IRS Instructions as Clear as Mud, Even to the IRS

Tax time is just around the corner and that means it will be time once again to comb through all the jargon that is IRS tax forms. Many taxpayers have long bemoaned tax forms and instructions as just plain confusing and in some cases, downright sinister. However, even though filing taxes on your own accord can be a risky proposition, as long as you stick to the code and follow the IRS’s instructions carefully and exactly, you should be OK, right? Well, not necessarily.

What? How could that possibly be true? The fact is tax instructions don’t actually fall under the tax law. So, in reality, you could even follow the instructions on a tax form with exactness and still end up with an error. Of course, the IRS would understand if that happened to you, right? Well, not exactly. Many taxpayers have used this argument to no avail. In most instances, the courts side with the IRS and rarely hold the agency to what is written in its forms and instructions.

That’s because, unfortunately, according to legal precedence, the only things that hold up in court as tax law are regulations, official statutes and judicial decisions. That means even if you fill out your tax forms incorrectly and it’s the IRS’s fault, you will still be held accountable for those mistakes. It doesn’t seem fair that the IRS is ultimately not responsible to write correct instructions, but nevertheless when it comes to the IRS there isn’t too much that does seem fair.

Posted in
taxable savings

Can You Convert Taxable Savings Into Your Roth IRA?

Can You Convert Taxable Savings Into Your Roth IRA? Are you ready for retirement? It’s a common question and it applies to just about everyone at some point. However, being ready for retirement takes a great deal of planning and preparation, and not everyone is as ready as they think. One of the most important…

tax credit

Don’t Miss Out on These Tax Credits

Don’t Miss Out on These Tax Credits Most people know about tax deductions. Especially taxpayers who like to itemize. However, many taxpayers are not as aware of the numerous tax credits available to them every year. And missing out on these credits can cost you a lot of money. In fact, for many families, tax…

Five Tax Credits to Take

Five Tax Credits to Take

Five Tax Credits to Take There is a common phrase that states, “Nothing in life is free.” This may be true, but there are tax credits you can take to help save money when filing your tax return. Credit #1-First Time Home Buyer Credit The first time home buyer credit has been extended to cover…

social security

Best Ways to Avoid Social Security Taxes

Best Ways to Avoid Social Security Taxes For anyone getting closer to retirement the thought of collecting Social Security benefits has likely come to mind. You’ve worked a lifetime and now it’s time to kick off your shoes and reap the rewards of all that hard work. But did you know those benefits are not…