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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.

The almost two dozen above-the-line tax deductions get some company this filing season. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added four below-the-line deductions. And in all cases, the tax breaks are available to eligible taxpayers regardless of whether they itemize or claim the standard deduction.

It’s always disconcerting to find a letter from the Internal Revenue Service in your snail mailbox. But don’t panic. That’s just one of the 10 steps to successfully handle any IRS notices you might get.

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.

sports pays off for tax collectors too

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.

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.

The IRS has its own version of Groundhog Day for taxpayers who must correct prior erroneous filings. It’s called filing an amended tax return using Form 1040-X.

February 1, 2026
"Bold metal letterpress blocks spelling 'TAX TIPS' on wooden shelves, symbolizing financial advice and tax preparation guidance."

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.

January 2, 2024

February is for tax lovers. OK, more like tax refund lovers. February is the shortest month of the year, but it’s full of holidays, official and otherwise. There’s Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day and Washington’s Birthday and Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday and Chinese New Year. The list goes on and on. Then there’s Sunday, Feb. 11. That day the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers face off in Super Bowl LVIII to decide the NFL championship. This biggest single sporting event in the United States also is major gambling day worldwide. And, on a more substantive note, all…

February

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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November 4, 2026

Thanks to Nov. 3 midterm election wins Democrats will control both the House and Senate…

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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.)