Adding to the confusion is the unknown fate of two popular tax deductions for the middle class -- the deductions for charitable contributions and home mortgages.
When it comes to year end finances, the old rules may just not add up this year.
"It's very difficult to do any type of tax planning and advising because nobody really knows exactly what's going to happen," said CPA Mark Brittain from Lindquist, Von Husen & Joyce.
Much of the uncertainty centers around whether the United States will fall off the fiscal cliff. If that happens, that would mean the end of the temporary payroll tax cuts. Even if that doesn't happen, most believe taxes will go up next year.
"One of the things that is being floated right now is people are advising people to get out of dividend payment funds, high dividend yield funds and move more into tax exempt bonds and things like that that won't be taxed," said Brittain.
The current budget negotiations between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also could mean the reduction of the popular deduction for charitable contributions.
"If it came to that point to where I wasn't receiving my credit for helping out a charity or even helping them out in their situation, then why would I even help them out," said Brian Smith, a Folsom resident.
It's statements like that that has the chief executive officer of the United Way of the Bay Area and other non-profits fighting to retain charitable deductions.
"It would be a very big mistake to think that this is only a benefit for high income people. There are many, many donors who itemize their taxes and they take advantage of the charitable tax deduction and these include very middle income people," said Anne Wilson from the United Way.
Also on the table is the possible elimination of the mortgage deduction.
"If that were to happen eventually, I think it would have to be phased out over a really long period of time," said Karen Smith, a San Francisco resident.
"I think it encourages people to buy houses versus rent it. If they will lower the mortgage rate deductions, then people would think twice," said Nora Weiss, a Sunnyvale resident.
Whatever happens, Brittain thinks it is a good time to refinance if you still have 15 to 20 years left on your mortgage.
"An interest rate drop could make a significant difference in the total amount that you pay over the length of that mortgage," said Brittain.
A lot of the uncertainty could be cleared up soon. Obama and Boehner are resuming talks on Thursday.
Even Starbucks is trying to bring the sides together. The coffee giant is asking its baristas in Washington D.C. to write the words "come together" on all the cups.
