Illinois residents have been willing to deal with some pretty steep tax increases. But Gov. Pat Quinn may have gone too far this time: Quinn wants to tax coffee and sweetened tea products in grocery stores in the same manner as soft drinks. Gov Quinn has also suggested raising taxes and fees on driver’s licenses…
We have a winner! See comments! Our next tax trivia question is: What’s the only state to charge sales tax on prescription medicines? Don’t forget: the first correct answer wins free CCH tax prep software. What’s your guess?
We have a winner! See comments! Our next tax trivia question is: In 2007, a midwestern state made news (and not in a good way) for opting to impose a sales tax on a popular food item unless the taxpayer could prove the purchase was to be eaten and not used as a decoration. Amid…
For 2008 tax year, those who itemize can deduct state and local general sales taxes OR state and local income taxes. #TwitterTaxTip (For more on twitter tax tips, see my prior explanatory post.)
Taxpayer asks: Can I deduct state sales tax for 2008 and deduct state income tax paid for another year (2007)?? Taxgirl says: Absolutely! There is no rule that the taxes must have been assessed in 2008 in order to take them as a deduction. Assuming that you itemize your deductions, you can deduct state and…
Election Day was last week, right? Yet, a week and a half later, we’re still waiting for outcomes in at least two Senate races. And in the “anything can happen” category, voters in San Jose still don’t know the outcome of the vote to increase sales tax to increase regional transit to the city. Votes…
Happy Halloween to all of my readers! In the spirit of the season (and well, yeah, because I was up too late last night making Halloween costumes for the kiddos) I am reposting an “oldie but goodie” from last year: — Iowa Department is Scrooge for Halloween When Iowa tax officials were looking for ways…
Taxpayer asks: Hi, So, if I bought, let’s say, some scarfs at a local New Jersey store and paid sales tax on them, then sold them at a house party, am I required to charge and collect sales tax? Thanks for you input. You’re the best! Taxgirl says: The rules for charging and collecting sales…
So, I’m on vacation in lovely Maine. Each time we come here (and we’ve been coming for a bit), I constantly hear complaints about the overall tax burden of Mainers. And I have to say, I’m a bit perplexed. The sales tax in Maine is 5%. The tax is a bit broad in that items…
You only have to a take a peek at the Olympic coverage on NBC to confirm what tourists already know: China has a smog problem. On the opening day of the Olympic games in Beijing, video and photos showed shots such as the one above, of the National Stadium, shrouded in smog. And of course,…