Ahead of Memorial Day, the official kick-off to the summer season, we are proud to present this guide to summer road safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the summer holidays are the most dangerous days to drive. July Fourth, Labor Day and Memorial Day each surpass New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving as the holidays with the most fatalities.

There are many factors that lead to the dangers, including drunk driving and the increase in traffic volume; however one factor that many drivers may not consider is that weather conditions can create road hazards as the temperature heats up.  Here is the comprehensive list of hazards and solutions to keep drivers safe this summer:

Safe Summer Driving Manual

With Memorial Day just a memory, summer vacation beckons in the near distance. We can practically smell the heat, the saltiness of the ocean, and good times. You’ve worked hard all year and you’re itching for time off.  In the haste to get away, however, it’s important not to overlook the hazards that come with summer driving. Take some time to read through these tips—they may just save your summer—and your life.

Summer driving means high temperatures, wall-to-wall traffic, and heavily traveled roads. Such conditions not only stress your car, but can stress the driver, too. With some advance preparation, you can minimize the chances for a breakdown. Having planned and prepped for all eventualities (well, most of them) you’ll feel calm and ready to cope, no matter what.

Keys

Do you know where your keys are? It can be hard to keep track of your keys and keep them dry while at the beach. During the year, we have pockets. Not so when you’re in a swimsuit or trunks. Keys can be swallowed by sand and salt water can damage the circuits so that a transponder key becomes a worthless piece of metal and plastic. Think about a safe, dry place where you can keep your keys safe during a jaunt on the beach and this is important: remember where that is. It’s also worth your while to read the manual that comes with your car detailing alternate methods of unlocking your car door in case of remote key failure. There’s almost always another way and trust us, you’ll want to know about it if you ever experience a key fail.

Tires

Check your tires because stuff happens. Hot temperatures tend to aggravate minor damage to rubber tires. If your tires are low on air, there will be added friction and heat as you drive, stressing the rubber even further. Weak spots on your tires may be overcome leading to punctures and blow-outs. To prevent such an occurrence, give your tires a thorough going over before your road trip. Look for cracks and check for sufficient air inflation. You may want to increase the air pressure to compensate for any extra weight you may be carrying on your road trip. If your tires seem iffy, replace them. And make sure you have a spare!

Cooling System

Keep your cool. Summer is a cooling system nightmare. High temperatures tend to aggravate any minor cooling system issues which can lead to overheating and expensive repairs. Check the level of coolant in your car on a regular basis. Watch for wet or white stains on coolant hoses which can indicate a leak. Last but not least, check to make sure your car fan is in good working order. To do this, run your car for a bit to warm it up and then leave your engine idle for around 10 minutes. You should be able to hear your fan kick in. The fan cools your engine when you’re crawling at a snail’s pace or stuck in holiday traffic.

Reduce Drag to Conserve Fuel

Wasting fuel is a drag. Carrying luggage on your roof can cause drag (resistance) and burn up fuel. You can reduce this effect by using a roof box or by tying things down on a roof rack and wrapping them tightly in plastic sheeting. Keep the load as low as possible. When you get where you’re going, remove your roof rack or box to cut back on drag during day trips. Open windows can also cause drag when you’re traveling the highways, not so much while driving in town. When you’re out on the road, air conditioning is a better bet. But if you’re just running errands in town, open windows are fine.

Driving Fatigue

Road weary. You’d think that just sitting and turning a steering wheel wouldn’t be so tiring, but we all know that driving is a tiring enterprise. It may be about the hypnotic quality of the scenery whooshing by, the feeling of the motor, or the need to be constantly focused, but whatever causes it, road fatigue is a real phenomenon. Combat the fatigue by taking a 20-minute break for journeys lasting 3 hours or more, or for longer trips, take a break every couple of hours. It’s better to take several 20-minute breaks than one long stop. Don’t eat heavy meals or drink alcohol before a road trip. If all else fails, gulp down a couple of cups of good strong coffee. The caffeine should get you through.

Hay Fever

Nothing to sneeze at. Summer allergies, for instance hay fever, can create hazardous driving conditions. For one thing, a sneeze of 70 mph can cause you to lose your vision for up to 110 yards. For another thing, allergy medications can cause drowsiness and put you at risk for poor driving judgment or worse—falling asleep on the road.

