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By the Numbers 2012

January 1, 2012

Welcome to 2012. This year, the popular By the Numbers feature continues.

As with the original numerical posts, I’ll post each Sunday a new figure — a percentage, dollar amount, raw number and the like — that has a tax connection.

If you miss one of the 2012 numbers, no worries. Links to each item are listed below. This year, though, the newer By the Numbers posts will be shown at the top of the list.

Want more? Peruse the 2011 and 2013 lists.

  • $3,446
    Average tax bill increase if we fall off the fiscal cliff (Dec. 23, 2012; last Number of 2012)
  • $1,000,000
    Boehner offers Obama a $1 million top income tax bracket in fiscal cliff talks (Dec. 17, 2012)
  • 5%
    IRS sued over pulpit electioneering, but few got election messages at church (Dec. 9, 2012)
  • 65 to 74
    Attention Baby Boomers: Your aging parents could be in financial trouble (Dec. 2, 2012)
  • 1
    IRS issues 2013 mileage deduction rates (Nov. 25, 2012)
  • 6599
    Hostess bakery’s closure prompts another try at a federal fat tax (Nov. 18, 2012)
  • 47
    IRS Commissioner Shulman outta here, leaving fiscal cliff hassles to new tax bossd (Nov. 11, 2012)
  • 30
    Voters get their say Nov. 6 on 30 tax-related state ballot initiatives (Nov. 4, 2012)
  • 1,627
    Who’es lobbying on Capitol Hill? (Oct. 28, 2012)
  • 2
    Income tax tables and much, much more missing from annual IRS inflation update (Oct. 21, 2012)
  • 10
    Top 10 tax moments in VP debate (Oct. 14, 2012)
  • 107
    Pastors’ tax break for housing under renewed fire (Oct. 7, 2012)
  • 32
    Religious groups lead the charitable donation category (Sept. 30, 2012)
  • 3
    Romney will file an amended 2011 tax return on Nov. 7 … if he loses (Sept. 23, 2012)
  • 394
    Sequestration’s blunt and indiscriminate budget cuts (Sept. 16, 2012)
  • 1
    Describe the White House candidates in one (printable please!) word (Sept. 10, 2012)
  • 56
    Most Britons say legal tax avoidance by big business is morally wrong (Sept. 2, 2012)
  • 48.9
    Fill up your vehicle soon. Isaac likely to bring higher pump prices (Aug. 26, 2012)
  • 2
    Romney’s tax returns take 2 (Aug. 19, 2012)
  • 6
    Don’t look for GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan’s tax returns either (Aug. 12, 2012)
  • 30
    California’s Proposition 30 would raise top income tax rate, sales taxes (Aug. 5, 2012)
  • $29,200,000
    Art’s value to the IRS, states’ bottom lines and your enjoyment (July 29, 2012)
  • 20
    Bicycling commuters, you might qualify for a tax-free workplace benefit (July 22, 2012)
  • 28
    At least Breaking Bad’s Walter White doesn’t have to worry about drug taxes (July 15, 2012)
  • 11
    Florida counties declared major disaster area in wake of Tropical Storm Debby (July 8, 2012)
  • 46
    Texans, don’t forget the use tax (July 1, 2012)
  • 1.9%
    Tiny, but rich, percentage of Americans would pay more under Obama tax plan (June 24, 2012)
  • $1,900,000,000
    Single dads also get stiffed when it comes to child support payments (June 17, 2012)
  • 1099
    Old debt, uncollectable & not taxable (June 10, 2012)
  • 1
    IRS again eases Offer in Compromise tax payment plan requirements (June 3, 2012)
  • 2194
    Take a pre-disaster inventory (May 27, 2012)
  • 9
    Mr. and Mrs. Mark Zuckerberg and their community property taxes (May 20, 2012)
  • $2,716
    Tax refunds smaller in 2012 (May 13, 2012)
  • 15,000
    Is that charity still IRS approved? (May 6, 2012)
  • 6.25%
    Amazon relents on Texas and Nevada sales tax collections (April 29, 2012)
  • 1,437
    Earth Day 2012: Donating to IRS-qualified environmental organzations (April 22, 2012)
  • 15
    Why is April 15 Tax Day? (April 15, 2012)
  • 9
    The easiest way to cheat on your taxes? Run your own business (April 8, 2012)
  • 39.2%
    U.S. is #1 in corporate taxation (April 1, 2012)
  • 70%
    What made ‘Mad Men’ angry? High taxes (March 25, 2012)
  • 239,271,700
    IRS expects to process 239.3 million tax returns in 2012 (March 18, 2012)
  • 22
    22 hours needed to complete Form 1040 (March 11, 2012)
  • $637
    IRS has $1 billion for taxpayers who didn’t file their 2008 return2 (March 4, 2012)
  • 5
    Most Oscar nominees for best movie made with help from state film tax credits (Feb. 25, 2012)
  • $3.523
    Gasoline prices are at record highs and gas taxes could increase in some states (Feb. 19, 2012)
  • 84%
    Most people say tax cheating is wrong (Feb. 12, 2012)
  • 350
    Super Bowl winning wagers, including crazy prop bet payouts, are taxable (Feb. 5, 2012)
  • 7.67
    Wyoming has best business tax climate (Jan. 29, 2012)
  • $3.10
    IRS saves $3.10 on each e-filed return (Jan. 22, 2012)
  • 15
    Taxpayer rights and responsibilities (Jan. 15, 2012)
  • 17%
    Tax Gap holds steady: 17 percent of taxpayers don’t pay all they owe (Jan. 8, 2012)
  • 8
    Minimum wage increased in eight states but workers probably still EITC eligible (Jan. 1, 2012)
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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-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

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