2011 Taxes to 2026 Taxes

How Long to Keep Tax Records: The IRS Rules in Plain English

Steven Patterson — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:36:45 +0000

The pile grows quietly all year: pay stubs, receipts, a 1099 that arrived in February and vanished under the catalogs and takeout menus.

Every spring the same question lands in the same pile of paper: can I throw this out yet? The IRS actually answers it, in specific numbers of years, and the answer is shorter than the pile suggests. Here is how long to keep tax records, straight from the IRS recordkeeping rules, and why the numbers change depending on what the paper proves.

The Default Rule Is Three Years

The baseline is simple. Keep records that support anything … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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The Saver’s Credit: Who Qualifies for Up to 1,000 Dollars Back for Retirement Savings

Steven Patterson — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 19:35:49 +0000

Putting money away for retirement is one of those things that’s easy to put off. The IRS has a credit meant to nudge lower-income savers, and a lot of people never claim it because they don’t know it exists. It’s called the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, usually the Saver’s Credit. Here’s how it works, using what the IRS says.

What the credit is

If you make eligible contributions to an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you may be able to take a tax credit. That’s a credit, not a deduction. It comes off your tax bill, not your income. … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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Free Tax Help From the IRS: What VITA and TCE Offer and Who Qualifies

Steven Patterson — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:28:57 +0000

Paying for tax preparation is not the only option. The IRS runs two free programs, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), that prepare basic tax returns at no cost for people who qualify. Many people never hear about them until after they have paid a preparer. This guide explains who the programs serve, what to expect and how to find a site, based on the IRS page on free tax return preparation.

What VITA and TCE are

The IRS says VITA and TCE offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. VITA has … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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Got a Letter From the IRS? What to Do Next

Steven Patterson — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:31:26 +0000

You open the mailbox, and there it is. An envelope from the IRS. Your stomach drops a little, even if you can’t think of a single thing you did wrong. It’s a normal reaction. But most IRS letters are routine, and many don’t need much more than a careful read. Here’s how to make sense of one when it lands on your doorstep.

Why the IRS sends letters

The IRS says it may send a notice or letter for a handful of reasons. You might have a balance due, or your refund may have changed. The agency might have a … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 Will Do to Your Taxes

Steven Patterson — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 19:19:37 +0000

In New York City, July 4, 2025, President Trump promulgated the relation “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (BBB) as one of the glaze-y tax reforms borrowed from 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with some goodies thrown-in for deductions and credits. The House passed the bill in late May, and the Senate put it through by the skin of its teeth, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Much of what it does rests on levies on individuals, families, and business, so let me run down what that will likely mean for your wallet in the year 2025 … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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How to Stay Informed About Tax Law Changes

Steven Patterson — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 20:34:24 +0000

Keeping up with changes in the tax laws is not simple due to the shifting landscape. For the business owner, individual taxpayer, or professional on tax, failing to keep abreast of such changes can be detrimental. How to keep current with the latest tax laws forms a good basis to commence the discussion here.

IRS Agent with Changes For Us

Go to a Reputable News Website

One of the better means of keeping up with the latest information is by being on the official sources. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updates a lot of its information online by providing such … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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Demystifying Your IRS Tax Refund: A Step-by-Step Guide

Steven Patterson — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 18:15:30 +0000

Hey there tax-savvy readers! We get it, waiting for that IRS tax refund can be a real nail-biter. You work hard for your money, and you’re eager to see it back in your pocket. But worry not! We’re here to walk you through the process of tracking your IRS tax refund, and we’ve got some insider tips to ease your mind.

Getting Started: Tracking Your IRS Tax Refund

Let’s kick things off by demystifying the process. Whether you filed online or went old school with snail mail, the IRS has a nifty online tool to track your refund status. All … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Wheres My Refund Tool

Steven Patterson — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:54:49 +0000

Get to know the Wheres My Refund tool and learn how you can use it to check your IRS refund status quickly and accurately.

The Wheres My Refund tool is a great way to quickly and accurately check the status of your IRS income tax refund. Through this resource, you can enter basic information about yourself and monitor the processing time for your return to see when you can expect your money back. To use the IRS Where’s My Refund tool, you need your Social Security number, your filing status, and the exact amount of your refund.

IRS Tax

… Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Steven Patterson — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 16:24:18 +0000

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights contains ten basic rights that every taxpayer has when dealing with the IRS. These rights are protected by law. See Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, if you’d like more information on these rights.

When something goes wrong with a taxpayer’s account, the taxpayer has the right to know about it. This is one of the 10 rights stated in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights

The Right To Be Informed

Being informed is part of every taxpayer’s responsibility in dealing with the IRS. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights apprises … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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Great Tax Day Deals On Food And Drinks

Steven Patterson — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:05:32 +0000

Tax Day deals are available for many people this year. The normal deadline for income tax filing is April 15. This year, some of us will have until April 18 to file our income taxes because Tax Day got moved to after the weekend. People who live in the states of Massachusetts and Maine will have an extra day to file because of Patriot’s Day.

Great Tax Day Deals

Are you receiving some of the $330 billion in tax refunds being sent by the Internal Revenue Service this tax season? Restaurants all over the country are trying to grab their … Read more at 2011 Taxes.

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