It's very simple, said the IRS: Policyholders buy into mutual life insurance companies. Insurers go public and distribute shares to policyholders, who become shareholders. The shares appreciate, the shareholders sell, and shareholders are taxed not just on the appreciation, but for the shares' full value. Not fair, said Charles Ulrich.

An IRS employee who illegally snooped through the tax records of celebrities like Chevy Chase, Sally Field, Alec Baldwin and Vanna White, is sentenced to 60 hours of community service and must pay a fine of $1,000. While IRS workers are allowed to access the agency's database for work purposes, John Snyder dealt mainly with business accounts rather than individual taxpayers.

The housing rescue credit was trumpeted as a solution to the country's housing crisis, but many say it's simply a band-aid. And guess what? It's not free money after all. Find out what it is, how it works and if you qualify.

Every Friday, Ken and Daria Dolan answer questions from Walletpop readers on financial matters. This week: Can a working spouse and a non-working spouse make IRA contributions? Their video answer may make you change your plans for the year.

The shaky economy may have you a little nervous if you're supposed to be retiring soon, but don't fret -- we've got tips that will help you retire in style no matter what's going on with the markets. Here are five last-minute steps pre-retirees should take before collecting their gold watches and hitting the golf course.

If you're trying to figure out where to live when you retire, don't forget to calculate in your tax burden. Our handy list of the best and worst places for tax savings will help you make your a plan that will make the most of your retirement savings.

Where does your state rate? If you live in New York or New Jersey, you're at the top of the list from the Tax Foundation, which lists the top states and the best "bargain" states.