Did you go into shock when you saw how the 2014 tax laws affect you? I couldn’t believe how much of a marriage penalty Congress created. We’re back to the bad old days, when my best advice for folks in the top tax brackets was to get a divorce. Divorce can be good for your [...]
When I explored a career in taxes, I was promised that I could earn a year’s income by working just three or four months out of the year. That was a lie. The truth is, issues come up year-round, especially since the IRS discovered computers. With all the agency’s clever cross-matching programs that now exist, [...]
Your life probably doesn’t revolve around taxes the way mine does. I’ll bet you spend time keeping up with friends and family, enjoying your hobbies, and taking trips—all without thinking about taxes. No matter how full and wonderful your life is, though, taxes still manage to intrude. And if you simply ignore them, they will [...]
Are my Social Security benefits taxable? That sounds like such a simple question, doesn’t it? The answer should be either “yes” or “no.” But I’m talking about the U.S. Income Tax Code, so of course it’s not that easy. In fact, the correct answer is both “yes” and “no.” First let me make one thing [...]
The mortgage interest tax deduction is one of the big perks of homeownership. There’s a limit to how much you may deduct, though, and deducting more than your fair share could put you at risk of an audit. You may only deduct mortgage interest if the debt is secured by your main or second home, [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Eva Rosenberg. Last week, one of my clients forwarded me a letter he received from the IRS. It said that the agency was holding his refund and reviewing his account. As it turns out, the IRS found an extra $40,000 payment he had not included, and his refund [...]
If the tax deadline snuck up on you and your tax return is nowhere near ready to be submitted, don’t worry—you do have options. If you file for an automatic extension by April 15, you can give yourself an additional six months to file your paperwork and avoid penalties for late payments. How do I [...]
In the rush to file your 2013 taxes before April 15, looking out for federal income tax identity theft may not be at the top of your mind—but it should be. Federal income tax fraud through the use of identity theft topped the IRS’s list of the “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2014. An identity [...]
It’s not a great idea to amend tax returns needlessly. The IRS can only audit you for three years after you file a tax return. When you amend a return, however, you start that three-year clock running again. There may be things that you can no longer prove or that are too complicated to explain. [...]
Are you paying too much in property taxes? Chances are your answer is yes. Well, there are three steps you can take to reduce your property taxes. Most homeowners feel overburdened by ever-rising property tax costs and want to take steps to reduce property taxes, though not every homeowner’s taxes are as oppressive as others. [...]
