November 2, 2026
November means turkey time! It’s also a great month to make tax moves that can cut your tax bill. Here are five to consider.
BLOG POSTS
A new Government Accountability Office report says that tax fraud likely costs the U.S. Treasury anywhere from $116 billion to $304 billion a year. It has some suggestions as to how the IRS can help reduce these losses.
Reconciling expenses is a challenge for many senior citizens. Some on original Medicare are getting a bit of help this week thanks to an unexpected $90 payment from Uncle Sam. The question now: Is it taxable income?
Senate Finance Committee Democrats have written the IRS’ CEO asking him to nix the agency’s proposed Form 1040 citizenship and work authorization question.
We all need a helping hand now and then. The volunteer tax help programs VITA and TCE do that each tax season for those who can’t afford to pay a professional preparer.
When tornadoes or other major disasters strike, the IRS usually provides affected taxpayers tax relief. That generally includes new, later deadlines, even for tax returns on extension.
Data centers and AI obviously are connected. They also share some tax issues. And in this weekend’s Saturday Shout Outs, celebrities are in the tax mix, too.
October traditionally is the scariest month, and not just because of Halloween. Millions of tax procrastinators face the Oct. 15 deadline to file their extended tax return. Get tips on doing that, along with four other tax moves to make this October.
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!
Tax and financial documents are needed to file claims after major disasters. If they are damaged in the catastrophe, you’ll have to recreate them. Here are some ways to do that.
Tax reform changes to the adoption tax credit meant some families didn’t get the new law’s full benefit when they filed this year. Now the IRS is sending them their refunds, which could be as much as $5,000.
Just 2½ months left in 2026. Time to start making tax plans and moves to help cut this year’s accruing tax bill. A good place to start is with the ol’ blog’s tax tips!
A multi-agency law enforcement effort has swept up more than 70 alleged tax fraudsters. Federal officials say the initial National Tax Enforcement Surge exposed efforts to cheat taxpayers of $490 million.
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.
November 6, 2026
You don’t need to take a hot-air balloon ride to see that that inflation also…
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.)