There is a lot of discussion about the growing problem of identity theft. Most people think of identity theft as a stolen credit card or a compromised bank account. But many people don’t realize that tax identity theft is becoming increasingly common. The IRS reported tax identity theft as No. 1 on its annual list of “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams.” In fact, many refunds in the 2012 filing season were delayed because of IRS filters that were meant to screen for identity theft on tax filings. When the IRS cannot detect and prevent tax identity theft, it becomes a complex post-filing issue.

Previously, an employee was not allowed to deduct personal expenses and lodging expenses if the event did not include travel away from home.

A couple of weeks ago (TTW # 150) we looked at the revised collection and installment payment rules under the IRS’s “Fresh Start” initiative. “Fresh Start” is a new program that the IRS hopes will help taxpayers clear up their tax problems in a shorter period of time than the past.

“It looks like Congress is serious about avoiding the scheduled expiration of trillions of dollars’ worth of tax cuts that some believe would risk pushing the tentative U.S. economy over a “fiscal cliff.”

The IRS announced an expansion of the “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by taking steps to provide new penalty relief to the unemployed and making installment agreements available to more people.

So, you’ve purchased QuickBooks with the expectation that it will solve all of your bookkeeping problems, right? Then, you find out you don’t even know where to begin!