Consumerist
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taxes
9 Ways The IRS Can Help You Save On Taxes This Year
Taxes aren't that far off, and the IRS is here to help you give them less money, or take longer in giving it to them! Here's 9 ways they can make your tax life easier. More » -
taxes
Get One Free Tax Answer
Got a Federal tax question you can't figure out? Input your question at FreeTaxQuestion.com now through Jan 31st and they will call you back within 24 hours with an answer or guidance. Limit one question per person. -
taxes
Shopping Online Kills Ponies
The International Council of Shopping Centers would like you to know you're murdering ponies by shopping online to avoid local sales tax. From a new press release announcing a new advertising initiative:
The campaign, titled “Give Your Community a Lift … Shop Locally for Your Gifts!” aims to remind shoppers that local retailers provide local jobs and support community-based civic and charitable organizations. “Many consumers shop online and avoid paying sales tax, and while this may appear to consumers as a way of saving a few dollars, in the end it may cost them more if local tax revenue is eroded and municipalities are forced to cut back on services,” said Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC’s president and CEO.
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turbotax
TurboTax Price Hike Reversed After Online Outcry
Intuit will rescind the controversial new $9.95 fee for each additional printed return, in response to angry customers online who, among other things, slammed TurboTax's Amazon rating to one star. [Press Release] (Thanks Craig!)
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taxes
5 Last-Minute Ways To Reduce Your 2008 Taxes
USAA Mag has 5 good ideas for getting in good shape for tax season before the closing bell rings on 2008: More » -
personal finance
10 Money Moves To Make Before The End Of The Year
If you're worried about your end of the year finances, Time has 10 money moves that you'll want to make before Dec. 31. [Time] -
your government
How Can We Save Our Debt-Swamped Government?
The United States is $10.2 trillion in debt. Like countless Americans, our government has spent beyond its means and needs help getting back on its feet. We recently received a panicked email from White House Budget Director Jim Nussle... More »
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scams
Fake IRS Fax Demands Your Bank Account And Passport
Nick has written in to warn us about a fake IRS scam that lately has been targeting nonresident aliens (e.g. teachers and researchers) working in the U.S., as well as American citizens working abroad. In the scam, which has been going on since at least 2002 (pdf), the target receives a faxed request from the IRS to provide his name, SSN, and pretty much every other bit of data you'd need to take over a person's financial identity. More » -
insurance
Confronted With Hotel Bills, AIG Says, "This Is Totally Normal!" And "We're Having Another One!"
AIG says that the "retreat" that ABC News reported on the other day was really just an event for AIG's top independent agents — and that only 10 employees were present out of 100 attendees. Here's how they explain in a press release: More » -
bailout
What Does The Bailout Mean For You?
So, Congress finally passed the bailout bill. You know about the Treasury's newfound $700 billion, and you've heard about the snipped golden parachutes, but what does the 451-page week-old shotgun savior of a bill actually mean for you? More » -
newegg
How Newegg Stopped Collecting New York State Tax
Reader Chris Schiffner pinged Newegg to see why and how they stopped collecting New York State tax. They sent him an answer, posted after the jump, but here's the short story: A new New York law would have required internet retailers using affiliate marketing to collect sales tax, so Newegg "restructured its affiliate marketing program." The new structure somehow avoids having to collect New York sales tax. Shrug. Whatever, New York geeks, rejoice! More » -
sales tax
Hooray! Newegg Stops Collecting New York Sales Tax
Reader Duke has forwarded us an email he got from Newegg explaining that as of yesterday they are no longer collecting New York state taxes. Hooray! Of course, you still have to pay your sales tax... but now it's your responsibility. More » -
bailout
Will The New Homeowner Rescue Bill Help Rescue You?
A new bill that will help 1-2 million homeowners escape their unaffordable mortgages by refinancing into new low-cost fixed-rate loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has passed the House and will now move on to the Senate. If it is eventually passed by the Senate and signed by the President (who is no longer threatening to veto it), will it help you? More » -
tax evaders
Senator Recommends That UBS Be Shut Down For Helping Thousands Of U.S. Citizens Cheat On Their Taxes
Another update to the disgruntled computer technician story: Sen. Carl Levin told ABC News that Swiss banking giant UBS's banking license should be revoked until the bank "cleans up its act." The bank is accused of arranging "undeclared" accounts for an estimated 19,000 US citizens, effectively "hiding" $18 billion from the IRS. More » -
h&r block
H&R Block Offering $100 Coupons Or Free Software To Same-Sex Couples Who Were Denied Online Service
It's too late for this year's tax season (unless you're doing it wrong), but H&R has issued an apology of sorts by announcing it will give a $100 coupon or free TaxCut software to gay couples who were shut out of their online programs this year due to a programming oversight. Don't expect to take advantage of the offer if you were turned away online and went elsewhere, though—the offer is only good for "civil union, domestic and same sex partner clients, who started with TaxCut online and then completed their returns in one of our retail offices." If you fit that requirement, you can request the coupon or software here. More » -
tax evaders
Did UBS Help Rich Americans Hide Billions Of Dollars In Liechtenstein?
Following up on yesterday's story about a disgruntled computer technician who turned over the bank records from the LGT Bank of Liechtenstein, ABC News says that UBS Bank may have helped set up the secret accounts and been responsible for hiding as much as $20 billion dollars of U.S. money. More » -
tax holidays
Save Money by Taking a State Tax Holiday
In an effort to spur retail sales, many states offer sales-tax holidays each summer — periods of time where sales tax is temporarily suspended on certain products. This year the slumping economy has some states enhancing their efforts by extending the holiday dates and broadening the list of eligible products. Smart Money lists each state sponsoring a sales-tax holiday as well as the applicable dates and details of each offer. It also suggests a few helpful hints for making the most of a sales-tax holiday as follows: More »
taxes
New York, 7:43 AM
Fri Jan 9
26 posts in the last 24 hours
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