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.
How to File Your Tax Return – 2019 Basics & Guide
Doing your own taxes can be confusing, but it's a life skill that all financially informed people should develop. We've gathered information to help you learn about tax basics, prepare for completing your return,...
IRS Tax Form 1099-DIV – How Are Dividends Taxed?
Many 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...
IRS Tax Form 1099-MISC – Instructions for Small Businesses & Contractors
In an effort to help make filing taxes easier this year, we are breaking down the various IRS tax forms to help you know if you need them, and how to use them. If you're a freelancer...
What Is a 1098 IRS Tax Form – 1098-C, 1098-E, 1098-T
In an effort to help make filing taxes easier this year, we are breaking down the various IRS tax forms to help you know if you need them, and how to use them. There are...
How to File for an IRS Tax Extension Electronically or With Form 4868
My best friend is chronically late for everything: dinner, work, parties, you name it. Unfortunately, this behavior can have dire consequences when tax season rolls around. Several years ago she was in a panic...
Tax Implications of Retirement Accounts – IRA & 401k Distributions & Withdrawals
When your retirement accounts are growing, it's great to see the numbers climb. But when you retire and start taking money out of your IRA and 401k, the taxes you owe can take a...
Deducting Health Insurance Premiums & Healthcare Expenses on Your Taxes
The 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...
Tax Form 8949 – Instructions for Reporting Capital Gains & Losses
In an effort to help make filing taxes easier this year, we are breaking down the various IRS tax forms to help you know if you need them, and how to use them. If you have capital...
What Is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Requirements & Eligibility
Taxes are a burden for everyone, but especially for low-income individuals and families who need to hang onto as much money as possible. Interestingly, low-income earners pay a much larger percentage of their salary to...
IRS Tax Evasion Fraud Definition & Penalties – What Happens If You Don’t File...
Admit it. At some point during tax preparation, a dangerous thought may cross your mind: What if I just don't file? And while you likely file your taxes anyway, you may wonder, what happens...
Box 12 Codes on Tax Form W-2 Explained
Below 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...
State Tax Rates Comparison – Sales, Income & Social Security Tax
The 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...
