Family Tax Breaks

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.

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.

Larger families do get more from the Earned Income Tax Credit. But this valuable tax break also is available to eligible single taxpayers. If you qualify, claim the EITC!

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.

There’s not much of 2025 left, but you still might be able to make some moves by Dec. 31 that could reduce this year’s tax bill.

Letting your money work for you via investments gets a boost next year, with wider capital gains tax brackets. Also affected by the annual inflation bumps are estate planning, gifts you give before you go, and youngsters’ investment earnings.

One easy way to cut your tax bill is to claim tax deductions and tax credits. There is a wide variety of these tax breaks, and the amounts generally get annual inflation bumps. Here are 2026’s.

The Aug. 21 jackpot amounts announced atop a lottery machine at my local H-E-B grocery store. (Photo by Kay Bell) Updated Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, with latest national lottery jackpot amounts. Updated Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, with inflation adjustment figures. It’s back. Lottery fever has again taken hold of millions of Americans, as the Powerball jackpot rolled over again after no one selected all the winning numbers. The immediate millionaire lure has increased since I took the photo topping this post. The payout for tonight’s (Saturday, Sept. 6) drawing is $1.8 billion if you take the winnings as a cash…

Figuring out how to pay school costs often can be as (or more) challenging than the classes themselves.   It’s still hot (very hot in many parts of the United States), but there’s a definite sign summer is winding down. Schools are back in session. Whether you’re a student or parent, and regardless of where in the educational system your studying, you might qualify for some financial help from Uncle Sam. The enactment on July 4 of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act also added some new education-related provisions, and made changes to existing ones. Here’s a quick review…

One of the family-friendly individual tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act is an expansion of the federal adoption tax credit. Starting this tax year, when you adopt children younger than 18 or who can’t take care of themselves, Uncle Sam does more at tax filing time to help you add to your family. The tax credit of up to $17,280 for each adoptee remains the same in 2025, but now up to $5,000 in qualifying adoption expenses are refundable. That means that five grand in claimed adoption expenses can potentially come back to you as a…

Getty Images for Unsplash+ Most married taxpayers file joint returns. Not only is it typically easier (just one Form 1040 to mess with), joint filing usually produces the best tax result for the pair. That's because the tax code generally encourages married couples to file jointly. Some tax breaks are disallowed or relevant income limits are a challenge for married filers who file separate returns. But in some cases, wedded couples are wise to send the Internal Revenue Service two returns. Too often, though, where a spouse is abused, that mistreatment can find its way into their annual tax filing. Abused…

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…

  Photo by RDNE Stock project  When you go out in public, you should expect others will notice what you do. That was a lesson learned by a two canoodling tech company executives caught at a recent Coldplay concert by a roving kiss-cam. That’s not usually a big deal. Even reticent couples typically smooch so that their commitment to each other can be cheered by the rest of the crowd viewing on the venue’s big screen. But things were different for this music-loving duo. She quickly covered her face and turned away from the camera. He disappeared from the shot…

Image by rakinmorjaria from Pixabay Congratulations to all the newlyweds who tied, or will, the knot this June. Or during any ceremony this summer, or spring or coming fall or winter. Marriage can be challenging, but I wouldn’t trade the decades I’ve spent with the hubby for anything. That includes many joint tax returns we’ve filed. But you shouldn’t wait until tax filing season to get ready for how marriage changes your taxes. Here are six tax matters newly married couples should consider as soon as they get back from the honeymoon. 1. Make sure everyone knows your new name.…

Senate side of the U.S. Capitol (Scrumshus – Own work, Public Domain) Are you ready for more tax fighting on Capitol Hill? Apparently the Republican-led Senate Finance Committee is. The panel this afternoon released its changes to the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). As expected, tax writers in the upper chamber made lots of changes. Here’s a look at some key differences. Child Tax Credit: If Congress doesn’t act, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provision that bumped the popular Child Tax Credit (CTC) from $1,000 to $2,000 per qualifying child will expire on Dec. 31, cutting the family…

Father's Day is Sunday, June 15. Millions of us will celebrate the importance of fatherhood, and honor the special men in our lives. This includes father figures, such as grandfathers, uncles, siblings, and friends. The U.S. Census Bureau says there are an estimated 72 million fathers across the United States, with 29 million of those fathers also being grandfathers. Gifts for the many different dads: Dads are a diverse lot, so the range of gifts that will be presented go well beyond the stereotypical necktie. My dad was an oilfield worker, and the only time I ever saw him in…

Photo by RDNE Stock project Is the money account for growth and advancement, or MAGA, account for children, now renamed Trump Savings, necessary? I was going to use that as this post’s headline, but it’s a tad long. Plus, an editor once told me that every question headline can be answered “no.” I disagree, but this time, he’s probably right. James, a reader of the ol’ blog, also apparently agrees. In a comment on my post last week that looked at some of the tax changes in the GOP’s House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), he noted: Basically shifting the…

