State Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service gets the most attention when it comes to taxes, but every state and the District of Columbia also have revenue departments. You can find out more about yours in the ol’ blog’s state tax department directory.
Most states, and in some places more local jurisdictions, collect income tax from their residents. All but five states have a statewide sales tax on purchases.
States also assess a variety of excise taxes, such as fuel charges for the gasoline we put in our autos. There also are county (or parish if you’re in Louisiana) taxes on real estate and, in some cases, other personal property. And a handful have their own estate and/or inheritance taxes.
Check here regularly to see what your state’s tax collector is eyeing now, and get tips on ways you can limit this state tax damage.
And just in case you need a geography lesson, check out the map illustrating how we Texans see the United States that tops my post reminding you “Don’t forget about your state taxes.”
State Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service gets the most attention when it comes to taxes, but every state and the District of Columbia also have revenue departments.
Most states, and in some places more local jurisdictions, collect income tax from their residents. All but five states have a statewide sales tax on purchases.
States also assess a variety of excise taxes, such as fuel charges for the gasoline we put in our autos. There also are county (or parish if you’re in Louisiana) taxes on real estate and, in some cases, other personal property. And a handful have their own estate and/or inheritance taxes.
Check here regularly to see what your state’s tax collector is eyeing now, and get tips on ways you can limit this state tax damage.
And just in case you need a geography lesson, here’s how we Texans see the United States.
Free is always welcome. That’s especially true at tax time, when taxpayers look for no-cost help to prepare and file their returns. Here are some free tax filing options.
Most taxpayers, at both the federal and state levels, get tax refunds every year. But this filing season, five states have been particularly slow in sending residents’ their refunds.
California gets a fiscal boon from the jock taxes owed by Super Bowl LX teams. But this nonresident tax, which other states also collect, applies to more than just athletes.
Meg White via Giphy When the hubby and I lived in the Washington, D.C. area, we became big fans of the Washington Capitals. We eventually bought season tickets, and the National Hockey League’s team’s location back then in suburban Maryland, where we had moved, made getting to and from the games easy. One of my favorite Capitals’ ad campaigns asked if we sometimes felt like screaming. They encouraged potential new (or ticket upgrading) fans to buy game packages and come yell their hearts out at the arena. I don’t know about you, but way back then, and even more so…
California is among the states that have widened the road to their film and TV tax credits. They all hope tax breaks will drive more productions to their jurisdictions as the entertainment industry continues to evolve.
Taking your time often is a good idea when it comes to tax filing. A slower, more deliberate approach to your 1040 can help ensure it is completed and filed correctly.
You don’t have to be a fortune teller to know that sometimes the best tax move is to file your return early. Here are 7 reasons why it’s good to get your Form 1040 to the IRS as soon as possible.
Take a close look at your 2025 tax return. New tax laws created by the One Big Beautiful Bill could provide you with added savings this filing season. Here are 8 to check out.
If you used IRS’ Free File last year to complete your federal taxes, then it’s tax déjà vu time. The same eight tax software companies are back for the 2026 tax season. You can use Free File if your 2025 income was $89,000 or less.
A new year also brings tax law changes in 43 states. Individual taxpayers in 9 of them will see lower tax rates. States also have tweaked their business, sales, excise, and property tax laws for 2026.
Most of us work for the money. Sure, some of us might really like our jobs. But we also like having electricity and food and the financial wherewithal to pursue leisure activities when we’re off the clock. So, we tend to take the highest paid job we can get and gladly accept raises. The goal for many (okay, most) of us is a six-figure annual salary. The real question, however, is just how much of any annual pay amount do we really get to take home? The folks at GOBankingRates have some answers. The personal finance website pulled data from federal…
Nine of the shopping events will offer no-tax bargains on selected products during the month’s first weekend.
Need information about the taxes in your state? This state tax department directory will get you to the official site.
UPDATE, July 24, 2024: Yes, this item originally was published on a prior Margarita Day. But since the main potent potable in that adult beverage is tequila, it’s worth topping off today, National Tequila Day, for another toast. So, jot down the recipe offered by the always animated (in every sense of the word) Sterling Archer. It will help the associated federal and state alcohol tax info below go down a bit easier. ¡Salud! FX/FXX TV’s spy-turned-private detective Sterling Archer offers his margarita recipe. If, however, you’re looking for a drink that’s a bit more elaborate than the basic one…
It’s my second favorite holiday, National Ice Cream Day! Yep, it’s a sorta real holiday, occurring every year on the third Sunday in July as part of National Ice Cream Month. So many ways to enjoy ice cream on National Ice Cream Day and any/every day. (Image courtesy GIFS for Humans Tumblr) National Ice Cream Day became official in 1984 when then President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring its existence. And even though the holiday was the brainchild of the dairy industry, I can’t think of many more things as worthy of celebration than this beloved and iconic treat. Few of us, though, need an…
Happy National Ice Cream Day! Yep, it’s a real holiday, celebrated each year on the third Sunday in July as part of National Ice Cream Month.
The information about his $916 million business loss in 1995 comes from state tax returns filed with New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for that year and which were obtained by the New York Times.
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.
March 5, 2026
Tax filing season is also peak time for tax scams. Be on the lookout for…
Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2025 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2026 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol’ blog’s tips and other tax reminders should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April’s Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the IRS by that date. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)