Show your mom how much you love and appreciate her by getting her the ultimate Mother’s Day gift. It’s always difficult to think of the perfect gift because Mom has everything, right?  

Wrong! Skip the gift cards and dinners this year, and get Mom something a little more interesting. Here are some creative ideas to get you started.   

• Be kids for the day! Take your mom to the movies, arcade, or camping outdoors.  
• Make a donation to a charity in her name. It’s great for Mom and even better for you. Charitable donations are tax deductible and can lower your tax liability. Read Tax Mommy’s blog on charitable donations for more information. 
• Move Mom from her flip phone into the 21^st century with one of the latest tablets or smartphones.  
• Write your mom a short, hand-written note from the heart, and package it with a re-creation of your favorite childhood recipe. 
• Help Mom go green! Purchase something solar powered for the house, like a solar water heater. Certain energy efficient products qualify for a tax credit. Check out the ENERGY STAR website for details.   

Giving from the heart will make your mom feel special on her day. There are plenty of gift options, but whatever you choose, I’m sure your mom will love it.  

From all of us here at Liberty Tax, we wish moms everywhere a wonderful Mother’s Day! 

We all lead busy lives, but I want to share with you 7 easy and routine ways you can help the planet and become one step closer to being environmentally friendly consumers.  

 1. Conserve energy. It sounds cliché, but it’s true! Turning off or dimming the lights, unplugging your cell phone charger, powering down your MacBook when you aren’t using it. All of these are simple things that we can do to be more energy efficient. 

2. Eco-bag it. Forget using plastic bags. Invest in a durable cloth shopping bag that can be reused for each shopping trip. Ladies…don’t worry. They make fashionable bags that go with every outfit.   

3. Reuse and recycle. Invest in a filtered water bottle. Don’t throw away that plastic! Many neighborhoods and department stores participate in recycle programs that make it easy to recycle plastics, such as bottles and bags, and even earn a profit from it. Some places also deduct money off your bill for reusing bags.  FACT: Plastic can be reused to make clothing and even detergent bottles, and new plastic products produced from recycled materials uses 2/3 less energy than what’s required to make plastic products from raw materials (earth911.com)  

4. Got email? Opt for e-billing to reduce paper waste. This simple gesture could save the 1 million trees used each year for junk mail! 

5. Bike more. Drive less. Walking or biking is the best alternative to getting where you need to go, and it is great exercise. If you have to drive, drive smarter by carpooling and planning out your errands ahead of time. Ease up on that gas pedal! Driving slower may not save you time, but it does save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.  

6. Go meatless. According to the Environmental Working Group, if every American cut out meat and cheese for one day a week it would be the same as taking 7.6 million cars off the road. Eliminating these items from your diet helps the environment and is healthier for you. There are several tasty alternatives to meat, such as eggplant, mushrooms, and tofu. Give it a try! 

7. Use natural cleaners. Household items, such as vinegar, work just as well as cleaners that you buy at the grocery store, and they transmit fewer chemicals in the air. This makes them better for the health of your entire household. 

Just imagine the difference we could make by changing our small everyday habits! 

Although Earth Day is a once-a-year event, shouldn’t every day be like Earth Day? Looking at the bigger picture, contributing to the community should happen year round. Research organizations that are making positive strides, and get involved! Check out Liberty Tax’s Community Outreach page to see the great things we are doing!  

Time is winding down, and the April 15 deadline for getting in those returns is right around the corner. With all the confusion and delays this tax season, it may seem as though time has just crept up on you. Gathering your important papers and heading to your tax preparer early was just too much for you this year; waiting until the last minute was much easier.  

So…it looks as though you may need more time to file your taxes, and you may be wondering where to even begin. I’ve done a little bit of research for you, and it’s actually quite easy to get what’s called a “tax extension”. Let me explain how it works.   

Fill out Form 4868. This document basically tells the IRS that you want to file for an extension and the form can be submitted electronically or through the mail. You also have the option to pay part of your estimated income tax upfront. Once approved, you are given an automatic six months to file your taxes.   

My suggestion? Go to your nearest Liberty Tax and file before April 15 even if you can’t pay all of the taxes that you may owe. You don’t need an extension in this case! You simply pay what you can and the IRS will bill you for the rest. Keep in mind that an extension gives you more time to get your paperwork to the IRS, not to pay what you owe. Your balance is subject to interest and penalties. All the interesting details can be found on the IRS’s website. 

