March 9, 2010
Few things are more irritating during tax season than the belated realization that you paid more in taxes than you had to. Yet thousands of taxpayers fall prey to this every year, by failing to claim deductions they were eligible for. Never was this more prevalent than in 2009, when several recent or brand new deductions came into existence – and were ignored by scores of taxpayers. These include credits or exemptions for everything from housing to energy efficiency and education loans. In total, these deductions could spell the difference between thousands of dollars in your pocket or Uncle Sam’s – your call. Today, BillShrink will analyze 12 tax breaks you didn’t take advantage of in 2009, while there’s still time to do something about it!
(more…)
March 2, 2010
Everyone knows that taxes are one of life’s only certainties. But while most of us are well acquainted with income and sales taxes, few of us are aware that some countries tax prostitution. The same goes for tax breaks. No one bats an eye about writing off some office supplies, but did you know that Germany (until recently) allowed businesses to deduct the cost of bribery? The United States and the rest of the world tax – and exempt from taxation – strange activities and behavior that virtually no one would have expected, or has any rational explanation for. Today, BillShrink combs some of the top financial websites online to gather thirteen of the weirdest taxes – and tax breaks – from around the world.
(more…)
January 19, 2010
Everyone is familiar with the saying “there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes.” However, not all of us accept the latter as a given. As long as there have been taxes, there have been devious, far-fetched, and occasionally brilliant maneuvers to evade paying those taxes. The chosen maneuver varies, ranging from convoluted offshore accounts to filing false returns to brazenly hiding income. And while tax evasion is quite common (some experts speculate that US prisons would fill up if even one percent of deadbeats were prosecuted) some take their IRS dodging to truly newsworthy heights. Today, Billshrink looks back on the 12 most notorious tax evaders of all time – how much they earned, how they cheated, and what ultimately happened.
(more…)
October 8, 2009
Statistics show that men and women handle money differently. While there are exceptions to every rule, men generally are better prepared for retirement, are more willing to put money into savings, pay off credit card balances in full and are more educated about investing. Men are also more prepared for unemployment, which is fortunate because there are more unemployed men than women in the U.S. and the growth of the unemployment rate for men is currently outpacing the unemployment rate for women.
(more…)
April 21, 2009
As long as there have been taxes, there have been tax avoiders. And as long as there have been tax avoiders, there have been tax havens. Broadly speaking, any country that is known for helping individuals or businesses avoid taxes can be described as a tax haven. Some are very forthcoming and proudly advertise the tax advantages of living there, while others are more discreet. In either case, tax havens have a long and enduring legacy in civil society (with an estimated $11.5 trillion currently stashed in offshore accounts) and each one offers something different to aspiring tax dodgers.
(more…)
April 9, 2009
‘Tis the season to be collectively gouged by the government for a significant portion of our hard-earned income. Tax season is typically not a favorite among Americans, unless you are eligible for a refund, of course. In order to offer a meager morale booster in this financially gloomy month, we have put together, for your enjoyment, a collection of strange, entertaining and little-known facts surrounding April 15th.
(more…)
Recent Comments
@scooterbaga: So they take tap water, run it through filter… your point...
wow thats why i love the dollar tree, 30 bucks for a new usb printer cable? hell i can...
I’m an optician (I make glasses), and I can attest to what Marc said. It costs us...
The two party system. You get screwed no matter who you vote for.
great tips!! we’ll need to use as many as we can to get out of the hole the...