tax season
7 Things Tax Preparers Wish You Would Do
By Geoff Williams Between now and April 15, as you start preparing your taxes, the best thing you can do for your wallet is think about how you can make life easier for your tax preparer. Another way to put it: You can present your preparer with a pile of unorganized receipts and get through […]
Breathe Fresh Air! It’s Time to Spring Clean Your Finances
Spring is around the corner, and I’m sure many of you already started opening your windows and cleaning the dust that accumulated during the winter. While cleaning your house is important, don’t forget to give some fresh air to your finances. As organizing a messy closet makes you feel more comfortable and happier, getting rid […]
It’s Tax Refund Time: How Will You Spend Your Windfall?
Tax season can be a grueling time of year, but if you’re like most people, the big payoff you may get in the form of a refund makes it all worth it. The IRS estimates that the average refund for 2013 will be $2,803, and if you’re dreaming of putting that money towards a Caribbean […]
Organize for Tax Time
by April Lewis-Parks It is that taxing time again! If you have not filed yet and are dreading it because you’re not organized, we have some tips from the organizing expert Jennifer Ford Berry, author of the best-selling book Organize Now! A Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life. Ms. Ford gives advice […]
Owe Uncle Sam Some Money? Don’t Pay With a Credit Card!
by April Lewis-Parks If you owe the IRS money this tax season and don’t have it available, avoid using your credit card or opening a credit card account for this purpose. It’s not a good financial and can lead to a substantial amount of debt. Credit card issuers and even the IRS tout the convenience […]
7 Year-End Tax Tips: How You Can Save Money
Even though you usually think of April has tax time, the reality is you can prepare and save all year long. Wouldn’t it be nice to worry less about the amount you’re going to pay to dear old Uncle Sam! 2011 is coming to an end and you need to take a look and to […]
Spring Cleaning: Tax Records You Can Throw Away
Spring is a great time to clean out that growing mountain of tax and financial papers that clutters your home and office. Here’s what you need to keep and what you can throw out without fearing the wrath of the IRS. Let’s start with your “safety zone,” the IRS statute of limitations. This limits the […]
Don’t Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card
If you owe the IRS money this tax season and don’t have it available, avoid using your credit card or opening a credit card account for this purpose. It’s not financially productive and can lead to a substantial amount of further debt. Credit card issuers and even the IRS tout the convenience of using a […]
How to Avoid Identity Theft During Tax Season
Consumers should protect themselves against online identity theft and other scams that increase during and linger after the filing season. Such scams may appropriate the name, logo, or other appurtenances of the IRS or U.S. Department of the Treasury to mislead taxpayers into believing the communication is legitimate. Scams involving the impersonation of the IRS […]