Tax news and guidance for individual taxpayers — filing tips, deductions, refunds, and everything else that hits your personal return.
Taxpayer asks: Hi Kelly, I saw you speak at BlogHer in San Francisco and was hoping I’d see you again this year in Chicago. Since I didn’t see you, I thought I’d email you a question. I just wanted to know if you had any updates to your handout from the BlogHer seminar about deductions…
Taxpayer asks: Hi taxgirl, I have a strange question. I write a food blog. I create and cook all of my own recipes and post them online. Two years ago, I found out that someone was stealing my recipes and some of my photos and using them on another site. I ended up hiring a…
Taxpayer asks: I read your post about Mary Kay and I am still confused about hobbies. I own a bunch of blogs. I make money on some of them and I lose money on some of them. Does this make me a hobby? Taxgirl says: You’re right to be a little confused because this is…
Taxpayer asks: Thanks for taking my question! I wanted to say that I appreciate your blog, I find it easy to read and understand. I also like how you talk about your children as though they’re a real part of your life instead of accessories. That’s very refreshing to see online. That brings me to…
I’ve been getting a lot of questions from disabled taxpayers about whether any special tax breaks exist for them in 2009. The answer is yes – and no. As I stated in a prior post, there was some economic relief for disabled Americans in 2009 in the form of the Economic Recovery Payment (ERP) –…
Taxpayer asks: I heard that I can get more money back from my taxes this year because I am disabled. Is this true? I am on fixed income and it would help me. Taxgirl says: I think what you’re referring to is the one time payment for retirees and disabled persons as part of Obama’s…
Taxpayer asks: Just before Christmas, I bought a 2007 VW Jetta. It was a great deal since it had very low miles on it. When I bought it, the dealer said that I could deduct the sales tax from my taxes but I read on your site that the car has to be new, not…
Taxpayer asks: I started a new business working from home in November 2009 and so far dont have income just losses. I also have my child in daycare and wanted to file his daycare tuition but with no income to report turbo tax isnt letting me use this. How do I go about using the…
Taxpayer asks: This last year I had a son born who only survived 1 day. Do I need to get a Social Security number for him? Do I claim him as a dependant? Taxgirl says: Gosh, I honestly can’t imagine how difficult this is for you and your family. My sympathies and thoughts are with…
Taxpayer asks: My daughter worked as a bagger (bagged groceries) last year at our base commissary. The baggers do not receive a salary and work strictly for tips. I already checked with the “Head Bagger” at the commissary who said no type of 1099 will be sent. How do I go about claiming the monies…