The IRS Wants to Tax Your Illegal Income
Believe it or not, the federal government requires that money acquired through illegal means be reported and taxed just like legitimate income. The instructions are right there on the income tax form.
irs tax questions
How to Do Your Taxes if You're a Homeowner
If you're a homeowner, you've got a slice of the American dream, and the tax breaks that go along with it. Whether you bought, sold or just happily lived in your home this year, we'll walk you through all the tax stuff you need to know.
Could Itemizing Save You on Taxes? Find Out
Though we all groan about having to pay taxes, the government is nice enough not to tax us on everything we earn. There are two big buckets of deductions the government gives us: The first are called "above the line," and the second are called "below the line," and those are what we'll cover here.
Doing Your Taxes: How to Decide Your Filing Status
If there is one thing to make sure you get right on your taxes, it’s your filing status. It can determine how much you pay in taxes, and it’s one of the things that will definitely land you in an audit if you get it wrong. Take a look at this handy flowchart.
IRS 'Where's My Refund?' Website Flooded by Eager Taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service has a message for taxpayers eager to learn the status of their tax refund: Please don't check the IRS "Where's my refund?" website and smartphone app every five minutes. Once a day is enough.
How to Do Your Taxes if You're a Same Sex Married Couple
2012 was a banner year for the gay marriage movement, but there's still a shadow hanging over the celebrations of those victories: In the eyes of the federal government, couples in legal same-sex marriages are still single. Here's how that affects their taxes.
E-Filing Tips: How to Get Your Federal Tax Refund Faster and Safer
The best way to get your tax refund fast is to e-file your return. However, if you don't do it right, electronic tax filing can cause some big problems -- problems we want to help you avoid. Here's how e-filing works, and how to get it done right.
Identity Theft's Taxing New Trend: Scammers Are After Your Refund
Beware the hottest trend in identity theft: tax identity theft. This year, the IRS expects upwards of 1 million fraudulent tax returns will be filed by scammers stealing refunds. And while the IRS can't protect you, you can protect yourself.
Frugal Benefits of Filing You Taxes Online -- Savings Experiment
Andrew Schrage of Moneycrashers.com explains how to save money by filing your taxes online.
Tax Help: 2013 May Be the Year You'll Need to Hire a Professional
It's hard enough doing your taxes in normal years. But with the major tax code changes the fiscal cliff deal created, this might be the time for even stalwart do-it-yourselfers to hire a professional tax return preparer.
5 Ways to Avoid an IRS Audit
Getting audited isn't the end of the world, but we'd all prefer not to be. To minimize your chances of getting a surprise letter from the IRS, here are five things to do when you file your tax return this year.
Your W-2 Tax Form Is Coming: 3 Key Numbers to Review
Tens of millions of workers will soon be getting W-2 tax forms. Included on that form is a lot of the key information that will determine whether you get a refund or will owe more to the IRS this year. And it also has three numbers you can use to improve your tax planning for the future.
Will Tax Refunds Go Out on Time? Late AMT Fix Has IRS Scrambling
The fiscal cliff compromise has been signed, clearing up a host of questions about taxes for the near future, and the year that just ended. But the long wait for answers left the IRS in limbo, and that may mean millions of refund checks will be delayed too.
IRS Internet Scams: If the Tax Man Emails You, It's Fraud
When the IRS sends you an email that it owes you some cash, and all you need to do to collect it is click through to their website, it's naturally tempting. Don't bite: No matter how convincing that email is, you can rest assured that it's a scam.
More Crazy Tax Deductions: What Worked, What Didn't
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).