Some random, and yes, tax-related, thoughts on a Friday afternoon

January 11, 2008
It’s late on a Friday afternoon of a very hectic week and I’m talking a minute to catch my breath.

Not that I’m complaining about having work. No self-employed small business person is ever going to say too many jobs are a bad thing. But they do sometimes make you want to take a moment and scream.

[Brief intermission.]

OK, that’s out of the way. Now a couple of things I’d like to share.

We get letters, lotsa letters: First, thanks to all the readers who also write, both in the form of posting comments and e-mails directly to me. I hope to get back to each of you, but I can’t really say when.

I know it’s tax season and you have tax questions that you want answered. And you want them answered yesterday.

But tax season is also my busiest writing period and I’ve got clients I have to keep happy. If I don’t, I won’t be able to keep working from home (and blogging), and will instead have to once again schlep to a cube farm Monday through Friday.

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And yes, that’s me there in the picture, slaving away at my home office. And no, I’m not making the photo any larger!

If I don’t get back to you with my thoughts in time to meet your schedule, don’t just sit around, especially if you’re trying to sort through a  complicated tax matter. In fact, if you do have a particularly difficult tax issue, you need to quit surfing and hire a tax professional. This earlier post has some tips on what to look for. That way both you and the IRS will stay happy.

My goal in blogging is to give you some general information and a heads-up on tax and money matters that might impact you. In recent years, with the proliferation of personal finance Web sites and blogs, I suspect accountants and financial planners are hearing a lot of “I read on the Internet that you could … .”

That’s not a bad thing. A good tax or financial planner won’t be insulted if you come to them with questions or suggestions; they welcome informed and involved clients.

By that same token, you need to make sure that you’re getting the best advice for your situation. Take all this good, general advice and suggestions that you find online and, in consultation with your adviser, make sure it does indeed meet your unique financial circumstances.

All of us online financial bloggers are not substitutes for your personal counsel. We’re complements to that person.

So keep reading, and writing, and make sure that when you really need it, you have a tax and/or financial professional you can consult.

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Tax Carnival’s a-coming:
Now about all my fellow PF bloggers. I want to remind y’all that, since I don’t have enough to do this weekend, I’ll be putting together the next Carnival of Taxes.

You can read our last one here. If you have some tax thoughts to share, please send them along via our Blog Carnival submission page, and we’ll try to work them into Monday’s 28th Tax Carnival.

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

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Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

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. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

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