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…

Photo by Amina Filkins …When you start your new business, you make a lot of decisions about how it will be presented to the public. Coming up with the perfect name means customers will take note of your new company and keep coming back. Your corporate moniker also will be key to your business branding and marketing. But there’s another identification component that’s just as crucial. It’s the Employer Identification Number, or EIN, that you’ll need when you comply with the various tax responsibilities you now face as boss. An EIN basically is your corporate entity’s equivalent of an individual’s Social…

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…

Two Hawaiian members of Congress have introduced a bill they say will shore up Social Security’s finances and help ensure recipients of the federal benefits can keep enjoying their birthdays. (Photo by Getty Images for Unsplash+) The federal retirement program’s long-term solvency recently was put under the spotlight by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA’s Office of the Chief Actuary (OACT) found that when the tax breaks in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act are considered, the Social Security’s reserve fund could run out of money to make full benefit payments sooner than previously forecast. To help ease that…

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 Markus Winkler …On April 7, the Internal Revenue Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reached an agreement to share sensitive taxpayer information of undocumented taxpayers. This historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) prompted several high-ranking IRS officials, including the then acting agency commissioner, to resign in protest. The key concern of IRS personnel then and now is the violation of taxpayer privacy. That guarantee of taxpayer information is one of the pledges in the IRS’ Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TBOR). Taxpayers have the right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the…

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.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash This summer has been marked by a surge of flooding, too often with tragic results, across the United States. The latest incident was deadly rain-induced flash flooding in New Jersey. That same system swamped parts of New York City’s subway system. Before that, we had the devastating July 4 Central Texas floods, as well as flooding in North Carolina. But it’s a monsoonal system from last month in central/south central New Mexico that’s now getting Uncle Sam’s official attention. Those storms, starting on June 23, dumped excessive rain, some of which fell along burn scars left by fires…

Before gig work because the popular way to make extra money, a lot of folks relied on their hobbies. One of my neighbors, for example, loves to spend his weekends snapping photos of the many natural areas here in Central Texas. But he soon discovered that he can pocket some extra cash by aiming his camera at weddings, anniversary celebrations, and youngsters’ birthday parties. He doesn’t consider it a second job, but maybe he should. The extra cash he’s making from his avocation is taxable income. If he operates it as a business, he might be able to deduct some…

UPDATE, Thursday, July 24, 2025: Donald Trump today signed H.R. 517, the tax Filing Relief for Natural Disaster Victims Act into law. Photo by Chandler Cruttenden on Unsplash People who endure major natural disasters generally are eligible for a variety of federal relief. That includes the filing and paying of taxes whose deadlines were during the disaster period. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has improved its turnaround in such cases. After that, the IRS then announces its tax relief, including the later due dates. A bill that would speed up that process is awaiting Donald J. Trump’s signature. When that happens,…

Rescue and recovery efforts continue in the Kerrville, Texas, area, which was the hardest hit when the Guadalupe River flooded as the July 4 holiday period was beginning. (Photo by World Central Kitchen, whose volunteers were among the earliest responders, CC BY 4.0) Thousands of Texans are now dealing with the deadly, tragic flooding across the state. My regional backyard, the Hill Country, was the hardest hit. As of today, the catastrophic count from the July 4 flooding is at least 129 killed, and around 170 people missing. Obviously, no one even remotely affected by the disaster is thinking about…

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…

If the White House goes through with its plan to phase out the current federal disaster relief program, states will have to cover more costs of storm damages, like those in Keaton Beach, Florida, when Hurricane Helene made landfall there on Sept. 25, 2024. (Photo: Florida National Guard) Forecasters from both the federally-funded National Hurricane Center and private weather services predicted the 2025 hurricane season would be active. That might well happen since the tropical season that started June 1 runs through Nov. 30. But so far, we’re off to a quiet start. Fewer than forecast storms always are welcome.…

Image by Tabea from Pixabay June is here. Summer officially arrives in a few weeks. Are you ready? Summer’s supposed to be the peak leisure season, but it takes some work. There are vacation plans to make. If you’ve got children, you’re probably ironing out day camp details. And, of course, you have made your June tax moves list, right? Oh, you don’t have taxes on your June to-do list? Sure, taking care of tax matters definitely isn’t the day at the beach you want. But some summer tax moves can help make next year’s filing easier, and potentially less…

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.

Hurricane damage is a constant threat to U.S. coastal communities. But as the storms move inland, landlocked areas also face threats. Get ready before one strikes, or even forms in the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.

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…

You live in a state with a high personal income tax rate. Would you benefit by moving to a low- or no-tax state? Maybe. Maybe not.

