Finance
AARP Fraud Watch
Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about phone call scams in which impersonators are copying SSA’s 1-800 number so that it appears as a legitimate call on a caller-ID screen. These scammers then identify themselves as SSA employees, request a person’s Social Security number and threaten to termin...
5 ways to boost engagement and productivity in the office
Step into the office of the future on the first day of work, and the things that you expect in a traditional workplace are not going to happen here. There’s no landline, no file cabinet, no bulletin board. The employee is never taken to an assigned cubicle. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that employees will spend much of their day in the...
3 steps to help freelancers and gig economy workers avoid a tax blunder
More and more people are earning extra cash by freelancing in the sharing economy. That may mean writing on the side, playing music on the weekends, driving for ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft or selling handmade jewelry on Etsy. No matter how the money flows in, gig economy earners must be aware of the related tax obligations and potential...
IRS, States, Industry Urge Taxpayers to Learn Signs of Identity Theft
No matter how careful you are, identity thieves may be able to steal your personal information. If this happens, thieves try to turn that data quickly into cash by filing fraudulent tax returns. The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry want to work in partnership with you in their effort to combat identity theft and fraudulent retu...
Understanding Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit, EITC or EIC, is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you do not owe any tax or are not required to file. EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe and may give you a refund. To qualify for EITC you must have earned income fr...
Learn to Prepare Taxes by Becoming a Tax Volunteer
The IRS is looking for people to provide free tax help in 2017. Become a tax volunteer and make a difference in your community. The IRS sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. These two programs offer free tax help across the country for people with low-to-moderate incomes. This year, V...
No Retirement Plan at Work? Tips for 2016 Open Enrollment Season
Open Enrollment Season is that all-important time each year when employees reassess their needs and make changes to their workplace benefits, such as healthcare, life insurance, and retirement savings. Whether or not you have access to these benefits through your employer, it’s a good idea to take this opportunity to think about your future — in pa...
Beware of Fake IRS Tax Bill Notices*
The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners are warning taxpayers and tax professionals of fake IRS tax bills related to the Affordable Care Act. The IRS has received numerous reports of scammers sending a fraudulent version of a notice- labeled CP2000 – for tax year 2015. The issue has been reported to the Treasury Inspecto...
It’s a Good Time for a Tax Withholding Review
PHOTO: Taxes.jpg As the Tax Program Coordinator here at Capstone Community Action, I receive notices all year about tax issues that will affect our community. I hope these articles can help us all to keep up with some of the changes and therefore, have a better tax experience. If you need more information about these tax subjects, or others, let me...
How to save money on health care
One in two Americans has a chronic condition and 86 percent of health care spending is on chronic care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When it comes to saving money, health care is probably the last place you might look, but there are many ways to build better health and stronger savings. 1. Take advantage of preventiv...
