Personal finance

In this article MCD TGT DRI DG WOOF T With almost every adult nearly eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, businesses are doing their part to motivate the masses. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is offering anyone with proof of a Covid vaccination a free doughnut a day for the rest of the year. In Cleveland, Chagrin Cinemas

In this article FB SFY Monitors display Bumble signage during the company’s initial public offering in front of the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York on Feb. 11. Bloomberg | Getty Images It looks like Main Street is poised to get in on an investment that’s been largely off-limits: initial public offerings. At least two trading

Robert Daly | Getty Images The Biden administration is expanding an existing pause on student loan interest and collections to include more than 1.1 million borrowers who are in default, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday. The borrowers, whose defaulted loans are part of the Federal Family Education Loan program, were ineligible for the

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 26, 2021. Andi Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images A group of Senate Democrats issued a proposal Monday to tax unrealized capital gains of wealthy estates at death. The plan comes as President Joe Biden prepares to unveil a major infrastructure plan that’s expected

FG Trade | iStock | Getty Images Married? You may want to think about how claiming Social Security early would affect your spousal benefits. For starters, not all early filers can access those benefits right away. And for those who can, it may not translate into a bigger monthly check. It’s also common to misunderstand

Steven Heap/EyeEm/Getty Images The deadline to contribute to individual retirement accounts and health savings accounts is May 17, the same day that individual federal income tax returns are due, the IRS said Monday. The announcement comes after the agency postponed the filing deadline to May 17 from April 15 following increased calls for more time

In this article IRSA3-AR Geber86 | E+ | Getty Images As new $1,400 stimulus checks are sent to millions of Americans, some may still be wondering why they have not received money from the first two sets of direct payments. The U.S. government has sent out three rounds of stimulus checks — for up to

A Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images When the Covid-19 pandemic set in last year, one of the unintentional effects from the deep economic downturn included a potential reduction in Social Security benefits for one group of people. And now, as the U.S. economy is beginning to repair itself, signs point to

Luis Alvarez/ Getty Images. Corporate America is in need of a reboot. That’s what advocates are calling for as working parents — especially women — are looking for more flexibility and other changes to help them juggle work and family life. “This pandemic has turned the workplace upside down,” said Amber Clayton, director of the

Student loan borrowers may see more relief still in the pandemic. ViT Postman | iStock | Getty Images Many people with federal student loans won’t be able to claim a popular deduction on their taxes this year. Around 12 million taxpayers take advantage of the break known as the student loan interest deduction, which allows

Me in my new living room. Source: Janna McPartland When I was 25, and knew nothing about pandemics, I made a list in a small notebook of the things I hoped to achieve in my life. One of those goals was, “To live in my own apartment by 37.” Some people may wonder: Why did

elenaleonova | E+ | Getty Images A quirk in eligibility rules for a new unemployment tax break may lead some married couples to wonder whether they should file separate returns, even if they typically file jointly. The short answer: Filing separately may make sense in some cases, especially when each spouse can get the maximum

In this article IRSA3-AR Luis Alvarez | DigitalVision | Getty Images Americans can get a tax break this filing season for masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and other personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the IRS announced Friday. The tax code lets taxpayers deduct medical costs that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted

In this article PYPL EBAY Getty Images All that money you make selling stuff online? Don’t overlook the taxman. Depending on your situation, it’s possible that you’re generating income that the IRS wants to know about. And if you’re an ongoing seller, be aware that it could become harder after this year to avoid income-reporting

Grace Cary Washington has issued stimulus checks to about 127 million households over the past two weeks. Some payments went to those who didn’t need the money. But that’s not necessarily bad — the answer largely depends on one’s view of check targeting and how easily that can be achieved. The concept of trying to

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images The Social Security Administration has sent information to the IRS that will help clear the way for almost 30 million people to receive their $1,400 stimulus checks, lawmakers said on Thursday. The development comes after Democratic leaders on the House Ways and Means Committee gave the agency 24 hours

RgStudio | E+ | Getty Images A second batch of $1,400 stimulus payments has been sent, bringing the total number of checks issued so far to about 127 million for a total of about $325 billion, according to the Treasury Department, IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Additional tranches will be issued in the

Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images The IRS had a backlog of almost 12 million paper tax returns from individuals and businesses as of Christmas, according to a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. As a result, many taxpayers may not have gotten refunds owed from last year’s filing season, the watchdog said

Illustrative image of two commemorative bitcoins seen in front of the Tesla car logo. Artur Widak | NurPhoto | Getty Images You may be aware that you can now purchase a Tesla using bitcoin. If the idea appeals to you, here’s a twist: the taxman will be hovering with palm out. When you use bitcoin

ozgurcankaya The IRS recently extended the filing deadline for individual tax returns to May 17 from April 15. You may still want to file by the original date. That’s because the extension only applies to individual returns, from taxpayers who file an IRS Form 1040. For people who make estimated tax payments, including the self-employed