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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.

What to Do After a Car Accident – Injuries, Damages & Insurance Claims

Kira Botkin

car accident crowdWinter must be the auto insurance industry’s least favorite time of year. Slippery streets, black ice, white-outs – under these conditions a momentary loss of control can turn into a major pile-up.

If you find yourself in one of these unfortunate predicaments, follow these steps to ensure that you have your bases covered with your insurance company, your health, and the other driver.

Preparation

1. Print out the handy guide below to keep in your glove box, along with a pen or pencil, in the event of an accident. You may not be in the best frame of mind after a car wreck, and this guide will ensure you get the information you need and not forget anything.

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4 Different Types of Taxes and How To Minimize Them

Kira Botkin

pay taxes piggy banksAlthough your personal income tax filing is probably foremost in your mind right now, the government taxes us in a number of different ways.

This is actually helpful for you because it gives you multiple opportunities to find ways to reduce your tax burden, while spreading out the impact of taxes.

Want to learn more? Here are the four types of taxes we’re all subject to, and tips on how to minimize their impact.

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The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit – Federal Tax Deductions for Child Care Expenses

Kira Botkin

childcare expenses paintingFinding the right person or company to care for your child or disabled spouse is difficult, and paying for it can become very expensive.

Fortunately, you can get a break on these expenses by filing for the child and dependent care tax credit.

And depending on your income and how many people need care, you can get up to a $2,100 credit. Below is more information regarding the credit, including who qualifies as someone who needs care, what kind of expenses count, and who can claim the tax break.

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11 Common Tax Filing Mistakes & Errors and How to Correct Them

Kira Botkin

tax filing mistakes errorsIf you’re in a hurry to get your tax refund faster (and who isn’t?), make sure your tax return won’t be delayed by common mistakes.

There are a handful of common errors that the IRS regularly deals with.  These mistakes signal an immediate red flag and cause your refund to be delayed by weeks or months as the IRS tries to sort things out or asks you to re-file.

Especially if you file on paper, make sure to double-check these easily overlooked items.

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TurboTax Review 2011 – Online Tax Preparation Software

Kira Botkin

Owned and operated by software giant Intuit, TurboTax is backed by a solid company history of almost three decades. You’ll have no trouble trusting this product. It has a superb reputation and reliable software platform.

TurboTax is the most popular of the online tax filing and preparation software products. Last year more tax filers filed with TurboTax than all the other tax filing software products combined.

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Key Features and Benefits

  • Guarantees they will get you “the biggest refund you’re entitled to.” If you use another tax preparation method and get a bigger refund, TurboTax will refund your money.

TaxACT Review 2011 – Free Online Tax Software

Kira Botkin

TaxACT, which provides affordable tax products to the masses, is owned and operated by 2nd Story Software, a privately-owned company since 1998.

According to Hitwise reports, TaxACT is the #2 destination for e-filers on the Web.

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Key Features and Benefits

  • Provides a risk-free federal refund guarantee: if you get a higher refund or less tax owed with another tax preparation method, using the same data used with TaxACT, you will get your money back.
  • You can access unlimited Web and email support as well as video tutorials.
  • If you’ve got simple taxes, you can use the free version, which includes most forms but much less guidance.

H&R Block At Home Review 2011 – Online Tax Software

Kira Botkin

In business since 1955, H&R Block is the world’s largest tax preparation company. In addition to tax services available at their offices, H&R Block At Home offers consumers a do-it-yourself online tax solution. However, you’re not completely on your own since tax professionals are available for additional help.

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Key Features and Benefits

  • H&R Block guarantees an accurate calculation to get you the biggest return. If you’re assessed penalties for a miscalculation, they’ll pay the interest and penalties.
  • Gives step-by-step questions and answers to help you through your return. Can be helpful or annoying depending upon how tax savvy you are.

Making Work Pay Tax Credit Eligibility & Qualifications Explained

Kira Botkin

making work pay tax credit

First introduced in 2009, the Making Work Pay tax credit was available for two years – 2009 and 2010. With this credit, you were able to receive a bonus of up to $400 (or $800 if you filed as married filing jointly) just for working.

However, this tax credit was not renewed by Congress following 2010, and is not available for tax years 2011 and later.

How the Making Work Pay Tax Credit Is Calculated

If you had any income from a job or self-employment during the years this credit was available, you can calculate your Making Work Pay credit based on your earned income. You also must file Schedule M to claim the credit – even if you received it as an income boost in your paycheck.

