Taxes

Taxes are complicated. You would think that if the government wanted to make sure everyone paid their taxes, they would make it easier to file. You would also think that the internet would make it easy to file online with but a few clicks. There is a whole industry – from Turbo Tax to HR… Read More

Identity theft is a major problem during tax season. Tax identity theft traditionally occurs in one of two ways. The first situation arises when someone files a fake tax return using your social security number in an attempt to steal your refund. The second situation arises when someone has used your social security number to… Read More

Too many people make the mistake of trashing their tax paperwork right after they file their taxes. They take the time to organize everything in order to complete their taxes online or with a personal accountant, so that they can file on time and, hopefully, get a refund. But then as soon as they’re done,… Read More

In 2018, the IRS issued some 100,000,000 tax refunds. The average check was for just under $3,000. For many people, a tax refund is an important part of their year, financially. People count on it and often use it to treat themselves in a way they otherwise would not. But there are good ways and… Read More

Taking deductions on your taxes has always been a complicated endeavor. But the recent tax law passed by Congress in 2017 tried to make the process far simpler for most people. To do this, they raised the “standard deduction” to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples filing together. This means that there… Read More

Should you hire someone to do your taxes or should you do them yourself? That is a question many people confront each year around this time. And it helps to have a few experienced professionals weigh in on the answer. This recent article from MoneyNing deals directly with the question at hand, and provides some… Read More

There has been a lot in the news recently about tax brackets – both because it is tax season and because tax policy is back in the news. Confusingly, many of those pieces featured on cable news programs are either factually incorrect or misleading. Which is why this new article from The Simple Dollar is… Read More

Do you know when your taxes are due? Or what happens if you have to miss that deadline?  Before filing taxes, it is critical that everyone know as much as they can about the basic terms, concepts and best practices that can help you earn a larger refund, or reduce the amount you owe. This… Read More

During tax season, it is helpful to understand all of the different tax breaks and deductions aimed at middle and working class families. Often, we don’t know all of the different deductions for which we qualify, and that can mean overpaying. Sandra Block and David Muhlbaum, writing for Kiplinger.com, have put together a collection of… Read More

We are getting to that time of year when the major tax software companies begin to bury us all in their advertising. The three biggest companies – TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct – all offer a free option. But they just use that to get you hooked, hoping that you’ll opt instead for one of… Read More