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Cut your tax bill down to size with year-round tips and tricks
Taxes For Dummies is the antidote to the annual headache that is the U.S. tax system. This book paves the way for you to file a return that maximizes all the deductions and credits available to you. It also provides insight on making smart financial decisions that help minimize your tax burden. Need to correct or revise a return? You'll find all the information you need to do it right this time. And, of course the A-word is covered--learn what to do if the IRS shows up on your doorstep to audit your return. This new edition provides updates on the latest changes to the U.S. tax system, so you can sail through this year's tax season, headache free.
* Prepare your yearly tax return with confidence
* Apply sound strategies to reduce your tax bill
* Discover year-round ways to keep more of your earnings
* Create a tax-savvy financial plan, with or without the help of an advisor
With Taxes For Dummies, anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the U.S. tax filing system can learn what they need to save money and manage taxes throughout the year.
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Ready to File 5
Chapter 1: Understanding the U.S Tax System 7
Chapter 2: Tax Return Preparation Options and Tools 19
Chapter 3: Getting and Staying Organized 31
Chapter 4: What Kind of Taxpayer Are You? 43
Part 2: Tackling the Main Forms 67
Chapter 5: All The Form 1040s: Income Stuff 69
Chapter 6: Form 1040, Schedule 1, Part I: Additional Income 107
Chapter 7: Form 1040, Schedule 1, Part II: Adjustments to Income Stuff 125
Chapter 8: Form 1040, Schedule 2: Additional Taxes 151
Chapter 9: Form 1040, Schedule 3: Adding Up Your Credits and Payments 165
Chapter 10: Finishing Up the 1040 177
Part 3: Filling Out Schedules and Other Forms 195
Chapter 11: Itemized Deductions: Schedule A 197
Chapter 12: Interest and Dividend Income: Form 1040, Schedule B 235
Chapter 13: Business Tax Schedules: C and F 253
Chapter 14: Capital Gains and Losses: Schedule D and Form 8949 295
Chapter 15: Supplemental Income and Loss: Schedule E 327
Chapter 16: Giving Credits Where Credits Are Due 345
Chapter 17: Other Schedules and Forms to File 361
Part 4: Audits and Errors: Dealing with the IRS 381
Chapter 18: Dreaded Envelopes: IRS Notices, Assessments, and Audits 383
Chapter 19: Fixing Mistakes the IRS Makes 405
Chapter 20: Fixing Your Own Mistakes 421
Part 5: Year-Round Tax Planning 445
Chapter 21: Tax-Wise Personal Finance Decisions 447
Chapter 22: Trimming Taxes with Retirement Accounts 457
Chapter 23: Small-Business Tax Planning 477
Chapter 24: Your Investments and Taxes 495
Chapter 25: Real Estate and Taxes 511
Chapter 26: Children and Taxes 529
Chapter 27: Estate Planning 543
Part 6: The Part of Tens 555
Chapter 28: Ten Tips for Reducing Your Chances of Being Audited 557
Chapter 29: Ten Overlooked Opportunities to Trim Your Taxes 563
Chapter 30: Ten (Plus One) Tax Tips for Military Families 569
Chapter 31: Ten Interview Questions for Tax Advisors 575
Appendix: Glossary 581
Index 595
About the author
Eric Tyson is the author of all previous editions of
Taxes For Dummies, as well as bestselling titles like
Personal Finance For Dummies and
Investing For Dummies.
Margaret Atkins Munro is an enrolled agent with decades of experience in handling tax cases. She has been a coauthor of
Taxes For Dummies since 2005.
