Kay Bell

Former contributing tax editor

Kay Bell is an award-winning journalist, blogger and author who, after spending almost 20 years in Washington, D.C., working on both Capitol Hill and in Fortune 500 companies' government relations offices, decided to focus on taxes. Noted for her ability to translate tax talk into money-saving English, she helped Bankrate.com in 1999 launch its comprehensive and respected tax coverage. Bell's tax insight and expertise make her a regular contributor on behalf of Bankrate to television and radio programs, as well as a source for other media outlet. From her career start as a daily newspaper reporter and editor in her native West Texas, Bell has written personal finance pieces for magazines, provided copy for investment company newsletters, is the author of the Financial Times book 'The Truth About Paying Fewer Taxes' and successfully transitioned to new media, writing not only online articles but also two tax blogs, 'Bankrate Taxes Blog' and her own 'Don't Mess With Taxes.' Bell lives in Austin, Texas. A graduate of Texas Tech University (B.A., Journalism), she is a member of her alma mater's College of Media and Communication professional advisory board. She also served a term on the Internal Revenue Service's Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.

Kay's latest articles

Oops — mistake on your tax return? Form 1040X to the rescue

If you discovered that you shortchanged yourself or the IRS, you can make amends.

3 min read Apr 20, 2017
Tax lesson for teachers: Educator expenses can be written off

Teachers can deduct classroom supplies, professional development courses and more.

2 min read Mar 24, 2017
IRS rules for claiming a parent as a dependent: 5 factors to consider

Are you caring for an aging parent? If so, you may qualify for some tax relief.

5 min read Mar 01, 2017
What to do if you don’t get your W-2 from the boss and you want to file taxes early

If your employer is slacking or out of business, you have options. Here’s what to do.

3 min read Jan 31, 2017
10 key tax terms to help you cut through the jargon

Master these key tax terms to understand the basics of how the tax system works.

3 min read Jan 27, 2017
Which tax form should you use: 1040, 1040EZ or 1040A?

Picking the right 1040 form could make a difference in your tax bill, so choose wisely.

6 min read Jan 24, 2017
A rundown of tax documents you’ll need to file your tax return this season

Don’t miss these statements, which will start arriving via email or snail mail.

6 min read Jan 16, 2017
What to do if the IRS got your tax refund wrong

You got a check that’s less, or more, than you expected. Here’s how you deal with it.

6 min read Apr 27, 2016