Last year I got most of my income for working from home in the state of Virginia. I did work for a company that is not owned by me and was located in another town in Virginia. I got a 1099 as an individual from the company for the work that I did. This work was all conducted by phone and email, no one came to my home. I recently got a letter in the mail from the City of Winchester, VA saying that I did not register as a business in the city and that I needed to pay back licensing fees. I know you're not my lawyer, but do I have to do this?
posted by jefeweiss on Nov 6, 2009 - 12 answers

What are some good low risk ways to invest $30k for about a 3 month period? [more inside]
posted by trbrts on Nov 4, 2009 - 8 answers

Forgot to file tax returns. Now what? [more inside]
posted by doomtop on Oct 26, 2009 - 6 answers

HELP! It's tax day. Tax return due tonight. HELP! [more inside]
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead on Oct 15, 2009 - 8 answers

When I bought my car from out of state, the dealer never collected sales tax. Now I moved to that state and the state wants to collect! Help! [more inside]
posted by Tu13es on Oct 13, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm earning maybe $4,000 this year, of which $2,000 is as self-employed. Do I still have to pay around $300 in taxes? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 6, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm thinking about cashing out my 401k to help start a business. I know I will pay a penalty, and that what I take out will be taxable income, but I expect my business to post a loss the first year that would offset most of (if not all) of this income. Would I still have to pay taxes on all of the 401k money? [more inside]
posted by wezelboy on Oct 1, 2009 - 8 answers

You buy a house in California. You agree that the seller can stay up to 2 months after escrow closes (a "seller rent-back") if they make your (PITI) payments. Do you need to pay income taxes on the money they pay toward your PITI? Also, what was your "seller rent-back" experience? [more inside]
posted by unclezeb on Sep 29, 2009 - 9 answers

SweepstakesFilter: My wife (a Canadian like myself) recently won a large number of travel rewards points from an American chain of hotels. Help us determine if the prize is worth keeping considering what we'll have to pay in taxes to the IRS. [more inside]
posted by stungeye on Sep 25, 2009 - 6 answers

My wife was working a temp/contract job earlier this year. Her contract ended in May and she was paid her final paycheck but was still owed about 60 hours of PTO. [more inside]
posted by tickettrader on Sep 12, 2009 - 2 answers

Sometimes I get small job requests that come from outside my fulltime job. They don't pay much (barely over 1k this year) but it's enough to require me to report myself as a business. Does that mean it's a second job?
posted by mallow005 on Sep 10, 2009 - 11 answers

I'm looking for a good accountant in the Philadelphia area. Ideally one that can help with both tax issues for a freelancer in the tech industry, as well as more general family accounting (I just got married and we just opened our joint account). Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on Sep 8, 2009 - 2 answers

Property Tax filter: In August I bought a house in King County WA. The county's assessment of the property is very high. I would like to appeal for a review of the assessment. The desired result is a lower tax bill. I would be grateful for any strategy or advice. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 1, 2009 - 7 answers

Taxes/licenses required for Nevada company providing consulting services in California? [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline on Aug 14, 2009 - 2 answers

We're starting a US based online T-shirt company that pays sales commisions to designers. In the event that the designer is overseas, do we need to withhold tax? If not, what IRS form do we/they need to fill out?
posted by Dag Maggot on Aug 12, 2009 - 5 answers

How should I go about monetizing my podcast in a legitimate and professional manner? [more inside]
posted by HostBryan on Aug 11, 2009 - 4 answers

New to contracting, and new to Australia. Can someone please help me find a company to sort out my insurances and payroll (and the 'living away from home allowance' -- or recommend an accountant if I need one? [more inside]
posted by Flying Squirrel on Aug 5, 2009 - 9 answers

I recently started graduate school supported by a National Science Foundation IGERT Fellowship and I just received my first paycheck--without any taxes taken out of it. Am I exempt from paying tax (state and federal) on my fellowship stipend because it's from the government? [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Jul 31, 2009 - 14 answers

What important household papers and documents must I keep and file? What papers are OK to throw away? [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake on Jul 28, 2009 - 7 answers

Years ago, I bought a timeshare. (I know, I know! What was I thinking?!) I'm ready to get rid of it, and I'm completely aware that there's no way I'll make back my purchase price. But can I take it as a loss on my US federal taxes and/or Oregon state taxes? Any tips on the proper way to go about it (what forms to use, etc.)? Many thanks in advance, hivemind!
posted by browse on Jul 19, 2009 - 3 answers

I just bought a house, and I received a letter in the mail saying the city wants to re-evaluate the value of the house so they can tax me even more than they were. Now, as much as I want to pay the city more, what are their calculations based on? [more inside]
posted by Napierzaza on Jul 8, 2009 - 10 answers

Where to find data to appeal a real estate assessment? [more inside]
posted by justkevin on Jul 7, 2009 - 3 answers

Revenue Quebec Filter: I mailed my taxes to Revenue Quebec somewhere around the 3rd or 4th of May. That's slightly late, but it's OK because they owe me money. I even sent it express post so it wouldn't get lost. Two months later, I've received no cheque, no direct deposit, no notice of assessment--nothing. [more inside]
posted by Decimask on Jul 5, 2009 - 12 answers

My friend is a California resident who's considering whether to accept a job in the Tokyo office of a U.S. company. We'd like to know what income tax considerations he should take into account. [more inside]
posted by lunachick on Jun 10, 2009 - 7 answers

Mixing business and pleasure as a small businessperson, I need a little advice regarding taxes and business travel. [more inside]
posted by TungstenChef on Jun 8, 2009 - 1 answer