Spring has sprung, with the accompanying seasonal focus is on spring cleaning. One of our neighbors is focusing on sprucing up their yard. The pile of dirt in the street, shown in the photo topping this post, is now being transferred to flowerbeds. So, of course, it got me thinking about taxes. While this household and other people on our block pay crews to mow their lawns even in the dead of winter (go figure), landscaping generally is seasonal work. These companies tend to make most of their income during the warmer months of the year. They also are a good…

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.

Retirement can be more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about money. That could happen if some lawmakers get their way and end taxes on Social Security benefits.

Photo by David Guerrero It’s early in the 2025 filing season, but millions of taxpayers have already received their tax refunds. Most of these early filers also instructed the Internal Revenue Service to directly deposit their tax cash. Not only is direct deposit faster — in most cases, the IRS says refunds sent straight to financial accounts get there in 21 days or less — it’s a safer delivery method. You don’t have to worry about the U.S. Postal Service losing or misdelivering your Treasury check. Even better, it takes tax refund mailbox thieves out of the equation. Some taxpayers,…

Photo by Pixabay … The Internal Revenue Service says that most taxpayers get refunds. Good for them. But those of us who end up owing Uncle Sam after we run our Form 1040 numbers have to come up with a way to pay. The easiest way, both for taxpayers and the tax collector, is electronic. Here’s a quick review of six e-payment options available this 2025 tax filing, and paying, season. 1. Credit or Debit Card or Digital Wallet: Paying by plastic is one of the oldest and most popular tax e-pay methods, so Uncle Sam happily accepts our credit…

UPDATE, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025: Yes, that’s green font in honor of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX win last night. I’m taking solace in that it took a Texan, Houston native Jalen Hurts, to lead the Eagles to the title. Did you place a prop bet on last night’s NFL championship game? If it paid off, you owe tax on the winnings. Check out the results of some of the most popular Chiefs-Eagles prop bets. Super Bowl LIX is Sunday. It’s a rematch between the Kansas City and Philadelphia. KC is looking to take home a third consecutive Lombardi Trophy. The…

Doing your federal taxes for the first time? Sorry. But welcome to the taxpaying club. Here are some tips to make your membership easier.

When taxes are too overwhelming, you might be able to get free tax help at a local VITA or TCE site.

Few people like doing taxes, even when doing so will get them a refund.

We’re into the second official day of the 2025 tax season and millions of taxpayers have already filed their returns. This post is not for you.

Tax filing season 2025 officially starts today, Jan. 27.

Your answers to these tax-filing checklist questions can make the process easier, and could save you some tax dollars.

Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel, who is resigning his position, frequently touted the tax agency’s digital transformation plan.

If you used Free File last year to complete your federal taxes, then the 2025 version, which opened today, is mostly déjà vu. The same eight tax software companies are participating. One of them will offer software for Spanish speakers. The main difference this year is that the Internal Revenue Service/Free File Alliance partnership can be used by taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $84,000. That’s five grand more than last year’s AGI threshold, but it still applies to all filers, regardless of filing status. Same 8 software options: The eight returning private-sector tax software companies that are part…

Millions of taxpayers already are filling out their 2024 tax returns. Now they just need to know when the Internal Revenue Service will start processing them.

Another new tax year has arrived. And for the third consecutive year, it comes in on the heels of a year in which we didn’t see any major changes to the Internal Revenue Code

No place in the world is disaster proof. Mother Nature unleashes her horrors globally and year-round via hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires, floods, blizzards and more. This special Natural Disasters Recovery Page, part of the overall Storm Warnings collection of Don’t Mess With Taxes blog posts about disasters and the associated tax implications, provides information on what you can do and where you can get help to recover as quickly as possible when Mother Nature turns into Mommy Dearest. So, since time is of the essence when you’re trying to get your life back after a natural disaster, here are some…

Photo by Pixabay We’re heading into the home stretch, and playoff push, of the National Football League (NFL) season. It’s the most popular sport in the United States. Since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 okayed state-authorized sports betting, the NFL has gained new fans who are more interested in how the games can make them a few, or more, bucks. Currently, 38 states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have legalized some form of sports betting, though not all have implemented it. Now the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) wants to help states…

You have two main deduction options when you file, standard or itemizing. This gobbler duo represents that choice, which you make each year, based on which gives you the most beneficial tax result. You can make sure you make the most of your deductions by having a bunching strategy. (Photo by sterlinglanier Lanier on Unsplash) …Deductions are one way to trim you tax bill. But since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 essentially doubled the standard deduction amounts, most taxpayers claim that set amount instead of collecting receipts and itemizing. That’s the wisest tax move for most filers. But…

Tax turkeys can be costly. The ol’ blog’s Thanksgiving tradition of Tax Turkeys to Avoid looks at fowl tax fouls. The first is ignoring withholding adjustments.

