Real tax questions from real readers, answered. Got a question of your own? This is where Taxgirl answers them.
Taxpayer asks: Hi Tax Girl, I thought I’d see our accountant today but she’s out, then I found out about you! My parents claimed me as a dependent in 2007 because they paid for my last semester of college (although I did work and live on my own most of the year). I was an…
Taxpayer asks: Are we getting a second check in 2009? Taxgirl says: Not exactly. Beginning in April, employers will begin adjusting your withholding under the Making Work Pay Credit, giving you a few extra dollars in your paycheck. Phaseouts apply. Later in the year, those who are disabled or retired will receive a small check…
Taxpayer asks: Hi taxgirl! My daughter was born in 2008 and we sort of forgot to claim her. Call it mommy-brain… anyway, is it worth refiling? We are married, filing jointly, have one additional (claimed) child, and made about 325K in 2008. Thanks! Taxgirl says: As a mother of three young kids who has found…
Taxpayer asks: is a person suppose to take his 401 k statement with him when he gets his taxes done! even though im not taking anything out of it as a penalty and i dont plan on it! sure the 401 k plan is another income but im not taking anything out of it until…
Taxpayer asks: I have a 1099-c from a short sale on my house, I was hoping to be granted an exemption because of the Mortgage Forgiveness act of 2007, my amount in box 2 is 54809 and the amount in box 7 is 0.00 not sure what all this means. Taxgirl says: A form 1099-C…
Taxpayer asks: Hi, Is the rule different if the firm pays for the BarBri expenses themselves? Is this repayment taxable as ordinary income? Any tax code references would be appreciated, too (though not by any means necessary). Gracias, Taxgirl says: This is one of those posts that I can already tell that I’m going to…
Taxpayer asks: My friend says that you can deduct contacts on your taxes as medical costs. I thought you could only deduct doctor’s visits. Can I really take those off of my taxes? What about glasses? Taxgirl says: If you itemize your deductions, you can absolutely include the cost of contacts and glasses as medical…
Taxpayer asks: I understand mileage rates changed in the middle of the year by the IRS. Can you offer the mileage rates for medical and for service with a non-profit. Taxgirl says: The craziness in gas prices this year did lead to a complicated mileage arrangement for 2008. The IRS normally updates mileage only once…
Taxpayer asks: Hello Taxgirl,I have a simple, yet complicated tax question. I worked for a company last year for the first 5 months, then for the last 7 months I was self- employed. Do I file two separate forms? Anything you can tell me I will greatly appreciate.Thank you, Taxgirl says: Here’s a lawyerly answer…
Taxpayer asks: Hi Kelly, Here is the situation i worked for a doctor’s office for two months and she informed me that I did not need to pay taxes because I was a temp. Ten months after I left the job she started asking me for my information because she said the tax laws have…