House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) on the phone as he and staff walk through the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. (Credit: Mike Johnson Facebook) The Republicans’ consolidated measure to enact Donald J. Trump’s tax, immigration, energy, and more policies eked through the House early this morning. The original Ways and Means Committee version of the legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) per Trump’s not so subtle suggestion, was tweaked just enough this week to pass by a 215 to 214 vote. Only two GOP members, Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, defected. The pair…

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash The single Republican bill the White House wants passed as soon as possible to implement its tax and immigration policies is definitely big, running in its latest iteration to 1,116 pages. And it has at least one provision, starting on page 806, that some parents might find beautiful. Under a tax provision in the officially named One, Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB), Uncle Sam would give parents $1,000 when a baby born between 2025 and 2028 joins their families. Parents of children age eight or younger also could open a special savings account for those…

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11. Have you bought your mom a present yet? Don't panic. You still have time. And don't stress over finding the perfect gift. In most cases, it’s true that all Mom wants is just to see her children. But if you do want to take some token of thanks for all that your mother has done and sacrificed for you, chances are it will be flowers. Billions spent on Mom: The National Retail Federation’s (NRF’s) annual Mother’s Day survey, conducted in conjunction with Prosper Insights & Analytics, found that, once again, the most popular gift category…

Texas' drought has made for a sparser than usual 2025 wildflower season. But the bees and I thank goodness this May for hardy lantana. (Photo by Kay Bell's hubby) Pardon the interruption of your May merry making, but now that the main tax season is over, you need to think about making some tax moves. I know. You thought you were done when you got your 1040 to the Internal Revenue Service on April 15. Or you thought you didn’t have to think about taxes for six more months when you instead filed for an extension. Sorry, but this brand…

A towering city overlook is always impressive, but you don't necessarily need the telescopic help when it comes to overlooked tax breaks. Tax software, your tax adviser, and yes, the often-missed tax breaks listed below, can help you save on this year's filing. (Photo by Ricky Esquivel) The goal of every taxpayer is to pay Uncle Sam as little as legally possible. Even the Internal Revenue Service has enshrined that goal in its Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It’s number 3 on the 10-point list. A good way to ensure you pay no more tax than required is to claim all…

You were really counting on your tax refund, but the amount the Internal Revenue Service send you was less than you expected. Welcome to the world of debt offsets. (Photo by Nicola Barts) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff recently obtained read-only access to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ child support database. It’s a continuation of the Elon-Musk-created effort to ferret out fraud and waste in the federal government. In this latest controversial move, denounced by critics as an end-run around taxpayer privacy laws, DOGE ostensibly is looking for potentially wrong or incorrect child-related payments. But many…

Credit: Panoramio via Wikimedia Hello March! Good to see that you're following the traditional script and, at least here in the greater Austin area, roared in like a lion. But the weather bluster also is a good reminder that some feline-style aggressiveness could pay off on your taxes. Some of the four March tax moves below could cut your 2024 tax bill that you'll compute on the return due by April 15. Others are good tax moves for the current 2025, and future, tax years. A couple do both. If any of the suggested tax moves work for you, implement…

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) turns 50 this year. The official date is March 29, in case you want to throw a party. The Internal Revenue Service isn’t waiting that long. With tax season 2025 underway, the tax agency again is celebrating this tax benefit created to help lower- and moderate-income workers with the annual Jan. 31 EITC Day. Today marks the beginning of efforts to get the word out to eligible taxpayers and encourage them to take advantage of the EITC. The EITC can be worth from hundreds to thousands of dollars for qualifying filers. While the larger…

Photo by Pixabay The 2025 federal tax filing season officially starts Monday, Jan. 27. Millions of taxpayers already are working on their returns. Some have even completed them. Most of these folks are in a hurry to get their Form 1040 to the Internal Revenue Service because they are expecting a refund. Many also don’t have very complicated tax situations. Or they think they don’t. But something may have changed in their personal lives that could affect their filings, for better or worse. So before they — or you — hit send on their tax year 2024 filing, it’s a…

Experienced a major life change this year? It could affect your taxes, meaning the end of the calendar year is a good time to reflect and make necessary tax-saving moves.

Photo by Alexas Fotos 2024 is almost over, with millions making plans to celebrate the calendar changed on New Year’s Eve. But before you don your party hat and raise your glass to say goodbye to the old year and ring in 2025, you need to be aware of the tax importance of Dec. 31. Actions on the final day of a year could affect your full 2024 tax bill. Here are five that could make a difference. 1. Getting married. If you say "I do" on 12/31, then the Internal Revenue Service considers you married for the whole year.…

You’re 73. You have a traditional IRA or other tax-deferred retirement account. You’ve yet to take your required minimum distribution (RMD).

Regardless of who wins the White House, the Social Security system is going to get a lot of attention in the coming years.