My friend's mother has lived in Florida for over 20 years in a home that she owns outright. Three years ago her mother moved to a different state so she could live in an independent-living facility near her daughter. She kept her house in Florida, she paid all applicable Florida property and income taxes, and she voted absentee in Florida. Her income comes from Social Security, a pension and investments. My question is, should her mother be paying taxes in the state that she is living in now? Also, when she dies, should her estate be managed as though she had lived the last years of her life in Florida?
posted by retiree on Jun 4, 2009 - 5 answers

What the heck is a T1 Special? [more inside]
posted by futureisunwritten on Jun 3, 2009 - 3 answers

How does one handle the tax situation when frequently buying/selling small stakes of a stock in which you are also holding a long term large stake? [more inside]
posted by jimmyjimjim on May 30, 2009 - 4 answers

Excel n00b filter: Is there a way to automatically convert an expense sheet from one currency to another by matching the date the cost was incurred with the exchange rate applicable on that specific day? [more inside]
posted by doctorpiorno on May 29, 2009 - 6 answers

If you are a waitress, can you deduct from your taxes the amount that your restaurant requires you to tip-out to your bussers? (In my case, this generally amounts to $8-$15 for every shift I work.) [more inside]
posted by melangell on May 14, 2009 - 9 answers

US Tax Filter: How do I report an asset transfer/rollover from an IRA into a 401k to the IRS so that we are not taxed for the amount? I know you are not my tax advisor. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 11, 2009 - 6 answers

If you put your child in private school, do you still have to pay taxes for education, are you exempt, or do you write it off on your tax return?
posted by FireStyle on May 7, 2009 - 29 answers

You Are Not My CPA Filter: I have a friend who is running for a small-time local political office (city charter commission) and who is paying all his campaign costs (signs, literature, etc.) out of his own pocket. Are these expenses tax deductible? We're having trouble wading through the thousands of Google results on business deductions to find an answer....
posted by anastasia on May 5, 2009 - 5 answers

Rental house sale - I moved out of my house and started renting it Jan 2008. If I sell it soon, what are the tax ramifications? [more inside]
posted by mikedelic on May 4, 2009 - 4 answers

I have not filed my tax returns for the past THREE years and would to rectify that. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 3, 2009 - 14 answers

Stupid question filter : "There is no law that requires U.S. citizens to pay income tax" Is this true? Can anyone site the Law? [more inside]
posted by nola on Apr 27, 2009 - 33 answers

My nonprofit did not send out 1099s. Now what? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 27, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I prepare myself for freelancing with regard to taxes? [more inside]
posted by the matching mole on Apr 18, 2009 - 10 answers

Taxfilter: I'm a partner in a Pennsylvania LLC. I filed final returns for both state and federal last year but never got around to dissolving the LLC. Do I have to file again this year? [more inside]
posted by Brennus on Apr 15, 2009 - 1 answer

I can't pay my taxes right now, but according to the IRS's information form on payment plans, if I can pay within 120 days I don't need a installment plan -- which would charge interest. The form requests that I call the IRS to notify them and get more information. However, I haven't been able to get through on their phone line for the last week, and now it's the 15th. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog on Apr 15, 2009 - 11 answers

If you help me with my freelance S-Corp tax question I will hug you. [more inside]
posted by sharkfu on Apr 14, 2009 - 3 answers

I have donated about 11,400 to charity. I'm filing married filing jointly, so my standard donation is 10,900. I really don't have much in the way of other deductions. Should I use the 11,400 itemized deduction? Or use the 10,900 standard deduction and use the donations as deductions for next year?
posted by naveed on Apr 14, 2009 - 12 answers

New York City resident. I earned very little in 2008 and am getting all my withheld taxes back. So far so good. TaxACT seems to think I deserve an additional $145 "New York City School Tax Credit". In other words, I'd be getting more money than I put in. Is this plausible? [more inside]
posted by limon on Apr 14, 2009 - 9 answers

Tax Filter: Do I need to report winnings from a contest? If so, how? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 14, 2009 - 6 answers

Taxfilter: Is it possible to negotiate with the IRS? [more inside]
posted by brigita on Apr 13, 2009 - 8 answers

Did Turbo Tax increase the price of their online service after I started my tax-return? [more inside]
posted by u2604ab on Apr 13, 2009 - 21 answers

I'm looking for philosophical treatises that touch on the subjects of taxes, wealth, income and the like for a blog post I'm thinking about writing. Specifically, I'm looking for philosophical musings on the government's right (or lack thereof) to collect taxes and the right (or lack thereof) of an individual to do whatever he wants with his earnings. It would be more helpful if you could point to a specific chapter/section/passage, rather than saying "try reading Marx."
posted by ekroh on Apr 13, 2009 - 11 answers

I moved to California in late March. All my W2 says New York. How badly have I screwed up? How can I fix it? [more inside]
posted by aoeu on Apr 12, 2009 - 3 answers

As I understand it, the US government is giving away $8000 each to almost all first-time home buyers this year. How do I protest the government giving away money for free?
posted by malp on Apr 10, 2009 - 39 answers

My funds to pay my (large) tax bill might not clear into the account I transferred them to until April 16th or 17th. What can I do to prevent the IRS from getting angry that they can't do the desired electric withdrawal on the 15th itself, or my bank getting pissed that the IRS trying to withdraw funds that just aren't there (yet)? [more inside]
posted by lexfri on Apr 9, 2009 - 9 answers