| TAXING TIMES: Taxing Times:- Strategies To Lower Your Property Tax Bill
Homeowners enjoy some valuable tax breaks, but say the word "taxes" and the first thought that's likely to spring to any homeowner's mind is that often hefty tax bill they pay on their property. When housing values were skyrocketing in recent years, often property tax bills were rising as well. Now that home values are heading the other way, plenty of people are expecting to see some relief on that tax bill. But you don't necessarily need to wait for your local assessor's office. Read Eva Rosenberg's TaxWatch column and Marshall Loeb's Daily Money Tip today, both of which offer tips, and steps you can take, to try getting your property tax bill lowered. Plus, don't miss the latest news on your stimulus payment -- the IRS announced the mailing schedule this week -- and read which tax-prep software program won a thumbs-up from the Wall Street Journal's Tom Herman, all on this week's Tax pages.
The IRS Wants You To Get Your Rebate Check!
In order to get the economic Stimulus payment coming out later this spring, you have to file a federal tax return. Problem is, a lot of people don't -- among them people whose income is either too low or not taxable. To help them, the Internal Revenue Service will open hundreds of location this Saturday to prepare the simple Form 1040A for people who are filing a return solely to get their stimulus payment. Those working with the IRS include AARP, United Way of America and dozens of others. Some 320 IRS offices located in all 50 states and Washington, DC, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., although some may be open longer. IRS workers also will visit nursing homes and similar locations to prepare returns. Here are some local locations to get help: Savannah Coalition, 1816 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401 9 a.m.
That chill feeling is the IRS breathing down your neck
Sometime yesterday in the midst of the Sharpe James trial the air in the courtroom turned strangely cold, as if the air conditioner came on. Now, on occasion, judges have been known to turn off the heat to keep jurors awake, but there is at least one other explanation -- An IRS agent walked into the room. "You don't want to mess with the awesome power of the IRS," mused Larry Horn, a criminal defense attorney from Newark who specializes in tax cases. He was not talking about Robert Strich, the agent who entered the room, or about the sudden cold, but what he had to say could feel like icy fingers on anyone's neck -- especially just three weeks before April 15. "It's the old squeeze," said Horn, who came in to watch the trial for a few hours of lawyerly enjoyment.
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