Personal finance

FILE - An Internal Revenue Service 2023 1040 tax form and instructions are shown on Jan. 26, 2024 in New York. It's tax season in the U.S., and for many people, filing tax returns can be a daunting task that's often left until the last minute. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

The IRS launched a free online tax filing system. Find out here if it’s available in your state

After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available for taxpayers from 12 selected states.

FILE - Planes are parked at a private jet terminal at Harry Reid International Airport ahead of the Super Bowl, Feb. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas. President Joe Biden is proposing a huge increase in fuel taxes for private jets, which his administration is pitching as a fairness issue compared with airline passengers, who pay special taxes on every ticket. The proposal was included in a $109.3 billion budget request for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was released Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Biden proposes tax increase on fuel for private jets, casting it as making wealthy pay their share

FILE - An Internal Revenue Service 2023 1040 tax form and instructions are shown on Jan. 26, 2024 in New York. It's tax season in the U.S., and for many people, filing tax returns can be a daunting task that's often left until the last minute. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

Tax season is underway. Here are some tips to navigate it

FILE - Brian Rodgers participates in a rally, Feb. 14, 2024, prior to a court hearing on a Chicago ballot measure that would raise a one-time tax on luxury properties to fund services for homeless people in Chicago. The ballot will be on the March 19 primary ballot, a panel of Illinois appeals court judges ruled Wednesday, March 6. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Court rejects bid to block Chicago ballot measure that would tax real estate for homeless services

Internal Revenue Service employee Dixie Warden poses for a photograph on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park in Kyle, Texas. Warden is quick to say she's “not a numbers girl.” But as the very first user of the government's free new electronic tax return filing system, Warden reports she completed her taxes this year using the program in about an hour. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

A new IRS program is helping its first users file their income taxes electronically. And it’s free

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FILE - A "Sold" sign decorates the lawn of a new house in Pearl, Miss., Sept. 23, 2021. Homeowners are increasingly tapping their equity, taking advantage of big gains following years of soaring housing prices. Some 333,537 home equity loans were taken out by homeowners in the third quarter of 2022, according to data from TransUnion. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

More homeowners tap equity juiced by soaring prices

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Homeowners are increasingly tapping their equity, taking advantage of big gains following years of soaring housing prices.

FILE - High gas prices are shown in Los Angeles, June 16, 2022. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows an upheaval in priorities just months before critical midterm elections. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Inflation, expenses rise sharply as priorities: AP-NORC poll

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows an upheaval in priorities just months before critical midterm elections.

FILE — Republican candidate for governor Bob Stefanowski speaks after receiving his party's endorsement at the State Republican Convention, May 6, 2022, in Mashantucket, Conn. Stefanowski said, Wednesday, June 8, 2022, that his personal financial information will be forthcoming, including tax returns for him and his wife, but did not provide a time frame. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

In run for governor, Stefanowski has yet to detail finances

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — In the four years since Republican businessperson Bob Stefanowski first ran for governor, he says he has supported himself with work as a consultant.

President Joe Biden speaks in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, on May 10, 2022. The Biden administration is taking first steps to release $45 billion to ensure that every American has access to high-speed internet by roughly 2028, inviting governors and other leaders on Friday to start the application process. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

White House releases financial disclosures for Biden, Harris

New reports detail the personal finances of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The disclosures are released annually by the White House for top officials.

FILE - Georgia gubernatorial Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams talks to the media after qualifying for the 2022 election on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Atlanta. Abrams has become a millionaire. A disclosure filed in March shows the candidate for governor is worth $3.17 million, thanks mostly to book and speaking income. Abrams was worth $109,000 in 2018 when she first ran for governor. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

Stacey Abrams reaches millionaire status before 2nd campaign

Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams has become a millionaire. A disclosure filed in March shows the candidate for governor is worth $3.17 million, thanks mostly to book and speaking income.

New Mexico social studies rule adds personal finance to K-12

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Public Education Department has issued a final rule structuring the K-12 social studies curriculum, adding personal finance following a letter-writing campaign.

Scottsdale Unified School District board president is ousted

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In hopes of moving forward, Scottsdale Unified School District has elected a new interim president amid allegations that board president Jann-Michael Greenburg distributed a “dossier” on some parents including photos and personal finances.

Scottsdale police investigating school board president

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Scottsdale police announced Saturday that they were investigating allegations against a school board president who the school district’s superintendent has said allegedly distributed a dossier on some parents, including photos and personal finances.

FILE - In this May 7, 2020, file photo, a person looks inside the closed doors of the Pasadena Community Job Center in Pasadena, Calif., during the coronavirus outbreak. While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S. According to a new poll from Impact Genome and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research 55% of Americans say their financial circumstances are about the same now as a year ago, and 30% say their finances have improved. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Poll: 15% of Americans worse off a year into pandemic

While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2005 file photo, trays of printed social security checks wait to be mailed from the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower, File)

Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus fallout

WASHINGTON (AP) — Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people.