Plus, a look at what next year’s inflation bumps mean to estate planning, gifts you give before you go, youngsters’ investment earnings, and more. “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.” F. Scott Fitzgerald didn’t add taxes in his elaboration of those differences in his 1925 short story “The Rich Boy,” but he could have. While most of us middle-income taxpayers get our money working for wages, wealthier individuals tend to let their money work for them as investments. And when they cash out long-term assets, the tax rate on the profits…

Autumn’s seasonal change also can bring some medical challenges.

Taking advantage of these inflation-adjusted tax breaks could put more money in your hands instead of Uncle Sam's bank account. (Photo by Osarugue Igbinoba on Unsplash) Many taxpayers look forward to tax filing season because they are getting a refund. Others just want to pay the smallest possible tax bill. Some Internal Revenue Code provisions, ranging from tax deductions to tax credits to income exclusions, can help in both cases. Deductions, like the standard amounts discussed in Part 2 of the ol' blogs annual tax inflation series, are a relatively easy, and popular, way to reduce a tax bill. Deductions also…

Photo: Investment Zen via Flickr Deductions can help reduce your taxable income. The less money subject to taxes, the small your annual bill to Uncle Sam. Some people get the most advantageous deduction amount by itemizing. Most of us, however, claim the standard deduction, especially after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 dramatically increased those amounts. Even better, every year the standard deductions amounts — there are several because the amounts depend on your filing status — get reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service. That usually leads to at least some hike in the standard deduction amounts. Best…

  Americans have always been aspirational. We strive to be better, especially financially. And while we’d all like to be millionaires (or richer), we’re also pretty pragmatic. We want to do better than we did the year before, making progress as we continue our American Dream journey. That’s why candidates for all offices this election year are making promises they say will help middle-class voters Americans. Based on data gathered last year, those vote seekers better get to work. Fast. The United States’ middle class has been shrinking. Economic stresses have increased: Independent inflation data aggregator Truflation reported that the…

A home of one’s own has long been part of the traditional American Dream. Nowadays, though, some say it’s a nightmare trying to join the homeownership ranks.

“Oh, yeah. That’s the spot,” seems to be what this Chow Chow is thinking as he’s getting a neck rub from his owner. (Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash) Happy National Dog Day! Or, for canine lovers, the 239th day of Dog Year 2024. Personally, I’m a cat fan. But many of my relatives are pooch parents. And let’s be honest, whatever creature you choose to welcome into your home, the animals are part of your family. So, we should be able to claim them as dependents, right? Sorry, but wrong. The Internal Revenue Service probably is full of pet…

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has been one of the most popular since its creation as part of the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act. Since its $400 per child origin, the credit has increased notably. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Act bumped up the CTC in 2021 to a potential maximum of $3,600 per each child younger than age 6, and $3,000 per child up to age 17. The Internal Revenue Service also sent the credit amounts to qualifying amounts directly to eligible families so they didn’t have to wait until tax filing season to claim the funds. The…

Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential nominee, revealed some of her economic plans in a speech Friday, Aug. 16, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Screenshot of X-Twitter video) Vice President Kamala Harris rolled out her presidential campaign’s economic proposals Friday in a roughly half-hour speech in Raleigh, North Carolina. They included a federal ban on alleged corporate price gouging on food products, ways to help people buy their first home, and financial help for families. Much of Harris’ assistance would come from tax breaks, some of them familiar fiscal tools, both enacted or previously proposed by the Biden Administration. New tax…

The Senate recessed last week after failing to pass a bipartisan tax bill that the House approved back in January. On Jan. 31, after more than a year of negotiations, the House overwhelmingly approved a tax bill that included some popular business tax breaks and Child Tax Credit (CTC) enhancements. The House’s 357-to-70 support of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, plus its bipartisan origin — it was a compromise worked out by Democratic Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith of Missouri — seemed to indicate H.R.…

August is the month that brings us the sunsetting of summer. But amid the season's waning days, find some time to take care of some tax tasks. (Photo by Kay Bell) It’s August. Already! How did this final summer month sneak up on us, or at least on me? Maybe it was all the other distractions. The presidential campaign has been unusual, to say the least. The Paris Olympics kicked off with a controversial opening ceremony (I loved it!), and still have more than a week to go. Then there’s the unrelenting heat wave across the United States. And, of…

Celebrating the newlyweds! (Photo by Chris Dickens on Unsplash) You didn’t invite Uncle Sam to your wedding, but he crashed your big day anyway. Chances are, however, you likely won’t know the effects of his participation until you file your first tax return as a married couple. For June brides and grooms, as well as all couples who said or will say “I do” this year, here’s a look some ways your taxes could change. A different filing status. Now that you’re an official, legal duo, you no longer can file your tax returns as single taxpayers. This is the…