If you have severe allergies, it’s best to get someone else to drive. But if that’s not possible, take some precautions. Have your doctor try you out on different allergy medications until you find one that doesn’t make you drowsy.  Use the air conditioner in your car rather than open windows or use the air vents. The idea is to lessen your exposure to pollen. Regularly vacuum your car and wash car mats to remove dust and pollen. Wear sunglasses to reduce the effect of glare on already bleary eyes. Keep tissues at the ready. Feel a sneeze coming on? Slow down and allow your car to drop back in traffic a bit.

Glare

In broad daylight. Anything that impairs vision poses a driving hazard and that includes bright sunlight that shines directly into the driver’s eyes. The dangers of glare are especially keen in the late afternoon and very early morning and have caused many a car accident. Keep a pair of sunglasses at the ready making sure the lenses are clean and contain no scratches. Ensure your windshield is spotless, since smears on the glass, whether inside or outside your car, can catch and amplify sunlight.

Alcohol

Don’t drink and drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), close to 11,000 drivers and passengers die in alcohol-related crashes each year. That comes to one death every 50 minutes. It’s fine to toss down a few drinks at a party, but not if you’re planning to drive home. Make sure you have a designated driver to get you home safely. This is the person who agrees to avoid drinking alcohol for the evening so the rest of you can get smashed and then arrive home unscathed. Let your designated driver do the driving. No volunteers for the job? Call a cab.

Navigating Storms

Stormy weather. If you must drive when a storm is expected, stay tuned to your car radio to keep apprised of the storm’s development. In rainy weather, use your low beams and drive slower than usual. Brake earlier to leave more distance between your car and the car ahead. If the rain becomes very heavy, pull over onto the shoulder of the road, making sure to choose a section of the road with no trees that could become uprooted and fall onto your car. Use your emergency flashing lights. In case of lightning, avoid touching conducting (metal) surfaces both in and outside of your car.

Cyclists And Pedestrians

Keep your distance. It may not be so important when you’re out on the highway, but when driving in town, keep your eyes peeled for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The NHTSA says that a pedestrian is injured in a car accident every 8 minutes and killed in a car crash every 113 minutes. The most danger-laden period is in the days surrounding Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, when traffic increases. Keep everyone safe by pulling slowly out of side streets, while verifying that the area is clear of all foot and cyclist traffic. Also, leave lots of space between you and cyclists or pedestrians when yielding. Last but not least, take care when opening car doors. Slow and careful equals safety for all.

Loose Objects

Batten down the hatches. It’s valid to need camping or scuba diving gear and there’s always one more thing you need to bring on a road trip. But loose objects pose a driving hazard. Any sudden jolt can send bottles, sippy cups, and CD’s flying. A single half-pound object, moving at 60 mph can hit with the impact of a 30-pound object. It’s best to keep things tightly contained, including you and your passengers. Buckle up those seat belts!

Tailgating

Keep your distance. Not sure you’re leaving enough space between you and the car ahead? Apply the two-second rule. Choose a marker up ahead, such as a billboard or a rest stop sign and watch the car in front of you pass it by. Count, “One thousand and one, one thousand and two,” and see if you pass the marker before you say, “two.” If so, you’re not leaving sufficient distance between your car and others on the road.

Large Vehicles

Size counts. Trucks and tractor trailers should be responded to with caution (same goes for cars with boats hitched to them by trailers and RV’s). Their size impedes their response time. They are not only slower but have wider blind spots. They may not see you coming from behind. Caution is the rule.

Distractions

Tune ‘em out. Distracted driving is poor driving and can result in car crashes and loss of life. The main source of driving distraction is your mobile phone. Taking or making calls (even by Bluetooth) and worse yet, texting while driving, are proven dangers. In 2011, 23% of auto collisions (1.3 million car crashes) involved cell phone use.

Road Rage

It’s a two-way street. Sometimes it’s you getting angry in response to other drivers and sometimes you’re merely the focus of another driver’s rage. Then again, if another driver is blowing off steam and you’re the focus, you may find yourself getting angry, too. The main thing to remember is that road rage is a form of distracted driving, much like driving while drinking coffee, switching radio stations, or texting. Drive when you’re calm. If you’ve just had an argument, wait a few minutes and cool down before you drive, even if it means walking around the block a few times.

