National Spending Journal – By Shoeboxed

The Internal Revenue Service has already determined that many early tax filers have mistakenly attempted to double-dip on new tax credits that began with last year’s stimulus checks, the agency announced this week.
The IRS recently reported that approximately 15% of filers so far have made mistakes relating to the rebate. The IRS is catching the [...]

“In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
Despite certainly having heard this famous Ben Franklin quote, three of President Barack Obama’s top appointees have neglected to pay parts of their taxes, bringing such intense media scrutiny that two of them have withdrawn their nominations.
Tom Daschle, Obama’s nominee for Secretary for Health and Human [...]

What if I lose my job?  Is my unemployment check taxable? Can I afford to take money out of my retirement account? These are just a few of the “What If” questions people are dealing with these days.
The IRS recognizes that many people are going through difficult times financially.  Often, there is a tax impact [...]

WASHINGTON –– In response to errors showing up on early tax filings, the Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers and tax preparers to make sure they properly determine eligibility for the recovery rebate credit before they file their 2008 federal tax returns.
Some individuals who did not get the economic stimulus payment, and a smaller number [...]

The Earned Income Tax Credit is for people who work, but have lower incomes. Here are some things you may not know about the EITC.
1. A quarter of all taxpayers that qualify don’t claim the credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit is money you can use to make a difference in your life. Just because [...]

Are you facing a lot of different tax questions this year?
IRS experts have pulled together an overview of common tax issues in one convenient place — Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. This publication, available on the IRS.gov, contains helpful information for individual taxpayers.
This year for the first time, the IRS will issue a Spanish [...]

Most taxpayers who received the economic stimulus payment last year will not be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2008 federal income tax returns. A small number of taxpayers who did not receive the full economic stimulus payment last year may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2008 [...]

If you were married or divorced recently, there are a couple of things you’ll want to do to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration.

If a taxpayer takes their spouse’s last name or if both spouses hyphenate their last names, they may run into complications if [...]

If you changed your home or business address, you’ll want to remember these six tips to ensure you receive any refunds or correspondence from the IRS.
1. You can change your address on file with the IRS in several ways:

Correct the address legibly on the mailing label that comes with you tax package
Write the new address [...]

For most people, using a free service like TaxACT can be a useful and comprehensive way to file their taxes.
If you are dead set, however, on hiring a tax preparer for your taxes, the IRS has a few tips to follow to make sure you don’t hire someone who is inadequate. Here’s what to look [...]

The IRS has released its list of the top 10 tax tips for the upcoming tax season. Sticking to these can cultivate a “less taxing” experience for you come April 15, 2009.
1. Gather your records…now! It’s never too early to start getting together any documents or forms you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled [...]

With tax season rapidly approaching, many wonder about the best way to file taxes. Using computer software is a popular choice, as it can make tax filing much easier and less expensive. There are many options to choose from, but one stands out. TaxACT, an online e-filing program and service, offers an easy-to-use product that [...]

WASHINGTON — National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson today released her annual report, urging Congress to greatly simplify the tax code and recommending measures to reduce the burden on taxpayers who are struggling to pay their tax bills.
The report takes note of the serious financial difficulties facing many Americans in light of the ongoing economic [...]

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today kicked off the 2009 tax filing season by announcing a number of new steps to help financially distressed taxpayers maximize their refunds and speed payments while providing additional help to people struggling to meet their tax obligations.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of several new [...]

Now that it is January, tax season is officially underway and Craiglist is full of ads for receipt organization and bookkeeping services. Answer Craigslist ads at your own peril.
There is no money-back guarantee on Craigslist, and there is really no way to determine whether the services you are paying for are legitimate or not. Though [...]