Our next tax trivia question is:

In 2000, Vice President Cheney and his wife owed federal taxes of $14,295,058 on adjusted gross income of $36,086,635. After taking into account withholding and other payments, how big a check did the Cheneys have to write when they mailed in their taxes? (I’ll take answers within $100,000)

For more about the giveaway, including rules and prizes, check out this post.

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• Tax Trivia Giveaway #1: Top Tax Rates
• Richard Hatch Released from Prison (Again)
• Snakes in a Tax Office
• Shutdown Looms, Payroll Tax Cut Extension Still Not Approved
• Boehner Claims Compromise on Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Our next tax trivia question is:

Cristina Warthen (née Cristina Schultz), now married to Ask Jeeves founder David Warthen, is a Stanford Law School grad who grossed more than $300,000 working as a hooker in California under the name “Brazil.” She escaped prosecution for prostitution but admitted to hiding money from the taxing authorities by stashing funds where? Be specific.

For more about the giveaway, including rules and prizes, check out this post.

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• “I Went To Stanford Law And All I Got Was This Plea Agreement”
• Richard Hatch Released from Prison (Again)
• Tax Horror Stories Giveaway
• Taxgirl Gets Nod from LexisNexis
• taxgirl Has a New Home!

Yep, it’s that time of year: free tax software! I have 20 access codes for free CompleteTax online tax prep software to give away to taxgirl readers, thanks to the good folks at CCH. Each code is good for online tax preparation and filing for one 2011 federal and one 2011 state tax return using CompleteTax’s online tax prep software.

And here’s how the giveaway will work. Over the next few days, I will randomly post 10 tax trivia questions. The first reader to submit the correct answer wins.

Here are the rules:

• Post your answer in the comments section on the corresponding post. Answers on Facebook and Twitter won’t count (but see below).
• The first correct answer wins. Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts.
• Guess as many times as you’d like even if you don’t know the answer. My normal comment policy applies (you can read it here). No offensive language, no trash talk, no spam. I have standards, you know.
• I have to be able to contact you. That means you have to register with Forbes.com using a valid email address. I won’t publish your email address but I do need contact information for the winning entry.
• If there is no winning answer for a question after 24 hours, that question will be void for purposes of the contest. I want to make sure that I give away all of these free tax prep codes in time for folks to get their taxes done.
• One winner per tax season. Really. Feel free to keep guessing if you’ve already won (you know, for the ego boost) but only one free software package per person.
• Due to shipping considerations, only United States addresses, please. Sorry, Canada, eh?
• I respect your privacy and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
• By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
• There is no debate about the correct answer. Like Judge Judy, my ruling is final.
• Finally, the giveaway is about me, me, me. It’s not affiliated with or endorsed by Forbes. So leave them out of it, okay?

I know what you’re thinking: I said I had 20 codes but only plan on doing 10 tax trivia blog posts. Since I love my Facebook fans and my twitter followers so much, I’m saving 10 codes to give away (5 on Facebook, 5 on twitter). It’s still a trivia contest, same rules apply with a couple of obvious exceptions:

• Facebook answers must be posted on the corresponding Facebook post (meaning that if your comment shows up on the wrong post, I can’t help you out).
• Twitter answers must be posted @taxgirl with the hashtag #taxtrivia. Got it?
• You don’t have to follow me or friend me or any such goofiness in order to play along… but I’d love it if you did.

You ready?Similar Posts:

• Tax Horror Stories Giveaway
• Tax Trivia Giveaway #1: Top Tax Rates
• 9 Things to Keep in Mind Before You Ask the Taxgirl
• Hey Congress, Why Don’t You…?
• Facebook Update

It’s the New Year and sadly, the same old Congress. With that in mind, I thought that Congress could use a little help with their New Year’s resolutions for 2012, so a couple of days ago, I posed this question on my blog:

What’s on your tax and financial #wishlist for Congress in 2012?