Childcare is a must for working parents, but the costs keep rising. A couple of tax credits could help both businesses and parents. (Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images) Youngsters are school-free for the next few months. That means working parents are searching for ways to keep their children occupied. And supervised. Many teenagers get summer jobs. Parents of pre-teens often turn to day camps to fill a few hours each workday. But when it comes to preschoolers, childcare is a year-round concern, and an increasingly expensive one. Rising childcare costs: A recent report from Child Care Aware of America…

Photo by Keith Luke on Unsplash Congratulations to this year’s high school and college graduates. Walking across that stage and getting that diploma is a ceremony they and their families have long waited to experience. So what, besides sincere well wishes, do you give the graduates in your life for reaching this milestone? There are lots of gifts that can help young adults as they head off to college or into the work world. My personal favorite when I was that age was cash. (Truth be told, it still is my preferred present!) If your favorite graduate is like me,…

Happy Mother’s Day! I hope all the moms out there got everything they wanted today. Of course, we should be grateful for all that our parents do for us every day of the year. In additional to the emotional support, moms (and dads) literally pay for parenthood. A recent calculation of the average cost to raise a child to age 18 came to $312,202. That figure is for a middle-class family, and doesn’t include college expenses. Yikes! Isabel V. Sawhill, a senior fellow emeritus in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, told WTOP News that the true price could be even more.…

Photo by Ahsanjaya You just got your federal tax refund it was not what you were expecting. In fact, it’s much less than the amount your Form 1040 calculations showed. What the heck happened? There are several reason why a refund amount could be less that amount on your filing. The most common smaller refund situations involve math errors in computing your tax bill, or the claiming of incorrect credits or deductions. In these cases, you should have heard from the Internal Revenue Service via a notice about the discrepancy. But another common reason your tax refund is much smaller…

A scenic overlook is always worth a stop when traveling. But when it comes to taxes, you definitely don't want to overlook tax breaks that could save you money. (Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash) There are two ways to reduce your tax bill. You can take deductions, which reduce the amount of your money that's taxable. You also can claim tax credits, which cut any tax you owe dollar-for-dollar, and in a few cases get you refund. The options are not mutually exclusive. But they don't do you any good if you don't claim the ones to which you're…

Our neighborhood has been full of kids recently. Last week was our local school district’s spring break. Monday was an added day off for the youngsters, as teachers only returned to their schools for a special work day

Photo by Kampus Production Our neighborhood has been full of kids recently. Last week was our local school district's spring break. Monday was an added day off for the youngsters, as teachers only returned to their schools for a special work day. It also was a six days of parents juggling child care and their jobs. I got a close up of this from our new next-door neighbors. Mom and dad alternated days off from their jobs so one of them could stay home with their two children, a pre-teen and a young teenager. Child care is a major challenge…

The Recovery Rebate Credit also is available until April 15, 2025, for unclaimed 2021 tax year amounts. Economic impact payments, or EIPs, issued in 2020 and 2021 helped millions deal with the financial damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some people didn't get the coronavirus stimulus money to which they were entitled. These eligible individuals still have a chance to collect the cash by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. But time is running out. The Internal Revenue Service is alerting those who didn't file a 2020 tax return need to complete that form and claim the COVID funds by…

March's arrival means it's time to start stalking some tax savings. (Photo via Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images) While the saying that March comes in like and goes out like a lamb usually is a reference to this month's weather transition from winter to spring (or, here in Central Texas, to summer already), feline aggressiveness could come in handy at tax filing time. There are plenty of tax moves you can make during this final full month before Tax Day, which is this year is the normal April 15 due date. Here are five tax matters to consider in…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction. Those who opt to itemize do so because they have enough tax deductible expenses to exceed their filing status' standard amount. In most cases, those expenses are medical. Generally, you can claim allowable medical costs for yourself, your spouse, and dependents as long as the treatments were prescribed by a physician as necessary to diagnose, ease, or prevent a physical or mental illness. The amount of these medical costs that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income count on your Schedule A, the form where you detail your…

Photo by Ozan Safak on Unsplash Higher income taxpayers tend to take the most advantage of tax breaks. That's no surprise. They can afford to hire tax professionals, who keep track of all the benefits they qualify for and claim them on the well-to-do taxpayers' returns. But there are some valuable tax breaks for the rest of us who are far from wealthy. And while higher-income households do enjoy greater per dollar benefits tax benefits, the breaks available to us tax plebeian are more beneficial when they are measured as a share of our income. Tax credits provide the most…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Meg Aghamyan   First comes love.Then comes marriage.Then comes filing your taxestogether in one package.💘💕💗💕💘 Or not. OK, I pushed it trying to rhyme marriage and package. Now it's clear why I stick to prose instead of poetry And that "or not" stanza is a bit counterintuitive on Valentine's Day, a time when we traditionally celebrate love and inseparability. But we are talking taxes on this heart day, so there's always an exception. Married filing options: It's true that most of the time, it's better to file one return jointly. Not only is it easier, but…

Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction. Those who opt to itemize do so because they have enough tax deductible expenses to exceed their filing status’ standard amount. In most cases, those expenses are medical.

