Interest in how to close the tax gap -- the amount of money the IRS says it is owed but has not been able to collect -- has been rekindled by release of a new Government Accountability Office report. Previous studies have indicated the tax gap for 2001, the most recent year for which data are available, stood at $345 billion in uncollected taxes. The net tax gap, i.e., the amount after late payment...

The price of nicotine addition just got more expensive in Vermont. Starting today, the Green Mountain State's tax collector will pocket $1.99 on each pack of cigarettes sold within state borders. That's a hike of 20 cents; the state last bumped up cigarette taxes by 60 cents per pack back in 2006. The added revenue will go to pay for Catamount Health, Vermont's health insurance plan for its uninsur...

The summer vacation driving season is here. Do you know what your state's fuel tax rate is? The American Petroleum Institute (API) does. The national trade association for the U.S. oil and natural gas industry regularly tracks gasoline and diesel fuel tax rates. Today it released its latest data compilation, which reflects changes that take effect tomorrow, July 1. States with fuel tax changes sinc...

It seems a like a lot of people have been tethered to their financial advisers and stock brokers as the market has slipped into negative territory. With oil prices still climbing, the market's bearishness, and the willingness of investors to make reactionary moves, is likely to continue today,  I keep a spreadsheet of our holdings and usually enter the end-of-month values for our investments....

Remember when Cindy McCain, wife of presumptive GOP presidential candidate John McCain, took a hard line about not disclosing her tax filings? Of course, that was specifically about revealing her federal tax returns. And, of course, political pressure prevailed and she released a little bit of information. It now appears that Mrs. McCain had good reason to be leery of opening up her tax life. Newsw...