Tag: 2012

See this article for the latest federal tax filing deadlines. Generally you can paper file your tax return on January 1st of the following year. But if, like most tax payers, you file an electronic return (e-file) you can only submit your return to the IRS in late January, which…

Most people who work or are self-employed are subject to Social Security taxes. This is true, regardless of age. Employers are also subject to Social Security taxes for their employees. If you are self-employed, and your business' net profit is greater than $400, you must also pay Social Security (and Medicare)…

Teachers and other personnel at K-12 schools can take a tax deduction for classroom supplies that they buy out of their own pockets, whether they itemize or not. This deduction amount is adjusted on a semi-regular basis, with the latest amounts shown below. It has been raised for the 2023…

After covering Hermain Cain's 999 tax plan, I thought I would look at Rick Perry's recently released "Cut, Balance and Grow Plan" discussed in his recent WSJ op-ed piece. Here are highlights from his Cut, Balance and Grow (CBG) plan: - Personal Tax Reform: Americans will have a choice between…

COLA Increase [2021 update] 1.3% COLA increase in 2021 officially confirmed by the SSA. For the average retiree who got a check of $1,523 this year, that would mean an additional $20 a month. The 1.3% COLA is the smallest increase since 2017 and slightly below the 1.4% average over…

[Update - American Jobs Act a.k.a 2012 Economic Stimulus] In what is essentially the 2012 stimulus package, President Obama has released details on the American Jobs Act which involves spending over $400 billion dollars to boost economic growth. The key provisions are: Extension of employee payroll tax cuts into 2012,…

See updated details on the potential 2020 payroll tax cut [Updated- 2012 Payroll Tax Credit Holiday, Unemployment Benefits and Medicare Doctor Payments Extended to Dec 31st] With House Republican support Congress has passed legislation extending the federal payroll tax holiday through the end of the year without demanding spending cuts…

Following enactment of the American Tax Relief Act (ATRA) a few years ago, the annual "AMT patch" legislation that Congress had to pass every year to ensure more people were not snagged by the Alternative Minimum tax is now no longer required. Instead the AMT exemption and associated thresholds based…

Updated Information - Click here for the latest tax bracket tables and rates and current tax season information. 2012 and 2011 tax rates stayed the same as 2010 levels thanks to an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. This has been confirmed by the IRS with the release of 2012 tax…

The AOTC allows parents and students to receive a tax credit of up to $2,500 for qualified undergraduate college expenses, based on certain income limits. The AOTC replaced the smaller Hope credit a few years ago as part of bills passed under the Obama administration (see section below for origin).…

[Updated- 2012 Payroll Tax Credit Holiday, Unemployment Benefits and Medicare Doctor Payments Extended to Dec 31st] With House Republican support Congress has passed legislation extending the federal payroll tax holiday through the end of the year without demanding spending cuts to pay for it. This was a concession aimed at…

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has seen some key updates enacted as part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." As of the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026) and going forward, the credit is structured to be claimed when filing your tax return, transitioning away from the advance, fully…

As the year draws to a close it’s always a good idea to review your tax situation and in light of that we have put together a collection of fifteen tax deductions worth considering to lower your overall tax bill. But act soon, because if you wait until next year…