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Kira Botkin
Kira is a longtime blogger and serial entrepreneur who enjoys gardening, garage sales, and finding stray animals. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, where football is a distinct season, and by day runs a research study for people with multiple sclerosis. She hopes that the MoneyCrashers team can help you achieve your goals and live a great life.

IRS Tax Form 1099-DIV – How Are Dividends Taxed?

Kira Botkin

1099 div formMany investors choose to invest in dividend-bearing stocks, or mutual funds focusing on dividend payers, as part of their portfolio. And those dividends can pay off in a major way.

Investing in dividend-bearing stocks can be a great choice for investors who are thinking long-term. You may receive dividends in stock or cash, and you can frequently reinvest cash dividends to buy more stock. Depending upon how you receive dividends, you may need to plan ahead for tax day. Specifically, it is important to understand the different types of dividends, what you can expect as far as paying taxes on them, and how to read the 1099-DIV tax form so you’re adequately prepared.

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Do I Have to File Taxes and How Much Do I Need to Make?

Kira Botkin

file taxes womanFiling taxes is nobody’s idea of a good time. The process can be lengthy, confusing, financially straining, and even downright intimidating. However, while many people have tons of questions about tax filing, there’s one that’s not often asked: Do I even need to file a tax return? You may be one of the lucky few who can avoid the process entirely.

There are three factors that determine your filing requirement: age, income level, and filing status. Generally, if you earned less than a specified amount according to those three factors, you won’t have to file.

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Box 12 Codes on Tax Form W-2 Explained

Kira Botkin

w2 form penBelow is the explanation of the Box 12 Codes on the W-2 tax form.

A - Any uncollected Social Security tax or RRTA tax on tips. You’ll include this amount in your total tax liability on your Form 1040.

B - Any uncollected Medicare tax on tips. You’ll include this amount in your total tax liability on Form 1040.

C - If you had group term life insurance through your workplace, the premiums for any value over $50,000 become taxable income to you and are included here.

D - Contributions to a 401k or SIMPLE 401k retirement plan.

E - Contributions to a 403b retirement plan.

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Standard Deduction vs. Itemized Tax Deduction

Kira Botkin

writing calculator taxesOne of the biggest breaks the IRS provides is in the form of deductions, which allow you to reduce your taxable income and thereby pay less in taxes. You may be accustomed to taking the standard deduction, which is a preset amount. Or, you may choose to itemize deductions on Schedule A. The choice is up to you.

For most taxpayers, the amount of the standard deduction and the itemized deduction are different. Typically, your tax preparation software or accountant determines which will give you the lowest tax bill. However, understanding the difference yourself, particularly what types of expenses you can deduct on Schedule A, can help you maximize those deductions and make better choices throughout the year to reduce your taxes.

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Deducting Health Insurance Premiums & Healthcare Expenses on Your Taxes

Kira Botkin

doctor healthcare costsThe cost of healthcare has been growing much faster than inflation, and will likely continue that trajectory considering the changes implemented by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This unfortunate trend may leave you wondering if you have any recourse to save money and reduce the impact of costly healthcare at all.

Plus, if you are not currently covered by health insurance, you may be required to purchase it with the implementation of the individual health insurance mandate in 2014. Though some income groups will receive assistance to afford coverage, many won’t and will face a fine for not purchasing adequate coverage.

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4 Education-Related Tax Deductions and Credits For College Tuition & Expenses

Kira Botkin

college grad moneyUnless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or the ability to perform a jump shot on par with LeBron James, your or your children’s college education is going to cost you. Public colleges cost an average of $22,261 per year, and private universities boast a massive average tuition price of $43,289. And according to the U.S. Department of Education, college seniors now graduate with an average of $28,186 in student loan debt.

Despite the fact that you cannot fully escape high tuition costs, there are ways to alleviate some of the financial burden. The Federal Government currently offers four tax credits and deductions that can save you bundles of cash at tax time.

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State Tax Rates Comparison – Sales, Income & Social Security Tax

Kira Botkin

percentages tax ratesThe Federal Government taxes everyone’s income according to the same scale, but each state has the ability to set different types of taxes on its citizens, including property tax, sales tax, and income tax. This means the amount of tax you’d pay if you live in Florida may be vastly different than the amount you’d pay if you live in California.