Here’s what my readers had to say:

• Angie Kenison DeLong: Our congress needs more awareness of how the income tax system works for most Americans. I would like to see every senator and representative take and pass the RTRP exam to demonstrate that they are qualified to vote on tax bills.
• Christianne Kapps: I wish there was a way to force banks to keep foreclosed homes on their balance sheets until they ACTUALLY sell the houses, thereby making banks: a) more willing to re-fi instead of rushing to foreclose; b) reduce or slowdown growing inventories; c) keep property tax paying homeowners in their homes, increasing states taxbase and keeping schools properly funded, stabilizing neighborhoods, and propping up client credit ratings, rather than destroying them.
• Christianne Kapps: Congress should make the income tax rate 0% for any individual (1040 filers) whose AGI is less than $100,000, ( or annual payrate less than $150,000) (double for families) but make the non-filing penalty $1000 to $2000. you’ll increase compliance and reduce the complications and back and forth of withholding and refunding as well as put more money in taxpayers hands (but put Social [entity display="Security" type="section" active="true" key="/security"]Security[/entity] withholding back to previous levels)
• Christianne Kapps: Some rule needs to be thought up concerning state and local income tax. now states and municipalities can pursue you for giving a lecture in their region even if you never lived there, but you don’t necessarily get a reduction from your home state/municipality – effectively double taxing, not to mention complicating your tax returns. if there were a unified form for recording where you live/work to distribute income tax to the appropriate taxing agency – or – if you only paid income tax to your municipality/state of residence, compliance would be easier/higher, you would only be taxed once, and you wouldn’t have to fill out so many returns.
• Kathy Hanley: Congress needs to keep more money in the United States. They should start with only purchasing products grown and manufactured in the United States.
• Marilyn Cooper Baker: I would like to see the members of Congress pay into the Social [entity display="Security" type="section" active="false" key="/security"]Security[/entity] System!! Then see how fast it would get fixed!!
• Greg Miller: my tax and financial wish list contains two items. first congress needs to pass the Fair Tax act of 2011 H.R. 25/S.13. passing the fairtax will take us closer to our founding fathers goals of a voluntary, progressive tax on purchases above the federal poverty guidelines. it removes embedded tax costs of goods produced here in the united states making our U.S. made goods more competitive with imported goods. it allows international companies to invest profits from overseas operations here in the U.S.. it allows small businesses to keep the profits it needs to grow tax free. it allows all savings and investments to grow tax free giving lower income families that want to help themselves a hand up instead of a hand out. it places the tax burden on those that choose to spend more helping to end the class warfare that income taxes cause. it stops congress from buying votes via the tax code as any tax changes apply to every one equally. it returns power to the people. to help with that return of power congress needs to pass a real balanced budget bill based on actual revenue not GDP such as H. J. RES. 23 this bill will require congress to balance the budget while not allowing the tax rates to be increased unless two thirds of congress agree’s. with this balanced budget amendment and the fair tax in place the people have control of the purse strings. if congress is making laws that are for the good of the country any one that wishes to can do well. there spending will increase and federal revenue will increase. if congress starts making choices that hurt the country consumer spending will decrease which will decrease the money congress has to spend on the poor choices. to quote Alexander Hamilton in Federalist #21 “Imposts, excises, and, in general, all duties upon articles of consumption, may be compared to a fluid, which will, in time, find its level with the means of paying them. The amount to be contributed by each citizen will in a degree be at his own option, and can be regulated by an attention to his resources. The rich may be extravagant, the poor can be frugal;”
• John Izzo: I sure like the thought of Congress paying into Social [entity display="Security" type="section" active="false" key="/security"]Security[/entity]! I believe that Congress should not pass any laws that effect those of us in the country while exempting themselves from the jurisdiction of the laws.
• @Eligabiff: 2012 tax #wishlist @taxgirl tax law changes must be passed by Oct 1 for current tax year & next tax year.
• @Eligabiff: And another 2012 #wishlist @taxgirl fix AMT permanently.
• @Eligabiff: My 2012 tax #wishlist for @taxgirl extend payroll tax cut through the end of the year since it is already screwed up & then let it expire.
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist invest in innovation, education and infrastructure, bring jobs back to small town USA from China. Tax imports from China
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist abolish Obamacare
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist figure out a way to cut debt by reallocating spending and balance the budget – how much $ does it really cost to run USA?
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist put aside party differences to do what is truly in the best interest of the country – neither party has it 100% right
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist accountability to taxpayers for how they spend our money – the fed govt’s bal sheet and p&l are too complex to understand
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist I am a big proponent of privatizing Soc. Sec. for workers under age 45, all others should have the option