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images Tax season 2024 officially starts Monday, Jan. 29. Lots of taxpayers have already filled out their 1040 forms and are just waiting for the Internal Revenue Service to start processing them next week. Most of these early filers are expecting tax refunds. They also likely have relatively simple tax lives. Lucky them. Others, however, have more complicated tax and financial circumstances. These folks have more tax documents with details that must be transferred to their return forms and schedules. They also need to consider how their situations might affect their tax returns. Below is a…

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel speaking at an EITC Awareness Day event in Baltimore sponsored by the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign of Maryland. (Photo courtesy CASH/IRS via X/Twitter) It's the Friday before the annual tax season kick off on Monday, Jan. 29. That means today is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. For the past 18 years, the Internal Revenue Service and community organizations, state and local government officials, schools, employers, and other groups have spent EITC Day getting the word out on this valuable, but too often overlooked, tax credit. Today, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel headed…

Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash The major challenge for Congress right now is finalizing funding so the federal government won't shut down in March. But some members also are, as noted in yesterday's post, trying to get a mini tax extenders measure passed. And that's not the only tax bill on some lawmakers' minds. A bill to eliminate the federal estate tax was introduced just as the larger bipartisan House/Senate tax bill was clearing the House Ways and Means Committee. Estate tax elimination effort. Again: Some cynical Washington, D.C., watchers might say this bill was introduced primarily for political purposes. This…

Members of the House and Senate tax-writing committees who approved bipartisan legislation last week hope the eventual outcome of their effort will be as sunny as this view of the U.S. Capitol during warmer times. (Photo: Wikipedia) Congress actually accomplished something last week. Representatives and Senators kicked the can down the legislative road agreed to measures that eliminated the immediate threat of a government shutdown. Even more surprising was another bipartisan deal. While the stop-gap government deal was being brokered, the Democratic Senate Finance Committee chair and his Republican counterpart leading the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on…

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. Some, however, are asking a more basic question. Do I have to file a Form 1040 at all? The answer probably is yes. If you're asking the question, you likely made some money, and the Internal Revenue Code doesn't exempt much from taxation. But as with all things tax, there are exceptions. In some situations, Uncle Sam doesn't demand individuals file. Here's a look at whether you might be able to join that group…

Photo by olia danilevich Millions will celebrate the end of 2023 on Sunday, Dec. 31. But the last day of the year isn't just for partying. Dec. 31 also is an important tax day. It's the deadline to take care of some tasks that could affect your 2023 tax bill. Other things that happen on the year's final day also have tax implications. Here are five common end-of-year situations that have Dec. 31 tax timing implications. 1. Getting married: If you say "I do" on 12/31, then the Internal Revenue Service considers you married for the whole year. That means when…

Individuals who didn't automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment or claim a Recovery Rebate Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic get a second chance at the money. Economic Impact Payments helped many U.S. families financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But some eligible filers didn't get the stimulus money directly, and didn't claim it later as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they filed. Now they get another shot at the tax relief. Remember Economic Impact Payments? These funds, also referred to as stimulus payments, were issued during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Internal Revenue Service sent most of the payments…

Plus, a look at how a higher cost of living affects gifts before you go, youngsters' investment earnings, and more. Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash What we would do with our wealth may differ, but most of us want to be rich. And even if the Internal Revenue Service is successful in its recently announced effort to crack down on higher income tax evaders, having money is always preferable. In fact, if you've got beaucoup cash, you don't really have to try to slip one past Uncle Sam. Many of the current wealth-related provisions in the Internal Revenue Code help…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images If you've been to a doctor recently, refilled a subscription, had to go to an emergency room, or just bought over-the-counter medications, you know that all these treatments cost a lot more than in previous years. It's enough to make you sick, or at least nudge up your blood pressure a bit. However, the tax code might have an Rx that can help. There are a variety of medical tax breaks that can help lower your federal tax bill. Several of them are adjusted each year to account for inflation. Here, in Part 5 post of…

Taking advantage of these inflation-adjusted tax breaks could put more money in your pocket instead of Uncle Sam's bank account. (Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash) Each of our tax situations is unique. But every taxpayer can agree on one thing. We all want to pay the least amount of tax as possible. That universal goal can be reached by taking advantage of tax deductions, tax credits, and income exclusions. Deductions, like the standard amounts discussed in Part 2 of the ol' blogs annual tax inflation series, are a relatively easy, and popular, way to reduce a tax bill. Deductions also…

