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Should You File A Tax Return?

Published by the IRS

You must file a tax return if your income is above a certain level. The amount varies depending on filing status, age and the type of income you receive.

For example, a married couple both under age 65 generally is not required to file until their joint income reaches $17,900. However, self-employed individuals generally must file a tax return if their net income from self employment was at least $400.

Check the “Individuals” section of the IRS Web site at IRS.gov or consult the instructions for form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ for specific details that may affect your need to file a tax return with IRS this year.

Even if you don’t have to file, here are six reasons why you may want to file:
1. Federal Income Tax Withheld. If you are not required to file, you should file to get money back if Federal Income Tax was withheld from your pay, if you made estimated tax payments, or had a prior year overpayment applied to this year’s tax.

2. Recovery Rebate Credit. If you did not qualify or did not receive the maximum amount for the 2008 Economic Stimulus Payment, you may be entitled to a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2008 tax return.

3. Earned Income Tax Credit. You may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, if you worked, but did not earn a lot of money. EITC is a refundable tax credit meaning you could qualify for a tax refund.

4. Additional Child Tax Credit. This credit may be available to you if you have at least one qualifying child and you did not get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit.

5. First time Homebuyer Credit. If you bought a main home after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009 and did not own a main home during the prior 3 years, you may be able to take this refundable credit.

6. Health Coverage Tax Credit. Certain individuals, who are receiving certain Trade Adjustment Assistance, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance, or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, may be eligible for a Health Coverage Tax Credit when you file your 2008 tax return.

For more information about filing requirements and your eligibility to receive tax credits, visit the IRS Web site at IRS.gov.

Links:
Forms and Publications
Recovery Rebate Credit Information Center
Earned Income Tax Credit
First-Time Homebuyer Credit Information Center
Health Coverage Tax Credit
1040 Central

Has Properly Paying My Income Tax Prevented Me From Getting A Job In the Obama Administration?

By Stacie Clifford Kitts, CPA

Nancy Killefer today withdrew her nomination to become Chief Performance Officer, a new post in the Obama administration stating unspecified tax problems.
But, I’m not surprised.

Failure to properly calculate and pay income tax appears to be a job requirement of the Obama administration. In addition to Nancy, Timothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary paid $43,000 in back taxes and interest claiming that he accidentally forgot to the pay the proper amount of payroll taxes on his self-employment income. And, Tom Daschle, the former Senator Majority Leader and nominee for secretary of health recently paid more than $100,000 to the IRS for back taxes and interest related to the use of a car and driver lent to him by a wealthy Democratic friend.

Although I am not surprised, it does make me wonder who is preparing these tax returns. Just who are our lawmakers relying on to advise them as to the proper application of the laws that they themselves created. Mind boggling.

Okay, in defense of the accountants, I understand that some tax laws can be hard to understand. And I don’t expect everyone to know the intricacies of every rule, or even the complete intricacies of their clients lives, but come on. Self employment taxes? Screwing that up is the equivalent of not being able to add 2 + 2. Which equals 4 by the way if Mr. Geithner happens to stumble onto this blog.

Although it appears that Mr. Geithner tried to blame Turbo Tax, the tax preparation software he used for the mistake on his self prepared tax return, Turbo Tax has insisted that the problem is not with their software. Good try though Timmy.

Well, that’s it, I guess I finally know why I haven’t been nominated to any posts in the Obama administration. I don’t have the right qualifications. That is, I have been properly calculating and paying my income tax.

But I would like to take this opportunity to officially offer my services to the Obama administration and to any other lawmaker who would like to step it up and file his or her tax returns properly.

COUNT DOWN TO FILE YOUR RETURNApril 15, 2025
Last day to timely file your individual tax return or extension.
September 2026
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