tax differences of home repair vs. home improvement — Keeping up a house takes a lot of work. In some cases, generally where you improve the property, the effort could help lower or eliminate a possible tax bill. In others, where you simply take care of necessary repairs, you'll make the place better, but without any tax benefit. (Aug. 16, 2019)
  19. Getting tax credit for relatives (and others) — Taking care of a lot of folks? You might be able to get a tax break under the Tax Credit for Other Dependents, which per the Internal Revenue Service definition could include those not technically related to you, as long as they (and you) meet the requirements. (Aug. 23, 2019)
  20. Reconstructing tax and other records — You and your family made it through the storm, but your property took a hit. You need to file for available tax relief, but can't find all the documents you need. The Internal Revenue Service can help with the necessary tax material. Check out these tips on how to reconstruct tax and other records. (Aug. 30, 2019)
  21. Tax help for disaster losses — It's the busiest time of the hurricane season. If you're in a storm's path, you might be able to get some tax help to make your recovery smoother. Losses from a major disaster can be claimed on your taxes next filing season or by amending your prior year's return. (Sept. 6, 2019)
  22. Avoiding too-high taxes on damaged property — What's worse than losing your home to a disaster? Having to pay taxes on the destroyed property. That's why you need to let your local tax officials know as soon as possible after your taxable property was seriously damaged or destroyed, regardless of whether by Mother Nature or some other calamity. (Sept. 13, 2019)
  23. Home basis key in making disaster loss claims — When making major disaster loss claims on your tax return, your damaged or destroyed home's value is key. To arrive at that amount, you must take into account the property's basis. (Sept. 20, 2019)
  24. Don't miss these 4 Oct. 15 tax deadlines — Weather is unpredictable in early fall, but there's one October certainty: the mid-month tax deadline. Here are four tax tasks to take care of by Oct. 15. (Oct. 4, 2019)
  25. Oct. 15 tax extension filing tips — If you got an extension to file your tax return, then you're facing that looming Oct. 15 final filing deadline. These 9 tips can help you get it done on time. (Oct. 11, 2019)
  26. Where's your refund? — Whether you finally filed your taxes on the Oct. 15 extension deadline or got them in earlier, you're now eagerly anticipating the refund you're due. The Internal Revenue Service's online Where's My Refund? tool can help you track your tax cash. (Oct. 18, 2019)
  27. Picking the best workplace benefits — It's the heart of open season at many companies, when employees make their annual workplace benefits selections. Many of the options, such as 401(k)s and flexible spending accounts, provide workers nice and immediate tax savings. These five considerations can help you choose the perks that fit your needs, tax and otherwise. (Oct. 25, 2019)
  28. Tax-smart ways to be done with Halloween candy — Did you over estimate the number of trick-or-treaters? Me, too. But rather than face down that caloric temptation, donate it! It will be welcome by many recipients, your waistline and possibly as a charitable deduction at tax-filing time. (Nov. 1, 2019)
  29. Tax breaks for military veterans — Much of our tax money goes to the military. Veterans Day, the 11th day of the 11th month, is set aside to officially remember and honor those armed forces members who sacrificed, sometimes ultimately, to protect us. But beyond this holiday, there are ways the tax code can help our service men and women, both those still on duty or having competed their obligations. (Nov. 8, 2019)
  30. Inflation's effects on 2020 taxes — Inflation shows up in more than just what you spend at the grocery store. Find out what the higher cost of living will mean to your taxes in the annual look at coming changes to amounts of some popular tax provisions. The revisions affect 2020's income tax brackets, how much you save for retirement in tax-favored accounts, tax-deductible medical expenses and much more. (Nov. 15, 2019)
  31. Seasonal job tax and scam tips — It's seasonal job season. Even the Internal Revenue Service is looking for help this time of year. Just be aware of the tax implications of added work. And definitely don't fall for any employment scams in your job search. (Nov. 22, 2019)
  32. States also offer health insurance marketplaces — The federal health care marketplace is offering plans though Dec. 15. More than a dozen states also provide marketplace options to their medical coverage shoppers. And although the federal enrollment mandate and penalty is gone, some states still require their residents to get coverage or pay a price. (Nov. 29, 2019)
  33. End-of-year tax tips — 2019 is almost over! When you have some time between holiday parties and shopping, check out these business tax moves. Individual filers also will find in this post some links to year-end tax moves they should make, too. Happy holidays and smaller tax bills for all! (Dec. 7, 2019)
  34. Checking out charities — The option to deduct charitable donations has taken a hit thanks to recent tax law changes. But many folks still give, with or without the write-off. Either way, you need to make sure your charity is nice, not naughty. Here are ways to do that. (Dec. 13, 2019)
  35. 5 more tax moves to make by Dec. 31 — Yes, you have a holiday hangover. And yes, you still have to go back into your office as 2019 winds down. But with these last few days of the tax year upon us, you also need to check out these final five tax moves to make by New Year's Eve. Then you'll really have something to toast! (Dec. 27, 2019)

And for all y'all still working on your extension or discovering you need to amend your original 2018 taxes, you can always get filing insights by checking out the 2019 Filing Season Tax Tips that are collected on their own monthly pages: January, February, March and through Tax Day in April.

