Tax news and guidance for individual taxpayers — filing tips, deductions, refunds, and everything else that hits your personal return.
The best-dressed girl in my school never wore the same outfit twice. “Jane” (not her real name) was one of those girls who always looked put together from head to toe. I would stare at her, dressed in my clearance rack clothes from Roses or – more devastating, the occasional hand-me-downs from my older brother…
I woke up on Monday morning to a strangely empty house. The dog was gone. My dog, a lab mutt, has been a part of my family for 13 years. He was a rescue from the SPCA in North Philadelphia. When we first picked him up, he weighed less than five pounds and was a…
According to the Weather Channel, it feels like 92 degrees right now. I firmly believe that it should never feel like 92 degrees in the evening in Philadelphia. On the plus side, after a grueling day gardening in the heat (hey, it had to be done), I now have the opportunity to sit down, check…
About six months ago, I blogged “my best tax advice ever” in three easy pieces: Open Your Mail Get Some Help Make Friends With a Tax Pro Since that time, I’ve added a fourth: don’t lie to me. It’s the kind of thing that I occasionally need to shout at my kids (those of you…
Taxpayer asks: A not for profit hosted a competition in which my 11 yr old daughter won $500. In order to write her the check, They have asked to have her complete a W-9. I thought that since: 1. The value is below $6002. She is a child that will not be filing a return…
My son starts summer camp tomorrow. And this is what I have learned as a parent about summer camp: it’s expensive. Super expensive. Last week, I took all three kids to Dick’s Sporting Goods to stock up on camp items: shin guards, mouth guards, cleats, shin guard covers (who knew?), new hockey stick… The list…
I kissed my daughter on the cheek just before bedtime and asked, “How does it feel being ten?” She gave me a big smile and said, “Just like being nine.” Apparently she was taking her birthday in stride. Not me. I was jelly. All day long. It doesn’t seem possible that I could have a…
I’m on my way home from Vegas today. I’ve been here for the last few days for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Practitioners Symposium and TECH+ Conference in partnership with the Association for Accounting Marketing Summit at the Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV. AICPA is the world’s largest association representing…
I can already tell it’s summer not just by the long lines at the airport and the blazing heat but by the number of vacation pictures being posted on Facebook. Folks have packed up and moved out in search of rest, relaxation, and summer fun. But before you get too comfortable this summer, check to…
Occasionally my mind is blown by what we can do with technology. Today is totally one of those days. I’m currently on a USAirways flight headed for Las Vegas where I’ll be speaking and mingling with about 1,400 other tax professionals at the Practitioners Symposium and TECH+ Conference in partnership with the Association for Accounting…