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