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist simplify the tax code for individuals – a flat tax with a min exemption would accomplish this
• @Cairnmom3x: @taxgirl #wishlist term limits – I think terms for all elected officials should be 6 years (including the president and all of Congress)
• @rdftaxpro: @taxgirl What I want to see in 2012 – all current members of Congress who run for re-election in 2012 are voted out of office!
• @JoselynDawn: @taxgirl #wishlist An online tax payment system with check boxes next to every gov’t funded program/agency, let me choose where my $ goes.
• JoselynDawn: @taxgirl #wishlist Cut down the current code. It shouldn’t break my back 2 carry. Focus on increasing revenue & decreasing public freak out.
• @LeviTheFA: #wishlist Clarity. (Higher/lower, whatever, just some long term dir) RT @taxgirl: Congress Needs Some Advice in 2012 goo.gl/fb/WUwgE
• @sweetbv: @taxgirl, I’d love for Congress to stop overspending and pass a balanced budget before fiscal year end. #wishlist
• ef436: While I doubt that much will get done in [entity display="Washington" type="place" active="true" key="dc/washington"]Washington[/entity] in 2012 – I’d like to see a balanced budget – with some emphasis on finding and allocating funds for areas and programs that are really in need, such as education
• mklimpel: My wish list for Congress includes term limits – I think the whole idea of making a career out of being a senator or representative has caused the gridlock we are experiencing – politicians are avoiding making hard choices that would benefit the country because they are too worried about getting reelected. In addition, I think the culture of getting reelected has contributed greatly to members of Congress becoming completely out of touch with their constituents – they just don’t listen to the people that elected them. I would also like to see more required disclosure around new legislation. The sheer size (hundreds or even thousands of pages) of some of the legislation that has been enacted in recent years calls into question whether members of Congress even understand what they are voting for. Large corporations have to file 8-Ks disclosling significant events or changes that impact their businesses – why shouldn’t Congress have to post summaries of bills (written in plain english) at least 5 – 7 days prior to when a vote is taken to allow people to understand what is contained in the legislation and allow them to make informed decisions about whether or not to support the legislation. One last suggestion I have is for the people of the United States to have a say in whether Congress gets to adjourn for any vacations during the year – the fact that they leave for holiday breaks when legislation is hanging in the balance is just not right – try that in any other job and it wouldn’t be tolerated!
• rdftaxpro: KPE – Here is what I hope happens in 2012 – Every single current member of Congress who runs for re-election in 2012 is voted out of office!
• kloftis: Enough with all the politics, Congress! Step up and pass a flat tax. Citizens should understand what their share of the cost of govt is.
• pegatha: I would like a provision in the tax code that *every* number, anywhere in the tax code, is indexed for inflation. Just like the personal exemptions, standard deduction, FICA limit, etc. are always adjusted for economic reality – every other number that also affects tax thresholds and calculations should be adjusted. That’d get rid of the last-minute AMT patches. Sec. 179 limits. Mortgage interest limits (well, I don’t agree with that subsidy, but whatever). Teacher expenses (really, $250? that’s insulting). It just makes sense to adjust everything.
• pegatha: Re: the 179 limit – now that I think about it the $125k limit for certain years is indexed, but once (if) it reverts to the $25k limit, that isn’t indexed, is it?
• donnalaubscher: I would like Congress to do anything that could be considered bipartisan. But, really, they need to correct the payroll tax cuts. Two months?? Granted, I am a CPA, but I suspect they have never looked at a payroll report. How are those even going to be able to reconcile? My wish list for ever has been elimination of AMT, but the country cannot afford for AMT to be fixed.
• mactax: Wish for Congress- for them to do anything constructive with a minimum posturing and partisanship. What I dream will happen- I promise I haven’t had anything fermented or distilled (yet)- right after the President enters to deliver the State of the Union Address, the doors are flung open and Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams enter. They proceed to lay into all our assembled leaders(and the wannabes) about their behavior and lack of leadership. Name names, cite their behavior, hold them accountable on national television. If Santa can visit billions of children in one night, surely our founding fathers can come back for a couple of hours for some much needed butt kicking.
• Rainer V.: I just wish Congress would stop playing politics, and give us a stable, known, predictable tax code. Individuals cannot plan, and employers will not hire, when they don’t know what their tax responsibilities will be over the next few years (or even the next quarter)!
• maxst: The best thing we could do as a nation for our economy and jobs is to enact the FairTax ending the income tax and forever ending the taxing of our paychecks. As a result of the FairTax, we would see jobs flooding into America instead of fleeing and we would no longer have to grovel, snivel and whine like beaten down slaves for a measely 2% payroll tax cut when we could have a 100% one. We’ve had the income tax for nearly 100 years and have tried every trick in the book including a “flat” income tax, and yet it still isn’t “fair?!” Isn’t it time we drop the insanity of trying the same things over and over while expecting different results? To me, it seems the choice is obvious, the FairTax, bringing the single greatest transfer of power OUT of DC and back TO the people and economic prosperity or continue with the same old, same old and keep getting the same results!

