Posts tagged as:

ask the taxgirl

Ask the taxgirl: Legally Separated

17 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Hi There,
I am totally confused as to how we should file our taxes. By December 31st 2009 my husband and I had paperwork in the court in California that specifically states we are separated, a division of property and finances and an order for him to pay alimony. We have never lived together as [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Valuing Your Services for Charity

16 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Hi, I read your blog entry that explains that service time donated to a charity is not deductible. What if there is an actual assignable value of the service time to the charity? For example, I am donating my services as an auction item for a charity auction; if somebody buys it [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Making Work Pay Credit (once more with feeling)

15 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Hello,
I appreciate reading your comments about this topic and hope that you can tolerate one more.
First, do I understand it correctly that married couple filing jointly can claim $800, even if only one of them earned an income?
Second, I’ve never heard about this credit so I went to the IRS site which says
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=205922,00.html
“For people [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Energy Efficient Appliances

10 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Can you get money back for purchasing a washer and dryer in 2009 that has the energy star on it. Thanks for the info!!!!
Taxgirl says:

Unfortunately, no. What you’re probably thinking about are Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits. Those credits were for the installation of specific products like energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Are Economic Recovery Payments Taxable?

10 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Hi Tax Girl.
I on social security and am using Turbotax to file my taxes. I have not as yet found out where to put the $500 received by my wife and myself from the federal government in June of 2009. Is this taxed?

Taxgirl says:
It sounds like you’re talking about the Economic Recovery Payment(ERP). [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Making Work Pay Credit for Married Couple

8 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
If you are married and did not work, but your spouse earned $156,00, are you entitled to $800 credit or $400 for the working spouse?
Taxgirl says:
Your comma threw me – so I’ll answer it both ways.
If your spouse earned $15,600 and you file married jointly, you would be entitled to the $800 credit [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Cheerleading Expenses

5 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Hi,
I am a stay-at-home from California and I have a daughter in Cheerleading. Can I deduct the expenses? She also attends a public school that requires uniforms – why can I not deduct those?
Thank you so much,
Taxgirl says:

Nope, you can’t deduct the costs associated with your daughter’s cheerleading (unless this was [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Spousal Maintenance

2 March 2010

Taxpayer asks:
Can you tell me is alimony and maintence the same thing and do I have to claim this money on both my federal tax and NYS tax?
Taxgirl says:
If it’s court-ordered spousal maintenance, then yes, that’s likely alimony and you have to report that as income on your federal taxes. For more on alimony, [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Sales Tax Deduction & Leases

28 February 2010

Taxpayer asks:
hi can you dedcuct the sales tax paid if you leased a new car in june of 2009?
Taxgirl says:
Nope, sorry. If you’re referring to the new car sales tax deduction, leases are specifically excluded.
However, if you itemize your taxes, you might still be able to claim sales taxes paid as a deduction [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Missing 1099 or Other Tax Forms

28 February 2010

Taxpayer asks:
What are my options if an employer has not provided me with my 1099 yet? I have asked them at least once a week since February 15th and keep being told they are coming. I have a full record of how much they have paid me, am I able to just leave [...]

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