Category: Government Rebates and Payments

[Updated for 2013-2014 tax filing season] Thanks to the so called fiscal cliff deal reached last year there were a number of impacts to taxes in 2013 which you need to be aware of when filing your 2014 taxes. Changes were in the form of updated federal tax rates, new…

[Updated following fiscal cliff deal] - Unfortunately it looks like the payroll tax credit will not be extended into 2013 under the new deal Congress and the Obama administration have reached. See how this will impact your 2013 take home pay. For the latest on other fiscal cliff impacts and negotiations see this article. The…

The Department of Labor has provided some timely answers to some frequently asked question around the CARES act. I am an independent contractor. Am I eligible for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act? You may be eligible for unemployment benefits, depending on your personal circumstances and how your state chooses…

The Washington Post had two graphics that neatly summarize the impacts from the fiscal cliff. This is the number one topic in the world of finance and almost all Americans will be impacted by the potential fallout in some fashion. My opinion is that Congressional Republicans and the Obama administration will reach some form…

See this article for the latest COLA increase - https://savingtoinvest.com/social-security-tax-and-cost-of-living-adjustment-cola The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed that the 2013 COLA increase will be 1.7%. This means that nearly 62 million Americans will see their benefit payments increase in January 2013, with the average retiree receiving a $21 increase.  As detailed in the…

Ever wondered where all our federal tax dollars go? I did and a recent report from the center on budget priorities and policies (CBPP) provided a very nice graphic on how federal tax dollars are distributed. With all the political rhetoric that abounds around the national debt, excessive federal spending…

[Updated] Will i still have to pay health insurance penalties (under the Obamacare individual mandate)? This is the question a lot of Americans are asking. The short answer is NO from 2019.  Here is why the individual mandate, a.k.a Obamacare penalty, is no longer in effect from 2019: While Congressional Republicans…

The American economy is experiencing a seeming reversal of fortune following significant internal and external headwinds. The stock market, which tends to be a leading indicator of the economy, is back to 2011 levels. GDP and employment figures are also showing signs of slowing down. Some experts, including former President…

I recently received the following question from Brian on my post that detailed the many versions of the first time home buyer tax credit: I purchased a home in January 2009. This is my primary residence after having purchased my first home in March 2002. My CPA put me in…

Before you freak out at the title, know that social security payments will still be made in 2013; it's just they will no longer be sent via checks in the mail.  The US treasury announced that by March 2013 it will phase out paper checks for all benefit programs. This…

See this updated article for the latest program information on Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits, emergency allotments (EA) and eligibility levels. Historical SNAP information is shown below for reference only. _______________________________ 2017 Update - The USDA has published 2017 details for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The income thresholds and monthly benefit details are valid till September 2017…

[Latest Update]  As many had predicted, the debt Super Committee has failed to come up with a deficit reduction plan. Basically the not-so-super members failed to get past party line bickering and will now face the prospect of justifying to an angry public why they could not compromise. Further, the…

After covering Hermain Cain's 999 tax plan, I thought I would look at Rick Perry's recently released "Cut, Balance and Grow Plan" discussed in his recent WSJ op-ed piece. Here are highlights from his Cut, Balance and Grow (CBG) plan: - Personal Tax Reform: Americans will have a choice between…