Taxes are all about numbers, but generally speaking, we taxpayers are not big math fans. That's why we hire tax professionals or use tax software. That aversion to doing more calculations is why most of us have chosen, year-in and year-out, to claim the standard deduction. Sure, I know, we should use the tax deduction method, either standard or itemizing, that gives up the better tax due result. Still, I know some folks who use the standard deduction method without even comparing because, as noted, it's easier. There are no receipts to save, no additional adding, subtracting, and figuring percentages.…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images Every year, families gather at Thanksgiving. In many cases, it's a chance for relatives and friends who haven't seen each other for a while to reconnect. Some families, however, are much closer proximity-wise. They see each other all the time. And in some of those cases, family members are caregivers. That's why November is a good choice as National Family Caregivers Month. It is formal recognition, as noted in President Joe Biden's proclamation, that millions of Americans provide crucial care and assistance to parents, children, siblings, and other loved ones. Many of these caregivers…

Confused about your workplace benefits options during open enrollment? Your answers to the following questions could help. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash) Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits they want in 2024. Many during this annual open enrollment period simply re-up the options they chose last year. I get it. It's easy. But you could be costing yourself, both in out-of-pocket cost and tax savings. So, before you make a final decision, ask yourself the following questions. 1. Will your company help your repay your student loan?College costs and the debt that students…

These cover adoption costs and assistance, Lifetime Learning Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, educators’ expenses, interest on education loans, and transportation fringe benefits

Reviewed and reposted Friday, June 13, 2025. No upcoming eclipse, or Halloween scares this summer month, but these 13 tax misperceptions are still around. Don't fall for them this Friday the 13th or any other less superstitious day. A rare annular, or ring of fire, solar eclipse is tomorrow, Oct. 14. NASA has more on the event. And if it's cloudy where you live or you're not in a prime viewing region, you can livestream the eclipse. October already is the spookiest month of the year, but things ramp up this weekend. Today, in case you haven't looked at a…

If you're just now getting to work on your extended 2022 tax return, which is due to the Internal Revenue Service by Monday, Oct. 16, don't panic. These tips will help you make the most of the little tax time left. (Image courtesy Taxpayer Advocate Service, which also has some tips for Oct. 16 filers.) It's almost Tax Day for extreme procrastinators. The extension you got for your 2022 return ends on Monday, Oct. 16. Since the tax clock is ticking, let's get right to these eight tips that can help you complete your Form 1040 by the fast approaching,…

Shutterstock The financial challenges American families face have gotten a lot of attention recently. Notably, Congress is (still) fighting over (among other things) whether to expand the Child Tax Credit to levels enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even as that tax and fiscal policy struggle continues, some lawmakers have set their sights on another family-friendly benefit. Two U.S. Senators want to tweak a tax credit to provide more financial help for families that adopt. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) on Sept 21 introduced the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act, S. 2895. It is the upper chamber's version…

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash After two years of decline, thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic, marriages in the United States have returned to pre-COVID levels, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's recently released 2022 American Community Survey (ACS). Even better for romantics, a major jewelry company is predicting a spike in engagements as more of us return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, including dating…and more. If you're planning nuptials, or already have said, "I do," congratulations. Now here are eight tax tasks you need to take care of, after the honeymoon, of course. 1. Make sure everyone knows your…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images The U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) shows that family-related reasons were a driver for more than a quarter, or 26.5 percent, of households between 2021 and 2022. Some of the moving vans were called to combine or create new family abodes as people who had put off wedding plans during the COVID-19 pandemic finally said "I do." In other cases, it was couples splitting their partnership and possessions, possibly due to too much time together during coronavirus lockdowns. There are tax implications when marriages begin and end.…

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images Congress apparently is still trying to hash out a tax bill. Republican leaders have created a measure, but it's facing not only Democratic opposition, but also pushback from some of its own members. The hangup within the GOP is the $10,000 limit on tax deductible state and local taxes. Democrats want any tax legislation to include an expansion of the Child Tax Credit, or CTC, that follows the increases allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CTC is one of the most popular federal tax breaks around. The family-friendly tax break has been in the Internal…

We have new neighbors, and it’s obvious why they bought the house. Family members and their friends have been in the swimming pool every day since they moved in.

A student checks his notes before the next class. (Photo by Brice Cooper on Unsplash) The 2023 school year has started, or will soon, for kindergarten through college students. Learning can be expensive, even for public school attendees. But it is higher education that poses the highest costs. Uncle Sam can help cover some educational expenses, but the school-related tax benefits noted in my post last week are limited. That means that students and/or their families must come up with the bulk of the school payments. That's usually done through traditional financial assistance, such as scholarships, loans, or other forms…

If you're the parent of this rambunctious duo, you definitely have a challenging job. However, this roughhousing duo also might help you claim a valuable federal tax credit. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is one of the most popular federal tax breaks around. This family-friendly tax break has been in the Internal Revenue Code in some form since 1997. Parents like it because it's relatively easy to claim. It's also a tax credit, which means it will reduce your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CTC benefits were expanded. To counter the economic problems created…

