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By the Numbers 2015

January 4, 2015

It’s that time again. The passage of 365 days has delivered a spanking new year. Here’s hoping your 2015 is a great one, tax and otherwise.

…
As has been the tradition here at the ol’ blog for the last four years, it’s also time to start the new collection of By the Numbers figures.

As with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, a new figure — ranging from percentages to dollar amounts to titles of tax legislation to raw numbers and more — that has a tax connection will be featured.

I try to get the relevant figures up each weekend, but sometimes I’m early and sometimes I’m late.

But whenever a new number goes up, you can find the link to it here, with the newest posts topping the list and working back to the first one of the year.

  • 26
    Happy Boxing Day! If you donate to a charity on Dec. 26, or any day, check out your possible tax deduction (Dec. 26, 2015)
  • 43.6 million
    2015 was a record-setting year for MLB’s sin luxury tax (Dec. 20, 2015)
  • $100,000
    Houston-based energy company gives every employee a $100,000 bonus & yes, the workplace reward is taxable (Dec. 11, 2015)
  • £2.5 million
    U.K. targeting adult entertainment tax evaders (Dec. 6, 2015)
  • $2,500
    Small businesses welcome post-Thanksgiving shoppers and IRS’ increased $2,500 tax expensing threshold (Nov. 28, 2015)
  • 15 percent
    Is Alaska getting closer to enacting a state income tax? (Nov. 22, 2015)
  • 7
    7 former IRS commissioners chastise Congress for slashing the tax agency’s budget, urge full funding (Nov. 14, 2015)
  • $6.8 million
    NFL to repay sporting event ‘paid patriotism’ tax money (Nov. 7, 2015)
  • $330,000,000
    Movie and TV production tax credits, trick or treat? (Oct. 31, 2015)
  • 897
    DoJ closes IRS-Tea Party probe, won’t bring charges (Oct. 24, 2015)
  • $3,248,723,000,000
    Treasury takes in record $3.25 trillion in FY15 taxes (Oct. 17, 2015)
  • 77 percent 
    77% of corporations, partnerships e-file tax returns (Oct. 11, 2015)
  • $2,550 
    Time to make your flexible spending account choices (Oct. 3, 2015)
  • 2018
    Cadillac tax changes looking more likely (Sept. 26, 2015)
  • $520 million
    Georgia truckers sue to force fuel taxes be spent on roads (Sept. 19, 2015)
  • 40 percent
    Alabama proposes 40% tax on pornographic materials (Sept. 12, 2015)
  • 89.57 percent
    Donald Trump seeks 90% property tax cut on NY golf club (Sept. 5, 2015)
  • $10
    Treasury Secretaries are fans of ‘Hamilton’ musical (Aug. 29, 2015)
  • 9 percent
    Puerto Rico ramps up efforts to collect online travel taxes (Aug. 22, 2015)
  • 10.25 percent
    City and other local taxes add to overall sales tax takes (Aug. 15, 2015)
  • 1.8 million
    1.8 million must file 1040s ASAP to get ACA APTC benefits (Aug. 8, 2015)
  • 32,421
    FairTax petition fails to get White House meeting (Aug. 2, 2015)
  • $107,140 
    Star scientists prefer low-tax states (July 26, 2015)
  • 5 percent
    Early tax payment ends up costing company (July 19, 2015)
  • 89.5 percent
    Poor tax collection contributed to Greece’s debt woes (July 12, 2015)
  • 2 percent
    Fireworks and taxes continue on America’s 239th birthday (July 4, 2015)
  • $18.8 million
    IRS gave tax-owing companies contracts worth nearly $19 million (June 27, 2015)
  • 27
    Tax identity thief gets record 27-year prison term (June 20, 2015) 
  • $945,875
    U.K. pays a record amount for tax cheat tips (June 16, 2015)
  • 13 million
    H&R Block explores virtual tax preparation (June 7, 2015)
  • 15 percent
    Are we tax sheep? A U.K. collection effort says ‘yes’ (May 30, 2015)
  • $1.6 billion
    F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone fighting UK over $1.6 billion tax bill (May 24, 2015)
  • $7.5 million
    Alabama woman charged with $7.5 million tax identity theft (May 17, 2015)
  • 1,335
    U.S. on pace to lose record number of citizens to expatriation (May 9, 2015)
  • 5-2-15
    A big day for sports gamblers & those taking their bets (May 2, 2015)
  • 1
    Will Michigan voters raise the state sales tax to fix roads? (April 25, 2015)
  • $3.23 billion
    IRS files $3.2 billion tax lien against Texas man, his brother’s estate (April 19, 2015)
  • 13
    Above-the-line deductions offer tax breaks without itemizing (April 11, 2015)
  • $1.25
    Cigarette tax hike seen as way to fill Alabama budget gap (April 5, 2015)
  • 4
    Some Final Four teams could suffer under seat tax proposal (March 29, 2015)
  • $25,000
    IRS refunds $25,000 in fines to Denver marijuana shop (March 22, 2015)
  • $835
    April 15, 2015, is deadline for unclaimed 2011 tax refunds (March 15, 2015)
  • 16
    Federal debt limit March 16 deadline showdown looms (March 8, 2015)
  • 0
    Jeb Bush reportedly won’t sign no-tax pledge (March 2, 2015)
  • 8
    All of 2015’s best picture Oscar nominees got tax break help (Feb. 22, 2015)
  • 38
    More same-sex married couples celebrating Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14, 2015)
  • 12,000
    Get free, in-person tax help at VITA, TCE and military sites (Feb. 7, 2015)
  • 500
    Super Bowl XLIX prop bets are fun and taxable if you win (Feb. 1, 2015)
  • 28 percent
    Capital gains gain in income reporting, but tax hike unlikely (Jan. 25, 2015)
  • 48 percent
    Terrorism, not taxes, rank high on policy priorities survey (Jan. 18, 2015)
  • $405 million
    St. Louis says no added taxes for new NFL Rams stadium (Jan. 11, 2015)
  • 111
    Cigarettes are a bigger tax target than booze (Jan. 4, 2015)

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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