For some states, property and sales taxes are the main sources of revenue. In fact, several states don’t collect income tax at all. Depending on your long-term financial goals, you might want to consider living in such a state – or, at the very least, do your Christmas shopping in a state with no sales tax.

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How to Calculate Federal Income Tax – Rates Table & Tax Brackets

Kira Botkin

income tax bracketsThe United States income tax laws are based on a progressive tax system. Basically, this setup means that you pay a percentage of your income, owing more taxes when you make more money, and contributing fewer tax dollars when you make less money.

Theoretically, a progressive system distributes the tax burden more heavily onto those who make more money and thus have more ability to pay, and away from those who can’t afford as much.

Over time, tax deductions, credits, exemptions, and loopholes have modified and complicated our system. But at heart the American income tax system uses a relatively simple series of stepped tax rates to determine how much you owe.

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What Is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Requirements & Eligibility

Kira Botkin

white piggy bankTaxes are a burden for everyone, but especially for low-income individuals and families who need all the money they can get.

Interestingly, low-income earners pay a much larger percentage of their salary to Social Security than high earners do, which makes their tax bite effectively larger. In an effort to help offset this effect and to encourage people to work, Congress created the earned income tax credit (EITC) in 1975.

The program is still going strong today and provides tax relief and extra income to low and moderate earners, especially to those with children.

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Important Tax Tips for Gay & Lesbian Partners and Unmarried Couples

Kira Botkin

gay coupleGay marriage, though legal in a number of states, is not recognized by the Federal Government. This means, among a whole host of other issues, that same-sex couples do not enjoy the same tax breaks as married heterosexual partners in the United States.

As frustrating as that may be, the good news is there are still ways you can lower your tax bill come the tax filing deadline. And this advice isn’t great just for same-sex partners – any unmarried,  financially interdependent couple can benefit from the following tips.

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4 Reasons the IRS Can Seize Your Income Tax Refund Money for Debt

Kira Botkin

seize moneyIf you’ve recently filed your taxes and were expecting a nice fat refund check, you may be shocked if you check the tax refund status and discover that it’s no longer coming.

Believe it or not, there are several situations in which the IRS can rightfully seize your refund. Therefore, before crying foul and blaming the government for making a terrible mistake, consider whether any of the numerous reasons for tax refund seizure could apply to you.

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9 Ways to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage and Drive Efficiently

Kira Botkin

efficient drivingAs gas prices remain high, improving your car’s mileage is crucial. By stretching a tank of gas further, you can reduce the amount of times you must fill up per month, which can help you stick to your budget. This is especially important for those who purchased non-efficient cars when gas was cheaper. But regardless of what car you drive, you can always use a little extra money at the end of the month, and cutting back your gas expenses is a great way to pad your bank account.

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What Is a 403b Retirement Plan – Contributions, Withdrawals & Taxes

Kira Botkin

403bMany people know that you should contribute to a 401k account to secure an enjoyable, comfortable retirement. But if you work for a nonprofit, a state agency, or a university, your employer might offer you a 403b instead.

A 403b is very similar to a 401k: Both retirement accounts are tax-deferred, which means that you don’t have to pay taxes on the money that you deposit, though you do have to pay taxes on money when you withdraw it. Depending on how your employer sets up the accounts, you may also be able to contribute simultaneously to a Roth 403b, which allows you to contribute on an after-tax basis and avoid paying taxes on withdrawals.

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11 Factors That Affect Car Insurance Rates – How to Lower Your Costs

Kira Botkin

car insuranceWhen shopping for car insurance, it can be tempting to reduce your rates by choosing lower amounts of coverage or by raising your deductibles. These are, of course, the two most obvious factors that affect the cost of your auto insurance.

You may not realize it, but your overall rate is also affected by many more different factors – some of which you can control, and many of which you cannot. However, knowing what affects your rate can help you make a more informed decision when purchasing insurance, and can help you know exactly what to do to lower your expenses.

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What Is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage Explained – Definition, Pros & Cons

Kira Botkin

fixed-rate mortgageWhen shopping for a home mortgage, there are a dizzying array of options available to you. The most popular option is the fixed-rate mortgage, which offers an interest rate that does not fluctuate for the entire length of the mortgage.

With a fixed-rate mortgage, the homeowner can make the same payment each month until the mortgage is paid off. However, that predictability can come with higher closing costs, and the traditional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is one of the toughest mortgages to get approved for. While there are certainly disadvantages, getting a fixed-rate mortgage can make sense for some buyers.

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