Tax Time: Interesting Stories from CNN Money

IRS tax season: You can start filing January 19
And if you’re not an early bird, the due date for all federal tax returns — or requests for an extension — will be April 18.

Donald Trump’s big tax cuts come at a big cost
Elements of Donald Trump’s tax plan could be very positive economically, according to a new analysis. And everyone — especially the rich — would get big tax cut. But all those positives likely would be offset by the enormous revenue loss.

IRS customer service could soon get a lot worse
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson signals that the IRS’ future plans may include a big reduction in telephone and face-to-face service in favor of online taxpayer accounts.

How Hillary Clinton wants to make rich pay their ‘fair share’
The Democratic presidential candidate has laid out several proposals to ensure that the very highest-income households pay a bigger percentage of their income in federal taxes than the middle class.

How much do you pay in taxes?
Some presidential candidates claim the rich pay a lower rate than many middle-class workers or that the poor pay nothing. But on average neither is true, at least when measuring effective tax rates – the percent of one’s total income paid in federal taxes. Here are estimated average effective tax rates for 2015.

How taxes would be much higher under President Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders has pulled back the curtain on how he would pay for his $1.4 trillion a year Medicare for All proposal. In short: higher taxes.

IRS audits lowest in more than a decade
Read full story for latest details.

Is the ‘tampon tax’ unfair to women?
It’s become politically popular to say women are ‘taxed for getting their periods.’ But the arguments ignore the fact that state sales tax laws typically tax people for most goods, and exemptions are very inconsistent.

Bernie Sanders’ plan to pay for health care falls short by trillions, says one analysis
A new analysis from a fiscal watchdog group estimates that the tax hikes Bernie Sanders has proposed to pay for his health plan would only cover three-quarters of the cost, leaving a shortfall of at least $3 trillion.