To avoid the stress and pressure of next year’s tax deadline, call Liberty Tax Service first. 

But what about paying off debt, purchasing a gym membership, or affording a family weekend in Florida?   

Doesn’t that sound great?   

Don’t live in fear of Uncle Sam. Avoid unexpected surprises this tax season by using Liberty Tax’s withholding calculator. 

What I love about this tool is that it allows you to plan ahead and anyone can use it. All you need is your most recent pay stub and income tax return (the rest of the numbers you can estimate) to find out what you will owe or get back in taxes. It’s super easy and simple! 

Imagine having more money in each paycheck instead of waiting for tax season to come around for your refund.  Or…take the IRS’s hand out of your pocket and adjust your withholdings so that you owe even less than last year. 

Don’t lose sleep over the uncertainty surrounding your taxes. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you don’t owe at all!  

 Try the calculator for yourself or visit a Liberty Tax near you! 

Tax season can bring on many emotions, but don’t be defeated. Dust off those old shoeboxes in your closet or go into that top drawer that you only touch once a year and find all of your receipts, charitable donations, and other important paperwork.  

Preparing ahead of time will help you avoid mistakes and delays in receiving your refund. Confused about what papers to take to your local tax preparer? I’m going to provide you with a checklist of documentation to bring along to make for an error free filing process and possibly an even bigger refund. Everyone could use a little extra money, right?   

Simply put, here’s what you will need:  

•  your driver’s license (and Power of Attorney if filing on behalf of a service member); 
•  name, birthdate, and Social Security Card of each person in your household; 
•  your child care provider’s Tax ID number; 
•  receipts of charitable donations and any taxes that were paid during the year; 
•  your W-2; 
•  any paper that contains Form 1098 or 1099 in its title…they are all equally important; 
•  all of your old tax returns since your tax preparer may want to check them for accuracy; 
•  and, a copy of all business related expenses and vehicle mileage accumulated during work hours (this mileage includes travel for volunteer work!).   

If you are uncertain as to whether you should bring a particular document, just bring it anyway. A more detailed list of paperwork can be found at www.libertytax.com/tax-interview.html.   

It’s only natural to have questions, but that’s why your tax preparer is there. They are trained for this kind of stuff! I recommend asking about the preparation fees upfront. There could be referral programs or discounts that you may not even know about. Also, ask about when you could expect to receive your refund and if you can opt for direct deposit to receive it quicker.  

Confused about what tax credits may apply to you? Write them down and ask your tax preparer if you qualify for them. Having children or being a full-time student could actually pay off for you.   

So throw the stress, confusion, and worries out of the window. Prepare early in order to file smart. For a complete list of Liberty Tax locations, visit www.libertytax.com. 

We believe it is imperative that ALL members of our nationwide team build up a rapport with each client and take the time to get to know them. We hear everything from heart-breaking stories to inspiring tales of success and strength, and we love documenting them for 'My Refund Story.' 

Liberty Tax will once again be hitting the road to capture all your stories, and we'd love to know how our clients are using their refunds. Are they putting down payments on that house they've always wanted? Getting their children new uniforms for school? Paying off student loans? Or, better still, using it to have some fun for a family trip to Disneyland?!  

It doesn't matter what the story is, we want you to send us your story, which can be done in written form with pictures, or if you prefer a video diary.

We will choose six lucky winners and surprise them with a HUGE check when they least expect it. And what could be better than me showing up at your door offering you money when you least expect it?!

Please don't miss out on the chance to spread the word or you can enter yourself at Myrefundstory.com 

Contest runs through to April 16 2012.

Well, not only is travel to and from the doctor's medical office deductible, but a visit to the dentist also qualifies too! And you can even deduct tolls and parking!

Forget about self-diagnosing at home with WebMD - and make the trip to the doc's office. After all, you won't have to pay a dollar except for a medical bill!

Check out our Tax Tip video to see what you may qualify for!!

If, like me, you have had to move across the country, or have had to up sticks a measley  50 miles you may be able to have your moving expenses deducted.  The cost of moving clothes or household items, use of a storage facility, and even the cost of staying in hotels while en route to your new location can all be qualifying deductions!  Moving mileage is deductible at 16.5 cents per mile!

