Taxes

Last Minute Tax-Filing? Extended Post Office Hours and More

Isn't it weird that there isn't a central list of post offices at, oh I don't know, say, USPS.com, that tells you which post office branches are going to be open late tonight for last-minute filers? Or is there a list and I simply couldn't find it (possible)?

Here's a partial list. Feel free to add your own in the comments section. These are remarkably difficult to find.

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Top 10 Tax Urban Legends, Myths and Rumors.

Hey, it's tax time again. If you've already looked at my other post on weird tax deductions , you'll know I like looking at the lighter side of taxation. Let's face it, at this time of year, who doesn't?

So I thought it would be fun to pop along to the Snopes.com website and check out their top 10 tax legends (it's a tricky search, I had to weed out stories not directly related to the IRS). But, what are the big myths, rumors and complete BS stories surroungding this oh-so-special time of the year? Well, here are the results.

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15 to 35% Off Turbo Tax Online

Fidelity.com is offering its registered visitors 35% off TurboTax online. Registration is free. Just click on the link "visitors" on the bottom left-hand corner. Fidelity doesn't ask you to verify your personal information nor does it verify your email address. If you're already a registered user, go here for the TurboTax discount.

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What are your chances of getting audited by the IRS? Your guess is probably wrong

According to this Kiplinger's tax tip video, only 1 in 150 personal tax returns get audited. Realistically speaking, your odds of getting audited are probably even lower than that. In fact, it's virtually zero.

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Can't Afford to Pay the IRS?

Even though I have a couple of extra days to file my tax returns this year, I won't be able to come up with enough to pay the IRS what I owe.

The age old question about paying now or later came to a head for me this year, when I chose the "pay later, and invest your money in a high-interest savings account in the meantime" strategy, but forgot to actually save the money. So, I owe Uncle Sam a few grand. Only I don't have a few grand.

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Ring. Ring. Ka-ching! Lying About Your Telephone Tax

I haven't had a landline in years. I'm dead serious. Years.

So, I was bummed to hear that this year, the "sorry you were cheated initially when we taxed you too much" refund that we get back is for long distance telephone service.

Apparently, Americans who paid for long distance calling plans were cheated or something. By Ma Bell? Or the Baby Bells? Uncle Sam in conjunction with the Bell Family? It doesn't matter now. What matters is that, when you file your taxes this year, you can get back between $30 and $60, depending on the number of exemptions you claim.

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Charitable giving - get a receipt

Here's hoping that I get this right - according to the IRS and NPR, new provisions are going into effect next year that will change the requirements for receiving a deduction on your taxes for charitable donations. The story that I heard on the radio referred most to donations to religious institutions, but it probably relates to other giving as well.

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