Reviewing Florida Blue (BCBS) insurance vs Cigna vs Ambetter vs Bright Health : Reviews of Best affordable Health/medical insurance companies & plans in Florida

New York, NY ( TS Newswire ) -- 17 Sep 2020

Comparing Florida health insurance plans online is time consuming, overwhelming, and in many cases inaccurate, as people still lose money on their premiums which they could have saved.

A new AP-NORC poll finds that nearly half of Black Americans and about 4 in 10 Hispanic Americans report being behind on at least one bill, while white Americans are about half as likely to report the same.

AP-NORC poll: Many in US shoring up finances amid downturn

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the paradox of a pandemic that has crushed the U.S. economy: 12.9 million lost jobs and a dangerous rash of businesses closing, yet the personal finances of many Americans have remained strong — and in some ways have even improved.

FILE - In this April 18, 2016 file photo a person looks at Intuit TurboTax software on display at a retailer in Foster City, Calif. Intuit announced Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, that it is buying consumer finance company Credit Karma in a $7.1 billion cash and stock deal. (Peter Barreras/AP Images for Turbo Tax Via AP, File)

TurboTax maker Intuit buying Credit Karma in $7.1B deal

Intuit is buying consumer finance company Credit Karma in a $7.1 billion cash and stock deal that will take it deeper into the financial products realm.

Things to know about California’s law on college athlete pay

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is the first state to pass a law allowing college athletes to hire agents and get paid for use of their name, image or likeness.

US long-term mortgage rates rise, with 30-year at 3.56%

U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week yet remained at historically low levels. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 3.56% from 3.49% last week.

A glance at US mortgage rates: 30-year at 3.56%

U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week but remained at historically low levels

US consumer borrowing posts biggest gain since late 2017

Consumer borrowing surged in July at its fastest pace since late 2017, driven by a big jump credit card use.

This Week: Consumer confidence, Tiffany results, 2Q GDP

The Conference Board issues its August snapshot of consumer confidence Tuesday. Tiffany & Co. reports second quarter results Wednesday.

How to keep your razors from contributing to landfill waste

How bad is your disposable razor for the environment? The question is gaining attention among consumers amid a growing global campaign against plastic waste, with cities and countries introducing bans on single-use plastic bags and straws.

What consumers should know about Equifax $700M settlement

Equifax’s $700 million settlement with the U.S. government over a massive 2017 data breach includes up to $425 million for consumers.

Do you need a Roth 401(K)?

If you are saving for retirement, you probably know about the 401(k) and the Roth IRA too. But are you familiar with a Roth 401(k)?

Results of AP-NORC Center poll on attitudes toward personal finances. (AP Graphic)

AP-NORC Poll: Many feeling vulnerable despite economic gains

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are generally satisfied with their personal finances, but many lack confidence in their ability to afford retirement, an emergency expense or even their daily living costs.

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2018, file photo people walk through lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park at the start of a work day in New York.A new study finds that only 4% of retirees start claiming their Social Security benefits at the most financially optimal time. And current retirees collectively will lose $3.4 trillion in potential income to fund their retirement because they started drawing benefits at a less than ideal time. That’s roughly $111,000 per household, according to the research from United Income, an online investment management and financial planning firm. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

Study: Retirees lose by taking Social Security at wrong time

It’s tough to decide when to start taking Social Security benefits and it appears many people are shorting themselves with their choice.

When electric scooters crash, who pays the bills?

As scooter riders push onto the streets of more than 100 cities worldwide, they’re exposing themselves to liability and most likely not insured for damages they may cause.

FILE - In this Monday, April 2, 2018, file photo, an IRS Form 5305, Simplified Employee Pension — Individual Retirement Accounts Contribution Agreement is shown in New York. Americans generally do not have enough saved for retirement and Congress is considering a number of measures to address that. Research has shown one of the most effective ways to get people to save is through access to a workplace retirement plan. But millions of Americans do not have access to such plans, particularly at small businesses where the cost and complexity hinders some companies from establishing one. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

AP Explains: How retirement legislation impacts you

Americans generally do not have enough saved for retirement and Congress is considering a number of measures to address that.

California governor seeks explanation for high gas prices

The California governor wants to know why the state’s gas prices are higher than in the rest of the country. Gov.

FILE- In this Monday, March 25, 2019, file photo, Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay, speaks about the Apple Card at the Steve Jobs Theater during an event to announce new products in Cupertino, Calif. Apple is hoping a credit card will entice more iPhone owners to use Apple Pay. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)

Apple tries to take a bite out of credit card industry

Apple is rolling out a credit card that it says is designed to do things no other card can. So how does it actually stack up

Chart compares percent changes in price among S&P500, gold, emerging stocks and oil since 2009.;

Investing became cheaper, easier during bull market run

NEW YORK (AP) — As the bull market for U.S. stocks celebrates its 10th birthday, joining the party has never been cheaper or easier.

Those ‘Today’ show deals? Read the fine print before you buy

Daytime talk shows are looking like home-shopping programs, hawking discounted coats, watches or electric toothbrushes.

Five Tips To Help Kickstart Your Savings

1.