You don't have a filing requirement because you don't have a tax due. But if you had withholding, you've paid tax. It's worth your while to file a return to get your money back.

In general, preparing a return as a married couple filing jointly may give you the lowest tax liability and the highest standard deduction, but to find the best scenario, it's wise to calculate your return both ways and see which is the most advantageous for you. For example, if both of your incomes are about the same, you may pay less in taxes by filing jointly, depending on the rest of your return.

I can't tell you why there hasn't been a hue and cry about this. Maybe it's just because the baby boomers aren't quite old enough to be affected by it yet.

Increasing the length of the automatic extension will save taxpayers some time and trouble, but it's still smart to file as soon as you can.

The one thing that can make a bad situation worse is not filing your return or requesting an extension. That brings on a failure-to-file penalty, in addition to possible penalties and interest for failure to pay. It's smart to file even if you can't pay, and pay even if you get an extension to file.

Individuals who put up a displaced person at their residence for at least 60 consecutive days can get an added exemption of $500 per person.