September 27, 2026
State and federal taxes account for a large part of the price of beer. Will the levies impact your beverage enjoyment at Oktoberfests across the United States this fall? Read on to learn more about your state’s beer tax.
BLOG POSTS
You and your local property appraiser probably have different views of your home. You can appeal a real estate appraisal you believe is incorrect. Doing so could help lower your final property tax bill.
Gas taxes are a top concern of drivers right now. But if you’re pumping the fuel into a rental vehicle, that’s just one of many taxes you’ll face. Half your rental car bill may be taxes and fees, according to research by a tax policy group.
High gasoline prices have prompted talk of gas tax holidays, at both the federal and state levels. But the suspension of fuel excise taxes likely wouldn’t help drivers that much.
COVID was a major disruption in many parts of our lives, including taxes. Many Americans paid IRS penalties or interest during the 3½-year pandemic period. Now a federal court says those charges weren’t valid, meaning taxpayers could get the money back if they file a claim by July 10.
Children are expensive. So are higher education costs. But often these expenses coincide. Tax breaks can help both parents, students, and parents who are or were students.
May’s merriment may not seem synonymous with taxes, but this month is a great time to make some IRS-inspired moves. These three could get your 2026 tax situation on a money-saving track.
Owners of successful small businesses have to deal with a lot of challenges. Tax scams are a major threat. The latest schemes are again a focus during National Small Business Week 2026.
Taxes and You
We all know Benjamin Franklin’s observation that death and taxes are the only two certainties. But what Ben didn’t note was just how much taxes affect us while we’re enjoying our lives. Taxes are a consideration from the day your parents gaze down lovingly at you in your crib, and continue until they converge in Franklin’s famous quote.
Don’t Mess With Taxes, the award-winning blog from tax journalist and author Kay Bell, will help you deal with the many taxes you’ll encounter during that long and happy process, hopefully making taxes less, well, taxing throughout your lifetime.
About Don't Mess With Taxes
Don’t Mess With Taxes is a tax blog written by journalist and author Kay Bell. Although Kay is not a tax professional – she doesn’t prepare taxes for clients for a living – her experience in Washington, D.C., first as a staff member of the tax-writing U.S. House Ways and Means committee and then in the government relations offices for two major Fortune 100 companies, has provided her valuable insight into the tax process. Based on her experiences and continuing tax education, Kay shares her tax observations, tips, and commentary in Don’t Mess With Taxes.
Simplify Your Taxes, Maximize Your Savings
Your Comprehensive Tax Blog
Taxes have been a part of your life since your parents welcomed you into this world. From that beginning as a spanking new tax break for mom and dad, taxes have had an important role in all your major life events, from getting a job, saying “I do,” buying and selling homes, having kids of your own, and even retiring.
Yes, the involvement of the Internal Revenue Service is not welcome when Uncle Sam is collecting your money. But in many ways, the tax code can be your best friend. You just need to know how it applies to your personal circumstances so you can take advantage of it. This comprehensive tax blog, Don’t Mess With Taxes, is here to help you do just that!
If you use your vehicle for business, medical, moving, or charitable purposes, you might be able to deduct that driving. And for the last half of 2026, the IRS has hiked the standard tax deduction rates for most of those miles.
The Internal Revenue Service is phasing in a new automatic process to provide penalty relief for taxpayers with a history of filing and paying on time. Eligible taxpayers will no longer need to ask for the relief, meaning potentially millions more filers won’t end up paying extra to Uncle Sam.
This year’s World Cup championship has been hosted by three countries. That’s created tax issues for visiting international athletes (and other team members), especially when the games are in the United States. Federal and state jock taxes could cost some of the participants dearly.
Three Texas tax pros are headed to federal prison for filing false federal returns. Investigators say some clients knew of the scheme, but others did not. The case highlights why it’s important to ensure a tax preparer is reputable. Read on for tips on hiring a trustworthy tax pro.
Blog Posts
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.
October 17, 2026
Just 2½ months left in 2026. Time to start making tax plans and moves to…
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.)