| As with any other topic, the internet provides a | | | | determine what you need to earn on a taxable |
| wealth of resources for taxpayers. Here are some | | | | investment to equal the tax-free yield of a municipal |
| websites and web pages that provide information, | | | | bond or a bond fund. section of the website of the |
| tools and resources to help you with year-round tax | | | | Bureau of Public Debt provides a variety of |
| planning and assist in preparing your Form 1040. you | | | | information, calculators and services for individuals |
| sell stock you need to determine the "cost basis" of | | | | who have invested in or are thinking about investing |
| the shares sold so you can calculate your capital gain | | | | in US Savings Bonds (all series). Click on "Savings |
| or loss. With the "divestiture" of ATT in 1984, and all | | | | Bond Calculator" under the heading "What Are Your |
| the splits, both positive and reverse, spin-offs and | | | | Bonds Worth?" to determine the amount of interest |
| mergers that have followed, determining the cost | | | | earned on a bond for the year if you have elected |
| basis of ATT stock sold, as well as the basis of the | | | | to report accrued savings bond interest annually on |
| various spin-off companies' shares, is a real project. | | | | your tax return. You can also go here to find out if |
| Go here for Tax Basis Worksheets for each individual | | | | your savings bonds have stopped earning interest |
| event in the history of ATT from 1959 through the | | | | and to purchase bonds online. you travel for business, |
| present. "address" will direct you to a foreign | | | | instead of deducting your actual expenses for meals |
| currency converter that can provide current and | | | | and incidental expenses you can elect to deduct the |
| historical exchange rates for 164 currencies. can use | | | | federal per diem amount for the location of the |
| this site to find the price of any listed stock or | | | | travel. Click on "Per Diem Rates" under "Travel |
| mutual fund on any exchange for any given date. If | | | | Resources" to find the federal per diem rates for |
| you inherit an investment, your cost basis is the fair | | | | Lodging and Meals and Incidental Expenses for |
| market value of the investment on the date of | | | | domestic business travel effective for 2005 and prior |
| death of the person from whom it was inherited. | | | | years. FYI, "incidental expenses" include fees and tips |
| This information is generally reported on the federal | | | | for porters, baggage handlers and maids, but does |
| estate or state inheritance tax return. However, | | | | not include the cost of laundry or phone calls. address |
| when you sell the stock you inherited you do not | | | | will take you to the State Department per diem |
| always have ready access to this information. You | | | | rates for Lodging and Meals and Incidental Expenses |
| can calculate your basis by going to this site and, | | | | for international travel during 2005. Ust these |
| under "Historical Quotes", enter the ticker symbol of | | | | amounts if you travel overseas for buisness. To |
| the stock and the date of death, or the business day | | | | check the per diems for a prior year, substitute the |
| closest to the date of death, to get a price quote. If | | | | year for 2005 in the "address". brings you to a |
| you sell stock that you received as a gift, your basis | | | | calculator that will help you determine your allowable |
| is either what the donor paid for the stock or the | | | | home office deduction. It is from Commerce Clearing |
| fair market value at the time the gift was made. You | | | | House, the premier tax law publisher. site will help you |
| can also use this site to determine a cost basis for | | | | to make intelligent charitable giving decisions. It |
| gifted property. the rules for claiming a deduction for | | | | provides information on and evaluates the financial |
| donating a car to charity have drastically changed, | | | | health of over 4000 charities. It also has articles and |
| there are still situations where you will deduct the fair | | | | guide on contributing to charity. Redleaf National |
| market value of the automobile. Click on "Used Car | | | | Institute helps child care providers successfully |
| Values By Make and Model", enter your zip code, | | | | manage their business. The site offers news, |
| enter the year, make and model of the car donated, | | | | information and publications on recordkeeping, taxes, |
| and click on "Kelley Blue Book Private Party Value". | | | | IRS audits, contracts, insurance, and other child care |
| You will then enter detailed information on the car | | | | business issues. It provides access to other child care |
| donated, such as mileage and condition, and get a | | | | business resources and organizations, and has a |
| value. You should do this on the day you donate the | | | | state-by-state listing of tax professionals who |
| car to charity. Print out the result and file it with the | | | | prepare tax returns for child care providers.The |
| paperwork for the donation. must begin to take | | | | above web addresses, and many others, are listed |
| annual required minimum distributions from a | | | | on the FEDERAL LINKS Page of my website at (c) |
| traditional IRA or employer pension account by April | | | | 2005 by Robert D Flach LLCRobert D Flach is a tax |
| 1st of the year following the year in which you turn | | | | professional with 34 tax seasons of experience |
| age 70 1/2. This address takes you to a calculator | | | | preparing 1040s for individuals in all walks of life. He |
| that will determine the amount of your required | | | | writes THE WANDERING TAX PRO weblog ( and the |
| minimum distribution for the year. on | | | | free monthly online newsletter STUFF AND SUCH ( |
| "CALCULATORS" in the menu at the top of the | | | | He also writes and publishes THE FLACH REPORT, a |
| page. Then click on "Taxable/Tax-Free Yield | | | | quarterly print tax newsletter. |
| Equivalent Calculator". This calculator will allow you to | | | | |