The IRS: A Long Way From Its Glory Days
For a time, the Internal Revenue Service inspired awe and admiration in Americans. But no one loves the IRS anymore, and they haven't for decades. What changed?
IRS
3 Smart Alternatives to 529 Plans to Help Pay for College
Many parents don't realize that there are alternatives to 529 plans that can often produce even better results for those looking to make the most of their college savings.
Welcome to the Club, Tea Party: Previous Political IRS Scandals
Scandalous, potentially politically motivated behavior at the IRS? Not only isn't that new, it was often far worse. Let's review some lowlights of the IRS's last century.
The Year's Most Outrageous Tax Cheats
From a restauranteur who hid cash receipts in octopus boxes to a self-proclaimed governor who buried his gold, here are some of the oddest tax frauds the IRS caught last year.
Tempest in a Tea Party: The IRS Scandal at a Glance
The IRS, unloved in the best of times, is headed for a bumpy ride in the face of a Justice Department criminal investigation and multiple congressional inquiries.
Obama: Congress Needs to Focus on Job Creation
Obama pushes Washington lawmakers to focus on job creation during a trip to Baltimore to visit a manufacturer of pumping and digging equipment.
Obama Shifts Focus to Jobs
President Barack Obama leaves behind scandal-focused Washington to focus on the country's slowly improving jobs picture.
Obama Picks OMB Chief to Run Embattled IRS
President Obama picked a senior White House budget expert Thursday to become the acting head of the IRS, the same day another top official announced plans to leave the agency.
401(k) Auto-Enrollment Is No Cure-All for Our Retirement Woes
Employees who rely on the default 401(k) contributions set by employers may end up with nest eggs too small to support them in retirement.
IRS Official Resigns, But Investigations Won't End
The acting commissioner for the IRS, Steven Miller, has resigned, but don't look for the outcry over the agency's improper targeting of tea party groups to subside.
Acting IRS Head Steven Miller to Resign, Says Obama
Speaking on the controversy over the Internal Revenue Service's treatment of conservative political groups, President Obama said acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller was out.
Treasury Reports Rare $113B Surplus in April
The U.S. Treasury said Friday that it took in a rare surplus of $113 billion in April, the largest in five years.
IRS Says It's Sorry for Targeting Conservative Groups
The IRS is apologizing for inappropriately flagging conservative political groups for reviews during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.
Bad News for Tax Evaders: U.S. Targets Caribbean Accounts
U.S. taxpayers who stashed money in one of the Caribbean's largest banks without telling the IRS could be in trouble.
Error on Your Tax Return? How to Amend It With Form 1040X
Making changes to your tax return isn't as hard as many people fear it'll be. Here's how to fix errors, and how to determine if filing an amended tax return is your best move.
A Bright Spot from Federal Budget Cuts: Fewer IRS Audits
Thanks to the government's austerity spending cuts, you have a lower chance of being audited this year. That's good news for you, but bad news for the federal budget.
Tax Cheats Pony Up $5.5 Billion in Amnesty Program
The IRS has recouped more than $5.5 billion under a series of programs that offered reduced penalties and no jail time to people who disclosed assets they were hiding overseas.
IRS Overpaid on Tax Credit for the Poor by Up to $13.6 Billion
IRS over-refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit are one of the bigger line items in the U.S. budget, but few politicians in either party are looking to fix the EITC problem.
States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Face Repercussions
Rejecting Medicaid expansion could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to the new federal health care law.
5 Ways to Pay the IRS Less Next April
If you're still in shock from the amount of taxes you just paid, start working now to reduce what you send the IRS next year. Here are five ways you can shave your tax bill.
How to Amend a Tax Return
If you're just now realizing that you missed out on a tax deduction or credit for 2012, don't worry: You can file an amended return for up to three years.
What Happens When You Don't File Your Taxes
What happens to Americans who either forget or flat out refuse to file their taxes?
Boston-Area Taxpayers Will Get Time on Taxes, IRS Says
Noting the tragedy at the Boston Marathon that killed three and injured more than 100, the IRS said it will be providing individual tax filing and payment extensions.
Here's All the Free Stuff You Can Get on Tax Day
Tax Day got you down? There are plenty of freebies to console you, including free shredding at Office Depot and snacks at Cinnabon and Arby's.
Rich, Famous, and in Arrears to the IRS: Celebrity Tax Trouble
Stephen Baldwin is the latest celebrity to end up in the news for failing to file or owing back taxes. Here's a look at other boldfaced names recently in trouble with the IRS.
Overwhelming Support for Taxpayers Giving the Least They Can
A strong majority of Americans support their fellow citizens' doing everything they can within the law to minimize their tax obligations: 85% approve, 56% strongly.
The Pros and Cons of Getting a Tax Extension
Getting a six-month extension to file your taxes is easy to do and gives you some clear advantages if you're feeling crunched on time.
Galling Tax Loopholes that Cost the U.S. Government Billions
Corporations and wealthy individuals have already prepared for tax day by assiduously spending money in deliberate ways to minimize their tax liability.
Last-Minute Tax Filing Tips
Use these tax filing tips to avoid missing deductions or credits and paying the IRS more than you owe. Or worse, making mistakes that could get you in trouble with the taxman.
Watch Out for These 'Dirty Dozen' Tax Scams
Taxpayers should be on alert for identity thieves, e-mails falsely claiming to be from the IRS and shady tax preparers this year, the IRS warns.