Taxpayers with income of $84,000 or less still have the option of using the separate Free File program, a partnership between the I.R.S. and several do-it-yourself tax software firms, to file free electronic returns. The I.R.S. also provides free online forms, without step-by-step guidance, that filers can use, regardless of income, to file federal returns….
Amid the global turmoil of this young new year comes a flurry of welcome developments that will help many people — especially retirees and those close to retirement — supercharge their savings, cut prescription drug costs, keep more of the money they earn and, possibly, raise their credit scores. Fair warning, though: It’s complicated. The…
Wishing you could buy a home? It can be challenging to save enough for a down payment, given how much houses now cost. But many people don’t realize there are myriad programs that offer grants or loans to help home buyers come up with the necessary funds. “There are tons of programs to assist them,”…
Sales of electric vehicles have been rising steadily over the past few years, in part because of a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 that makes buying such cars and trucks more affordable. But understanding which cars it applies to and under what circumstances can be confusing. And all of those rules could change…
Smart thermostats first hit the market in the early 2010s as a way to strategically cut your electricity bill while still keeping your home nice and cozy. Brands claim up to 26 percent savings on heating and cooling bills. But some experts say that’s an overstatement. The Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, estimates approved smart…
The Social Security Administration receives billions in free money each year from an unexpected source: undocumented immigrants. This group paid an estimated $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes in 2022, according to a recent analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning tax research group. Since unauthorized workers cannot collect retirement and…
Financial markets have been choppy since the November election, and for good reason. With the next presidential administration promising sharp policy changes on a broad range of economic issues, there is plenty to be nervous about. The new proposals are dizzying. The president-elect says he wants to deport millions of immigrants; impose tariffs on all…
Sean Karaman, a freshman at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, hadn’t always paid close attention to his credit card spending. But after taking a personal finance course on campus last fall, he said, he is much more likely to pay as he goes. “I’ve become best friends with my debit card,” said Mr. Karaman,…
Halfway into his presidency, Jimmy Carter’s back was against the wall. It was July 1979, the height of the energy crisis, and the beleaguered president went on national television to deliver not a speech, but a kind of sermon. The address — called “Crisis of Confidence” — challenged Americans to acknowledge personal failings that he…
Ultimately, the S&P 500 gained 16 percent by the end of that first pandemic year, and soared more than 25 percent in 2021. Indeed, the difficulty that follows fear-based selling is figuring out when exactly it is “safe” to get back into the water. Most people end up waiting too long, similar to the investors…
