Real tax questions from real readers, answered. Got a question of your own? This is where Taxgirl answers them.
On Friday, I tackled some last-minute tax questions from readers and viewers via Google+ hangout. You can watch the entire hangout here (be forewarned, it’s about an hour-long). In addition to last-minute tax tips – and filing errors to avoid – I promised some follow-up information in the piece, so here you go… Rules for…
With only a few days left before April 15, it’s time to wrap up those returns! Come hang out with me (and my esteemed editor, Janet Novack) at our Forbes Google+ Hangout on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. EST. I’ll be talking about common filing errors and offering last-minute tax tips. You’ll have…
Taxpayer asks: I’m confused. Both my wife and I have home offices, each using about 5% of the total home square footage. Last year, we replaced the both the hot water heater and the washer/drier. For the hot water heater, I think it’s very clear, that improvement directly impacts our home office use, so I…
Taxpayer asks: Most of what I read says that kindergarten tuition cannot be used in figuring the Child Care Tax Credit. However, that said, I thought that if a person resides in a state that does not have mandatory attendance in kindergarten, the tuition can be used to figure the Child Tax Credit. Kindergarten is…
Taxpayer asks: Hi Taxgirl, My health insurance doesn’t cover the cost of my birth control. I am trying to decide between pills and an IUD. Would either or both of them be tax deductible? taxgirl says: You can only deduct qualifying medical expenses for federal income tax purposes. Qualifying medical expenses include the costs of…
Taxpayer asks: I called the IRS they couldn’t help me and told me to call our local office since they do not know our state laws. I did. They couldn’t give me live help on the phone unless I was a business and to have my SS number ready.TurboTax gave me a “I think so”…
Now that we’re into tax season, my inbox is chock full of Ask the Taxgirl® emails. I’m working on answering your top questions but I thought it would be a great time to offer a few reminders: I get a lot of emails and I read every single one. I’m not ignoring you but you’re…
Taxpayer asks: I live in California. I had the wedding in 2012, but I applied marriage license in January 2013. Can I file a joint return for 2012? Thanks.Thanks. taxgirl says: For federal income tax status, marital status is determined by state law. If you are married for state purposes, you are married for federal…
Taxpayer asks: My husband is a non resident alien. We have been filing together as married. I am a US Citizen and together we have 2 children. Because he has an ITIN we have been missing out of the EIC credit. Can we file as single, since he is not considered married to me for…
Taxpayer asks: Am I legally required to have tax ID#’s on file for individuals who perform services for my organization if I know the payments will not total more than $600 in any calendar year? Taxgirl says: I was asked a similar question from a client years and years ago. The client ran a sort…