So looks like we want clarity, simplicity and less politicking. What did we miss?

Congress, are you listening?

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• Taxes and the State of the Union
• Is a Tax by the Mile Coming Down the Road?
• Hey Congress, Why Don’t You…? Replace Income Tax with Sales Tax
• Shutdown Looms, Payroll Tax Cut Extension Still Not Approved
• Obama Warns Congress About Payroll Tax: ‘Don’t Be a Grinch’

The New Year is almost here! And Congress is still, well, Congress. Clearly, they need a little direction for 2012 so I thought I’d ask you, my readers, what you hope to see happen next year and we’ll make a contest out of it.

So since Congress is so fond of pork… the prize is a small box of BBQ shipped directly to you. And yes, we’re talking NC BBQ (wait, you thought there was another kind?). Of course, where I come from, NC BBQ is eastern style. If you prefer, you can have a box of Lexington style BBQ or a mix of the two. And since I know that not all of my readers eat pork, I’m offering a substitute prize of Tastykakes.

To play along, just answer this question:

What’s on your tax and financial #wishlist for Congress in 2012?

Lower tax rates? Extend the payroll tax cuts? Balance the budget? Extend the Bush era tax cuts? Fix the AMT? Ditch the federal estate tax? Extend unemployment benefits? Increase funding for the military – or schools? Raise tobacco taxes? Lower gas taxes? Pass a national sales tax? Flat tax? Fair tax?

You get the picture.

Leave your comment in the space below, tweet your answer on twitter to @taxgirl using the hashtag #wishlist or post on my taxgirl Facebook page.

I’ll create a post with all of the entries that will run on New Year’s Day. And I’ll choose one entry from all of them randomly to win.

Here are some more rules because, as you know, I’m a lawyer and I like rules:

• Entries must be posted in the comments section for this blog post in the space below OR on twitter @taxgirl using the #wishlist hashtag OR on Facebook.com/taxgirl at this post by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, 2011.
• Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts. If you have difficulty registering, please send an email to blogadmin@forbes.com and copy me (tech@taxgirl.com) so that I can help if I need to/can.
• You can enter as many times as you like but you must leave a different answer each time you comment.
• Offensive comments or comments that otherwise violate the comment policy will be deleted and will not be considered valid for purposes of the contest.
• Pingbacks and other links will be disregarded for purposes of the contest.
• I have to be able to contact you. That means you have to register with Forbes.com using a valid email address, allow me to DM you on Twitter or message you on Facebook (depending on how you choose to enter the contest). I won’t publish your email address but I do need contact information for the winning entry.
• Due to shipping considerations, only United States addresses, please. Sorry, Canada, eh?
• I respect your privacy and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
• By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
• Finally, the giveaway is about me, me, me. It’s not affiliated with or endorsed by Forbes. So leave them out of it, okay?

Comment away!

