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By the Numbers 2014

January 5, 2014

Happy 2014! Another year has arrived and that means it’s also time for a whole new set of By the Numbers.

As with the 2011, 2012 and 2013 numerical posts, a new figure — a percentage, dollar amount, piece of tax legislation, raw number and the like — that has a tax connection will be featured. I aim for Sunday posting, but….

Whatever day the new number goes up, you can find a link to it here.

  • 2.3 cents
    Wind power generators get 2014 tax break, but 2015 iffy (Dec. 28, 2014)
  • 61 percent
    Congress gets low marks for honesty, ethical behavior (Dec. 21, 2014)
  • 18.4 cents and 1993
    Gas prices, taxes and mileage deduction rates (Dec. 13, 2014)
  • $46.4 million
    IRS holding millions of dollars in frozen taxpayer accounts (Dec. 7, 2014)
  • 14 percent
    IRS’ positive public perception picking up a bit (Nov. 30, 2014)
  • 30,000
    Possible break in hunt for Lois Lerner’s lost IRS emails (Nov. 23, 2014)
  • 2 percent
    Navajo lawmakers approve 2% sales tax on snacks, sodas (Nov. 16, 2014)
  • 2015
    2015 inflation adjustments for exemptions, deductions, more! (Nov. 10, 2014)
  • $100 million
    Illinois recovers $100 million+ in unpaid gasoline sales taxes (Nov. 2, 2014)
  • $253.39 million
    Dolce & Gabbana tax conviction overturned by Italy’s top court (Oct. 26, 2014)
  • 10 percent
    More businesses are electronically filing tax returns (Oct. 19, 2014)
  • $14 million
    Estate gets $14 million tax refund on value of art (Oct. 4, 2014)
  • $20
    Arizona smokers get tax bills for old online cigarette purchases (Sept. 28, 2014)
  • $5.2 billion
    Identity theft tax refund fraud is increasing, but ways to prevent the crime are not likely to be popular (Sept. 22, 2014)
  • 3
    Amounts you’ll need to calculate your estimated tax payments (Sept. 15, 2014)
  • 3
    NFL 2014 season underway, along with the taxable betting (Sept. 7, 2014)
  • 6.2 percent
    Labor Day 2014 facts, figures, fun and taxes (Sept. 1, 2014)
  • 12
    Coverdell Education Savings Account’s pre-college options (Aug. 25, 2014)
  • $40 million
    Elvis estate seeks tax breaks for Graceland expansion (Aug. 17, 2014)
  • $1.6 million
    Actor Robert Redford sues NY tax office over $1.6 million bill (Aug. 9, 2014)
  • Sept. 8
    Congress is required to take August off. Really! (Aug. 2, 2014)
  • $16 million
    $16 million in tax breaks ensure CBS’ Late Show stays in NYC (July 27, 2014)
  • $1.5 million
    Philadelphia loses effort to collect $1.5 million from strip clubs (July 19, 2014)
  • 1961
    Do you know when you state adopted its sales tax? (July 13, 2014)
  • $846.2 billion
    Tax collectors want us to keep shopping (July 6, 2014)
  • $125,000
    N.C. police discover that some crime does pay … them! (June 29, 2014)
  • 12 cents
    Federal gasoline tax hike among proposals to stave off the Highway Trust Fund’s impending bankruptcy (June 23, 2014)
  • 2 million
    A Father’s Day gift for single dads: 5 tax breaks (June 15, 2014)
  • 29.1 percent
    A look at the wide range of corporate U.S. tax rates (June 8, 2014)
  • 3 percent
    Illinois voters will get a say, sort of, on a millionaires’ tax (June 2, 2014)
  • $3.3 billion
    Federal workers, including members of Congress and Treasury employees, owe Uncle Sam $3.3 billion in back taxes (May 27, 2014)
  • 47 percent
    Rich, poor, middle class: Where are you on the income scale? (May 18, 2014)
  • 10
    All U.S. taxpayers now finally enjoy Tax Freedom Day (May 10, 2014)
  • 4544
    Representatives want to prevent Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling from deducting his $2.5 million NBA fine (May 5, 2014)
  • 46 million
    Electronic tax filing popularity continues to grow (April 26, 2014)
  • $2,751
    How are you spending your federal tax bill? (April 21, 2014)
  • 15
    15 tax-filing tips for April 15 (April 14, 2014)
  • 1 million
    Being DIFferent could prompt a tax audit (April 8, 2014)
  • 200 million
    How much is your tax refund and where the heck is it? (April 2, 2014)
  • $1,500
    IRS offers an easier way to deduct your home office (March 24, 2014)
  • $1.17
    Tax collectors raise a glass of green beer to St. Patrick (March 17, 2014)
  • 49.72 cents
    Daylight Saving Time + gas taxes = boon for tax collectors, but some money-saving options for added daylight drivers (March 9, 2014)
  • 74,608
    Tax code still ginormous, but growth has slowed a bit (March 1, 2014)
  • 96 percent
    Most taxpayers support tax preparer competency standards (Feb. 24, 2014)
  • $3,317
    IRS’ first batch of 2014 tax refund checks averages $3,317 (Feb. 16, 2014)
  • $25,000
    IRS takes a bite out of U.S. Olympic medalists’ winnings (Feb. 10, 2014)
  • $1,250
    Paying taxes on Super Bowl (and other gambling) winnings (Feb. 3, 2014)
  • $379 billion
    Mortgage tax break contributes to fading American dream (Jan. 28, 2014)
  • $4 billion
    $4 billion more tax breaks for Boeing from Washington State (Jan. 21, 2014)
  • $16 million
    California has $16 million in undeliverable 2012 tax refunds (Jan. 14, 2014)
  • $117,000
    Social Security taxable earnings cap in 2014 is $117,000. Thousands have already hit that tax limit. (Jan. 5, 2014)

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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