Photo by Saulius Sutkus on Unsplash August has arrived, reminding us that summer is almost over. There are just a few weeks left to take a final vacation during these sweltering dog days. But before you head out to a beach retreat or a cooler mountain cabin, take a few minutes for taxes. This month is a good time to make some tax moves that could save you some (or more) dollars and/or keep you out of tax trouble. Here are five to consider. 1. File your 2022 return by Aug. 15. OK, this applies only to a few, relatively…

Stereotypes, or traditions if you prefer, tend to be true when it comes to older couples and tax return filing. When the hubby and I married many (many) years ago, I (we) decided that I would keep my name. I was a writer, and my byline was already known, so it seemed logical. Also, as a young single woman of the 1970s, it was no big deal. What’s that saying? The more things change, the more they stay the same. That also applies in many instances to taxes. Welcome to the 21st century, where Internal Revenue Service return filing data…

And if that’s not enough to get what’s owed, Oregon and other states’ child support officials get the U.S. Treasury’s assistance in collecting those delinquent family financial payments. Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images It’s a given that raising children is an expensive endeavor. When parents split up, that financial burden is shared. That continues, ideally, even when couples split. In those cases, one parent often is held legally responsible for providing funds to the other who has main custody of the youngsters. The payments typically last until the children are legal adults. When the paying parent is delinquent on…

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 A New Jersey resident has finally claimed the nearly $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot that was won on March 26, according to New Jersey Lottery officials. For obvious reasons, the winner of the fifth highest jackpot in the national lottery’s history wants to remain anonymous. But regardless of whether we find out the identity of America’s newest millionaire — the winner has opted to take a lump payment of $537.5 million before state and federal taxes — the winner needs to take some steps, like those listed below, to preserve the newfound wealth. The same…

Hello, July! Yeah, I know my welcome to the first full month of summer is a bit late. But admit it. You don’t really focus on the month either until after you wrap up July 4th celebrations. Since Independence Day this year fell on Tuesday, that meant an extra-long holiday weekend for lots of us. But the fireworks are over and, sadly, we’ll never be independent of taxes. So it’s back to work this first week of July, and back to making tax moves that can at least keep a few more dollars out of Uncle Sam’s clutches. Here are…

Photo via Unsplash+ License The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) wrapped its latest term on Friday with a couple of education-related rulings — affirmative action in college admissions and student loan forgiveness; the high court said nope to both — that will be dissected for a while. But we’re still talking about a year-old decision by the justices. On June 24, 2022, SCOTUS overturned 1973’s Roe v. Wade, sending abortion decisions back to the 50 states. That’s effectively limited the availability of the medical procedure in more than half of the country. Last year’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s…

The expanded Child Tax Credit was a lifeline for millions of families early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit went from $2,000 per qualifying child to $3,600 a year for children younger than age 6, and $3,000 per child for youngsters ages 6 to 17. More of the increased CTC also was refundable, meaning that if the available tax credit amount was more than the filer's tax due, the excess was sent to the taxpayer as a refund. Even better, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) called for most eligible households to get half of their qualifying CTC payment in…

We made it through the debt limit's renewal, so of course the focus now is on tax cuts. Or at least the House Republican majority's focus. That's understandable, at least if you're familiar with how Capitol Hill works. The GOP wants to show that even with its slim House majority, it takes its position as the originator of federal tax laws seriously. And it wants to lay down some policy and political markers for, respectively, upcoming budget talks and the 2024 elections. To that end, the House Ways and Means Committee will consider next week a package of tax breaks…

UPDATED, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023: The United States tends to be the target of tropical systems that form in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. But this week, California is in the path of Pacific-spawned Hurricane Hilary. And depending on Hilary’s precise path, she could substantially impact Arizona, and even Nevada. Now is the time for West Coast residents and their inland neighbors to get ready.  The Weather Channel meteorologist Ari Sarsalari says we don’t need to worry too much about the low-pressure system that’s formed in the Gulf of Mexico. You can watch his full forecast by clicking the…

Grandparents attending graduation ceremonies are a wonderful family tradition. Now a coming tax law change will create another meeting of education and retirement, this time affecting two tax-free savings plans. (Photo by RDNE Stock project) Many of us face a dilemma when it comes to two of the biggest reasons for saving, retirement and education. Do we split our extra income between the two? If so, evenly or with one account getting a boost? Or do we defer one for the sake of the other? The answers will depend on your personal financial and family situations, as well as your…

Photo by Juan Ramos on Unsplash May is graduation month. It's also graduate gift giving time. Money is always tight for the new diploma recipients (and their families), regardless of whether they've completed high school or college. That's why financial gifts are always welcome. One of those graduate gifts for students looking to continue their school days is a contribution to their 529 plans. And one source of those contributions could be, for older savers, their required minimum distributions. Quick 529 overview: These savings plans, named from the Internal Revenue Code that created them, originally only covered higher education expenses.…

