taxes

Is Social Security Just A Grand Ponzi Scheme?

Posted 3 days 10 hours ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Taxes

I received my Social Security statement this week and it was a useless piece of paper to me since I do not qualify for retirement benefits yet. I always hear critics of Social Security say that it is a government sanctioned Ponzi scheme, and today I did a little research into why this comparison is often made.

full story 35 comments

The Gas Tax Holiday; don’t fall for it.

Posted 1 week 3 days ago by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs, Cars and Transportation

tax break?

Both John McCain and Hillary Clinton are proposing a new Gas Tax Holiday that will run during the summer months, bringing “much needed relief” at the pumps. But will it? More than 200 economists, including four Nobel prize-winners, have already signed a letter rejecting the proposal.

full story 18 comments

Your stimulus check is on its way!

Posted 2 weeks 6 days ago by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs

money!

Wow. I guess pigs may just fly after all. Because, believe it or not, the goverment is actually paying out the economic stimulus checks ahead of schedule. And that means you could get your cold, hard cash as early as Monday, depending on your SSN.

full story 18 comments

Be sure you qualify for the home-sale exclusion before you sell

Posted 4 weeks 1 day ago by Mark P. Cussen

Real Estate and Housing

House Sale

A great many sellers are entitled to the home sale exclusion, but counting on it when you may not be eligible will provide unpleasant surprise come tax time.

full story 7 comments

Why You Should Donate a Blood Sucking Timeshare

Posted 4 weeks 3 days ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Lifestyle, Taxes

My parents always told me that buying a timeshare is a bad idea because of the inflated upfront cost and perpetual maintenance and exchange fees the timeshare companies pile on. It is also quite difficult to sell a timeshare you no longer want because there is usually a giant supply of them on the market. If you do want to get rid of a money sucking timeshare, donating it may be the most economical option.

full story 2 comments

Could a Divorce Improve Your Finances?

Posted 6 weeks 2 days ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Taxes

When I was single, I thought that getting married would reduce my expenses greatly, and after I got married I realized that in some instances married life is actually more expensive . In general, divorces are extremely costly and detrimental events, but ironically there are so many laws pertaining to marriage and finances that could make a divorce financially advantangeous for a committed couple. Here are some of the bizarre examples I have read in the news recently.

full story 15 comments

Taxes on irregular income

Posted 7 weeks 4 days ago by Philip Brewer

Taxes

Kneeling llama

This is really a non-issue, if you work a regular job:  Your employer withholds taxes.  It's also not much of an issue if you're self-employed and your income is reasonably steady through the course of the year:  You estimate your annual tax bill and send in quarterly estimated tax payments.  If your income is unpredictable, though, it is an issue.  Happily, the IRS does not demand that you be able to predict the future.

full story 7 comments

Software review: TurboTax

Posted 7 weeks 4 days ago by Philip Brewer

Taxes

TurboTax box

I wasn't looking forward to doing my taxes this year.  They were going to be more complicated than in years past, because I left my regular job and started working full-time as a writer.  I also had some other new complications.  TurboTax handled it all without difficulty.

full story 9 comments

You must file a tax return to get economic stimulus tax rebate

Posted 8 weeks 2 days ago by Philip Brewer

Taxes

IRS

Surely by now everyone has heard of the economic stimulus tax rebate.  What may not be universally known is that one of the little tweaks the Democrats added were some rules under which even many people who don't pay taxes can get a rebate.  To get it, though, you have to file a return.

full story 33 comments

Bar Stool Economics

Posted 12 weeks 1 day ago by Nora Dunn

Taxes

bar stool

Enjoy this lighthearted anecdotal story illustrating the North American tax system.

full story 37 comments

Bush's economic stimulus package; What will you get back?

Posted 15 weeks 2 days ago by Paul Michael

Personal Finance, Taxes

Tax calc

As you’re no doubt aware, President Bush has created an economic stimulus package in the hopes of stalling the impending recession (or if you believe some, depression) that’s on the horizon. It’s not approved yet, but it has already passed its first major hurdle – The House Of Representatives approved the $146 billion dollar deal. Want to know how much you'll get?

full story 116 comments

Beware of Taxable Social Security Income

Posted 15 weeks 4 days ago by Mark P. Cussen

Personal Finance

Mark Cussen pic

Taxable Social Security income can be a nasty surprise if you're unprepared. Know the rules of Social Security taxation and take control of your tax bill.

full story 6 comments

TurboTax: New features, and a chance to win a copy

Posted 15 weeks 5 days ago by Philip Brewer

Taxes

TurboTax Box

The kind folks at Intuit have given us some free copies of TurboTax. I snagged one that I'm going to use to do my taxes, and once I'm done, I'll post a review and tell you how it worked for me. In the meantime, here's a brief rundown of the latest features, together with a chance to win a free copy yourself.

full story 14 comments

Deduct Those Home Office Expenses

Posted 16 weeks 4 days ago by Mark P. Cussen

Personal Finance

Home Office

If you are self-employed or an employee working from home for your employer's convenience, then you can deduct at least a portion of your home office expenses. This article will cover the basic criteria that must be met in order to do this.

full story 1 comment

Cross your fingers and hope you’re not caught by Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) this year.

Posted 17 weeks 5 days ago by Paul Michael

Personal Finance

TAxes

If you don’t know what the AMT is, you may well be in for a shock this year. And if your household income is around $75,000 or more, gross, then AMT could very well take a big bite out of you. Read on…

full story 9 comments

Can the government help in a recession?

Posted 19 weeks 3 days ago by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance

New York Federal Reserve Bank building

Recessions spread. A minor downturn in one business spreads to its suppliers and then to their suppliers. Workers are laid off (or simply fear that they will be) and buy less, spreading the downturn to other sectors of the economy. Since the 1940s, governments have tried to act to limit the damage caused by recessions, but not everyone agrees that government action can help.

full story 5 comments

The Quiet Millionaire: Part 6 - Are You Paying Too Much Tax?

Posted 20 weeks 12 hours ago by Julie Rains

Taxes

watching grass grow

The Quiet Millionaire author and Certified Financial Planner Brett Wilder states that “Most ‘normal’ people think that the subject of taxes is an absolute bore and would much rather spend their free time thinking about more interesting, stimulating, and happier aspects of life.” Thankfully, I would be considered normal by this measure. Thinking about avoiding taxes, the focus of Chapter 6, however, is mildly exciting. I've selected some ideas and insight that I found particularly useful.

full story 3 comments

Nail those year-end tax deductions!

Posted 21 weeks 10 hours ago by Mark P. Cussen

Personal Finance

Tax pic

Don't forget to take advantage of these year-end strategies to reduce your taxes.

full story 5 comments

How To Choose A Financial Planner - Yes You!

Posted 38 weeks 1 day ago by Nora Dunn

Personal Finance

Financial Planner?

I don't care who you are. (Well, actually I do, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this).
What I mean, is I don't care about your background, education, financial prowess, or absolute lack thereof.
You need a Financial Planner!
Here are a few things to consider in your search for the perfect Financial Planner and why you even need one at all.

full story 18 comments

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

Posted 1 year ago by Andrea Dickson

Filed Under: Taxes

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.

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

Permalink | 2 comments

Have more to say? Join the discussions at Wise Bread's Finance and Frugality Forums.

Finance Blogs - Blog Top Sites