6. Beware of emails that claim to be from the IRS, wanting to refund you some piddly (under $100) amount by crediting your bank/credit card account and requesting the account number. The IRS DOES NOT refund money this way!! They always send a check. These emails are scams. Don't fall for them! In fact, if you get one, forward it to phishing@irs.gov, so they can nail the scammers. Remember.. if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!   Rivahcat,  Virginia

7. The IRS has arranged for FREE online tax filing for those with incomes below $50,000.   This is the place to begin.

8. Get free online IRS Federal Tax Forms and instructions

9.Don't automatically accept that you are paying the correct amount of real estate taxes. A little time and        research can save you big bubks for years to come.  10 ways to get your real estate taxes reduced

10. A mismatch between a name and a Social Security number on a tax return could mean costly problems. At best, it could slow down a refund. At worst, it could unexpectedly increase a tax bill. A couple of years ago, the Internal Revenue Service stopped putting taxpayer Social Security numbers on the tax package labels. Privacy advocates were concerned that this information could be too easily used by others. Unfortunately, the IRS found that removing it also meant that taxpayers forgot to write in their identification numbers on their tax returns. So it's now up to you to fill in your Social Security number, as well as any others required on your return and associated schedules.

11. Having trouble paying your tax bill?  The IRS offers several different ways to remit what you owe.

12. You've been saving diligently for your retirement, but now you need some of that cash to cover today's expenses. Can you get to it without incurring Uncle Sam's tax wrath? In some instances, the answer is yes. IRS rules for early IRA withdrawals

13. If you turned 70½ last year and haven't yet started spending what Uncle Sam thinks you should, on April 1 you have to take an IRS-specified amount out of your retirement account, even if you're still working. This withdrawal, known as a required minimum distribution, must come out of retirement savings where taxes have been deferred. This includes several popular IRAs -- traditional, simplified employee pension, or SEP, and SIMPLE accounts -- as well as certain employer-sponsored plans. It's no secret why the IRS wants you to start drawing down these accounts. Your money sat there for years, tantalizingly out of reach of the tax collector as it accrued tax-deferred earnings. full story

14. State-Local Tax Burdens,  Year 2005    Senior Ark internal page

15. Check the property taxes on similar homes in your neighborhood. If yours seem unjustified consider an appeal. In some communities an appeal usually results in a reduction. Make sure you are not already below nearby prevailing rates. Your jurisdiction will have instructions on how to file for an appeal.  

16. You will be hearing a lot about a great American tax break in 2006. Don't be fooled. It is called the "death tax" for effect. ONLY 2% OF AMERICANS COULD POSSIBLY BE AFFECTED BY THE REPEAL OF THIS TAX.  And there are ways to minimize the impact of this tax if you ARE in the 2% group.   I believe we have been witnessing the greatest redistribution of wealth from the  lower   and middle classes , to the upper classes, that we have ever seen in our history. This is another "break" we do not need.

17. Does Charity Car Donation Still Make Sense Under Tougher IRS Rules?

18. You can get a $500 tax credit  ( Better than a tax deduction ) on certain energy saving purchases between January 2006 and December 2007. Get details at:: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#chart

19. On tax matters, I checked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the IRS to find out whether Part D premiums and other Part D expenses, most of which were incurred for the first time in 2006, are tax deductible. They are. But too often we forget to include out-of-pocket Medicare Part A, B, C and D expenses among our medical deductions.That would include the 2006 Part B monthly premiums ($88.50 for most people).
You also may include the Part A and B deductibles, ($952 and $124, respectively) and Medicare and Part C Medicare Advantage (HMO) co-pays and any other out-of-pocket medical expenses.
In order for any of that money to be returned to you in the form of a tax deduction, however, your expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Premiums paid for Medigap policies, COBRA or your costs for supplementary coverage from a current or former employer, as well as expenses for travel to and from doctors, also count toward your total in determining deductibility. Saul Friedman, Newsday.com  January 6, 2007

21. Finding the cheapest place to retire means more than cutting expenses, you need to beware of the tax climate. Not every state will be an affordable place to retire. Forty of the 50 states give a variety of tax breaks to retirees. Seven have no state income taxes for all residents, and eight gave property tax relief to homeowners over 65. Fourteen give homestead exemptions to all homeowners. Most states will allow you to deduct some portion of your government, military or private pension when calculating your income tax. See Taxes by State. Also see the expanded section on tax rates favorable to seniors in Pennsylvania.

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