Real tax questions from real readers, answered. Got a question of your own? This is where Taxgirl answers them.
Taxpayer asks: Dear Taxgirl: I am curious. Isn’t it against the law for the IRS to discuss taxpayer’s confidential information? If so, how did the House ethics committee learn about Rep. Charles Rangel’s failure to pay tax on his Dominican rental? taxgirl says: The IRS does not, as a rule, discuss confidential taxpayer information. If…
Taxpayer asks: Can successful or failed contenders deduct their expenses from the federal taxes as a job hunting related expense? Got to wonder what Whitman was thinking spending all that money except, I can deduct these ‘loans” one way or the other not as a political contribution (rather limited) but a job hunting expense. Curious…
Taxpayer asks: Any site that you can provide related to the statute of limitations of unpaid individual income taxes? The tax periods in question are from 1982 – 1987. Taxgirl says: This is actually a tricky question because so many things need to be taken into account. Here are some general principles: Under IRC section…
Taxpayer asks: Hi, Just wondering if I have multiple jobs one year, can I not declare taxes if what I earn from each individual job is less than $600, or does what I make from all the jobs added together have to be under $600? And what if its at the $600 mark; does it…
I’m not a fan of summer. I know, that’s somehow un-American to say it out loud, but it’s true. I don’t like the heat and I don’t like the unpredictable pace of summer (nor the traffic, the electric bills…). So, it’s with a bit of hopefulness and relief that I peered at my calendar this…
The week started with an offer to move my blog over to a network (no thank you) and ended with a marriage proposal (also no thank you) – all in all, not a bad week. The one complaint I had was that, by turning down the latter, I missed my potential suitor’s offer to “set…
Taxpayer asks: Dear taxgirl, I need some help. I am being audited by the IRS and I don’t know what to do. I am self-employed (web design) and I do not have many records to back up my tax returns. I didn’t lie on my taxes but I can’t prove it. I don’t know what…
Taxpayer asks: Hi tax girl! Greetings and thank you in advance for your time: I too live in Philadelphia, and looking to rent another house… My credit rating is 798 and I have over $X in an investment account. I have started a new company and had practically no income last year… I am an…
Taxpayer asks: Hi tax girl! So I’ve heard a pretty believable rumor that the tax preparer I’ve used for four years has been federally indicted for tax fraud. I’m not sure if it was her own tax return or the people she worked with, though I do know of a few people who used her…
Taxpayer asks: What is it that you need to show you gave things to Goodwill or your school other than a statement from them to that effect? My lady said something I do not understand. Is there some special form they have to fill out or what? Thanks. Oh yea I saw you on AOL….