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Last week at my other tax blog: Future of ND property taxes; Flat tax flurry

October 22, 2011

Politicians at all levels of government are working, or at least making campaign promises, to give taxpayers what they think they want.

Bankrate Taxes Blog iconOn the state and more local level there's a proposal to do away with property taxes. And at the federal level, Republican presidential hopefuls are talking up flat taxes.

Both these topics got closer looks last week at my other tax blog.

In North Dakota, voters could decide next summer whether they want to abolish property taxes. If voters say so, North Dakota would be the only state in the nation to abolish real estate taxes.

Meanwhile, most White House wannabes aren't talking yet about doing away with federal taxes, but a couple are talking up flat tax proposals. The problem is that despite the immediate appeal, flat tax plans tend to lose some luster when taxpayers take a longer look at them.

You can check out my new Bankrate Taxes Blog posts on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. And if you happen to miss them there, you can find a wrap-up here each Saturday.

You also might find these items of interest:

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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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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.)

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