Health Care and Taxes: A Pause Before Impact
By ROBERT D. HERSHEY Jr.
Far-reaching tax measures are part of the new health care law, though many of them won’t take effect for awhile.
Special Section
Tim Robinson
Seeking the Path to a Simpler Tax Code
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Amid worry about long-term fiscal woes, momentum may be building for bipartisan talks to overhaul the nation’s labyrinthine tax system.
Tax Tips
Those Disappearing Tax Breaks
By JAN M. ROSEN
As a result of changes enacted last December, taxpayers should make sure they have the most up-to-date information before filing their returns.
Essay
Could Your Senator Conquer the 1040?
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
If Tim Pawlenty’s proposal to have members of Congress do their own taxes came true, it could become a new fad in reality television.
Estate and Gift Rules: Some Clarity, for Now
By CARLA FRIED
The recent tax deal has given families a chance to rethink how they transfer wealth.
Some Advice for Wary Spouses: Consider Filing a Separate Return
By CHARLES DELAFUENTE
A joint return can have advantages for married couples, but it doesn’t shield one partner from responsibility for tax debts owed solely by the other.
The Push to Trim Corporate Tax Rates
By CONRAD DE AENLLE
Advocates of lower rates point to other nations that have tackled the issue in the last two decades. But several hurdles, both fiscal and political, need to be cleared before any change occurs.
Tasting Three Flavors of Tax Software
By TIM GRAY
TurboTax, H&R; Block at Home and TaxAct each have some appealing features, says one taxpayer who has tried all three.
Multimedia
Your Taxes
Saving on Taxes (and Energy): A Step-by-Step Guide to the 1040
A line-by-line walk through the 1040 to help taxpayers understand the changes in 2010.
Special Section: Wealth
Certainty on Tax, but Just for Two Years
By DAVID CAY JOHNSTON
The compromise tax law that was enacted in December clarified the tax outlook for the immediate future, but that clarity will last for only two years.
Efforts to Avoid Probate Can Carry Their Own Risks
By DEBORAH L. JACOBS
Passing assets outside of probate keeps them private and can simplify planning, but plans can have unintended consequences if not fully coordinated.
Tax Cut Deal Could Benefit Charities
By JAN M. ROSEN
The tax deal reached in December was unexpectedly generous toward gift and estate taxes, so personal wealth advisers foresee benefits for charities.
