9 IRS Tax Filing Tips

The IRS is offering some tips for filing your 2009 tax returns. They recommend you log onto the IRS "new look" website (irs.gov) for improved online tools, new tax laws and enhanced electronic services that will better assist taxpayers and tax preparers.

The agency surpassed an important milestone last year as nearly 90 million returns were e-filed nationwide.

Here are some of the new laws to consider:

• First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit: First-time homebuyers should begin planning now to take advantage of a new tax credit available for a limited time. The credit applies to primary home purchases between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. This tax credit must be paid back in equal payments over 15 years. The credit is 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $7,500 for either a single taxpayer or a married couple filing jointly. First-time homebuyers are those who have not owned a home in the three years prior to a purchase.

• Real Estate Tax Deduction: There is an additional standard deduction for those who don’t qualify to itemize their tax deductions, but pay real estate taxes. The additional deduction amount is equal to the amount of real estate taxes paid up to $500 for single filers or up to $1,000 for joint filers. This deduction is available for the 2008 and 2009 tax years. This property tax deduction is in addition to the standard deduction used by filers.

• Tuition and Fees Deduction: You may be able to deduct qualified tuition and required enrollment fees up to $4,000 that you pay for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent. You do not have to itemize to take this deduction. However, a taxpayer cannot take both the tuition and fees deduction and education credits (Hope & Lifetime Learning Credits) for the same student in the same year. Income limits and other special rules apply to each of these provisions. To determine whether your expenses are qualified, refer to IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education. IRS Publication 970 also describes other education-related tax benefits.

• Educators’ Out of Pocket Expense Deduction: The educator expense deduction allows teachers and other educators to deduct the cost of books, supplies, equipment and software used in the classroom. Eligible educators include those who work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide in a public or private elementary or secondary school. Worth up to $250, the educator expense deduction is available whether or not the educator itemizes deductions on Schedule A.

• 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. Review the tax return filing instructions including the Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet.

• Recordkeeping: Are your tax records organized? The IRS encourages taxpayers to take the time now to gather and organize their records to reduce stress at tax time. Check out the latest tax changes on the IRS.gov Web site and remember to e-file your tax return which helps ensure you do not miss out on any tax deductions, credits and benefits.

Here are some other tips:
1. By filing your tax return electronically, you can get a refund is as little as ten days.

2. Why not put your tax refund into purchasing a new home. It is certainly a buyer's market and even though you may not think so, financing is available.

3. Find out about more True Tax Facts

Mass Holes Tax Revenues Plunge

The state of Massachusetts will be cutting state services to balance the budget due to a dramatic reduction of almost $800 million in tax revenues. The state's midyear shortfall may be well over $2 billion, or almost 8% of the entire budget.

The outlook is grim. State officials are expected to meet privately to come up ways to plug the deficit. It will be difficult with unemployment and declining revenues from the state lottery to plummeting of capital gain taxes.

It appears that lawmakers are ready to panic. Massachusetts is in the same boat as many other states. Gov. Patterson of New York already has come up with creative and painful ways to cut into it's deficit. The governor is proposing an "obesity tax" on non-diet soda, reviving the state sales tax on clothing, lifting the limit on how much state tax can be charged for gasoline and eliminating legal exemptions in the income tax that he considers "loop holes". Expect Massachusetts to look closely at these too!

Right now the options that Mass Holes will have to live with include raising the state's gasoline tax, tapping the $1.7 billion in the reserve account, and making deep cuts in spending. It is said that state officials are hoping a stimulus package from the incoming Obama administration could help alleviate some of the revenue problems.

A bailout by the government is wishful thinking - and even if one is granted - it will not be a long term solution. Only a reversal of the recession of can save Massachusetts - and the other states.

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