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• Tax Horror Stories Giveaway
• Congress to Taxpayers: We Give Up
• Payroll Tax Cuts Extension Part of Kitchen Sink Bill
• Congress Takes a Holiday, Passes Payroll Tax Cut Extension Anyway
• The Year That Was: Top Tax Stories of 2011

After all of the drama, Congress managed to push through a payroll tax cut extension just before the holidays. The payroll tax cut was extended for two months, saving the average taxpayer a grand total of $166.

These days, that won’t get you very far. Depending on where you live, it works out to:

• 43 gallons of gas
• 84 loaves of bread
• 277 pounds of potatoes
• 49 gallons of milk
• 11 pizzas
• 14 movie tickets in Philadelphia
• 79 cups of Starbucks coffee
• 2/3 of a seat at a Lakers game (or a pair of seats at a 76ers game with money left over for snacks and beer)
• 377 postage stamps
• 74 New York City subway tickets
• 187 hamburgers at McDonald’s (or 1,107 hamburgers when McDonald’s first opened)
• 50 minutes of time for an average lawyer
• 2.55 hours of time for an average electrician
• 167 newspapers
• 35 packs of cigarettes

* Commodities prices courtesy of The People History except where otherwise noted, obvious (like stamps) or city/brand name specific.

Just for fun, I asked folks on Twitter and Facebook how they would spend it. Here’s what they had to say:

• Angela Backus: Go to the Las Vegas Hilton and get a massage by Juan.
• Andrea Schneider: buy a few more Christmas gift items! I didn’t quite get everyone!!!
• Robert Phillips: Fill my truck up twice!
• Angie Kenison DeLong: It could cost the small business owner more than $166 to comply with modified payroll reporting requirements for two months. (taxgirl note: completely agree!)
• Johanne Vickers Hayes: Get groceries
• Dawn Pelej: I was going to say what Angie said. Pay my payroll company’s additional fees for this bs payroll tax extention.
• Erica R Barber: I would put it in my hsa account because as I cross into the new year I face a $400 prescription every 30 days until I pay $2500
• Larry Brown: Take my wife out for a nice dinner alone, and maybe catch a movie.
• Marta Ramirez Rodriguez: i would use the money on a trip so my daughter could spend the holidays with her daddy. =) Merry Christmas everyone!
• @Your911NotMine: I would give it to the food pantry I help run. $166 will provide 25 families with groceries.
• @aggerj: $166 = buy an iPod Touch
• @RSeanOConnell: anything and everything I want to do!!
• @mona57: pay for my new monthly prescription which now cost about 100 a month and my kid’s college bill. My health insur. don’t for script.
• @PhillyGG: Get PECO off my case.
• @appealofwords: I might consider splurging on @typogforlawyers’ “Equity” font.
• @PeteTerranova: Being a CPA, I suppose I’d use $166 to pay off debt but I’d rather buy one of those fancy coffee machines.
• @sharynesque: Pay off less than 1/1,000th of my law school debt.

As for me? I should use it to pay off law school debt a la @sharynesque but if I could pick anything, I’d spend it on iTunes, tax related apps for my laptop and non kid-related books!

How would you spend $166?

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• Boehner Claims Compromise on Payroll Tax Cut Extension
• Obama Warns Congress About Payroll Tax: ‘Don’t Be a Grinch’
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• Payroll Tax Cut Bill Includes New ‘Recapture’ Tax for the Wealthy

Whew, it’s nearly mid-December already. How did this happen? The month has flown by so quickly that I haven’t had time to thank the editors of the ABA Journal for selecting taxgirl as one of the Blawg 100, the top 100 best law blogs by lawyers. The ABA said, about my blog:

[entity display="Kelly Phillips Erb" type="author" subtype="author" active="true" key="kellyphillipserb"]Kelly Phillips Erb[/entity] has a passion for tax law that is infectious, but more importantly she has the ability to explain that which so many fear. We’re not the only ones who think so. Earlier this year, the witty, engaging [entity display="Philadelphia" type="place" active="true" key="pa/philadelphia"]Philadelphia[/entity] lawyer was invited to move her blog to Forbes.com, where she continues to uncover email tax scams, analyze pending tax legislation and examine every inch of the IRS she can access.

Witty and engaging? I totally have a crush on those editors now.

At any rate, it’s my fourth nomination (I feel a bit like Susan Lucci) and I really do appreciate it. Thanks to the ABA Journal for recognizing me in this manner.

