While some put prediction markets on par with psychic readings, millions disagree, buying contracts on anything, including sports outcomes. A gaming trade group says that’s no more than illegal, unregulated sports betting. And that it costs states needed tax revenue.

Definitely take a break this June. But taxes don’t take vacations. So, you also should make time for some tax tasks. Some will keep you out of tax trouble. Others could mean tax savings.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified on Capitol Hill that the anti-weaponization fund was dead, but Donald Trump’s tax amnesty remains.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers that are open on some Saturdays won’t have flashy signs like this. But their services will be available to taxpayers who can’t make weekday meetings. The next special weekend open day is May 30.

Emotions have always run high at spelling bees, as this Norman Rockwell painting shows. While this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee competitors are facing off, it’s good time to brush up on tax terminology.

The $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, part of a deal to end Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, is roiling Capitol Hill. Critics are worried that people convicted of crimes when they stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and since pardoned by Trump would be eligible for payouts.

Donald Trump and singer Shakira both got good tax news. In the U.S. case, the president’s pending audit troubles are over. The international pop star was acquitted of Spanish tax evasion charges.

A key IRS job is ensuring taxpayers comply with the law. A new tax watchdog report says the agency needs to pay more attention to its federal colleagues. More than 571,000 current federal and retired employees owed approximately $6.3 billion in delinquent taxes over fiscal years 2021 through 2024.

You and your local property appraiser probably have different views of your home. You can appeal a real estate appraisal you believe is incorrect. Doing so could help lower your final property tax bill.

Gas taxes are a top concern of drivers right now. But if you’re pumping the fuel into a rental vehicle, that’s just one of many taxes you’ll face. Half your rental car bill may be taxes and fees, according to research by a tax policy group.

High gasoline prices have prompted talk of gas tax holidays, at both the federal and state levels. But the suspension of fuel excise taxes likely wouldn’t help drivers that much.

COVID was a major disruption in many parts of our lives, including taxes. Many Americans paid IRS penalties or interest during the 3½-year pandemic period. Now a federal court says those charges weren’t valid, meaning taxpayers could get the money back if they file a claim by July 10.

Owners of successful small businesses have to deal with a lot of challenges. Tax scams are a major threat. The latest schemes are again a focus during National Small Business Week 2026.

The Internal Revenue Service has sent more than 830,000 taxpayers a notice asking for their bank information so that their refunds can be directly deposited. But scammers also are sending out a fake IRS notice, seeking people’s bank data for nefarious purposes.

If you’re a U.S. citizen, it doesn’t matter where in the world you earn your money. The IRS gets some of it. But it also offers tax breaks, like added housing allowances for expensive overseas locales.

Artificial intelligence advocates say the technology can help the Internal Revenue Service find and collect from tax cheats. But those wary of AI say that will happen only if the agency has enough well-trained personnel to ensure the system is used responsibly.

When you owe taxes but can’t pay your bill in full, the Internal Revenue Service offers a variety of debt settlement options. Now, the agency has a new online Tax Debt Help tool to help you determine which of its payment options works best for you.

You’ve filed your taxes. Now it’s time to take care of your tax records. Here’s a look at what tax documents to keep and for how long.

Everyone needs money. Most of us get the cash to cover our lives’ expenses via a salary. But Ray Madoff, a tax professor at Boston College Law School, says salaries are for suckers.

Filing taxes takes a lot of reading. But now with Tax Day behind us, we can read about taxes and money for fun. Here are some suggestions.

The annual April 15 federal tax return filing deadline doesn’t apply to all U.S. taxpayers. Tax Day is June 15 for taxpayers living and working abroad, including military personnel posted outside the United States or Puerto Rico. Residents of major natural disaster areas also get more time to file, and in some cases pay what they owe.

It’s crunch day for millions of taxpayers. In addition to finishing their current tax return, many have other April 15 tax tasks to complete. It all adds up in dollars and time.

If you’ve put off your tax filing until the very last minute, don’t panic. You still have (a little) time to finish. But get to work on that return or filing extension request. Now!

If you owe taxes, paying Uncle Sam electronically is a fast and easy way to go. Most who e-pay the Internal Revenue Service do so via credit or debit card. But there are other electronic ways to pay your tax bill. Here are six options.

As Tax Day nears, scammers are in high gear. Crooks are using fake tax-related email, texts, and phone calls to try to steal your tax and financial data. Don’t fall for any of it!

Owe the IRS, but don’t have the money? A payment plan could be the answer. The Internal Revenue Service offers a variety of ways to pay your tax bill over time.

The annual Tax Day filing deadline is fast approaching. You can get more time to file by requesting an extension. Just be sure to pay what you owe. Here’s how to do both.

