tax refund

A look at steps you can take between now and the end of the year to reduce your 2011 taxes.

The best options include paying down credit card debt, starting an emergency fund and buying energy-efficient appliances.

At a time when many people need their refunds to pay the bills, some taxpayers' federal tax refunds have been delayed.

Here are some reasons.

No question, resolutions are hard to keep. But if you're serious about saving money, consider starting with your tax refund.

This year, you'll have a new option that could eliminate the temptation to spend your refund check. When you file your 2009 tax return, you can arrange to use all or a portion of your refund to buy inflation-adjusted Savings Bonds, or I Bonds.

Taxpayers who file returns early are usually motivated by a desire to get refunds as quickly as possible, and that desire will be particularly strong this year.

In more prosperous times, a big tax refund meant a trip to Disney World; these days, it's a mortgage payment.

The sooner you get your money back from the IRS, the better, so start now. Get your taxes done faster and more accurately with these steps.

It sounds so easy: Just tell the IRS to send your tax refund to the company where you've opened your IRA. But if you're not careful, it can cause all sorts of tax problems.

If receiving a tax refund from the IRS normally puts a spring in your step, you'll get an extra bounce this year.

If receiving a tax refund from the IRS normally puts a spring in your step, you'll get an extra bounce this year.