tax returns

Rick Santorum has rarely shied away from controversy in his political career, but there's no controversy to be found in his taxes. Based on his recently released returns, Santorum appears to have been a conscientious taxpayer, and a fairly normal (if a little wealthy) guy.

Even if you have nothing to hide, an IRS audit is no picnic. But have you ever wondered why some tax returns get intense scrutiny while most sail through the review process? Here are 12 red flags that could increase your chances of drawing unwanted IRS attention.

While the pundits debated the vices and virtues of Mitt Romney's and Newt Gingrich's tax returns, the folks at Kiplinger were scouring them for ideas that could help you. Even if you'll never have a Swiss bank account or own complex foreign assets, these dozen moves could help you lower your IRS bill.

2011 wasn't a good year for those expecting big checks from the IRS. Not only were fewer refunds delivered, but the average refund was smaller. That's no surprise in this economy, but it's also a sign that Americans are getting smarter about how we handle our taxes.

Uncle Sam isn't the only one looking to collect from taxpayers this year: A rapidly growing number of Internet scammers are also using the guise of the IRS to siphon money out of consumers' pockets, security experts say.

After a plea deal in federal court last week, euthanasia device maker Sharlotte Hydorn, 92, is out of business. But it wasn't the fact that she helped people commit suicide that got her in trouble -- it was failing to pay income tax on the profits from selling the suicide kits.

Thanks to confusing and often misunderstood rules surrounding child-care tax breaks, the author has overpaid Uncle Sam to the tune of $1,000, missing out on $200 in tax savings each year for the past half-decade. Read on to avoid her mistake -- unless you enjoy filing mounds of amended returns.

Whether you've lost your job, are carrying an excessive amount of credit card debt, or have big medical bills and are dealing with mounting debt, you may have considered filing for bankruptcy to get a fresh start with your finances. A recent FindLaw.com survey revealed that one in eight Americans,...

Americans get three extra days this year to file their income tax returns, but if you've put off doing your taxes, it's time to get organized -- and possibly to get help. Because if you owe Uncle Sam, even if you file for an extension, you'd better have his check in the mail by midnight Monday.

The IRS has announced that there is $1.1 billion in previous unclaimed tax refunds waiting for nearly 1.1 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2007. The IRS estimates that half of these potential 2007 refunds amount to at least $640.