The key April 15 tasks are filing your return and paying any due tax. But there are some other tax responsibilities that must meet the Tax Day deadline.

Some taxpayers intentionally push the filing envelope. Others simply make claims that have long caught the IRS’ eye. Here are 11 instances that could be red flags for a tax auditor.

The IRS has long sought the ability to regulate certain paid tax preparers. A new GAO report supports that effort, which it says can protect taxpayers and ensure integrity the filing system.

The longest-ever government shutdown mainly affected Department of Homeland Security agencies, including airport security check staff. As it appears to finally be winding down, Tax Day for affected federal workers is pushed from April 15 to May 15.

April brings not only spring showers for thirsty flowers, but also several tax tasks. Here are six April tax moves to consider.

It’s April, the month that’s the traditional home of Tax Day. But in addition to the annual filing of tax returns, there are plenty more tax-related tasks to take care of this month.

Celebrating a birthday is fun. It also can mean tax tasks for older partiers who must take a required minimum distribution, or RMD, from a tax-deferred retirement account. One of those deadlines is April 1.

The IRS apparently messed up its numbers when it came to Direct File’s costs. A new TIGTA report says the agency overestimated its free tax prep and filing option’s 2025 fiscal expenses by $45 million.

When brackets come up in March, sports fans immediately think NCAA college basketball tournament. But we tax folks know each spring is all about tax brackets and what they mean for our annual tax bill.

You’ve got most of the tax material you need to file, but a few are missing. Here’s how to track down that info so you can file on time.

The IRS has no plan on how to reduce its taxpayer correspondence backlog, which remained above pre-pandemic levels last year. A new government watchdog report warns that the accumulation could hamper the agency’s other taxpayer services.

If you didn’t file a tax year 2022 return back in 2023 and were due a refund, time is running out for you to get your money. April 15, 2026, is the deadline to submit that old filing to the Internal Revenue Service and claim your cash.

Taxes are confusing and frustrating. That’s why we all sometimes make filing mistakes. Here are 11 tax-filing errors to be aware of so you don’t make them.

Don’t cheat yourself this Tax Day by overlooking tax deductions and credits that could cut what you owe Uncle Sam.

Seattle, Washington, is home to high tech millionaires who now are the target of the Evergreen State’s new wealth tax. The levy will effectively bump the Evergreen State from the current nine-member no-individual-income-tax club.

Getting your paycheck tax withholding amount just right pays off at tax-filing time and throughout the year with your pre-filing cash flow. The IRS’ newly updated tax withholding estimator can help.

An executive order mandating Uncle Sam primarily make electronic financial transactions has caused tax refund delays for more than 800,000 taxpayers (so far) this filing season.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) don’t help with filing, but offer guidance on other federal tax matters. This year, the IRS is again expanding TAC weekday hours and opening some centers on select Saturdays.

Tax filing season is also peak time for tax scams. Be on the lookout for and avoid falling victim to the IRS’ 2026 list of Dirty Dozen tax scams.

Free is always welcome. That’s especially true at tax time, when taxpayers look for no-cost help to prepare and file their returns. Here are some free tax filing options.

Here are some March tax moves that can work for both tax lions aggressively attacking their returns, as well as tax lambs who prefer a more docile approach.

March is the last full month of the annual high tax season. Here are tax tips to help your get your return done by April 15 Tax Day.

Saving now can make for a better retirement later. The Trump administration is proposing a new retirement vehicle. But the existing Saver’s Credit could help you this tax filing season.

Taxes are confusing. But what if you can’t afford a tax professional to help you file? The people who staff VITA and TCE sites across the United States could be your low- or no-cost tax preparation answer.

The only thing worse than waiting for telephone help is waiting for IRS tax help. Avoid the delay and hold music by using the IRS.gov assistance options, including those available with an individual taxpayer online account.

Married couples share almost everything, including taxes. For most, sharing taxes by filing a joint return is the best tax strategy. Here are six ways married filing jointly can pay off for wedded pairs.

California gets a fiscal boon from the jock taxes owed by Super Bowl LX teams. But this nonresident tax, which other states also collect, applies to more than just athletes.

As Super Bowl LX’s kickoff nears, fans of the game and related event activities like Bad Bunny’s halftime performance, are placing their prop bets. If any of these wagers pay off, you’ll owe tax on the gambling income.

Bettors are expected to place a record $1.76 billion in legal wagers on Sunday’s NFL championship game. Any of those Super Bowl bets that pay off are taxable income.

Sure, February is home to Valentine’s Day, but millions of Americans’ thoughts turn not to love, but taxes. This shortest month is a big one for taxpayers. Here are 3 tax moves to help with your return filing and tax refund.

February is for tax lovers. OK, from the tax perspective, it’s really more for lovers of “let’s just be done with tax filing” this month. And even though it’s the shortest month, there’s a lot you can do to cut your tax bill.

