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Name: John Talen


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Standard or Itemized Deductions

Most taxpayers have a choice of either taking a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. If you have a choice, you can use the method that gives you the lowest tax.
Whether to itemize deductions on your tax return depends on how much you spent on certain expenses last year. Money paid for medical care, mortgage [...]

Federal Government Would Collect $2 Trillion Less Over a Decade and Yet Require Bottom 90 Percent to Pay Higher Taxes

Rep. Ryan’s House GOP Budget Plan: Federal Government Would Collect $2 Trillion Less Over a Decade and Yet Require Bottom 90 Percent to Pay Higher Taxes
It’s difficult to design a tax plan that will lose $2 trillion over a decade even while requiring 90 percent of taxpayers to pay more. But Congressman Paul Ryan has [...]

IRS Outlines Additional Steps to Assist Unemployed Taxpayers and Others

The Internal Revenue Service today announced several additional steps it is taking this tax season to help people having difficulties meeting their tax obligations because of unemployment or other financial problems.
The steps –– an expansion of efforts that began more than a year ago –– include additional flexibility on offers in compromise for struggling taxpayers, [...]

Additional Standard Deduction for Real Estate Taxes

The IRS wants taxpayers who pay state or local real estate taxes but don’t qualify to itemize their tax deductions, to know that they may qualify for an increased standard deduction. This is the last year that the higher standard deduction for real estate taxes is available.
Here are six things you need to know about [...]

IRS Announces Qualified Disaster Treatment for Chile

Washington The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance designating the earthquake that occurred in Chile in February 2010 as a qualified disaster for federal tax purposes. The guidance allows individuals who receive qualified disaster relief payments from any person to exclude those payments from income on their tax returns. Also, the guidance allows employer-sponsored private [...]

Top Ten Facts About the Child and Dependent Care Credit

Did you pay someone to care for a child, spouse, or dependent last year? If so, you may be able to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit on your federal income tax return. Below are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about claiming a credit for child and dependent care [...]

Refund Information

Taxpayers have two options for receiving their individual federal income tax refund: a paper check or direct deposit (electronic funds transfer) into [...]

Your Appeal Rights

The IRS has an appeals system for people who do not agree with the results of an examination of their tax returns or with other adjustments to their [...]

Innocent Spouse Relief (And Separation of Liability and Equitable Relief)

Many married taxpayers choose to file a joint tax return because of certain benefits this filing status allows. Both taxpayers are jointly and severally [...]

A Guide to Information Returns

Source: US IRS