Since the Supreme Court in 2018 let states allow betting on college sports, sportsbook activity, like this in a Las Vegas casino, has pick up substantially.

The IRS faces an annual Tax Gap. This is the amount of tax legally owed, but which the agency is unable to collect. The Tax Gap for 2022 is projected to hit $696 billion.

Tax season is done for most filers. We’ve made it through April’s main Tax Day, and this week’s extension filing deadline.

The Internal Revenue Service in 2024 offered some U.S. taxpayers a new, online, free way to complete their tax returns and e-file them. The option, known as Direct File, is IRS-created and operated tax preparation software. Eligible taxpayers can use Direct File and avoid having to pay for commercial tax software. For the first Direct File tax season, 12 states participated in the pilot. The Treasury Department and IRS evaluated results in those locations and in May announced that Direct File would be a permanent tax filing option. Federal tax officials also invited all the other states to join Direct…

It’s not unusual, especially here in Texas, for undocumented workers to be employed in industries that depend on manual labor, such as agriculture or construction. (Photo by Zohair Mirza on Unsplash) …“They’re eating the dogs” is now forever part of U.S. presidential campaign lore, for worse or worst since there’s no better take. Following Donald J. Trump’s exclamation of a false social media rumor of pet deaths in Springfield, Ohio, during his Sept. 10 debate last week with Kamala Harris, the municipality about half an hour northeast of Dayton has encountered much unwanted attention. It has included bomb threats to…

The Tax Glossary debuted on the ol’ blog in 2007. Since then, it’s gone through numerous updates and formatting changes, resulting in this version, which wraps up with tax and financial terms for U through Z.

The Tax Glossary debuted on the ol’ blog in 2007. Since then, it’s gone through numerous updates and formatting changes, resulting in this version, which covers tax and financial terms form P through T.

Photo by Alan Cleaver/flickrCC …As noted in the first section (tax terms A through E) of the ol’ blog’s Tax Glossary, trying to decipher the Internal Revenue Service forms and instructions is one of the hardest parts of filing your annual return. You practically have to learn a new, tax-specific language. But Don’t Mess With Taxes is here to help. I’ve gathered some common tax terms and phrases and their plain English meanings in this Tax Glossary. Since the tax code is huge — and keeps growing, thanks (no thanks!) to Congress’ continual fiddling — the amount of tax terms…

The Tax Glossary debuted on the ol’ blog in 2007. Since then, it’s gone through numerous updates and formatting changes, resulting in this version, which covers tax and financial terms form F through J.

The Tax Glossary debuted on the ol’ blog in 2007. Since then, it’s gone through numerous updates and formatting changes, resulting in this version. Check it and your tax term knowledge. And let me know if there’s a term you think should be here and isn’t, or you can add to or clarify a definition that is here.

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen speaking at the Austin, Texas, Internal Revenue Service campus Friday, Sept. 6. The Secretary’s remarks included news of progress collecting unpaid taxes from rich nonfilers. (Screen capture from Treasury YouTube video) …The U.S. Treasury’s balance has grown recently, thanks to Internal Revenue Service’s success in collecting from high-wealth individuals who neglected to file tax returns. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel this morning announced that to date $1.3 billion has been recovered from wealthy nonfilers. The new collection effort, kicked off in 2023 and led by dozens of senior employees, focused…

The Internal Revenue Service continues its efforts to get more taxpayers interacting with the agency electronically. The latest move is enhancing business taxpayer accounts. Upgrades for business filers: The business tax account, or BTA, was launched last fall as a way for certain business taxpayers to view and make balance-due payments online. With the latest expansion, an eligible business taxpayer can use a BTA to pay Federal Tax Deposits (FTDs), and see and make a payment on their full balance due. The account is also now accessible in Spanish with more translations planned. Entities that can open a BTA: You…

Working in a restaurant is a first job for many young people. It’s also their introduction to taxes.

The Internal Revenue Service announced today an extension of the current Free File program through 2029.

Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel speaks to students, faculty, and IRS guests at the Kogod Tax Center at American University in Washington, D.C., about the tax agency’s digital transformation plan.

