Andy | Saving to Invest

2026-2027 SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) Contribution Limits, Rules, and Comparison

If you're self-employed and not taking full advantage of a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k), you're likely leaving a significant amount of tax-deferred savings on the table every year. I've talked to a lot of freelancers and small business owners over the years who are diligently contributing to a regular…

2026-2027 Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA — Contribution Limits and Phase-Out Income Ranges

For 2026, the IRA contribution limit is $7,500 — the first increase from the $7,000 limit that held for 2024 and 2025. Whether you're putting money into a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, that's your combined ceiling across all IRA accounts. The IRS announced this increase in IR-2025-111, along…

California Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $450/Week

The maximum weekly unemployment benefit in California is $450, and it has been stuck at that level since 2005. If you lost a job paying $60,000 a year, that's about $1,154 per week — you'd be capped at less than 40% of what you made. It's a number worth knowing…

How to Actually Speak to a Real Person at the IRS — Phone Numbers, Chat, and Tips That Work

Getting through to a live IRS agent has always been a battle, and 2026 hasn't made it easier. Ongoing staffing cuts — accelerated by DOGE-related reductions earlier in the year — have continued to shrink the IRS workforce. At the same time, the IRS is actively pushing taxpayers toward digital…

Return Accepted But No Refund? IRS Identity Verification (5071C) Is the Likely Reason in 2026

You filed on time, got the "return accepted" confirmation, and settled in for the standard three-week wait. It's now been well past 21 days, Where's My Refund (WMR) hasn't budged, and you're wondering where your money is. In 2026, the single most common reason for this exact pattern is an…

Amending Your Tax Return in 2026 — Form 1040-X Rules, Deadlines, and the Real Refund Timeline

Found a missed credit, a wrong filing status, or a 1099 that arrived after you filed? Form 1040-X lets you fix it — and if the fix is in your favor, claim the extra refund. But amending isn't always the right move, and the processing wait is measured in months,…

Checking Your IRS Tax Refund Status on WMR or IRS2Go For Direct Deposit Payment Date

With tax season underway, lots of taxpayers want an update on their refund processing status on the IRS' Where's My Refund (WMR) website or the IRS2Go mobile app. These tools give you three key pieces of information: confirmation the IRS received your return, approval of your refund, and the date…

Maximum State Disability and Paid Leave Benefits by State in 2026

Only five states run a true State Disability Insurance (SDI) program: California (CA), Hawaii (HI), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), and Rhode Island (RI). If you get sick or injured and can't work — for reasons unrelated to your job — these are the only states with a mandatory,…

401(k) vs. 403(b) vs. 457(b) vs. TSP: 2026–2027 Contribution Limits Compared

If you've ever had a 401(k) at one job and a 403(b) at the next, you've probably wondered whether the IRS treats them as the same thing. Mostly, yes — 401(k), 403(b), and TSP plans all share one combined $24,500 employee deferral limit for 2026. The exception is the 457(b),…

2026 Federal IRS Tax Brackets, Tax Rates, and Standard Deduction — With 2027 Projections

The 2026 federal income tax brackets are confirmed, and with inflation running around 3.5–4% in early 2026, I'm already watching what 2027 is likely to bring. The IRS typically announces next year's figures in October or November, so this page will get another update then. Short version for 2026: same…

2026-2027 IRS Tax Refund Schedule And Direct Deposit Payment Calendar

Tax return processing and refund payments continue to be bumpy this year given IRS budget cuts and introduction of several tax changes under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). The IRS started the 2026 season roughly 2 million returns behind on backlog, and a February 2026 Treasury Inspector General report…

5 Places to Get Free Tax Advice, Guidance, and Help

If you don't want to pay a preparer or a software subscription fee, there are several genuinely free ways to get your taxes done or get expert help along the way. Here's where to look, and who actually qualifies for each option. Subscribe here to get the latest tax and…

When Can I File and Check My State Tax Refund? 2026 State-by-State Status Tracker Links

Most of the refund attention every season goes to the federal IRS refund, but over 40 states also collect income tax — and every one runs its own processing schedule, its own refund tracker, and its own delays. State refunds routinely take 2 to 12 weeks, often landing after your…

2026–2027 Maximum Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Weeks By State – Latest Updates and News

Listed in the table below are the latest maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit amounts by state, current as of July 2026. The Unemployment Compensation (UC) program is designed to provide benefits to individuals out of work or in between jobs, through no fault of their own. Note that the table…