Advertisements

 

 

Today's Tax Tip

  • Child Tax Credit online filing portal is open again — An online portal that allowed nonfilers to claim Advance Child Tax Credit amounts is back. These families now can use GetCTC to get the remainder of 2021's enhanced tax break. (May 14, 2022)

  • Tax Tip; click pencil for all tax tip links

  • The 2022 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!

COVID-19 & Taxes

  • COVID-19
    Coronavirus has wreaked havoc
    on the 2020 and 2021 tax seasons.
    These three Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes pages have details:
    March-July 2020,
    August-December 2020,
    January-December 2021, and
    January-… 2022
    You can find medical coronavirus resource links further down this column.

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.

My Other Accounts

Advertisements

  • *************

Tick ... Tick ... Tick

  • Tax Season 2022 continues!

    Tax Day 2022 is finally over … unless you're one of the millions who have more time to file — looking at you taxpayers abroad and those in major disaster areas — or you got an extension to file your 2021 tax year return. That's fine. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service appreciates some of us spreading out our filings, especially when we and the agency still are dealing with all the complications of COVID-19 and taxes.

    That's why the ol' blog's focus now is on all y'all still working on returns. But I haven't forgotten my organized taxpayer readers, who are already looking for ways to reduce their 2022 tax year bills. Yep, that amount is adding up, but there are moves you can make. The monthly tips and reminders a little further down this column can help everyone, regardless of which tax year you're working on.

    Those on extension should keep a keen eye on the countdown clock below. It will help you track the days tick, tick, ticking off toward that absolutely final fall filing due date of Oct. 17. Yep, it's a few days later this year.
    Note: I'm in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.


Time for Tax Tasks


  • monthly tax moves


  • May has arrived!
    That exclamation mark is sincere and deserved. You've got to love a month that starts with a celebration.

    May Pole Dance via GIPHY


    After the May Day dances are done, the commemorative days just keep coming. There are well-known ones, like Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day, as well as some more obscure ones, like Visit Your Relatives Day, National Smile Day, and my favorite, Eat What You Want Day.

    But even with all these (and more!) celebrations, there's still time to make some money-saving May tax moves. Let's get to it!

    May 1: While May Day isn't a big holiday in the United States, globally the first day of May is a time for celebrating workers' contributions. But that can apply here, too, in connection with some employment-related tax tasks. If you got a big refund or owed more tax than you expected when you filed (or got an extension) last month, today's the perfect time to do paycheck check-up to determine how you should adjust your withholding.

    May 5: ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

    Feliz Cinco de Mayo

    Fiestas are back this year, as more of us have been taken advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. Still, be careful out there celebrating this Mexican holiday (and no, it's NOT Mexican Independence Day) that tends to spur more festivities here north of the border. Party responsibly, both when it come to the lingering pandemic and imbibing your favorite adult beverage, likely a margarita, which included the cost of state and federal alcohol taxes. Your state tax collector also will raise a glass to your fiscal contribution, since during the pandemic, sin taxes were a revenue bright spot for many states.

    May 8: Happy Mother's Day!

    Happy Mother's Day

    If you're just this year making up for pandemic paused family visits, give your mom a longer 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 while getting some tax-advantaged help from their families.

    May 10: Eateries are still recovering from the challenges of operating during a national health crisis. Restaurants closed, then opened, then closed again. Others relied on and have stuck with take-out and deliveries. Whether you're dining in or still getting food brought to your house, remember to tip your server or delivery person.

    restaurant check tip iStock
    If a tip isn't included in your food delivery charge, click the image above to calculate how much to tip the person who brought it to you.

    As for servers who now are back on the job, remember that your tips are taxable income. If you worked at least some of March at a job where you got gratuities, you need to account for them today if they came to at least $20 last month. Use Form 4070 to report your tips today to your employer.

    May 16: Before the seasonal shift into summer, take care of spring tax cleaning. Give away clothing and household goods you no longer use. Your philanthropy could provide you a charitable tax deduction.

    May 23: Kick spring cleaning up a notch. Go beyond housekeeping and house clearing and make those home repairs you've been putting off. Many home improvements, including landscaping, could pay off in by increasing your home's basis, which means your profit for tax purposes will be smaller and stay under the amount that's tax-free when you eventually sell your home.

    May 27: If you're heading out early for the long Memorial Day weekend that traditionally kicks off summer, be sure to plan for added costs, like the price of getting to your holiday destination. Most of us will hit the highways, so even though gasoline prices have come down a bit, they still will take a bite of our travel budgets. Sorry, it's not enough to get Congress to create a federal gas tax holiday. And if you're renting your home to incoming tourists, be sure to pay the state and/or local taxes added to short-term home rentals.

    May 30: As you honor military personnel this Memorial Day who made the ultimate sacrifice, don't forget about their families. There are some tax considerations offered survivors of lost soldiers, sailors, and air crew.

    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

  • 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 Talking Tax Forms 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.

Sponsored Products

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.

  • TruthAboutTaxes
  • 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:




  • 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 ...

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

Kudos Et Cetera

  • Association for Women Clarion Award Winner
    National Association
    for Women in Communications

    Winner, Best Personal Blog
    2012, 2014 & 2017

  • Plutus Award Winner
    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
    © 2005-2022 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 Resources

  • COVID-19
    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

May 2022

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        

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 — 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.

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



  • .................................................................
  • Don't Mess With Taxes •
  • Powered by Typepad
Top