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By the Numbers 2013

January 6, 2013

Happy 2013 and welcome to this year’s edition of By the Numbers.

As with the 2011 and 2012 numerical posts, each Sunday (most of the time!) will feature a new figure — a percentage, dollar amount, piece of tax legislation, raw number and the like — that has a tax connection.

If you miss one of the 2013 numbers, no worries. Links to each item are listed below, with the newest ones listed first.

  • $401,000
    St. Louis Rams say they collected too much ticket sales tax (Dec. 29, 2013)
  • $27,393.17
    True love’s 12 Christmas gifts cost more in 2013 (Dec. 24, 2013)
  • $0.05
    Tax deductible mileage rate drops by half-cent in 2014 (Dec. 15, 2013)
  • 13,000
    State tax refund debit card data exposed to hackers (Dec. 8, 2013)
  • 80,000
    French heroin dealer facing $108,000 (€80,000) tax bill (Nov. 30, 2013)
  • 1.5
    Oregon to test per-mile tax in place of gasoline tax (Nov. 27, 2013)
  • 8
    U.S. MexiCoke fans fear effect of Mexico’s new soda tax (Nov. 17, 2013)
  • 5,000
    Military families among those affected by food stamp cuts (Nov. 11, 2013)
  • 25 percent
    Coloradans agree to a high tax to get high (Nov. 6, 2013)
  • 319
    Almost 700 IRS contractors owe $5.4 million in back taxes (Oct. 27, 2013)
  • 29
    Budget conference committee members named (Oct. 20, 2013)
  • 4
    4 Oct. 15 filing deadlines: 1 filing, 3 retirement related (Oct. 13, 2013)
  • 20
    Federal gasoline tax celebrates 20 years without an increase (Oct. 6, 2013)
  • 15
    IRS lays out plan to deal with federal government shutdown (Sept. 30, 2013)
  • 7
    7 Internet sales tax principles set for House consideration (Sept. 22, 2013)
  • $284 billion
    Uncle Sam collects $284 billion more in taxes so far in 2013 (Sept. 15, 2013)
  • 43%
    More Americans are paying federal income taxes (Sept. 8, 2013)
  • 12
    Amazon now collects sales taxes in 12 states thanks to Georgia and Virginia levies that took effect Sept. 1 (Sept. 1, 2013)
  • 30 million
    Spaniards hot under the collar after government taxes the sun (Aug. 26, 2013)
  • 17
    Employers in 17 states could face higher unemployment taxes (Aug. 18, 2013)
  • $20
    Lucrative loos’ change leads to toilet tips tax evasion charges (Aug. 12, 2013)
  • 078-05-1120
    Tax-related identity theft: Its growth and IRS efforts to stop it (Aug. 4, 2013)
  • $19.2 billion
    Farm bill subsidies feed America’s junk food appetite (July 28, 2013)
  • 94
    The U.S. tax code is not very attractive (July 21, 2013)
  • 73,954
    The ever-growing tax code, or why we talk about tax reform (July 14, 2013)
  • 1
    Did IRS troubles play a role in delay of Obamacare tax penalty? (July 7, 2013)
  • 6
    Tax auditors’ sixth sense helps them nab tax evaders (July 1, 2013)
  • 3
    Rethinking retirement as traditional 3-legged stool wobbles (June 24, 2013)
  • 8
    Global leaders to tackle tax evasion at G8 summit (June 17, 2013)
  • 179
    Supreme Court gay marriage ruling will affect 179 federal tax laws (June 10, 2013)
  • 35
    California’s landmark tax-cutting Proposition 13 turns 35 (June 6, 2013)
  • 56.5
    Watching races, thinking about deducting business miles (May 26, 2013)
  • $92,724,192
    There’s a new Powerball multimillionaire. Winner, IRS rejoice (May 19, 2013)
  • 2.7
    IRS reports gains in criminal tax, other financial investigations (May 12, 2013)
  • 5
    5 tax tips for Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2013)
  • 25
    Did you get your $25 gift card from H&R Block yet? (April 28, 2013)
  • 20
    World governments mounting global effort against tax evasion (April 21, 2013)
  • 5
    Some federal and state tax filing deadlines still to come (April 16, 2013)
  • $2,790
    Tax returns, refunds running behind last year’s levels (April 9, 2013)
  • 40%
    Supreme Court to consider tax dodge penalty case (April 2, 2013)
  • 75
    Online sales tax a step closer with Senate budget amendment (March 26, 2013)
  • 3
    New Jersey taxpayers could face three-month wait for refunds (March 17, 2013)
  • $3,500,000,000
    Federal workers owe $3.5 billion in back taxes (March 10, 2013)
  • $100
    Taxing environmentally conscious drivers (March 4, 2013)
  • $1.51 billion
    And the film tax credit goes to … (Feb. 24, 2013)
  • 77 percent
    Fewer expected to pay IRS with credit cards this year (Feb. 19, 2013)
  • $161,392
    Man gets $161,392 erroneous tax refund (Feb. 11, 2013)
  • 100
    Happy 100th birthday federal income tax (Feb. 4, 2013)
  • $246
    What do you pay for professional tax preparation and filing help? (Jan. 28, 2013)
  • $4.35
    Is New York’s high cigarette tax rate why the Empire State tops the smuggler list? (Jan. 20, 2013)
  • $850,000,000,000,000,000
    White House says no to Death Star (Jan. 13, 2013)
  • 13
    Congressional triskaidekaphobia (Jan. 6, 2013)

Happy tax counting!

 

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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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