If another driver curses you out or acts inappropriately, don’t react. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Take deep breaths.  Always drive responsibly so as not to anger other drivers. Don’t cut in front of other cars or honk inappropriately. Remember to always leave that two-second gap between your car and the car in front of you to avoid tailgating. Don’t toss things out the window, for instance, cigarette butts or candy wrappers. If someone is trying to cut in front of you, just let them. Slow down and wait for them to pull ahead if they’ve already inched into your lane. Avoid eye contact with angry drivers and don’t even think of making a rude gesture. You be the mature one that defuses the situation and keeps everyone safe and alive.

If forced to stop, stay inside your car and keep your motor running so you can take off when you have the chance. Call the cops from your mobile phone. Use your car horn if necessary. Turn on your hazard lights. Do you feel as though you’re being followed? Are you worried for your safety? Drive on within the speed limit to the closest police station or at least, pull into a busy mall parking lot—there’s safety in numbers.  Memorize the license plate of the angry driver’s car and take note of the car’s make and color. Remember as much as you can about the driver. If you see someone else being victimized by a driver in a rage, don’t stop and try to help, it will just make the driver angrier. Instead, get to a safe place where you can stop and phone the police.

For more tips follow Kars4Kids on Facebook, Twitter, or on our other blog.

NATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION/TOM MYERS

The imminent arrival of a cicada swarmaggedon along the East Coast has folks shivering in their boots- some with fear and others with excitement. But whether you love ‘em, hate ‘em or just want to eat ‘em, you’d better be prepared for them.

Every 17 years billions of Cicadas emerge along the East Coast to molt and complete their transformation into a fully grown adult. The first 17 years of their life is lived under the ground as it undergoes many stages of change in its development.

 When the temperature under the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit the Cicadas will emerge in the billions. And while they are relatively harmless, they can do serious damage to your car if you are not ready for them.

We’ve tried to help you out a bit here with some handy tips on how to prevent cicada damage to your car, from paint corrosion to clogged radiator grills.

Protect Your Paint

These highly-acidic bugs are bad news for your paint job. Bug remains sitting on your car for too long will eat away at your car’s exterior. Protect your car with temporary paint protector, like EZ Shield, or a bug blocker like this one from Pitstop International.

Keep It Clean

If the cicadas get to your car before you do, be vigilant and get it cleaned quickly,                  even before the bug residue dries if you can. Make cleaning your car a daily chore while the invasion lasts. You can do it yourself with car wash solution or bug and tar remover.

Wash That Windshield

These big flying bugs can easily get splattered all over your windshield, making it unsafe to drive. Keep on refilling that windshield washer fluid tank and use often. Reader’s Digest has some cool tricks for keeping your windshield sparkling clean.

Clear The Grill

Cicadas can do real damage to your car by clogging your radiator grills, causing the engine to overheat. Get a grille cover or bugscreen or just stretch some netting over the front of your car.

Slow Down!

Lastly, drive a little slower than usual and fewer cicadas will smear your car’s finish.

Know of any other cicada damage control tips? Leave them in the comments below!

May 7th, this Tuesday, is National Teacher Day. A day to honor teachers and educators, and to salute the crucial role teachers play in our children’s futures.

At Kars4Kids, education is our mission, it is the very air we breathe. Our after school mentoring programs, as well as summer camp and tuition assistance, are all geared towards aiding children’s education in every way possible.

We were curious about how many people feel like a teacher changed their life, how they changed their life, and if those people have ever thanked those teachers, so we ran a survey asking all of those questions and more.

Here are the fascinating results of that survey.

Satisfied Students

Americans are clearly happy with the level of education they’ve received. A stunning 70.7% say that they would want their children to have the same teachers they had.

Most parents would want their children to have the same teachers they had.

Americans also feel that their teachers have inspired them. 75.7% of respondents say that a teacher has inspired them in their career or education choices.

Which Teachers

In the same survey, an overwhelming 61.5% of respondents say that their high school teachers had more impact on them than their elementary or middle school teachers.

And while that may seem like the more obvious choice, more interesting is the finding that elementary school edged out middle school by about 5%, 21.8% to 16.7%.

Saying Thank You

The most surprising statistic that we got from this survey was when we asked if people have ever sent a gift or thank you card to a teacher.

Even though around 75% say that a past teacher had a direct impact on their future success, only 25% of respondents have ever sent a gift or thank you card to a teacher.

This low number is despite the fact that 58.9% said that teachers should receive bonus pay for performance based results or positive feedback from parents and students, clearly indicating that most feel that teachers deserve a big hearty thank you.

Today is the day that we should all be saying thank you, give a shout out to your teacher on Twitter for example.