The Internal Revenue Service IRS is expected to process more than 160 million individual and business tax returns this filing season. Through March 15, the IRS had received nearly 71.6 million individual returns. Some taxpayers probably put off filing in the hopes that the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would be enacted by Tax Day. Several of its provisions could help both personal and business filers. Whether that will happen is still unclear, as the tax bill that cleared the House has hit a lot of speed bumps in the Senate. Other taxpayers, however, aren’t that concerned about tax…

The first Direct Filer was a satisfied IRS employee who got a $400 tax refund. However, GOP opponents of the program say it was wrongly established and misspends tax dollars. UPDATE, Sept. 5, 2025: Has your state joined Direct File? Check out this special Direct File 2025 Participating States page. Following a soft launch, the Internal Revenue Service today, March 12, officially opened Direct File to all eligible taxpayers in the pilot program’s 12 participating states. The no-cost tax preparation and e-filing program cuts out the commercial tax middleman, allowing certain taxpayers able to complete their annual filing task by…

UPDATE, Sept. 5, 2025: Has your state joined Direct File? Check out this special Direct File 2025 Participating States page. UPDATE, Monday, March 4, 2024: Attention my fellow Texans and taxpayers in 11 other Direct File pilot states. I got an email today from the IRS letting me know that the program is now accepting returns from eligible new participants. You can find more on this free, direct to the IRS tax preparation and e-filing option in the post below, as well as at the IRS.gov Direct File page. A recent poll indicates most taxpayers support a direct-to-IRS option Direct…

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel speaks at an Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day event as part of the agency’s annual effort to promote the valuable tax credit.

Tax season 2024 officially starts on Jan. 29, and millions of taxpayers are getting ready to deliver their returns that day to the Internal Revenue Service.

UPDATE, Sept. 5, 2025: Has your state joined Direct File? Check out this special Direct File 2025 Participating States page. Feeling adventurous this tax filing season? If you live in one of 12 states, you can be a guinea pig for the Internal Revenue Service’s Direct File pilot program. Direct File will be available when the 2024 tax filing season officially opens on Jan. 29. The participating states are Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. This IRS-offered test of free tax preparation and e-filing will be available via smartphone, laptop,…

There’s so much to see in Florence,  but visitors will have to stay in hotels. This year, the popular Italian destination ended short-term residential rentals. (Photo via Wikipedia Commons) …U.S. property owners are well aware that when their homes are regularly used as short-term rentals, taxes are involved. Now that financial factor is gaining more traction abroad. The short-term rental platform Airbnb agreed last week to pay 576 million euros ($628 million as of today’s conversion rate) to settle a years-long dispute with Italy over unpaid rental taxes. That’s less than the around 779 million euros ($849 million) in taxes…

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told Senate Finance Committee members the tax agency’s new, expansive plans to enforce federal tax laws will include AI to target wealthy and corporate tax evaders.

Labor Day isn’t a holiday for all workers. (Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash) …Labor Day is a day off for many workers. But entrepreneurs probably put in regular shifts this first Monday in September. When your small business depends primarily on you, you tend to work even on holidays. Since you’re busy being the boss, I won’t take up too much of your time. But whether you’re a new business owner or have been the boss for years, it’s always good to stay on top of your tax responsibilities. Here are some tax basics for all of us self-employed…

State programs complement federal tax breaks for energy-saving commercial and residential property improvements. These pups probably would be cooler inside under the A/C instead of atop the condenser. As a general rule, your cooling system works better when you keep the outside air conditioning unit clear of everything, including pets! ….My phone’s battery is being drained by the summer heat. No, not because I’m using it outdoors. I rarely leave my climate-controlled haven. It’s being sucked of power because I’m getting an inordinate number of alerts about how freakin’ hot it is in my part of Texas, as well as places…

Photo by Olga DeLawrence on Unsplash .If you didn’t file a 2019 tax return and missed out on that tax year’s refund, you have less than a week to collect your money. You must file that old tax return, which originally was due on July 15, 2020, to account for COVID-19 pandemic delays that year, by July 17. That’s next Monday. The Internal Revenue Service announced this fast-approaching deadline, and I blogged about it, back in April. You can find details in that post, July 17, 2023, is deadline to claim $1.5 billion in 2019 tax year refunds. But since people,…

Updated, Thursday, May 25, 2023 (more in UPDATE paragraph below) The interior of the U.S. Supreme Court (Photo by Phil Roeder, Flickr via Wikipedia) April is not a fun fiscal month for a lot of us. In addition to Tax Day, when many of us, including the hubby and me, owe the U.S. Treasury a bit, along with an estimated tax payment, it is property appraisal time here in Texas. The last couple of years, that’s been particularly distressing. If we were putting our house on the market like a couple of our neighbors, we’d be happy that we could…

Tax Day comes four times a year for millions of taxpayers. We (yes, I’m one of them) must make these added payments to Uncle Sam. Here’s a look at these added tax tasks required on the 15th of each April, June, September, and January.

When it comes to paycheck tax withholding, you want to get it just right to avoid a bear of a tax problem. Here’s how to make the appropriate changes.