Nobody likes filing a tax return, so why should someone who isn’t legally required to file go ahead and send the IRS a Form 1040? The #1 reason is because it might get you a tax refund. Check it and five other situations where filing, even if you don’t have to, can pay off.

Do you have to file a tax return? Probably. Not much is out of IRS’ reach. But in some cases, Uncle Sam lets folks off the tax-filing hook. Here’s a look at what determines whether you must file a Form 1040.

What do you get when you mix crypto currency, a criminal tax investigation, and political access? Apparently, the end of the tax evasion case against Roger Ver, aka Bitcoin Jesus.

Taking your time often is a good idea when it comes to tax filing. A slower, more deliberate approach to your 1040 can help ensure it is completed and filed correctly.

Tramell Tillman shows off his award-winning acting (and dancing skills) as Seth Milchick in “Severance.” In real life, Tillman also provides some solid social media tax advice.

You’re ready to file your Form 1040, but don’t do it until you’ve received all your official tax statements. Here’s a look at the myriad tax documents, most of which you should receive by the end of January, that will help you file a complete and accurate return.

You don’t have to be a fortune teller to know that sometimes the best tax move is to file your return early. Here are 7 reasons why it’s good to get your Form 1040 to the IRS as soon as possible.

Take a close look at your 2025 tax return. New tax laws created by the One Big Beautiful Bill could provide you with added savings this filing season. Here are 8 to check out.

If you get income that’s not subject to withholding, you must cover the tax due by making estimated tax payments. The last one for the 2025 tax year is due Jan. 15, 2026. Yes, that is Thursday.

If you used IRS’ Free File last year to complete your federal taxes, then it’s tax déjà vu time. The same eight tax software companies are back for the 2026 tax season. You can use Free File if your 2025 income was $89,000 or less.

The 2026 tax filing season begins Jan. 9 for Free File eligible taxpayers. The full start is Jan. 29, the day the IRS will start processing our 2025 tax year returns.

These snow-obscured signs aren’t much help, but the ol’ blog, basking unseasonably warm January temperatures here in Central Texas, has some tax guideposts to help to help welcome the new 2026 tax year. (Photo by Christina & Peter)

Happy New 2026, a year that brings us more than one, and in some cases not so beautiful, retroactive changes to our 2025 taxes. Plus, some of the those tax breaks that politicians hope will popular are temporary. So, buckle up. It’s time again for taxes!

If you don’t file or pay your taxes on time, you could end up owing the IRS more due to penalties. Some tax penalties are set; others changes every year due to inflation. Here’s a look at the 2026 amounts.

The IRS’ venture into the tax software and e-filing sphere is over. Despite positive reviews, the agency has officially ended Direct File, its proprietary, no-cost tax preparation program.

Residents of parts, and in some cases, all of these states dealt with real-life scares earlier this year. This post-Halloween weekend, they are facing a Nov. 3 disaster-delayed tax filing due date.

Millions of Americans receive Social Security benefits. But plenty also pay tax on that money, at both the federal and state levels. Nine states join Uncle Sam in taxing at least some of the federal retirement benefits.

Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing: IRS communications can be confusing. A rare bipartisan measure to make math error notices clearer was approved by Congress and awaits presidential signature.

Did you put off filing your 2024 tax return back in April? Well, your absolutely final tax deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 15. Here are some last-minute extended filing tips.

The IRS’ 34,000 furloughed employees are facing some financial challenges. Their situation also offers us nonfederal workers tips, including tax-related ones, on preparing for similar fiscal crises.

Uncle Sam’s offices are closed because of a political fight over tax help for Affordable Care Act enrollees. Here’s a look at the tax break, who’s affected, and how the tax break battle might end.

Photo by Vlad Chețan October traditionally is the scariest month, and I’m not just talking about the terror that strikes when you run out of candy on Oct. 31 while young ghouls and goblins are still roaming your neighborhood’s streets. There’s also the coming colder weather, which sends a chill along the spines of those like me who prefer warmer weather. And, of course, there is the absolutely final tax filing deadline to meet by Oct. 15 or face late-filing penalties if you discover you didn’t pay enough when you got the Form 1040 extension. This year, the tax deadline has…

Football season is in full swing in the United States. College and professional games fill the television screens of fanatic American fans. The matches also are of interest to gamblers.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash   The Labor Day holiday is a time to reflect on and celebrate the history of organized labor in the United States. Much of what we workers take for granted, from the five-day workweek to workplace safety to many of our employer-provided benefits, are thanks to the work of labor unions and their members. Nowadays, however, many of us (including me) are our own bosses, often as solo workers. Many of us work full-time as sole proprietors. Others have side jobs to supplement their wage-paying work. Being the boss of any type of one-person…

Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard via Giphy Republican members of Congress returned to their districts this month, but some of their town hall meetings to tout the advantages of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act have not been that successful. It seems that many Americans don’t really like the bill, despite its continuation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 individual tax rates and larger standard deduction amounts. Even some of the temporary tax benefits aimed at lower-to-middle-class workers have not been enough to sway the public’s perception. One of the issues is how the OBBB favors…

Multilingual services are on the chopping block following Donald Trump’s March 1 executive order designating English as the United States’ official language. But ending multilingual IRS services could have a large tax cost.

New tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act mean some employees will be eligible for tax deductions related to tip income and overtime compensation.

 Getty Images for Unsplash+ … It’s no secret that Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other Trump administration efforts to scale back the size of the Internal Revenue Service is likely to make tax cheating easier. Reports on tax personnel terminated earlier this year show that almost a third of lost staff were revenue agents, the IRS employees who conduct audits. But some Republican members of the House tax-writing committee say artificial intelligence (AI) can help fill this tax examination gap. Ways and Means Vice Chair Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, and W&M Oversight Subcommittee Chair Rep. David Schweikert of…

There can be tax ramifications when a marriage sours. A bipartisan bill would offer abused spouses more protections, including new tax-filing options.

    NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterImage: Reto Stöckli | Enhancements: Robert Simmon | GIF conversion: Jahobr | Public domain/Wikimedia Commons  No, it is not your imagination. August arrived on an accelerated timetable, and Aug. 5 will be one of the shortest days on record. Okay, the difference in the Earth’s increased spin rate tomorrow, like it was on July 10 and 22, will be only a few milliseconds. But small changes can have dramatic effects when it comes to scientific and tax matters. So, before we literally lose more time, here are six tax moves to consider this August.…

If you get 1099 forms for income you earn as an independent contractor and/or from third-party settlement organizations, then the One Big Beautiful Bill has some good news for you. The previous higher earnings triggers are back.

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs  Tax law changes, even when they benefit you, can be frustrating. Not only do we have to get up to speed on what’s new, we have to know when they take effect. Generally, making tax laws retroactive is, at best, sloppy tax policy. When it’s done late in a tax year, it can scramble tax moves that the new laws might necessitate. But our tax planning problems sometimes aren’t top of mind for Congress. They too often go ahead and make a tax law effective back to the start of a tax year, even at…

Donald J. Trump has been musing lately about making one of the best tax breaks for homeowners even better.

When Congress messes with the tax code, it’s good for one group: tax professionals. All the changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill mean that help from reputable tax advisers are needed more than ever.

Donald J. Trump signs the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with its many tax provisions, into law during a July 4th ceremony at the White House. (Credit: White House Facebook photo) America’s birthday party is over, but we taxpayers are still unwrapping the tax law gift that the Republican-controlled Congress and Trump administration gave us on July 3. While beauty is in the eye of the tax-advantaged beholder, there’s no disputing the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, officially known as H.R. 1, is big. It’s almost 1,000 pages. Among them are beau coup tax provisions — old, tweaked, and…

A new Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report found the IRS could leverage artificial intelligence to improve its audit processes.

You filed your tax return on April 15, and today a letter from the Internal Revenue Service showed up in your snail mail box.

It doesn’t matter what kind of filing system you use to keep your tax records, just pick one and use it. You’ll be glad you did if the IRS ever questions one of your tax returns.

Photo by Belle Co … We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over for most of the country’s 140 million or so individual tax return filers. Now what? First, take a minute or more to celebrate being done with this annual tax obligation. Then, start thinking about taxes again. Wait! Come back! You did click over here, after all. And to reward your post-Tax Day curiosity, here are seven tasks you should consider. I promise they aren’t that difficult. 1. Adjust your paycheck withholding. Your tax goal each year should be for your paycheck withholding to cover as closely…

As you’re finishing up your tax return, take another look to see if any of the 10 situations items show up on your Form 1040. They are red flags that trigger trained Internal Revenue Service examiners.

Photo by Ksenia Chernaya     While Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel are looking for Social Security benefits they believe were fraudulently sent to very old, probably deceased individuals, Uncle Sam’s official tax watchdog has a different take. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) recently examined situations where Uncle Sam owes taxpayers who passed away. TIGTA found, in its report 2025-IE-R12 issued March 12, that “Improvements Are Required to Promptly Validate and Issue Manual Refunds Associated With Deceased Taxpayers.” Overall, TIGTA’s analysis found that in the more than 440,000 final filings it reviewed, survivors were owed a total…

You were really counting on your tax refund, but the amount the Internal Revenue Service sent you was less than you expected. Welcome to the world of tax offsets.