3 smart things to do with your 2017 tax refund If you're expecting a tax refund this year, consider using it to improve your financial health. While it's too early to know what the average tax refund will be in 2017, if the trends of the past few years continue, Americans will be getting back [...]
10 tax forms you need to know before you file Ask the IRS’s website for a list of all federal tax forms and you’ll get over 900 results. That’s a ton of forms. Happily, you probably don’t need to care about most of them. But here are 10 major IRS tax forms you should know about before [...]
How to decipher those strange codes on your paycheck Are you getting less money in your paycheck than you should? Most workers opt for receiving their cash via direct deposit these days from their employers because it's convenient and secure. But taking your pay this way could mean you're not getting the right amount. "Every year [...]
Why paying household help under the table is a really bad idea Don't even think about making that hush-hush cash payment to your child's nanny. On average, families in the U.S. pay child care workers $556 each week — nearly $29,000 a year, according to Care.com. More than half of families report spending at least 10 [...]
Cyber-Attacks Put 60% of Small Companies Out of Business — Don’t Be Next Websites hacked. Corporate data leaked, Identities Stolen. The threats are real and growing. Seventy-five percent of all organizations have experienced a data/cyber security breach in the past 12 months. Take a small online retailer in the Midwest. It seemed like just another [...]
This simple advice will help to protect you against hackers and government surveillance. Got nothing to hide? Think again. Privacy is what sets us apart from the animals. It's also what sets many countries and citizens apart from dictatorships and despots. People often don't think about their rights until they need them -- whether it's [...]
2016 tax returns determine 2018 Medicare premiums High-income surcharge based on new brackets next year As your older clients gather their financial documents to file their 2016 federal income taxes, they should pay close attention to the bottom line on their tax return. Their adjusted gross income in 2016, plus any tax-exempt interest income, [...]
No matter what you may have heard about IRAs, it's time to set the record straight. We hear a lot about the importance of saving for retirement, and an individual retirement account is a good way to help you achieve your goals. But how much do you really know about IRAs and how they work? [...]
Monday is the first day you can file your 2016 income tax returns. Don't worry if you haven't started. Employers have until Jan. 31 to send you the W-2 and 1099 forms most people need to complete their returns. If you had investment income last year, you may have to wait until mid-February before you [...]
It's a new year and time to put the last one to bed, which means filing your taxes. The Internal Revenue Service says to expect a few changes when the nation's individual income tax filing season opens on Jan. 23. Here are some of the changes you should be aware of: NEW DATE Taxes are [...]