Some of the world's largest companies are family owned. Yes, we're looking at you, Walmart. But the real backbone of every community is its locally owned and operated businesses. Although they are much smaller, these owners face many of the same challenges as do corporate behemoths that are run by and employ family members. Working with family can be even more fraught when it comes to taxes, since employment tax requirements for related employees may vary from those that apply to other employees. Here's an overview of some common family business tax considerations. Married couples as business partners: For better…

Homemade Gifts Made Easy May. A short word with many meanings. It's the name of the fifth month of the year. Here in the Norther Hemisphere, it's when springtime comes in fully. That's fitting, since its name comes from Maia, the Greek goddess of spring and growth. The Oxford English Dictionary also says the word is a verb that expresses possibility, as in "that may be true," or permission, as in "may I ask a few questions?" When it comes to taxes, I like to combine the meanings. May is a time of growth and renewal and the possibility of…

Doing taxes isn't nearly as much fun as riding a carousel, but a round of tax credits can help families save some tax dollars. (Photo by Brett Sayles) Tax deductions get a lot of attention, mainly because the Internal Revenue Service makes us choose between taking the standard deduction or itemizing. We make this decision every year, based on which method gives us the better write-off amount. Standard has always won, and since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 became law and nearly doubled the standard, adjusted annually for inflation amounts, the margin of victory has grown. But…

Blinders may work for horses, but they're terrible for taxpayers who might miss out on some tax savings. (Photo by Graham Ruttan on Unsplash) The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's expansion of the standard deduction amounts means even more taxpayers are using that filing method. Most think that since they don't itemize, they don't need to worry about tax breaks. They're wrong. There are the above-the-line deductions, officially known as adjustments to income, that anyone can take (if they qualify), regardless of whether they take the standard deduction or use Schedule A. Then there are some tax credits, again available…

UPDATE, March 12, 2023: Congratulations to all those who won Academy Awards tonight, especially the big winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The movie, known on social media as #EEAAO (or #EEAO if you don’t want to include the preposition) proved that this year’s major Hollywood event definitely wasn’t your grandparents’ Oscars. The wildly imaginative film, which featured a tax audit, won best picture. Three EEAO stars, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, won acting Academy Awards. And original screenplay and directing Oscars went to The Daniels, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Jamie Lee Curtis, far left,…

White House Budget video screenshot. Full video is available at Facebook and Twitter. The Biden Administration released its fiscal year 2024 budget today (March 9, 2023). Thanks to previews from President Joe Biden, there are no surprises as far as taxes. "I want to make it clear I'm going raise some taxes," Biden to told a group in Virginia Beach, Virginia, who gathered Feb. 28 to hear about healthcare. "Many of you are billionaires out there. You're going to stop paying at 3 percent. Not a joke." The president's promise was put in writing today with the issuance by the…

Photo by Kris Gonzalez via Flickr CC Parenting presents many challenges. One of them is finding quality child care. The tax code can help a bit here if you, and your spouse if you're married, both work. The Child and Dependent Care Credit offsets some child care expenses. Since it's a tax credit, it does that by reducing your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. But if you're a working mom or dad who enjoyed the pandemic-prompted enhancements to the child care credit last year, get ready to be disappointed when you file your 2022 return. The tax break afforded by the Child…

The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is one of the most beneficial tax breaks for lower- and moderate-income workers. It's also one of the most under-claimed. The reasons are many, starting with its complexity. You have to work to be able to claim the EITC. But if you make too much money, you're ineligible. Your marital status comes in the calculation of the final credit, as does the size of your family. And many single people ignore the EITC because they think it's only available to filers with dependent children. "This is an extremely important tax credit that helps…

Photo by Polina Zimmerman While millions are debating when to file their tax return, others are asking a more elemental question. Do I have to file a 1040 at all? It's a good question. The short answer is probably. But there are some situations where the Internal Revenue Service doesn't demand individuals file. Here's a look at just who is off the tax filing hook. Filing requirements for most of us: Generally, if you are a U.S. citizen or resident you must consider three things when determining whether you have to file a tax return: your age, your filing status,…

Every filing season, eager taxpayers, most of them expecting a refund, send their returns to the Internal Revenue Service as soon as they can. For most it works out OK. Others, however, discover on their own, or learn from the IRS, something just not quite right, and costly, on their Form 1040. It works the other way, too. In some instances, folks submit a return without claiming a tax break that would have saved them dollars. The IRS isn’t going to tell you about that! The best way to make sure you enter all the data that the IRS wants,…

The tax code is like a car. A big, old, clunky car that just keeps chugging along. But every now and then you need to tune it up and change the tires. Here are some tweaks to the 2023 filing season model. (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio) Tax filing rolls around every year. But every year, there also are a few changes that make the process slightly different from prior filings. We didn't have any major tax law changes in 2022. But some old rules come into play, as does the expiration of some tax breaks that many folks had enjoyed…