I also want to offer up a huge THANKS to you, my readers, for making this so fun for me. I started writing my blog years ago using the moniker “taxgirl” which I took from my firm email address; I had used the nickname since law school and was still admittedly a big tax geek.

Somewhere along the way, people starting reading. And leaving comments and asking questions and sending me email… It was exciting and I have loved every minute of it. I am proud of what I do and the work that I produce. I still get a thrill when I am researching a new piece or series. I giggle every time I am tweeted or shared on Facebook. I read every comment and love that folks care enough about what I write to contribute to the conversation. I still get fired up about interviews. And I am flattered anytime someone says, at a restaurant in [entity display="Philadelphia" type="place" active="false" key="pa/philadelphia"]Philadelphia[/entity], on Twitter, and even in a little coffee shop in Maine, “You’re taxgirl? I read you!”

I’ve written for a lot of publications and I can unequivocally say that my readers are the best. I am so thankful for all of you: you inspire me to flip open my keyboard each day.

Readers from all of the blogs (and there are some amazing ones) are being asked to vote on their favorites in each of the 5th Annual Blawg 100’s 12 categories. If you have a second to spare, you can mosey over to to http://www.abajournal.com/blawg100 to register (it’s free) and vote. I’m nominated in the “niche” category. Voting ends at close of business on December 30, 2011. Even if you don’t vote, click on over and check out some of the good stuff like fellow Forbes writer Kashmir Hill’s The Not-So Private Parts, Mirriam Seddiq’s Not Guilty, No Way, Carolyn Elefant’s My Shingle and of course, Prof. Caron’s TaxProf Blog.

Thanks, as always for your support.

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• Taxgirl Lands On ABA Journal Blawg 100
• Taxgirl Gets ABA Nod
• Blawg Amici
• Thank You!
• Last Day to Vote!

There are 38 days left until the end of the year. That means you have just a little over a month to whittle down your taxable income (yeah, we tax people tend to think about the end of the year in slightly different ways). Sure, you could buy your entire family and staff a set of taxgirl mugs for the holidays – or you could make a nice charitable donation. It’s the “feel good” deduction of the year!

I represent a lot of charitable organizations and I know that it’s tough out there all around. Donations are down for many organizations and the needs are up, especially in soup kitchens and shelters. As in years past, I want to both encourage you to make your charitable gifts by the end of the tax year (this is, after all, a tax blog) and to spread the word about some pretty deserving organizations. So, for 2011, I’m doing my annual 12 Days of Charitable Giving – but this time with a twist.

This year, I’m asking readers to submit, via email to charity@taxgirl.com, the name of a charity that most deserves a boost this year. Ideally, it would be one that you have supported financially over the past year or that you plan to support before the year end. In addition to the name, I’ll need the city where the charity is located, what it does and why you support the charity (personal stories would be great). A link to the web site and the best way to make a donation would be terrific: the more information that you can provide, the better.

The charity must be a bona fide 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that deductions are tax deductible to the donor. Examples include churches, schools, libraries and purely public charities like the Red Cross. If you’re not sure about the tax status of the organization, you can check it out on the IRS web site. Additionally, most charitable organizations will post evidence of tax-exempt status on their web site.

Convince me why your favorite organization is a deserving charity. I’ll review the emails and choose twelve to feature at my discretion. I might even involve the brain trust (i.e. my office) in the pick. The winning choices will be featured, one per day, for 12 days in December on taxgirl.com. It’s a great way to get some exposure for the charity of your choice. The hope is that one donation (yours) turns into more (readers) and a big win for the charitable organization.

The deadline for nominations is November 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. What are you waiting for? Go, do something good!

–

Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

• 12 Days of Charitable Giving 2010
• 12 Days of Charitable Giving: You Say…
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Over the weekend, I ran my first ever half marathon. I’m not gonna sit here and say it was easy. It was not. It was hard (note to self: When the web site warns, “Our course is not considered easy and fast,” pay attention.) But I finished in a quite respectable 2:18.

So why did I do it? Mostly to prove that I could. A couple of years ago, I couldn’t even run a mile. I was tired and out of shape. So I started walking. And then I started walking faster. Eventually, I started running.

