The only thing worse than having to deal with IRS questions about your tax account is having those questions prompted because you fell prey to a tax scam. Here are some current scams and general red flags to help you avoid them.
Some ghosts this Halloween are cool trick-or-treaters. But when it comes to taxes, beware of ghost preparers.
Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits, some of which also offer tax savings, they want for 2027. It can be confusing and time-consuming. Answering these questions about what you need or want can help you decide.
Happy Halloween! Time for ghosts, ghouls and, in many cases, taxable candy treats. Here’s a look at the various levies states apply to different types of confections.
Tax and financial documents are needed to file claims after major disasters. If they are damaged in the catastrophe, you’ll have to recreate them. Here are some ways to do that.
Tax reform changes to the adoption tax credit meant some families didn’t get the new law’s full benefit when they filed this year. Now the IRS is sending them their refunds, which could be as much as $5,000.
Just 2½ months left in 2026. Time to start making tax plans and moves to help cut this year’s accruing tax bill. A good place to start is with the ol’ blog’s tax tips!
A multi-agency law enforcement effort has swept up more than 70 alleged tax fraudsters. Federal officials say the initial National Tax Enforcement Surge exposed efforts to cheat taxpayers of $490 million.
The Social Security Administration has announced that retirees will get bigger checks in 2027. And higher-earning workers will pay tax on more of their income to help support future federal retirement benefits. Here’s a look at the cost-of-living tax implications in all these instances.
Time is almost up for taxpayers who got an extension to file their annual tax returns. The Oct. 15 deadline is this Thursday.
A new Government Accountability Office report says that tax fraud likely costs the U.S. Treasury anywhere from $116 billion to $304 billion a year. It has some suggestions as to how the IRS can help reduce these losses.
Reconciling expenses is a challenge for many senior citizens. Some on original Medicare are getting a bit of help this week thanks to an unexpected $90 payment from Uncle Sam. The question now: Is it taxable income?
Senate Finance Committee Democrats have written the IRS’ CEO asking him to nix the agency’s proposed Form 1040 citizenship and work authorization question.
We all need a helping hand now and then. The volunteer tax help programs VITA and TCE do that each tax season for those who can’t afford to pay a professional preparer.
When tornadoes or other major disasters strike, the IRS usually provides affected taxpayers tax relief. That generally includes new, later deadlines, even for tax returns on extension.
October traditionally is the scariest month, and not just because of Halloween. Millions of tax procrastinators face the Oct. 15 deadline to file their extended tax return. Get tips on doing that, along with four other tax moves to make this October.
Spooky October is here, but there’s no need to be afraid of taxes. This month’s tax tips can help ease your tax fears while keeping Uncle Sam from getting so much of your money.
In addition to electing lawmakers on Nov. 3, voters across the United States will see some policy questions on their ballots. The results could affect their state and local taxes.
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…
Whoa up there, cowboy. We’re not there yet. Brett Eldredge via Giphy I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you want more tax tips. But as the animated fellow above notes, we’re not there — there being October 2025 — yet. Rest assured that once the calendar page flips to Oct. 1, this page will start filling up with tax information to help you file your 2024 tax return or make moves to save on this year’s taxes. And yes, you can click on November and December tax tip links, too, in the monthly list below the…
Bet legally, and pay tax on all your winnings — Fall is football and betting season in the United States. Both the college and professional games attract a sizeable amount of wagering. The Internal Revenue Service urges anyone putting a few (or more) dollars down to do so at a legal betting establishment. It’s safer for bettors, and it helps Uncle Sam get what he’s due, since gambling winnings are taxable income.
It’s the scariest month of the year for taxpayers who got filing extensions. Sure, Oct. 31 officially is the scariest day, as ghouls and goblins — OK, youngsters in costumes and their sometime sillier-attired parents — take over neighborhoods. But for taxpayers who couldn’t finish their 1040 forms by April 15, the most terrifying October day is the 15th. No more grace period, unless you’re in a major disaster area and no one wants that, from the Internal Revenue Service. Oct. 15 is the absolute final filing federal deadline. Those procrastinators, and yes I know there are many good reasons…
Boo! Tax Day is this month for millions of taxpayers who got extensions. Sure, the last day of this month is when ghouls and goblins — OK, youngsters in costumes and their sometime sillier-attired parents — take over neighborhoods. But Halloween isn’t the only scary thing in October. Oct. 16 — a day later this year since the normal 15th due date is on Sunday — is the absolute final filing deadline for most taxpayers who earlier this year got an extension. Those procrastinators, and yes I know there are many good reasons for not filing in April, now must…
October
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.
November 4, 2026
Thanks to Nov. 3 midterm election wins Democrats will control both the House and Senate…
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.)