Some ideas include:

“My teacher Mrs. Johnson changed my life in 3rd grade. Thank you!” Tweet This

“I would not be where I am today if not for my 10th grade teacher” Tweet This

“Shout out to all the amazing teachers out there shaping our future!” Tweet This

 More Good News

Another piece of encouraging news coming out of of this survey is the involvement of teachers in after school activities. In fact, 80% have had a teacher who participated in out of school activities.

It’s amazing to hear that our dedicated teachers are giving up their personal time to go above and beyond!

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted within the United States on behalf of Kars4Kids from May 1-2, 2013, among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older. This survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology and results, please contact 5W Public Relations. The press release about this survey can be read in full here.

Since taxes have existed, Americans have been trying to exempt themselves. Here are some interesting things that can be deducted, as well as some that can’t.

1. Whaling captains can claim up to 10,000 for ship repairs and equipment. However, you’d better be a Native American if you want to be a whaler in the USA. [1]

2. “Exceptional” Trees – If you have an araucaria heterophylla—commonly known as Norfolk Pine—in your backyard, you’re in luck. At least if your backyard is in Hawaii. The Norfolk Pine is considered an “exceptional tree” in the Aloha State, and you could get a $3,000 deduction to maintain the special species. [2]

3. Moving expenses – moving a pet. [1]

4. Restitution in a fraud case. An insurance company sued two doctors for insurance fraud. The doctors admitted liability and agreed to reimburse the insurer for the losses it sustained, and the insurance company agreed to release a claim for restitution in a pending criminal case. The IRS ruled that the repayments are deductible provided that the doctors originally included the money in their incomes in prior years. But to demonstrate that crime doesn’t fully pay, the IRS said the repaid funds are a miscellaneous itemized deduction that’s allowed only to the extent it exceeds 2% of the doctors’ adjusted gross incomes. [5]

5. Clarinet and music lessons as treatment for an overbite. [1]

6. Swimming pool if it’s necessary for medical purposes. [1]

7. Tax Breaks for Drug Dealers – If you make your money dealing illegal drugs, getting your taxes right might not be high on your list of priorities, but just because the money is made illegally, doesn’t mean the IRS won’t accept taxes on it. The Tax Court has clarified some potentially helpful details on the situation. (Remember, sometimes tax evasion is easier to prove than more insidious crimes. Think Al Capone.) Baggies and soil for marijuana plants are not deductible. Neither is the apartment you work from or the cost of your security team. However, you can deduct the cost of your product. [3]

8. Quitting smoking – Costs of programs or patches etc… [1]

9. Childcare costs while you volunteer at a non-profit. [1]

10. Defense costs for criminals. [1]

11. Losing weight on a doctor’s orders. [1]

12. Dog’s used to protect a business property may be deducted as a business expense. [1]

13. Business in Bermuda – If you happen to plan your company’s next conference in Bermuda (or Barbados, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, or Saint Lucia) you can write off the trip, even if there was no particular reason to do business there. (Wouldn’t be the weather or sandy beaches or anything, right?) [2]

14. Deer Meat – If you’re unfortunate enough to hit a deer in South Carolina (sorry, Bambi), there’s a silver lining: the state gives you a $50 tax credit for every butchered deer you donate to charity. [2]

15. Centenarian Deduction – Who says aging doesn’t come with any benefits? If you’re old, you’ve earned it, right? New Mexico would be inclined to agree. If you’re close to the century mark while living in the state, you earn exemption from income tax. [2]

16. Parents of kidnapped children can now claim them as dependents until they turn 18—previously it was only the year in which they were taken. [9]

17. African Safari – The IRS allows taxpayers to write off “ordinary and necessary” business trips. Somehow that allows dairy farmers to write-off trips to the African Savanna to learn about animals relevant to their business. [2]

18. Deadbeat Friends – That cash you lent your friend in a pinch? Even if they skip out on repaying you, all is not lost. You can write off the unpaid amount if there’s no hope to collect payment. [2]

19. Ostrich Depreciation – As their livestock ages, farmers can deduct the depreciated value from their taxable income if the animals are used for breeding. In the past, the IRS allowed a Louisiana ostrich farmer to depreciate the cost of his ostrich. [2]