This might seem like it's complicated and too much to remember, especially when you're in the midst of trying to get it all together but don’t worry. As always, all you need is to keep receipts and logs for everything and your Liberty Tax preparer will take care of the rest!

For more information watch my Moving Credit Tax Tip Video!

Your mileage may be deductible for business trips, visits to the doctor, pharmacy, and moving if you can itemize your deductions.  You can’t deduct commuting mileage but just remember to write everything down!  Worst case scenario your friends make make fun of you for keeping a 'dorkie' mileage log book - but you'll be having the last laugh.

For 2010 and 2011 the mileage rates that are in effect are as follows:

·         Charity                                 14 cents per mile
·         Moving                                 19 cents per mile
·         Medical                                19 cents per mile
·         Business Mileage:             51 cents per mile

For more information on how Mileage Credits work watch my Mileage Credit Tax Tip Video!

The IRS has extended the home improvement credits from 2010 into the new 2011 tax year.  This means ladies that if you made your other half struggle with some undesirable honey-do lists, which included replacing windows or doors, let them know that their hard work was well worth it!  

The residential energy credit may offer a tax break of up to $1500.00, but remember all work must be paid for and completed in 2010. 

So if you don’t own a traditional “house”…don’t fret! The residential energy credit applies to homes, houseboats, mobile homes, condominiums and qualifying manufactured homes. 

Don’t let another day go by without going into your local Liberty Tax office to see if you qualify for this or many other credits available!

For more information on the Residential Energy Credit watch my tax tip video.  Click here to watch my series on Tax Tips!

For more information watch my video on Charitable Donations.  You can also view other tax tip videos at www.libertytax.com.

But things have changed for students that are currently enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate school.

The American Opportunity Credit is available again until 2012 and will allow taxpayers to deduct qualified education expenses up to $2,500.

And just because you’re not a traditional student it doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit as well. The lifetime learning credit benefits graduate students or those returning to school.

For more information on these Education Credits go to Libertytax.com and watch my Education Credits Tax Tip Video on this and many more!

To be exact the increase you were getting each month was 6.2%...but as all dealings with the IRS there’s a catch and this time I hate to be the bearer of bad news…

If you didn’t properly adjust your withholdings you may actually owe at tax time.  I know this isn’t what you’d like to hear, and trust me it’s the last thing I want to be sharing with you, but there are ways to make sure that you get all your deductions corrected and get the most out of your refund.

How you ask? Go see one of our expert tax preparers at a local office.  The tax preparers can not only help you get the most money back possible but they will also explain all of the details as to why and how this credit and others like it work in your favor.

Don’t be discouraged or upset by this because all it means is that you’ve been getting the money back all year long and didn’t even know it!

For more information on the making work pay credit and others go to Libertytax.com and view my Series on Tax Tips

Well, if you're lucky enough to work at home that is your daily routine! And would you believe on top of all these added perks people who work from home can get a significant tax break if they meet certain requirements?!

If your work day starts the moment the coffee maker beeps and you start up your computer then you may qualify. But keep in mind there are strict guidelines that must be followed, so remember it can't be a guest room or where your kids go to play after school.

For more information on what the requirements are to qualify for this credit go to www.libertytax.com or view my Home Office Tax Tip Video Video.

Quick question. Who likes to wash clothes? Not me!

And who here earns enough to get their work clothes regularly dry-cleaned? I may be Miss Liberty Tax but I’m not made of money!

Being Miss Liberty Tax 2011 affords me many perks; an occasional free upgrade to first class, custom-made dresses, getting to see the country, my make-up done by experts and now – my washing done for less!

How you ask? Well, through learning about tax ‘loop holes’ in my role I now find myself paying attention to the finer details. Let me share with you all some insider tricks of the trade. If this doesn’t save you money on fabric softener I’ll eat my crown!

If your employer requires you to wear work clothes or uniforms that are not suitable for everyday wear you may deduct the cost and upkeep.

You can also deduct other work-related expenses, like the amount you spent on tools used in your work or union dues, job-related magazines and books. If you are taking classes related to your current job to improve your performance, these educational expenses may be deductible too.

Let us at Liberty Tax help you save money on your taxes this year.

View our Job Expense Tax Tip Video to learn more about job related tax deductions!