July is just around the corner and some taxpayers are still waiting for their state tax refund. Many state tax agencies have been forced to delay refund payments due to budget problems or labor shortage. All seven states listed below still owe their citizens tax refunds

Unfortunately, many of the federal tax credits for popular hybrids – such as the Toyota Prius – expired quite a while ago. However, although a handful of vehicles no longer qualify for the tax incentives, there are plenty of energy efficient automobiles that can still result in a decent tax credit.

With oil washing up onto the American coast, and reports of massive underwater plumes, it is hard to imagine things could get any worse. However, the oil spill will have a long-term financial affect on the oil industry, businesses and millions of taxpayers.

The ongoing foreclosure crisis in this country is enough to make any potential homebuyer nervous. What’s more is that the deadline for the federal tax credit has passed for most taxpayers, and Congress has showed little interest in extending the credit. However, there are still plenty of other great reasons to purchase a home in 2010.

Tax season has come and gone and spring is here in full force. During these transitional weeks many people take on extra spring-cleaning duties. However, in addition to cleaning out your garage, or spending hours getting your yard ready for a huge pool party, I recommend taking a few minutes to clean up your finances.

Dealing with a back tax debt of your own can be stressful enough, but being held responsible for the back tax liability of a spouse – or former spouse – can be even more trying. Fortunately, there may be relief from being held responsible for your spouse’s or ex- spouse’s back tax liability.

Although the bad economy and unemployment problems have most Americans watching their budgets closely, you may be surprised to find out how many tax incentives there are for going green in 2010. As you can see, there are plenty of credits and tax breaks for both individuals and businesses that make energy efficient purchases. President Obama has also proposed a new Home Star Program that he is hoping will take effect sometime this year.

Checkout the following seven tax preparation tips from The Tax Lady Roni Deutch, and be sure to get your returns in before the deadline!

A lot is changing in the tax world. Many of the changes are intended to improve the state of the U.S economy. While next year’s tax return should not look very different from this year’s, there are a few changes in particular which taxpayers should be aware of and prepare for throughout the year.

Many taxpayers are asking Roni Deutch Tax Centers across the country about the available “green” tax credits for individuals and their requirements for the 2009 tax season. Two available credits striking a lot of interest are an electric motor-vehicle and the home energy-saving equipment credit.

To help consumers avoid being taken advantage of by these companies, the attorneys of Roni Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have put together a list of five alarming tactics employed by some of these companies that you should be wary of before you retain one of them.

For many musicians, the idea of making a decent living doing what they love is practically a dream come true. However, making a profit in the music industry can be difficult enough without having to worry about the tax laws and restrictions that can make life even more complicated. Luckily, there are plenty of steps a musician can take to make sure they are fully compliant with the IRS and their state taxing agency.

Unfortunately, when it comes to tax debt collection, there are dozens of secrets that the IRS does not want taxpayers to know about. As a government agency, they want to collect as much money as they can.

The Senate passed their health care bill (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) this Christmas Eve. Since no Republican Senators voted in favor of either measure, Democratic leaders have made quite a few changes to the legislation in order to get the sixty votes needed to pass the measure.

Caring for a loved one is difficult and time consuming enough, without even factoring in the financial responsibilities involved. Fortunately, the IRS – as well as a few dozen state tax agencies – offer a handful of credits and deductions to help those that provide care to a dependent.

With two ongoing wars and a new health care reform plan, combined with record low tax revenues, Congress is going to need to find ways to increase Federal revenue. Senators and House of Representative members are on a Winter break for now, but when they return on January 20, 2010 they will decide the fate of a slew of tax law changes.

Men and women who bravely join the armed forces to defend their country will come home to a whole set of specific tax rules and regulations. Luckily, most of the tax changes for Veterans are positive, since there are several credits and deductions that apply only to them.

When you are married, you can either file a joint tax return with your spouse, or you can file separate returns. If you and your spouse file a return together, then you are both equally liable for all taxes during the years you are married, as well as any penalties or interest. However, realizing that there are instances when it would be unfair to hold both spouses equally responsible, the IRS created the Innocent Spouse Relief Program.

If you thought filing a tax return every year as an American citizen was overwhelming, then you may be astounded to learn how difficult paying taxes are for a U.S. citizen living abroad. All American citizens are required to pay their taxes, regardless of whether they are living and/or working outside the country. There are several provisions in the U.S. tax code to make paying taxes from across the globe a little easier, but the process of calculating your tax liability can be time consuming and confusing even for a trained tax preparer.

If you thought filing a tax return every year as an American citizen was overwhelming, then you may be astounded to learn how difficult paying taxes are for a U.S. citizen living abroad. All American citizens are required to pay their taxes, regardless of whether they are living and/or working outside the country. There are several provisions in the U.S. tax code to make paying taxes from across the globe a little easier, but the process of calculating your tax liability can be time consuming and confusing even for a trained tax preparer.

The tax breaks available to foreign income earners are: the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, the Foreign Housing Exclusion, and the Foreign Housing Deduction. In order to claim any of these deductions, your tax home must be in a foreign country, you must have foreign earned income, and you must meet the requirements of the bona fide presence test or the physical presence test. This is where the rules become convoluted and difficult to apply.

If you own a business or are self-employed, then you are probably used to the idea of tax planning throughout the year. However, even if you are a regular wage-earning employee and do not have to worry about making quarterly payments, you should still get in the habit of thinking about your taxes all year long. It will make tax season less stressful, and by planning your finances in advance you can keep your tax liability as low as possible.

The Obama Administration and leaders in Congress are quietly working on ways to further stimulate the economy. With unemployment rates continuing to climb, and a housing tax credit due to expire in a few weeks, there is pressure on the White House to do something else to help the economy.

The IRS offers three (3) different payment options when it comes to the Offer in Compromise: Lump Sum Cash Offers, Short Term Periodic Payment Offers, and Deferred Periodic Payment Offer. However, the difference in these payment options is not solely the difference in how the Offer in Compromise is to be paid. Rather, each “payment option” actually impacts the total amount the taxpayer will pay to the IRS.

For most of us, the scariest thing in life is not a ghost, vampire, or witch, but a letter from the IRS. To celebrate the Halloween season, we have compiled some of the scariest IRS horror stories. They may not cause you to lose any sleep, but should at least be a reminder to keep receipts and stay up to date on your rights as a U.S. taxpayer.