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Sometimes the tax-man giveth: Schedule M

We have a good relationship with the IRS. We overpay them over the year and they give back the interest free loan to us in May (calling it a 'refund'). Usually there is no correspondence, especially since the electronic stuff. The last time I got a letter from the IRS it was to tell me I had screwed up and we were owed a smaller refund. So, natch, when I saw this next letter from the IRS I started to grumble about socialism and how all this medical reform was going to reform our bank accounts, and why should we pay those fat cats in Washington. I opened it up and - they want to give us MORE money. Apparently we are eligible for a 'making work pay' credit that I missed! It almost quadrupled our refund! So folks, for all those skin-flints like me who do their own taxes, don't forget schedule M - if you earn less than $150000 (jointly) - which means most of us dorky lower middle class postdocs - you could get $800 back!
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