See Where Your Tax Dollars Are Being Spent

The "Your Federal Taxpayer Reciept" widget, attached here, tells literally how much of your tax dollar went where.

Tax day came and went nearly two weeks ago, but aside from receiving extra cash in a return, most residents don't know where their money goes in the federal government.  A new initiative from the White House is changing that. By entering information in the above form, taxpayers can see exactly what departments used their money This year marks the 100th anniversary of the modern income tax, instituted through the 16th Amendment in 1913. In 1913, instructions for the 1040 form were just one page. Today, instructions are 189 pages, along with dozens of additional schedules and forms. Click HERE for an interactive taxpayer receipt that shows how much of your tax dollars went to pay different aspects of the federal budget last year.

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'Violence Tax' Goes into Effect in Cook County

A lawsuit supported in part by Chuck’s Gun Shop in south suburban Riverdale is not enough to get in the way of President Preckwinkle’s new $25 firearm sales tax.

A $25 tax is being added to the purchase of all firearms sold in Cook County. The news comes in spite of a lawsuit filed by several Chicago-area gun dealers, including Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale. The new tax, launched April 1, is part of a policy instated by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle to help fund the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. At their flagship, Stroger Hospital, more than 30 percent of the trauma center patients are gunshot victims, each costing roughly $50,000 to treat, according to Preckinkle. The $600,000 expected annual revenue from the tax will ideally help offset those costs, reports Sun-Times Media. "This new policy will help us provide more resources to our vital public health system, which on a daily…

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Where to File Your 2012 Taxes in La Grange

Beyond TurboTax: Here's who can help you file your taxes before the April 15 deadline.

What are the IRA Contribution Limits?

Still working on your taxes? Confused about IRA contribution limits? Use this "cheat sheet."

With Tax Day right around the corner, here's a handy "cheat sheet" for IRA contribution limits  Stratford Wealth Management and Green IRA.

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Where to File Your 2012 Taxes in La Grange, LGP

Beyond TurboTax: Here's who can help you file your taxes before the April 15 deadline.

If you're not comfortable using TurboTax and TaxAct.com to file your taxes online, here are some local tax professionals who can help you out. But call soon for an appointment because the deadline is approaching fast. Are we missing any? Add them to the comments and we'll update this article.  Corrigan Financial Service 913 W Hillgrove Ave, La Grange, 708-482-3800 Lincolnway Accounting Service 1030 Kemman Ave, La Grange Park, 708-579-1330 Macaluso & Associates 1018 E 31st St, La Grange Park, 708-352-7400 Horizon Wealth Management  22 W Calendar Ave, La Grange, 708-352-4300 Systems Accounting Service 635 S La Grange Rd, La Grange, 708-588-1160 Winkler and Assocs, LTD 529 N Waiola Ave, La Grange Park, 708-352-2667 Xponent Group 521 S La …

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Popular on Patch: When Can I File My 2012 Tax Return?

The IRS has announced a delayed start to the 2012 tax filing season. Here's the date of when you can file, plus some locations in La Grange, Western Springs and La Grange Park to get help on your taxes.

When Can I File My 2012 Tax Return?

The IRS has announced a delayed start to the 2012 tax filing season. Here's the date of when you can file, plus some locations in La Grange, Western Springs and La Grange Park to get help on your taxes.

You'll have to wait if you are used to filing your annual tax return at the earliest possible date. The Internal Revenue Service has revised its opening date for tax season — pushing it back eight days to January 30, 2013. The tax filing deadline is Monday, April 15, 2013. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on Jan. 30, 2013. Most taxpayers should be able to file on that date,  though some revised forms may not be immediately available. You can blame the delay on the federal "fiscal cliff" crisis and the new tax bill Congress passed just after Dec. 31. You can find more information in this Forbes article. Electronic filing season was originally set to start on Jan. 22 this year. As a result of the delay, nobody will get a refund in …

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Tax Talk with La Grange Trustees; Consensus Against Amusement Tax on Theatre

Trustees held a development workshop on revenues at Monday night’s Board meeting, mostly rejecting an amusement tax or sales-tax increase.

La Grange trustees largely shelved the proposed ideas of an amusement tax on the La Grange Theatre or a non-home rule sales tax hike at Monday night’s Board meeting, while mostly accepting the need for the maximum-allowed property-tax increase to continue. Trustees were holding a workshop to identify for Village staff the attitudes towards potential sources of revenue increases. The 2012-2013 Village budget dipped into deficit spending after the Board shot down a 1 percent utility tax increase in April. The idea behind an amusement or sales tax was to ease taxes specifically on residents and shift the burden somewhat onto visitors to the Village. Theatergoers and shoppers currently pay only a 0.25% non-home rule sales tax to La Grange, but…

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Board Split, but 15 Percent Water Rate Hike Likely to Pass

The board was split on how to pay for new water meters and pumping station repairs, but signaled they were likely to approve the increase at April 23 meeting.

Trustees in La Grange were split 3-3 over whether to approve a 15 percent increase in the village's water rate to residents beginning May 1 at a board meeting on Monday night. The rate increase would pay for new, more accurate water meters and repairs to the Village's East Avenue pumping station. Ultimately, Village President Liz Asperger sided with trustees Bill Holder, Mark Langan and Jeff Nowak that the rate should be approved and made the vote likely to pass at an April 23 board meeting when the 2012-2013 budget will be approved. In closing remarks, Asperger said her vote to approve was that the majority of the rate increase was from the city of Chicago raising its rates to the village. In addition to a $65 increase from Chicago on the…

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Readers' Choice: Best Place for Last-Minute Taxes

When the deadline is bearing down on you (as it may be right now,) who do you trust managing your money filings for Uncle Sam?

Welcome to Patch's "Readers Choice" series! Vote in the poll below and then tell us your choice (or who we might have missed) in the comment section. The "Last-Minute Taxes" poll will close at 9 a.m. Friday, Apr. 6, when a winning business will be announced! April is here, and that means April 17 is coming... and that means that, yes, your taxes are due. It's not exactly everyone's favorite time of the year, but it can certainly be made a lot easier by getting an expert on your side... and as luck has it, the Lyons Township area is a wealth of CPAs and others prepped and ready to help you navigate the tax waters. Help out your neighbors and your favorite accountant: of the following local money experts, who do you trust with your taxes? …

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