Category Archives: *Tax Quips

Claiming My Investments

Today TaxMama® hears from Jeff in the TaxQuips Forum who is becoming an investor.  “Last year I invested in $20k a business & $5k this year. In return I have a 25% share of the LLC. I did not claim any of it on this year’s tax return. Can I? And how do I claim […]

Paying Extra Social Security

Today TaxMama® hears from Stephen in the TaxQuips Forum who has a sensible (though late) question.  “In the current economy, raises are hard to come by. I haven’t had a raise in several years. I am 64 1/2 planning on a full retirement at age 66. Can I volunteer to pay more into Social Security […]

EIC Credit and Nonresidents

[Note: This answer is totally incorrect. See the comments below the answer.] Today TaxMama® hears from Reginald in the TaxQuips Forum who has this question.  “Is the Earned Income Credit available to a US citizen couple, married filing a joint return, who live out of the country? They do have qualifying children. The only reference […]

Effective vs Actual Tax Rate

Today TaxMama® hears from KD in the TaxQuips Forum who is justifiably confused.  “I was looking over our tax return and was wondering why we are paying almost 50% effective tax rates on our income. I’m currently unemployed and my husband is an independent contractor. Our CPA included a chart with this year’s tax return. […]

Getting IRS Refunds after 3 years

Today TaxMama® hears from Lisa in the TaxQuips Forum who wants clarification. “Is there any way to amend an old tax return and receive a refund after the 3 year limit? I think you briefly touched on this in the CPE Link webinar last week.”

Follow Instructions

Today TaxMama® hears from Michele in the TaxQuips Forum who makes extra work for herself. “I had to jump over high hurdles on a single bound, tall buildings with a single leap, etc. but still unable to find/get the “Crazy Cat Lady” case referred in the Tuesday, June 6, 2012 email, when you answered a […]

Amending Multiple Years

Today TaxMama® hears from Saver in the TaxQuips Forum with a reasonable question. “I have just received a corrected mortgage interest statement for the tax year 2010. Because the amount is lower, and I itemized in the return, I will owe some money. The taxable state refund should be smaller for the tax year 2011. […]

HSA and Medicare

(image courtesy of David Souza and www.taxbrackets.org ) Today TaxMama® hears from Anne in the TaxQuips Forum who is confused. “My husband is disabled and is on Medicare. He has a supplemental policy that we are currently paying out of my HSA. It was set up through my employer for only me. I went to the […]

Horsing Around

Today TaxMama® hears from Paul in the TaxQuips Forum who wants to be generous. “I am considering allowing the use of my horse barn to a non-profit horse rescue organization. This group has several rescued horses that need care and would like to board the horses on my property. Can I take advantage of this […]

Lump Sum SSDI

Today TaxMama® hears from Jan in the TaxQuips Forum who feels overtaxed. “How do I spread my Lump Sum SSDI payment over 3 years? I waited a long time to start receiving benefits. Now the IRS wants me pay back for my lump sum!”

Mileage and LLC

Today TaxMama® hears from Randal in the TaxQuips Forum with a sensible question. “I am an outside salesperson working as a sole proprietor, getting 1099s each year. My largest deduction is mileage. I earn less than $30k most years. If I setup an LLC to run my business through, will I lose my mileage deduction?”