Today TaxMama® hears from Alice in the TaxQuips Forum with a valid question. “On line 39a of the Form 1040, if a box is checked, resulting in a deduction for those over 65 years old, where do we put the amount? And what line is it deducted on from? 

Today TaxMama® hears from Susan in the TaxQuips Forum with a well-reasoned question. “This concerns a mentally disabled 20-year-old living at home. She just started receiving money from her father’s pension, instead of Social Security Disability. At what point does contributing to the household become income. I contend that as long as you are the SS representative payee and can show that the funds are for their benefit or household expenses then it is not income. 

Today TaxMama® hears from our friend Kristi who is starting a new job. “My new job requires me to wear brown pants and either a certain green or blue shirt.  I would only wear these clothes for work.  Does that qualify as a uniform?”

Today TaxMama® hears from Trina in the Tax Quips Forum who wasn’t an employee. “I started working for a newspaper company over the summer of 2011, delivering papers to homes using my own vehicle. The company did give me company checks, but they did not take any taxes out. I believe they called their employees “independent contractors.” How do I file my taxes, since there has not been anything taken out?”

Today TaxMama® hears from Danny in the Tax Quips Forum with this question. “My kids stay with their mother from Sunday noon until Thursday noon; then stay with me from Thursday noon until Sunday noon. I pay $140 monthly in child support. Can I claim them in my taxes?”

 Dear Family, 

Earlier today, IRS announced that electronic refunds are on target. People can expect to find them in your bank accounts within about 10 days. But, some refunds will be delayed. IRS is beefing up the fraud detection system. Returns with Earned Income Credits, American Opportunity Credits and other refundable credits will take a little longer. That’s good news, believe it or not. Last year, IRS releases millions of dollars of fraudulent refunds, despite safeguards. Hopefully, beefier security will cut that down.

Today TaxMama® hears from Bill in the Tax Quips Forum who raises a good question. “I have a lot of independent distributors asking about deducting their autoship of product for personal use. They say that their tax person said you can claim the deduction because you have to “be a product of the product” or because that is one of the ways to be commission qualified. I say no, because it is for personal use. I know on cost of goods sold that you pull out ‘items for personal use”; but haven’t yet found anyplace that says that you can’t use it anyplace else as a deduction. Does anyone have a ready reference on this?”

Today TaxMama® hears from Stephanie in the Tax Quips Forum with a very valid concern. “I’m concerned about this requirement that PayPal report my sales numbers via the 1099-K. The clients I work with will also have to send me a 1099-MISC. Won’t that be income that is double reported? Usually I just enter my total income and ignore any 1099′s I receive since I keep track on my own and claim every last penny I earn. I am Not sure how this is going to work with this new requirement.”

Yesterday TaxMama® started discussing employee reimbursement plans. Today, TaxMama® explains how company reimbursement policies affect tax audits.