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Have a holly, jolly Christmas

December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas! The big day for all good boys and girls of all ages is finally here.

Snowmen with scarves_Cool Effect on Twitter

And here in Central Texas it's in the 70s.

Cheery but not chilly: I know, 'tis the season for joy, not whining about the weather, especially since 70-degree temperatures are a heck of a lot better than dangerously cold ones.

Still, it's the warmest Christmas in Austin in 52 years. The short snowman on the left in the photo above and I are definitely a bit taken aback by the unseasonable turn this so-called winter weather has taken.

But it won't stop us — the hubby and me, that is; it will pose a problem for snowmen — from having a great Christmas filled with our customary holiday celebrations.

One of those traditions is that here at the ol' blog, despite being run by a tax geek for other tax aficionados, Dec. 25 is a no-tax day. Really.

If you just can't resist a tax tidbit or two (or more), feel free to peruse the site for lots of items to fill your time.

Tons of tradition … and food: We, however, have plenty of other things to do today.

Like enjoy Christmas tunes as we take a driving tour of Austin's wild Christmas trees and, after dark, neighborhood light displays.

Of course, sit down to a great meal. This year's menu, like previous ones, is ham and double-stuffed potatoes and corn pudding and collard greens and pumpkin and blueberry-banana pies, washed down with some wine and St. Arnold's Christmas Ale.

Plus presents. And family and friends.

Did I mention the presents?

Holly, jolly time: Wherever you're spending this special day and whatever the weather is there, from here in the Lone Star State the hubby and I wish you a wonderful, holly, jolly Texas Christmas.

And I'll be back tomorrow — promise! — with more tax posts. Maybe with a bit of a pie hangover, but I'll be here.

Happy Holidays!

You also might find the prior year Christmas messages 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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