Internal Revenue Service Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

How To File Your Taxes For Free, Get Help And Avoid Traps Trying To Get You To Pay

By NWPB News March 28, 2021

Employers are supposed to stop withholding the payroll tax on Sept. 1. But companies need guidance from the IRS on exactly who is eligible to have their taxes suspended and how to keep track so those taxes can eventually be repaid. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

Most Americans are eligible for free tax-preparation services, but the truly free options can be hard to find. If you’re not careful, you could end up using a service that says it’s free but demands payment after you’ve spent time entering your information.Read More

IRS Says Its Own Error Sent $1,200 Stimulus Checks To Non-Americans Overseas

By NPR News November 30, 2020

The IRS now says its own error caused thousands of non-Americans living overseas to mistakenly receive $1,200 stimulus checks — and the mistake could happen again if more stimulus money goes out.Read More

President Trump Dismisses New York Times Report That He Paid Little To Nothing In Federal Taxes

By NPR News September 28, 2020

President Trump takes a question during a news conference at the White House on Sunday, where he dismissed reporting from The New York Times that he has paid little or no federal income taxes in recent years as "fake news." CREDIT: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

President Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, according to the Times, which also says he's fighting an IRS audit that could cost him over $100 million.Read More

Candidate For Washington Schools Superintendent Clarifies Her Organization’s Nonprofit Status

By NWPB News September 23, 2020

Maia Espinoza is running for the position of Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction against incumbent Chris Reykdal. Courtesy of the Maia Espinoza campaign.

Maia Espinoza, who is challenging incumbent Chris Reykdal in the November election to become the state superintendent of public instruction, made the clarification Wednesday after repeated inquiries from The Associated Press.Read More

Show Me The Relief Money – No Promises On When Coronavirus Checks Are Coming

By NPR News March 27, 2020

About 90% of households — approximately 165 million — will benefit from direct payments, according to the Tax Policy Center. CREDIT: Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Under the plan, single people earning incomes below $75,000 will receive as much as $1,200. The White House says it will issue funds in three weeks but experts say it could take months for some.Read More

Federal Tax Deadline Extended To July 15 Over Coronavirus Pandemic

By NPR News March 20, 2020

The U.S. Treasury Department says the tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

U.S. taxpayers will have a three-month extension to file their taxes because of the coronavirus pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday. He said that at the president's direction, "we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15."Read More

Appeals Court Rules President Trump’s Accountants Must Turn Over Tax Records

By NPR News November 4, 2019

An appeals court has ruled President Trump's accounting firm must turn over his tax returns to the Manhattan DA. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Lawyers for President Trump say they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, potentially setting up an election year decision about disclosing the president's finances. Read More

Washington Gambling Commission Tells NRA ‘No’ For Now On Raising Gun Raffle Limit

By Austin Jenkins August 8, 2019

Michael Herrera, left, and Bradley Kruger, center, of the National Rifle Association at a Washington State Gambling Commission Meeting AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

The Washington State Gambling Commission voted Thursday to delay deciding a request from the National Rifle Association's charitable arm to increase a $300,000 cap on raffle prizes. The commission cited ongoing investigations of the NRA’s nonprofit status and finances in New York and Washington, D.C.Read More

Despite 70,000 Furloughed IRS Workers, White House Vows Tax Refunds Will Be Issued

By NPR News January 7, 2019

The White House says tax refund checks will go out despite the partial government shutdown. CREDIT: Matt Rourke/AP

The White House says, tax refund checks will be sent out, even though the IRS, part of the Treasury Department, is for the most part shuttered.Read More

Those End-Of-The-Year Charitable Donations May Not Help Your Tax Bill

By NPR News December 29, 2018

Changes in the tax code mean that charitable donations may no longer be deducted, which could come as a surprise to many taxpayers. CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

New changes to tax law will make deducting charitable giving from next year's taxes more difficult for taxpayers. This has come as an unwelcome surprise to many who counted on end-of-the-year donations to lower their overall taxes and to charities that counted on those donations.Read More