BLOGU

Various tax feeds

Just Got My First 1099-NEC. I’m Officially Freaking Out

Key takeaways I opened my email to “Important Tax Document” and my heart did a weird flop. I […]
I’m Still on My Parents’ Health Insurance. Does That Affect My Taxes?

Key takeaways I depend on my parents for health insurance; does that mean I’m a dependent? Not […]
My 1099-K Showed My Revenue. Here’s the Checklist I’m Using to Find Every Expense

Key takeaways Two thoughts appeared when I first opened my 1099-K form. My first thought? That’s […]
Confession: I’ve Been Tracking My Tips on Napkins. Here’s a Better Way

Key takeaways The 2025 tax year might be the first time I’ve ever felt excited about tips showing […]
Wait, I Have to Pay Taxes Four Times a Year? (A Freelancer’s Guide)

Key takeaways The first time someone asked me how I was handling quarterly taxes, I realized I had […]
I Hired My First Contractor. Here’s What I Needed to File

Key takeaways When I hired my first contractor, I wasn’t thinking about tax forms — I was […]
I’m Running on 2 Hours of Sleep — But This New Tax Rule Could Help Cover Big Baby Expenses

Key Takeaways Every change felt sudden when I became a new parent, especially the lack of sleep. […]
My 1099-K Was Double What I Actually Earned. Here’s a 3-Step Plan

Key takeaways The first time I opened my 1099-K form, my stomach dropped. The number was nearly […]
I Drive for Uber and DoorDash. Here’s How I Track Everything

Key takeaways Gig work is great, but income from these sources comes tax-free. Unlike a W-2, where […]
Confession: I Almost Forgot to Add My Newborn to My Taxes. Don’t Make My Mistake.

Key Takeaways When I gave birth, the weeks that followed felt like a blur. Between sleepless nights […]
My W-2 Arrived. Now What?

Key takeaways Congrats on your first W-2 job. Now it’s time to make sense of it before filing […]
Unexpected Tax Loopholes You Wish You Knew Sooner

From digital downloads to prepared foods, states define taxable differently; your location […]
I Moved for My First Job. Here’s What’s Tax-Deductible

Key takeaways: I just accepted my first “real” job. The offer letter’s signed, my parents are […]
Q&A: I Worked Overtime This Year — My W-2 Pay Doesn’t Show it. A Tax Expert Explains

Key takeaways If you worked overtime this year and expected it to show up clearly at tax time, it […]
I Bought My First Car This Year, Turns Out I Might Get Money Back for It.

Key Takeaways Buying my first car felt like a win. Freedom. Independence. No more borrowing rides […]
Venmo Sends 1099-Ks Now. I Looked Into It (Spoiler: Pizza Money Is Safe)

Key Takeaways When a 1099-K shows up from Venmo, PayPal, or another payment app, it can be alarming […]

New York Should Be Cautious About Governor’s Near-Sighted Budget

Although New York's 2027 budget proposal avoids tax increases on income, sales, and property taxes, […]
Trump Tariffs: Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War

The Trump tariffs are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993 and amount to an […]
Evaluating Washington’s Proposed Millionaires’ Tax

Washington lawmakers are holding their first hearing on long-anticipated legislation that would […]
The State Income Tax Divergence

Lawmakers in many states continue to pursue additional income tax relief, while their counterparts […]
The Federal Payroll Tax: A Primer

With changes to payroll taxes likely to be part of a toolkit for reform, both policymakers and the […]
When Taxing AI, Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

AI technology has a wide range of potential economic outcomes. It would be a mistake to tailor tax […]
Two Virginia Income Tax Proposals Would Make the State Less Affordable

Should both HB 979 and HB 378 pass, Virginia would have the nation’s highest top marginal rate on […]
Even After Exemptions, More than Half of Food Products Continue to Face Trump Tariffs

The Trump tariffs will likely raise the cost of food for Americans, particularly for liqueurs and […]
Nonresident Income Tax Filing and Withholding Laws by State, 2026

One area of the tax code in which extreme complexity and low compliance go hand-in-hand—and where […]
The EU’s Questionable VAT Policy

The value-added tax (VAT) compliance gap—the additional VAT revenue that could be collected if […]
The Next Tax Reform Should Build on Sound Tax Policy and Simplify the Tax Code

The tax code is ripe for simplification, especially as complicated and targeted provisions expire […]
New CEA Report Dramatically Underestimates the Cost of Replacing State Income Taxes

While the CEA’s analysis of the benefits of reduced reliance on income taxes is sound, its […]
Recommendations to the European Commission: A Framework for Tax Simplification

A focus on sustained growth, meaningful metrics, and institutional capabilities that keep […]
VAT Rates in Europe, 2026

More than 175 countries worldwide—including all major European countries—levy a value-added tax […]
Yes, You’re Getting a Bigger Tax Refund. But That’s Not the Whole Story.

Economic policy in 2025 came with historic highs but also disappointing lows.
Expanded Sports Betting Legalization Would Generate Billions in Tax Revenue

If all 50 states established legal, open, statewide sports gaming markets, a 10 percent GGR tax […]