Questions And Answers

Members of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants are answering readers' tax questions through April 15.Q. I have direct deposit on some stock dividends. Will the company still send me a Form 1099? Will the interest on the account be reported separately?A. The direct deposit of a dividend to your checking or savings account does not relieve the corporation paying the dividend of the requirement to issue a Form 1099. Accordingly, the corporation will issue you a Form 1099 for all dividends it deposited during the calendar year.

Members of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants are answering readers' tax questions through April 15.Q. I have heard that in Maryland, hours spent in volunteer work may be tax deductible. Is this true?A. No. Labor is generally not deductible; however, money, property and unreimbursed expenses directly related to the volunteer work performed generally are deductible. You are permitted an automobile allowance of 12 cents per mile on your federal return if you itemize and a 31 cents per mile on your Maryland state return for travel to and from volunteer activities.

Editor's note: While "God's Other Plan" has been appearing in The Sun, many readers have called with questions about the serial. Following are answers to some of the questions asked most frequently.Why did you write this story and is it appropriate for a newspaper?The courage and strength Marci Crosby exhibited during the time of her illness altered the lives of her family and friends and the doctors and strangers with whom she came in contact. Her story seemed to hold the same potential for people beyond her immediate circle, for readers of The Sun. The issues with which she dealt -- issues of loss, illness, faith, loyalty and the bonds of family -- are the same ones everyone faces in life.