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Getty Images If you’re one of the millions of Americans who gave to charity in 2021, you can still claim a write-off on this year’s tax return.  There’s a deduction for cash gifts up to $300 for single filers and couples filing jointly may score up to $600, according to the IRS. And it’s easier

Tetra Images | Getty Images The IRS has already issued 22 million refunds, at an average $3,536 each.  That’s $700 more than last year, when the average refund was just over $2,800. For most people, a lump-sum payment of this size is rare. “The tax refund is often the biggest windfall households receive all year,” said

Spanic | E+ | Getty Images There are some obvious triggers that might prompt you to update your will, such as changes in health or marital status. There are, however, also some not-so-obvious ones to be aware of, according to financial planners and attorneys. “Your will should be updated when your personal circumstances change, which

Getty Images If you’re considering a Roth conversion, stock market drops may make the strategy more appealing, according to financial experts.   While the popular move, allowing higher earners to bypass income limits for Roth individual retirement account contributions, was in peril as House Democrats passed Build Back Better, the spending package stalled in December. Nevertheless,

MoMo Productions Today’s workers are often tasked with juggling multiple financial goals. Between saving for retirement, paying off student debt and planning for your own children’s education, it can be difficult to know whether you are on track. Betterment is taking steps to try to make it easier for employers to help workers manage those

fizkes | iStock | Getty Images If you’re fretting about your 2021 tax bill, financial experts say there may be a chance to slash your balance before April 18, the deadline for most filers. With limited options after year-end, taxpayers may still have a few possibilities, said certified financial planner David Haas, president of Cereus

Sean Gladwell | Moment | Getty Images Escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine sent stock markets lower once again on Wednesday. Many individual investors are feeling the recent market declines triggered by geopolitical risks personally, particularly when it comes to their retirement account balances. Financial advisors say this could actually be an opportunity to put

Getty Images If your teen or adult child in college has been dabbling in stocks or cryptocurrency, their gains may trigger a surprise bill at tax time. That’s because of the so-called “kiddie tax,” an extra levy for parents once their child’s investment income — capital gains, dividends and interest — exceeds a certain threshold.

Getty Images If you recently made a profit selling your home, it may come with a costly surprise this filing season: capital gains taxes on your windfall. In 2021, the average U.S. home seller scored a profit of $94,092, up 71% from $55,000 two years ago, according to ATTOM, a nationwide property database. While many

Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted millions of Americans to put plans, including weddings, on hold. As 2022 unfolds and, we hope, the worst of the pandemic is behind us, nuptials are expected to take place in record numbers. The Wedding Report, a wedding market research firm, projects there will be 2.5 million weddings

PeopleImages | iStock | Getty Images There was a time not too long ago when holding “AMT-free” municipal bond funds might have made perfect sense for many investors. These days? Maybe not so much. With a small share of taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, since a federal tax overhaul took effect

David Jakle | Image Source | Getty Images If you’re worried about rising interest rates, you may be eyeing high-yield bonds, which typically pay a bigger coupon and may help offset price declines in your bond portfolio. But these assets may also carry more risk, according to financial experts. While market interest rates and bond

SEC chairman Gary Gensler testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Sept. 14, 2021 in Washington. Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images The Biden administration is lending a more cautious eye to private equity and other “alternative” investments like hedge funds. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Department of Labor have

Catherine McQueen | Moment | Getty Images Many Americans enter their retirement years with little or no savings. As a result, most or all of the money they receive comes from their Social Security check. Around 12% of men and 15% of women rely on the benefit for 90% or more of their income, according

MoMo Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you can afford to max out your 401(k) and there’s still wiggle room in your budget, your plan may have a special feature to save even more. Although the 401(k) deferral limit for 2022 is $20,500 if you’re under 50, you can use after-tax contributions to save

In this article NAVI Supannee U-prapruit | iStock | Getty Images For many American families, the largest cash infusion they get all year is their tax refund. The average check cut by the IRS was more than $2,800 in 2021, although refunds might be smaller this year for several reasons. How you should spend the

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc Finding a competitive interest rate on your emergency savings has become even more difficult amid record high inflation. But there is good news. The Federal Reserve is expected to begin raising interest rates. When they do, that will kick up the interest you can earn on your cash. Some accounts may

In this article PRU Willie B. Thomas | DigitalVision | Getty Images Thought saving for retirement was hard? Spending that money — and ensuring it lasts through old age — is even harder. It may not sound tough at first blush. But consider all the unknowns: how long you’ll live; the need for costly health

Tom Werner | DigitalVision | Getty Images There’s a growing list of essential things for taxpayers to know as the IRS embarks on a challenging season with limited staffing and a backlog from 2021 that’s still millions of returns deep. There were 6 million unprocessed individual returns as of Dec. 31, according to the IRS,

Dean Mitchell | E+ | Getty Images Most people don’t know the first thing about the Secure Act and yet it has great impact on their retirement planning. With little fanfare, the Secure Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019. It’s an important piece of

Items on sale at a Washington, D.C., supermarket on Jan. 12, 2022. Stefani Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images If surging costs are a concern, you may consider using your tax refund to bypass the purchase limits on I bonds, a nearly risk-free and inflation-protected asset. Annual inflation rose by 7.5% in January, growing at

Portra | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you’re eager to slash your tax bill, two popular methods are claiming credits and deductions on your return. While both can reduce your balance, these write-offs have key differences, which ultimately affect your bottom line. Credits lessen your liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas deductions reduce income subject

FatCamera If you’re hoping to generate income from your investment portfolio, closed-end funds could be one piece of the puzzle. These funds come with more risk than, say, U.S. Treasurys, yet also can provide decent yields that may have a place in the fixed-income portion of your investment portfolio. And sometimes, they give you a

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards If you’re one of the millions of Americans who own cryptocurrency, there’s a key question to answer this tax season. Over the past couple of years, the IRS has stepped up crypto reporting with a yes-or-no question about “virtual currency” on the front page of your tax return.  The question

Getty Images Are you expecting a tax bill for selling stocks or crypto in 2021? You may qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate, depending on taxable income, according to financial experts. You calculate taxable income by subtracting the greater of the standard or itemized deductions from your adjusted gross income, which are your

Sporrer/Rupp | Image Source | Getty Images When it comes to retirement, you probably have a lot of questions about whether or not you’re making the right financial moves. That may include uncertainty about investing and the best way to get the nest egg you think you’ll need. Chances are, you are overlooking potentially your

JGI/Jamie Grill If you save for retirement through a 401(k) plan, you may have noticed changes to it over the years — for example, automatic increases in your contributions and “catch-up” amounts for the over-50 crowd. A couple more tweaks, which were included in a 2019 retirement bill called the Secure Act, could also become

courtneyk | E+ | Getty Images The IRS has warned about “challenges” this tax season, and a slew of automated notices are already causing distress for filers. Some taxpayers who sent last year’s return and paid their balance have received a CP80 notice saying they may lose their credit for payment if they don’t file

Jeffrey Coolidge | Photodisc | Getty Images Tax season has kicked off, and the IRS has already warned filing mistakes may cause delays amid staffing shortages and a massive backlog. While electronic filing offers the best chance for faster refunds, other moves may invite IRS scrutiny, according to tax experts.  The IRS closed 452,515 individual audits

A “PsychoKitty” NFT created by psychedelic artist Ugonzo displayed on a phone and a NFT logo displayed on a computer screen from a Crypto.com NFT marketplace. Justin Tallis | AFP | Getty Images It’s safe to say that we have all heard the term “NFT.” But what exactly are they and what are the pros