IRS Help Without the Stress

With the new above-the-line charitable deduction starting in 2026, more taxpayers will be able to deduct their charitable donations, even if they take the standard deduction.  The IRS documentation rules did not get easier. If anything, they are still just as strict as before. If you claim a dedu...

My uncharted course is a bit different.  I am going to tell you about my uncharted course of becoming a dog owner.   This is my entry for the The Charm of the Uncharted Writing ChallengeI have always loved cats, always.  I had pet cats from childhood into adulthood.  Cats were my animal.  I alway...

March 14th is Pi Day — and while mathematicians everywhere are obsessing over 3.14159…, I've got something far more delicious on my mind.  Forget the equations. Let's celebrate the pies that actually matter, the ones that fill your kitchen with warmth, make holidays feel like home, and disappear ...

Someone receives a notice from the IRS and assumes their CPA will take care of it. After all, the CPA prepares their tax returns every year, so it feels logical that they would handle anything related to the IRS. But that assumption can cause serious problems.A CPA is a highly trained accounting ...

A recent Tax Court case caught my attention.  A taxpayer donated $6,760 worth of clothing and household goods to charity. Completely legitimate donations. The IRS did not question whether he gave the items.They denied the entire charitable deduction because of paperwork. He filed Form 8283, liste...

IRS launches new web page to streamline tax fraud and scam reportingThe IRS recently launched a new web page to make it easier for taxpayers to report tax fraud, scams, evasion, and other tax-related illegal activity. For years, reporting suspected fraud was confusing. Different forms. Different ...

When people think about “negotiating” with the IRS, they often picture something like calling a customer service line and asking for a discount. In reality, the IRS doesn’t negotiate informally. They follow specific programs, rules, and financial formulas. If you understand how those programs wor...

There is some good news for people who like to give.  Starting in tax year 2026, taxpayers who take the standard deduction will be able to deduct some charitable donations. This change came from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in 2025.Until now, most people did not receive any tax benefit f...

It was 5th grade, and my teacher was Mrs. Lemon.  She was one of my favorite teachers I had.  We were studying American History.  I don't remember all we talked about that day, but I do remember being really upset at how the Indians were treated.  I was disgusted that they were treated that way.I...

 Below is a story I read, and I thought it would be fun to share.  It made me giggle. The setting is a federal courtroom during what was, apparently, a fairly routine tax fraud hearing. A drug dealer, a big one, charged with owing millions of dollars in taxes on unreported income from drug sales,...