A recent Tax Court case is a good reminder that charitable deductions can be denied entirely because of poor documentation, even when the donations themselves were legitimate.

Dishonest tax preparers exist, and their misconduct can haunt clients for decades.

For decades, taxpayers trusted a simple rule: if you mailed a tax return or payment by the deadline, the IRS treated it as timely filed. Recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) practices have changed that reality and created a serious trap for anyone who relies on last-minute mailing.