Property Tax added to Standard Deduction

[JohnH]

It is not correct to say that

you can add property taxes to standard deduction this year.

[thomtax]

Thanks

Thanks to all for confirming for me. Now the harder part, convincing the client that the website does not know what it is talking about. It looks like something that was set up a few years ago and just brought forward each year without adjusting to the new laws.

LT

[JohnH]

Well, you could always ask the client:
"Who are you going to believe - me or your lying eyes?"

[Burke]

Well, there is always 1-800-829-1040. Tell him to be prepared to wait.

[S T]

Found this "Supplement to JK Lassers Deductions and Tax Breaks 2011

http://www.barbaraweltman.com/articles/tax/tax_article_details.asp?id=132#axzz1lvXwdxop

Additional standard deduction amounts. The additional standard deduction amounts for real estate taxes and disaster losses expired at the end of 2009. These deductions have not been extended. The only additional standard deduction amounts in 2010 are for age and/or blindness

Sandy

[thomtax]

Well, you could always ask the client:
"Who are you going to believe - me or your lying eyes?"

You haven't met this woman. We have always gotten along well and I laugh at her approach. I asked her when she came in if she had offended anyone else at Arkansas DFA?

She recently had a problem with them and they were demanding some paperwork that she did not feel was any of their business. It's an odd situation, but could have been handled simply, with everyone happy. However, after she finished calling them about 6 times in one day (One even hung up on her), and giving her thoughts in a none too ladylike way, they finally decided that they could get by without the paperwork just to get rid of her. I think she would attack a rattlesnake, and probably win.

LT

[Burke]

Check this out from the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=21584,00.html. Says "last dated 11/7/2011." Have no idea what that means. But at the top it says Schedule L Standard Deduction for Certain Filers TY2011. Shows new car taxes but not real estate. Did you actually go to efile.com to see what was happening?

[ChEAr$]

Found this "Supplement to JK Lassers Deductions and Tax Breaks 2011

http://www.barbaraweltman.com/articles/tax/tax_article_details.asp?id=132#axzz1lvXwdxop

That's a good one. But then I've found many web sites with outdated information.
Imagine a client saying : "But I read it on the internet, so it must be true."

[Gary2]

And I still want to know how we can add property taxes to the standard deduction.

These days, I use the MS Windows calculator or my iPod's, though if pressed, I can do it on pencil and paper.

I'm not sure why you'd want to add them together, though. It's not like you could enter the total anywhere on the tax return.

[DMICPA]

Property Taxes to Standard Deduction

Kaput this year.

Not possible to input on forms.

[ChEAr$]

These days, I use the MS Windows calculator or my iPod's, though if pressed, I can do it on pencil and paper.

I'm not sure why you'd want to add them together, though. It's not like you could enter the total anywhere on the tax return.

I guess another answer to my question would have been: "very carefully."

(grin