20. The ‘Starving Artist’ Deduction Performing artists get a deduction for expenses they incur while employed under certain circumstances, which seem almost ridiculous in their specificity: They have to have at least two employers and receive at least $200 in income from each; job-related expenses are more than 10 percent of income from performing artist jobs; and their adjusted gross income cannot exceed $16,000. If they meet those requirements, they can deduct art-related expenses. Pointe shoes, guitar picks, and paint cans really add up. [3]

21. Straight as an Arrow? The government has long imposed an excise tax on arrows, with the money raised going to fund wildlife restoration. Now an excise tax of 46 cents, as of 2012, is imposed on arrows that are more than 18 inches and/or are suitable for a specific kind of bow with a specific amount of draw. Wooden arrows designed for use by children are exempt. Obviously. [3]

22. Rewards for Renting If you rent space for fewer than 15 days in one calendar year, all the related income is completely tax free. If you rent it out for more than 15 days, “your income is taxable as rental income and you could allocate certain expenses,” says H&R Block’s Gil Charney. So listen up, New Orleans and New Jersey taxpayers: Two weeks is the max for renting out your house for the Super Bowl. Hamptons homeowners likely already know the rule. [3]

23. Burning Down the House If you donate your house to the local fire department to burn down for practice, you can deduct the loss – as long as you donate your land too. There have been a number of cases related to this, says Charney. It’s best to tread lightly in this area and avoid “donating” your house for firemen to raze if it’s only to make room for a new one. That kind of generosity doesn’t count. [3]

24. Pregnancy Tests: This deduction is specifically listed in the tax code, but that doesn’t make it any less odd. So go ahead and stock up on those tests at the pharmacy, because there’s nothing in this deduction that requires the test be administered by a physician. [4]

25. Transportation to Donate an Organ: Organ donor can deduct not only any medical costs associated with the donation, but also costs of transportation. [4]

26. Making movies. A lawyer faced a challenge from IRS as she sought to deduct losses during the six years for she worked at making a documentary film, “Smile Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story.” IRS claimed the long series of annual losses indicated that her film making activities were a hobby, pointing out that since her husband once was a member of the musical group Up With People, the project was a sort of high-cost home movie. [5]

27. Fancy dresses… but only if they’re so tight you can’t sit in them. Celebrity Dinah Shore claimed some formal dresses on her tax return, and, as you might suspect, the IRS immediately cried foul. Dinah explained that the frocks were business expenses; she only wore them on her television show and couldn’t possibly wear them for personal reasons because they were so tight she couldn’t actually sit down in them. The last laugh was on Dinah, though – although the IRS agreed to let her deduct the dresses, legend has it they sent a representative to judge which dresses really were too tight to sit down in. [6]

28. Amish Buggy. Well, it wasn’t the buggy that was questionable – it was used for business and is a legitimate expense. It was the tricked-out accessories the young Amish man wanted to include on the write-off: dash lights, kick plates, tinted windshield, speedometer, hydraulic brakes and dimmer switches. [6]

29. Foreign nationals gambling legally in the US are exempt from the 30% withholding tax on their winnings that Americans must pay.Songwriters selling their catalog of songs can claim it as a capital asset, and pay the capital-gains tax rate—15% or less—rather than the income tax rate—which can go up to 35%. [9]

30. Sporting event tickets: The IRS will allow business owners to deduct sporting event tickets (customary costs) as long as all parties attending are related to the promotion of a business and business topics are discussed at the event.Sporting event tickets: The IRS will allow business owners to deduct sporting event tickets (customary costs) as long as all parties attending are related to the promotion of a business and business topics are discussed at the event. [7]

31. Deep sea fishing: Again, as long as business discussions are conducted and considered in the cost of doing business, it would be possible to deduct this type of expense. It is difficult to inspire investments and other funding if you are unable to impress clients to some degree. Understand just how much of these types of expenses can be deducted before filing your return. [7]

32. Bariatric Surgery Want to lose a couple of inches this year? In 2002, the IRS ruled that obesity is a medical disease, which means that specific treatments aimed at curbing obesity are allowable deductions, including bariatric surgery. As with all medical expenses, you can only deduct unreimbursed expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). [8]

33. Addiction Treatment Speaking of drinking, you probably know that too much is bad for your health. Drinking, smoking and drug abuse are serious medical hazards, so the IRS has ruled that you can write off expenses related to quitting. Eligible deductions can include the cost of any products or programs designed to help you quit, including nicotine patches or other aids. In-patient treatment at a drug or alcohol facility including meals, lodging and some transportation expenses can also be deducted as medical expenses. Additionally, transportation to and from meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, if attended based on doctor’s orders, can also be written off. [8]