My first race was an 8k. After a few races from between 5k and 8k, I signed up for the Broad Street Run: it’s a 10 mile race through the streets of Philadelphia. It was fantastic. Flat and straight which translated to a great personal time. The crowd was amazing. I loved it so much, I decided that I needed to run a half marathon (I had also clearly lost my mind).

Most of the races that I run have a charitable component; that’s pretty common these days in the world of running. Every year, I run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (5k) which raises money for breast cancer. I’ve also run to raise money for ovarian cancer, lung cancer and Philadelphia public schools. This, of course, raises the question of whether any of those races lend themselves to a charitable deduction (it’s a tax blog, remember?). It’s one of those “it depends” questions so let me break it down…

Clearly, any rounding up you do or extra funds that you donate to an organization which is recognized by the IRS as a qualifying charitable organization would result in a charitable deduction (assuming, of course, that you itemize your deductions on a Schedule A). So, if you pay your entry fee and then write an extra check, deduction on the extra.

But what if you only pay the entry fee? Assuming that the fee covers the cost of the race (including your chip, a shirt and the expo), it’s not deductible as a charitable contribution – even if the point of the race is to raise funds for charity. That makes sense, of course, since the rule is that the donation should not be a quid pro quo for services or goods. But what if the fee includes a charitable component? If you can separate it out, the charitable piece would qualify as a donation (just ask the race organizers what the value of the donation should be). It’s similar to making a donation to a charity and getting a tote bag in return; you have to deduct the cost of the tote bag and the overage is generally deductible.

So then what if you run not to raise money but to win money? To be clear, that’s nowhere on my radar. I do not anticipate ever being that fast.

But if you do, you must report your winnings on your income taxes. The actual treatment of the winnings, though, hinges on whether you consider running a business or a hobby. If running – or any other sport – is your hobby, then you would report winnings as “other income” (good ol’ line 21 on your federal form 1040). If that’s the case, you can claim deductions – like entry fees, running shoes and other related expenses – against your winnings but only if you itemize. You would include your related running expenses as “miscellaneous itemized deductions” on your Schedule A. Those miscellaneous itemized deductions are limited to those in excess of 2% of your AGI (adjusted gross income).

Additionally, if you treat running as a hobby, your deductions are limited to the amount of your winnings. You also can’t carry excess deductions forwards or backwards. So, if you’re like me and you pay an entry fee to run but don’t win anything except for the odd finisher medal (my last one was carved out of wood into a whistle), you can’t properly claim any running-related deductions. But that’s okay – I’m only running because I like it. And for the shoes.

If, however, running is a business for you, you would report your winnings on a Schedule C. Similarly, you would claim your deductions on your Schedule C. In that event, your deductions wouldn’t be limited to a % of your AGI and you can report deductions in excess of your income.

How can you tell if running is a hobby or a business for you? The IRS looks at a number of factors. First of all, the IRS assumes that you’re in business to make money. There’s nothing that says that you can’t enjoy your business, but if you’re running primarily because you like it and not to make money as your main motive, it’s likely a hobby. Additionally, the IRS assumes that a business will eventually make a profit. If you spend more than you make year after year, the IRS is going to lean hobby – especially if you’ve lost money for three of the past five years. For more on the hobby rules, see my prior post about hobby income tests and Mary Kay.

Lots to consider, right? Or, if you’re like me, you just take your medal and run. No tax consequences for those of us in the middle of the pack.

But lots of aches and pains nonetheless. As part of my celebratory oh-my-goodness-I-did-it moment, I’m joining forces with the folks at BENGAY® Cold Therapy for a quick giveaway.  BENGAY® Cold Therapy is the only brand to use PRO-COOL™ Technology, a scientifically created formula that combines the pain relieving power of menthol, an OTC topical pain relieving ingredient, with the cooling benefits to alleviate the minor aches and pains associated with muscle strain, arthritis, backache, bruises and sprains.  BENGAY® Cold Therapy uses PRO-COOL™ Technology to provide its cooling effect with a blast of cold as the menthol in the unique formula evaporates, providing a cooling sensation.

And it’s a cool blue color. We checked it out at the office (one of my associates likes to play a little ball off hours).

