By the Numbers 2018

January 8, 2018

The new tax year started off with a bang. We finally got, regardless of whether we wanted it, some major changes to the tax code.

Now comes the fun part, deciphering all the changes, determining what impact they’ll have on our taxes and figuring out what we can do to ease any adverse effects.

That’s going to take a while, especially since we still have to file our 2017 tax returns using, for the most part, the old tax laws.

All this means that we’re going to be awash in lots and lots of tax-related numbers.

The good thing about all these figures, though, is that they provide plenty of fodder for the 2018 version of By the Numbers.

This is the eighth year 2017 for this numerical tradition here at the ol’ blog.

And in keeping with the numeric posts of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, I’ll select a new figure.

The figures will range from tax rate percentages to dollar amounts to titles of tax legislation to raw numbers and much, much more. Basically, I’ll choose any and every thing that has even a remote tax connection to be featured.

Again as in past years, I’ll try to get the relevant figures up each weekend. But sometimes stuff happens, meaning the number goes up early or, more usually, late.

Regardless of the timing, you can always find a link to the new number on the ol’ blog’s home page under the multicolored numbers box (pictured on this page, too!), as well as on this special page. The newest post each week will go at the top of the list.

So welcome 2018. Let’s get to counting!

W-4
IRS issues new W-4 for 2019 tax year withholding (Dec. 30, 2018)
800,000
Tax and financial lessons from the government shutdown (Dec. 23, 2018)
200,000
Tesla buyers’ tax break will be reduced in 2019 — if the federal tax credit is continued (Dec. 16, 2018)
10
10 unusual but allowable FSA expenditures (Dec. 9, 2018)
1,660
IRS opens an Instagram account (Dec. 2, 2018)
92 percent
IRS warns of email tax transcript scam containing malware (Nov. 25, 2018)
2019
2019 income tax rates and brackets adjusted for inflation (Nov. 15, 2018)
Nov. 11
Remembering, on 11-11 and always, our veterans’ sacrifices (Nov. 11, 2018)
1 hour
Celebrating standard tax deductions as we turn our clocks back to Standard Time (Nov. 4, 2018)
11 percent
Tax cuts + Trump ≠ midterm positives for GOP (Oct. 28, 2018)
10
States that are tax lucky for lottery winners (Oct. 21, 2018)
3
Some Hurricane Florence and Michael taxpayers get more time to file Oct. 15 tax extensions (Oct. 14, 2018)
16
Few reports of private tax debt collection abuses, but IRS watchdog suggests improved oversight (Oct. 7, 2018)
6
Delusional tax protester deemed competent to face tax evasion sentencing (Sept. 30, 2018)
Sept. 28
Hiding taxable money offshore? You’ve got until Sept. 28 to come clean via IRS’ ‘amnesty’ program (Sept. 23, 2018)
64-33
Charles Rettig is approved as new IRS Commissioner (Sept. 16, 2018)
44.4 percent
GOP law means 75 million won’t owe any 2018 income tax (Sept. 9, 2018)
700
Taxpayer Advocate argues for revised tax-related passport revocation process (Sept. 2, 2018)
1
China considers tax break to encourage larger families (Aug. 26, 2018)
Proposition 13
California’s property tax limits benefit real estate heirs (Aug. 19, 2018)
$1,598,798,442
Amazon’s total tax breaks so far are nearly $1.6 billion (Aug. 12, 2018)
8
8 cool tax moves to make during summer’s last blast (Aug. 5, 2018)
4.1 percent
4.1% GDP is tied to tax cuts and tariffs (July 29, 2018)
$1,750 and $2,400 and $3,200
Some combat-injured vets due tax refunds topping $3,000 (July 22, 2018)
5
National Ice Cream Day is even better in the 5 states without a sales tax (July 15, 2018)
89 percent
Paying taxes is patriotic, say poll respondents (July 6, 2018)
50 percent
IRS commissioner nominee finally appears before Senate panel, but Trump property questions remain (July 1, 2018)
34 percent
Public support of GOP’s new tax law has slipped (June 24, 2018)
72 million
5 tax tips for dads on Father’s Day 2018 (June 17, 2018)
0.49 percent
Auto tariffs could cost low-income earners tax cut money (June 10, 2018)
$1 billion
SCOTUS to decide billions in e-sales tax collections (June 3, 2018)
40 percent
Beer excise taxes across the United States (May 27, 2018)
41.7 cents
California gas tax is target of ballot measure repeal effort (May 20, 2018)
43.5 million
3 Mother’s Day tax gifts (May 11, 2018)
Line 20 Schedule A
No federal tax help for Volcano Kilauea damage…yet (May 06, 2018)
May 4
W&M members demand IRS explain Tax Day system failure (April 29, 2018)
April 19
How did you celebrate Tax Freedom Day on April 19 (April 21, 2018)
17
17 last-minute tax filing tips (April 15, 2018)
40 percent
Cardi B speaks, colorfully, for all of us about taxes (April 8, 2018)
52 percent
GOP tax cuts aren’t showing up yet in most paychecks (March 31, 2018)
$1.3 trillion
A look at some tax provisions in the FY18 spending bill (March 24, 2018)
31
SCOTUS’ online sales tax ruling might not be the final word (March 18, 2018)
1 hour
DST and tax-deductible donations can help save wildlife (March 11, 2018)
20 percent
Oscars’ box-office bump helps increase tax revenue, too (March 4, 2018)
$29 billion
Buffett’s Berkshire gets $29 billion boost from GOP tax bill (Feb. 25, 2018)
10
Know, and make sure IRS follows, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (Feb. 17, 2018)
2,200
IRS criminal agents had another good year (Feb. 11, 2018)
$207.16
Hungry for some football watching food? Your Super Bowl party budget better include party snack taxes (Feb. 3, 2018)
Article 37
Former Patriots QB could be big Super Bowl LII tax winner (Jan. 28, 2018)
$51,001
Shutdown won’t halt passports, but big IRS bill could (Jan. 21, 2018)
$7.4 million
Pharma Bro’s Nazi code breaking Enigma machine auctioned to pay New York tax bill (Jan. 14, 2018)
$211 million
Mega Millions winner gets tax lucky, but professional gamblers lose a bit under new tax law (Jan. 6, 2018)