34. Makers of fishing-tackle boxes no longer have to pay a 10% excise tax on each box—a provision inserted into the 2004 jobs creation bill lowered the rate to 3%. [9]

And a few attempts at tax deductions that were rejected by the IRS:

1. Carpet removal. An allergic taxpayer tried to deduct the removal of carpets as a medical expense. It was denied — as was the cost of installing hardwood floors in their place. [10]
   
2. Salad. The cost of lettuce & tomato was not allowed as a medical expense for a diabetic on a restricted diet. The same person also tried to deduct artificial sweeteners and reduced-salt foods. Nope! [10]
3.  Air-conditioned hotel room. A one-night stay in a hotel was not allowed as a medical expense for an asthmatic taxpayer with a broken air conditioner. [10]
4. Bath oil. A dry-skinned taxpayer tried to deduct the cost of bath oils as a medical expense. Not allowed. [10]
5. Dentures. Though a set of false teeth enabled an actor to enunciate without a hiss, they were not allowed as a business deduction. [10]
6. Mink coat. Not allowed as a business deduction for taxpayer’s wife to wear to business functions. [10]
7. Arson. A Pittsburgh, PA owner of a failing furniture store paid an arsonist to burn down his store. He reported the insurance as income, but deducted the $10,000 paid to the arsonist as a “consulting fee”—and admitted fact that to the IRS on audit. Yeah. [10]
8. Racehorse: Another business owner once purchased his own racehorse and tried to claim it as a business expense. His justification was that he brought his business clients to the horse races to be entertained by watching his horse race. [11]
9. A ballerina tried to deduct the cost of a tummy tuck. [12]
10. One woman tried to write off Botox expenses as an “image enhancement” expense. [12]
11. A pianist tried to claim manicures as a business expense. [12]
12. A farmer tried to claim food and veterinary expenses for his toy poodle as a farm-building “guard dog.” [12]
13. One woman tried to deduct her gambling losses as a charity donation. [12]
14. Many reasons for deducting the cost of a swimming pool were offered by various clients. (One filer failed to realize that he needed to actually have children and dependents in order to claim them.) [12]
15. One filer tried to deduct tanning-bed expenses.  [12]
16. One woman hoped to add a deduction by writing off the cost of Zumba exercise classes. [12]
17. Hair transplant: Most accountants are quick to notice when a client tries to shave a little off his or her tax bill. But Laura Cullen, a CPA in Fresno, Calif., admits even she did a double take when a new client tried to pull the hair over her eyes. “We had a client that had been transferred to the U.S. from another country. He was an educated, likable, sharp guy,” she recalls. “The first year I did his personal tax return, being aware that you could itemize your medical expenses, he asked me to expense his hair transplant. I had a heck of a time explaining why I couldn’t.” [13]
18. Spatulas: “My client is a painter, and he gave us his airfare to Brazil as a deduction,” she recalls. “When I questioned the airfare, he said he went to Brazil to get spatulas.” [13]

Sources:

[1] http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/10-Strange-But-Legitimate-Federal-Tax-Deductions/INF14190.html                                                              [2] http://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/10-bizarre-tax-deductions                        [3] http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2013/01/25/10-Wacky-Tax-Laws.aspx                                                                                                                                         [4] http://taxes.lovetoknow.com/tax-deductions-credits/weird-tax-deductions               [5] http://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T054-C000-S001-extraordinary-tax-deductions.html                                                                                                                               [6] http://mentalfloss.com/article/26974/quick-10-10-weird-tax-deductions-other-people-got-away-you-probably-wont                                                                                          [7] http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/tax-law-tax-deductions/15480365-1.html             [8] http://www.investinganswers.com/personal-finance/tax-center/8-unbelievably-strange-tax-deductions-4124                                                                                                       [9] http://www.newser.com/story/55682/six-weird-tax-deductions.html                      [10] http://blogs.hrblock.com/2012/04/16/weird-tax-deductions-top-strange-tax-deduction/                                                                                                                                          [11] http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2010/01/04/uncommon-silly-and-just-plain-weird-tax-deductions/                                                                                                                             [12] http://www.planadviser.com/Weird_Wonderful_and_Unsuccessful_Tax_Deductions.aspx                                                                                                                                                       [13] http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/02/29/were-from-the-irs-weird-tax-deductions-you-should-avoid-claiming/

April 15th. Tax day. A day we all dread. Filing your taxes can be complicated and intimidating, but here at the Kars4Kids car donation program taxes and tax deductions are things we think about all year round. That’s why we’ve compiled our and other’s top tax articles and tips into this one page. You’re very welcome.

