The slower summer months is a good time to refresh your tax memory and to improve your business skills. Several tax seminars offer opportunities to earn Continuing Professional Education credits. ... Read More

The IRS reported that 66 million tax returns were filed electronically as of April 22, 2005. This exceeds the 62 million e-filed tax returns filed for all of 2004. People ... Read More

A lot of clients call me with this question all the time. They want to know where their tax refund check is. I tell them that the IRS has a ... Read More

Independent contractors and investors often make estimated tax payments in addition to any withholding from their jobs. I routinely see two big problems with estimated taxes: either people forget exactly ... Read More

Letters from the IRS are notorious for being hard to understand, especially when you are already nervous about your taxes. Relax, the IRS has developed form letters for nearly every ... Read More

If you are an independent contractor, you may get a Form W-9 to fill out. This form is a formal way for a company to request your tax identification number. ... Read More

You can create your own personal tax strategy around your financial and lifestyle goals. Just keep in mind the 3 basic tax planning ideas. For example, the first strategy is reducing ... Read More

April 15th has come and gone. Relax with these funny tax jokes and stories compiled by political humor guide Daniel Kurtzman.

Today is the deadline to file your taxes. April 15th, 2005, is also the deadline to contribute to an IRA. Need more time to prepare your tax return? File an ... Read More

Lots of readers have asked me about filing their 2001 tax returns. This is really important, so pay attention. You must file your 2001 tax returns by April 15th, 2005, ... Read More

My top pick for tax software is TaxACT. I was able to complete a straightforward tax return in about 30 minutes using either the Web-based and PC-based versions of the ... Read More

Need a quick way to file your taxes at the last minute, check out the super-fast software called SnapTax. SnapTax is designed for people who file Form 1040-EZ or Form ... Read More

Contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA must happen by April 15th, 2005, for your 2004 taxes. Consider making a contribution to a traditional IRA. If you need to save money ... Read More

Find a collection of the best resources on the Web to help you study for the Enrolled Agent Exam, called the IRS Special Enrollment Examination.

Deadlines are looming for various tax filings. April 15th is the deadline for you to: File your income taxes, or File an extension, Pay your income taxes for 2004, Pay your first quarter 2005 ... Read More

After you finished calculating your 2004 taxes, use these easy-to-follow steps to finish your tax return. It's important to file and to pay on time, to assemble your tax return ... Read More

How to figure your tax refund or balance due on Form 1040. Plus tips on getting your refund safely and quickly, or how to pay off your tax bill quickly ... Read More

How to report various tax payments, such as withholding, estimated tax payments, excess Social Security tax, and payments made with an extension of time to file. Also, this is the ... Read More

Other taxes you may owe include the self-employment tax, additional taxes on unreported tips, additional taxes on the early withdrawal of retirement funds, the advance earned income credit, and household ... Read More

Tax planning consists of two equally important parts: using deductions to reduce taxable income, and using credits to reduce tax. Tax credits reduce your tax liability. You can claim tax ... Read More

Everyone is entitled to reduce their taxable income by various tax deductions. Choose between the standard deduction or itemized deductions, whichever figure is more advantageous.

Adjustments are certain expenses which directly reduce your total income. You do not need to itemize your deductions in order to claim these expenses. Common adjustments to income include classroom ... Read More

How to report various types of income on your Form 1040. This may very well be the most complicated part of your whole tax return, so take your time and ... Read More

You may claim a personal exemption for yourself and for your dependents. You cannot claim an exemption for yourself if someone else can claim you as a dependent. You can ... Read More

After you've gathered your tax documents and picked your tax software, the next step is choosing your filing status. Your filing status determines other aspects of your tax return (such ... Read More

The IRS is inviting public citizens to become members of the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. This group makes recommendations to the US Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and the National ... Read More

Need to get started on your tax returns? Follow you can prepare your taxes in 11 easy steps. Let's get started with Step 1. In step 1, you gather your ... Read More

Here's three things you can do right now to prepare your tax return: Choose your tax software. My top pick is TaxACT Online Finish up your tax return in 11 steps. File an ... Read More

April is a time for trying to figure out what happened last year so we can calculate our taxes. That's important. But not planning for the future can be foolish. ... Read More

Do you know about the value of corporate bonds when a company restructures its debt? Share your insight and knowledge with Ken, who has asked a taxing question in our ... Read More

I am starting to hear from several tax preparers who are interested in preparing for the Special Enrollment Examination so they can become an Enrolled Agent. This is an intensive ... Read More