America 250: How the Boston Tea Party Shaped the Way We Are Taxed

The Boston Tea Party was not a protest against a tax increase, but against Parliament’s authority to tax colonists without representation. This guide explains what the Tea Act actually did, why the Sons of Liberty opposed it, and how the dispute helped lead to American independence.

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Tax Breaks: Not Just for Tax Season

If you only think about taxes during the spring filing season, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to save money all year long. Now that the 2017 deadline for filing your taxes has passed, you may want to start planning for the tax breaks that can pay off in the months ahead.

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DIY Mid-Year Tax Tune-Up

July 1 is the 182nd day of the year and it’s an ideal time to conduct a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tax tune-up to ensure proper record-keeping practices will make tax filing easier, faster, and generate more tax deductions. Essentially, a mid-year DIY tax audit is an exercise in record-keeping and retention. The emphasis is on ensuring tax-related documents are being stored, and are available. Organizing tax records now can make filing easier and faster when April 15th of the next year rolls around.

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Why Should You File Your Own Taxes?

More often than not, it may make more sense for you to file your own taxes rather than turn things over to a pro. Here are some of the advantages to filing your own taxes.

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7 Tips for Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft or Fraud

Just 20 years ago, cybercrime was the stuff of futuristic fantasy. Today, well into the maturity of the Digital Age, anybody who has been the victim of online fraud knows well that there’s no fantasy about it. Online fraud and identity theft causes serious, long-term problems for people who become the victims of it – and the ramifications can stretch for years. As reported by Javelin Strategy & Research, some 16.7 million consumers were victims of identity theft or fraud last year. That’s an increase of 8 percent over the year before. In a special report from CNBC, it was

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Taxes Through the Ages

Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society. – Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Taxes have been levied on citizens by governments since antiquity. At best, taxes have been regarded as fuel for the engine of civilization, and at worst, as depredations that have ignited revolts and uprisings. 

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What Your Taxes Actually Pay For

Probably every taxpayer, at some point or another, has found themselves wondering: What do my taxes actually pay for? According to the Center for Policy and Budget Priorities, in fiscal year 2016, the federal government spent $3.9 trillion, $3.3 trillion of which was financed by American taxpayers.

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From Tummy Time To Tax Time: The New Parents’ Guide To Filing

So much changes when you become a parent. You stop worrying about missing that trendy pop-up dinner, and start worrying about feedings and sleep schedules. Your idea of entertainment changes from an exciting night out with friends, to a relaxing evening of Netflix and a (hopefully) sleeping baby.

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Oops, I just realized I forgot something on my tax return (What do I do now?)

What if after filing and going through your mental checklist you realize that, oops — you forgot to file something. What do you do now? Well the IRS has a form for that. It’s called the 1040X. There are many different reasons why it might be necessary to file an amended return such as a change in your income, deductions or credits.

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From Headache to Cakewalk

It’s the time of year when tax filing is on most people’s minds. Maybe you’re relieved to have filed early and to have already put your refund to good use. Maybe you’re currently up to your eyeballs in tax forms, hoping for the best. Or maybe you’re imagining all the cool things you could do with some extra cash as you eagerly await your refund.

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