Five lucky readers can win their own BENGAY® Cold Therapy – just in time for marathon season. All you have to do to enter is tell me why you run, walk or otherwise move about. Do you like to run for fun? Walk for charity? Play ball because you want to hang out with your pals? Post your answer in the comments below.

Here are some more rules because, as you know, I’m a lawyer and I like rules:

• Entries must be posted in the comments section for this blog post in the space below by 10:59 p.m. EST on October 26, 2011.
• Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts. If you have difficulty registering, please send an email to blogadmin@forbes.com and copy me (tech@taxgirl.com) so that I can help if I need to/can.
• I love my Twitter followers and my Facebook fans but for this particular giveaway, tweets and Facebook comments will not be counted. Ditto for emails. You must leave your comment on the blog at this post.
• You can enter as many times as you like but you must leave a different answer each time you comment.
• Offensive comments or comments that otherwise violate the comment policy will be deleted and will not be considered valid for purposes of the contest.
• Pingbacks and other links will be disregarded for purposes of the contest.
• You must include your full name and your email address with your entry, just enter it when you register to comment. I won’t publish your email address but I do need contact information for the winning entry.
• Due to shipping considerations, only United States addresses, please. Sorry, Canada, eh?
• I respect your privacy and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
• By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
• Finally, the giveaway is about me, me, me. It’s not affiliated with or endorsed by Forbes. So leave them out of it, okay?

Comment away!

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

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Remember the IRS redesign?

Like many others, I was puzzled by the new color combination (blue and orange, really?). As promised, I sent IRS an email asking them why those particular colors. To my surprise, they replied fairly quickly. Perhaps not so surprising, there was no real answer. Instead, I received this reply:

We have forwarded your comments to the appropriate department for review.

So, rest easy. IRS is on it – or not.

I thought they could use some help. So, I had an idea: ask taxpayers to do a redesign! Here’s your opportunity to chime in on the IRS redesign and it’s a contest because… why not?

You can be as serious or as snarky, as witty or as practical, as staid or as droll (you get the idea) as you want to be. Just tell me how you would fix the IRS home page. New color combination? New layout? New slogan? Be specific and tell me why you’re suggesting it: green is the color of money, for example.

You don’t have to be a fancy web designer, just creative. Or opinionated. Either can work.

You can post your answer in the comments below or on my Facebook taxgirl page. And if you care to whip up a little drawing, you can scan and email it to me (fixirs@taxgirl.com).

And of course, there has to be a prize. I wanted it to be web and design related so immediately thought of Mike Meulstee (on twitter at @artisticdork). If you don’t know Mike, he’s the guy who did the brilliant design for my twitter background. He managed to capture my personality fairly perfectly.

So Mike and I came up with a great prize: a custom twitter background. Trust me, you want one. And if you’re not yet signed up on twitter, consider this your incentive (start here).

Mike and I will pick our favorite submission to be the winner. If he and I don’t agree, we’ll come to terms (arm wrestle, perhaps?). Our decision is final. No amount of bribery can change our minds – though you’re certainly welcome to try. I kid… sort of.

Here are the rules because, as you know, I’m a lawyer and I like rules:

• Entries must be submitted by 6:59 p.m. EST on October 6, 2011.
• Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts. If you have difficulty registering, please send an email to blogadmin@forbes.com and copy me (tech@taxgirl.com) so that I can help if I need to/can.
• I love my Twitter followers but for this particular giveaway, tweets will not be counted.
• You can enter as many times as you like but you must leave a different answer each time you comment.
• Offensive comments or comments that otherwise violate the comment policy will be deleted and will not be considered valid for purposes of the contest.
• You must include your full name and your email address with your entry, just enter it when you register to comment. I won’t publish your email address but I do need contact information for the winning entry.
• I respect your privacy and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
• By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
• Our decision is in our sole discretion and is final.
• Finally, the giveaway is about me, me, me. Well and Mike. But it’s not affiliated with or endorsed by Forbes. So leave Forbes out of it, okay?

I think that covers it. Have fun!

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Want more taxgirl goodness? Sign up to receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl) or hang out with me on Facebook.Similar Posts:

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