September 8, 2026
Retirees, and members of Congress, are growing more concerned about Social Security’s financial viability. Some GOP members are even considering wage base changes, a tax hike they previously resisted.
BLOG POSTS
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.
Books are perfect gifts, especially for last-minute holiday shoppers. Here are some with financial hooks to add to your list of presents for those on your nice list, which also can include yourself!
Many of us donate old clothes and household goods at year’s end. For some, the charitable gifts can be a tax deduction. But you must follow IRS rules to claim the tax break, including properly valuing your donations.
If you’re planning on parking a new car with a big red bow in your driveway this Christmas, the latest tax reform bill has an added present for you. You might be able to deduct up to $10,000 in loan interest.
Nobody bats 1000 when it comes to picking stocks, but that could be good tax news. If some of your assets paid off this year, you can reduce those taxable gains by using tax-loss harvesting.
IRS Criminal Investigation’s fiscal year 2025 report highlights how new partnerships and innovative financial investigative techniques led to the tax agency’s law enforcement arm’s successes against domestic and global tax criminals.
If your retirement goal is the same as mine – do so as soon as possible! – then you need to add as much to your tax-favored retirement plans now. There’s a Dec. 31 deadline for some contributions.
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!
The federal government finally is fully open after the longest shutdown on record. But the battle to keep Uncle Sam’s offices operational in the 2027 fiscal year faces an Oct. 1 deadline.
Saving for retirement is key to enjoying truly golden years. The Trump administration has officially launched a new savings option, dubbed the Trump IRA, for workers who don’t have a workplace retirement plan.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, it doesn’t matter where in the world you earn your money. The IRS gets some of it. But it also offers tax breaks, like added housing allowances for expensive overseas locales.
Artificial intelligence advocates say the technology can help the Internal Revenue Service find and collect from tax cheats. But those wary of AI say that will happen only if the agency has enough well-trained personnel to ensure the system is used responsibly.
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.)