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What’s the Best Online Tax Preparation Software? TaxACT vs. TurboTax vs. H&R Block At Home

Kira Botkin

While most people avoid doing their taxes even once if it wasn’t legally required and IRS tax evasion fraud wasn’t an issue, as the Frugal Guinea Pig, I did them three times this year, testing the services of TaxACT, TurboTax, and H&R Block At Home.

I’m a big tax nerd (I took the H&R Block tax class for fun), so it’s probably easier for me to do my taxes than it is for the average bear. Still, in evaluating these programs I tried to keep in mind what might look unusual or confusing to others. Fortunately the tax preparation software helped me out by presenting stuff so confusing that even I couldn’t decipher it. The sites often made it difficult to determine where to enter data, and one even took away $21 of my state refund for no good reason.

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Taxes on Government Benefits – Unemployment, Social Security, Disability & More

Kira Botkin

social security money government benefitsYou may think that government benefits are tax-free, but that isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, several of the most common benefits claimed by Americans – unemployment, Social Security, and disability – do generate a tax bill. If you receive government benefits, understanding and keeping track of what will be taxed is key to getting the most out of the program and not being in for any unpleasant surprises.

At first glance, this may seem difficult, but there are several fairly simple steps to understanding how much tax you must pay on your benefits each year.

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Claiming Qualifying Dependents on Taxes – IRS Tax Dependent Definition & Rules

Kira Botkin

family children tax dependentsAs any parent knows, dependents are a great way to get tax deductions. Everyone in the U.S. is eligible to receive a “personal exemption” of $3,650 on their taxes. However, if they don’t support themselves (such as children) their personal exemption can be transferred to the person who is actually supporting them (such as their parents) by claiming them as dependents.

Each dependent you list on your tax return gives you the opportunity to reduce your taxable income by $3,650. So if you have people in your household that you support, or who are otherwise dependent upon you, or you and your spouse, you can get a tax break by adding them as dependents. However, there are specific rules that must be met in order for this to occur.

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9 Green Energy Tax Credits for Home Improvement & Energy Efficiency

Kira Botkin

You probably know that you can save money on your utility bills go green tax creditsby making your home energy efficient. But you might not know that many energy-efficient upgrades can reduce your taxes as well.

In fact, there are a range of federal tax credits available that run the gamut from installing a geothermal heat pump to installing new insulation. If you’ve recently made improvements to your home, or are considering it, check the list of available tax credits and make sure to claim the ones you qualify for.

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List of 15 Commonly Overlooked Personal Tax Deductions For Individuals

Kira Botkin

coins

The only thing worse than paying taxes is inadvertently paying more than you have to. But you can avoid this by being aware of common and commonly overlooked deductions and taking advantage of them. It’s best to be aware of these year-long, so you can plan to maximize your deductions and maintain good records. But even if the tax filing deadline is rapidly approaching, it still pays to know which deductions you may be eligible for this year and to dig up old receipts in order to claim them. See if you can reduce your taxes or increase your refund by claiming any of the following.

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What Is the Gift Tax – IRS Rules, Rate & Maximum Exclusion Limit 2012

Kira Botkin

gift tax money

Are you considering transferring wealth, assets, or property to your heirs? You may be in for a much more difficult – and costly – procedure than you realize. While giving to those you love is wonderful, you must be aware that giving isn’t free.

If you’re in a position to help out younger family members or friends, or if you’re contemplating how to best transfer your estate to your heirs, it is crucial to understand gift tax regulations. Some gifts aren’t subject to any tax, but many are. A quick study of the numbers and rules can prevent you from taking an unnecessarily large tax hit and help you plan how to transfer your wealth. In addition to familiarizing yourself with gifting rules, contact an estate planner or attorney to make sure your heirs receive everything they’re entitled to.

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Ultimate Guide to IRS Schedule C Tax Deductions & Expenses For Small Business Owners

Kira Botkin

stack of receiptsIf you run a small business, do freelance work, or have other side income, you probably know exactly what’s coming in, but you may not be keeping as close an eye on what’s going out! Tracking the money you spend to run your business can be incredibly important come tax time.

How can entrepreneurs get the most out of their tax returns?

Take a look at the following guide to Schedule C deductions. You may find that you’re missing out on some key tax deductions for self-employed freelancers and small business owners.

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