1. The Benefits of a Tax Deduction: How much will my car donation actually deduct from my tax bill? How do charities try to maximize that deduction? This is where you’ll find answers
2. Filing Taxes – A How To: Tax filing can be confusing at best, intimidating and downright scary for some. No need to worry, we’ve got your tax filing fears covered. Let us hold your hand as we walk you through some frequently asked questions, common mistakes, and many other tips for filing vehicle donations and tax filing in general.
3. Why Pay More Taxes If You Can Pay Less? Few people like to pay taxes. Luckily, there are tons of deductions you could be claiming to save you a lot of money. Let’s walk through some of those deductions.
4. Ten Tax Mistakes You Simply Can’t Afford: The last thing you need is to pay extra because of a simple mistake. Or, even worse, to have penalties accrue because of errors made while filing. These are the top ten most common mistakes.
5. Tax Guide to Car Donation: Car donations can be extra confusing during filing season. We make it easy with our handy, easy to read guide. Download it, print it out, share it with your friends!
6. Kars for Kids featured on Fox4: Tax mistakes to avoid

Strange Tax Deductions You May Never Have Known You Were Eligible For

1. 10 Strange But Legitimate Federal Tax Deductions: Own a dog or just quit smoking? You may be eligible for a tax deduction. These and 8 other surprising deductions from TurboTax.
2. The Most Overlooked Tax Deductions: If you are eligible for a tax deduction the last thing you wan to do is miss out on those valuable savings!
3. 10 Creative But Legal Tax Deductions: Have a hobby? Commute to work? Another list of interesting but valuable deductions you may be eligible for.
4. 10 Things I wish I had Known Were Tax Deductible: 10 more…
5. 14 Funny Tax Deductions: Self explanatory title right there.
6. Crazy tax deductions allowed by the IRS

Recent Tweets about tax deductions

A new Kars4Kids survey revealed that despite high awareness and knowledge (88%) of tax credit eligibility for making non-cash charitable donations, most U.S. adults opt to sell their used cars instead of donate them. The survey also indicated that only 10.5 percent of U.S. adults have donated a car. The study was conducted in a March 2013 survey among 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

Additional findings show that 94 percent of U.S. adults donate goods to charity by de-cluttering their homes more than once per year. Of the 94 percent who donate to charity, 36 percent of those surveyed claimed the garage is the space at home most in need of de-cluttering.

More than a quarter of respondents indicated that de-cluttering is the topic argued about most in their household. Despite the convenient and cost effective process of donating a car, only 5.4 percent of adults reported donating their used cars when they purchased a new one. Additionally, 4.6 percent of adults will keep their old cars and not use it, contributing to the clutter.

The survey also revealed that 69.4 percent of adults are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. However, of that number, only 6.5 percent of respondents purchased a hybrid vehicle. Furthermore, nearly 63 percent of those surveyed are not participating in one of the most effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint: donating an old vehicle for potential recycling.

As the leader in national charity car donations, Kars for Kids offers unique incentives as well as tax credit eligibility for donating used cars and reminds drivers of donating as an alternative option to selling or junking a vehicle. “We were surprised to learn that a very low number of adults donate their car to charity despite the financial and environmental benefits,” said Avi Gordon , Chief Operating Officer of Kars4Kids. “Over 25 percent of vehicles on the road are used cars and they contribute to 75 percent of all harmful emissions.”

Kars 4 Kids is a non-profit organization that works to give back to the community through a variety of education, youth development, family outreach, and faith-based programs. They provide an array of services to Jewish children and families including educational programming, school placement, tuition assistance, the Kars for Kids camp, mentorship programs, cultural activities, religious instruction, recreation and guidance counseling.

For the latest information about this program and other car donation opportunities, please visit www.kars4kids.org or follow Kars4Kids on Twitter @Kars4Kids.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted within the United States on behalf of Kars4Kids from March 18-24, 2013 among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older. This survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology and results, please contact 5W Public Relations.

Today, we had an awesome conversation on Twitter with @accunningham96 and @jordenberendt.

You see, when our awesome Twitter account meets with awesome Twitter peeps, well, awesomeness is bound to ensue.