internal revenue service

After the taxman takes his share of a big lottery jackpot, it's not nearly so big as it was advertised. And even a lot of people who favor raising taxes on the rich think that's not quite fair.

In their mad dash toward the Form 1040 finish line, late taxpayers often make costly errors. If you're among those last-minute tax filers, first, take a breath. Then take note of these common filing mistakes to avoid.

For whatever reason, celebrities often end up crossing paths with the IRS, and surprisingly, most of the problems they have with the tax man are traps anyone could fall into. Here are some common mistakes of the stars, and what you can do to avoid them.

Having your taxes done is never fun, so it's no surprise that many people postpone filing their returns. But there's a price to pay for putting off your date with the IRS: Procrastinators tend to spend more on the process.

From hip replacements to pole dancing classes, here are some of the most outlandish deductions taxpayers have ever attempted to claim. You won't believe what these people tried that their accountants said wouldn't fly -- and you really won't believe what did (literally).

When you're dealing with the soulless bureaucracy that is the Internal Revenue Service, it helps to have a little extra "soul" on your side. And Anita Majors, the Singing Tax Lady, can provide it.

If you have to write the IRS a check every year, there's a chance you could get even worse news from the tax man: an extra bill for interest and penalties. How can you avoid that? Welcome to the nerve-wracking world of estimated tax payments.

Every year, tax season inspires Americans ... to gripe and complain. But rather than focus on the depressing side of your yearly ordeal, why not consider the more enjoyable things that taxes have inspired -- namely, a long list of films. On Oscar weekend, there's no better time to recall these taxing classics.

Chalk it up to the nation's lingering economic malaise: More Americans this year plan to sock some of their tax refund away in savings. If you're among them, here are a few smart ways to stash that cash.

Is the U.S. tax code designed to be confusing? At more than 70,000 pages, its complexity is hard to overstate. But forget its size: Even in its most basic terms, the IRS seems determined to muddy the waters. To help you out, we've unpacked a few of the most weaselly weasel words.