Social Network Backgrounds Getty The Gig economy has been expanding rapidly over the past decade and the number of users involved with platforms like Uber, Lyft & Airbnb has grown exponentially. The IRS recently launched the Gig Economy Tax Center on www.irs.gov. This is a brand new section of the IRS website dedicated to help

DES MOINES, IOWA – JANUARY 14: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) makes a point as former South Bend, … [+] Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) listen during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Drake University on January 14, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa. Six candidates out of the field qualified for the

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Getty The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued guidance for some taxpayers who took out federal or private student loans to finance attendance at a nonprofit or for-profit school. The guidance offers relief for students whose loans have been discharged by the Department of Education and

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin The Phase One agreement marks a ceasefire in the long-running trade war. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Topline: President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the long-awaited Phase One trade deal in an elaborate ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, marking a

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin The deal includes Chinese commitments to buy more U.S. goods in four industries. Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Topline: With the Phase One trade deal signing scheduled for tomorrow, new details have emerged about China’s pledge to significantly ramp up purchases of U.S. exports including manufactured

Comfortable retirement: Still out of reach for most. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty … [+] Images) Corbis via Getty Images Congress ended 2019 by producing a budget of sorts. That fact, in itself, constitutes a rare accomplishment for this country’s dissipated and ever-distracted representative bodies. Such documents, as always, offer much to praise or

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about limits a family could receive, whether working longer can increase benefit amounts, whether delaying till 70 is still worth it, whether filing at 62 might be better and filing for survivor benefits while still working. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and

I hate it when people lose out by barely missing a deadline. A recent decision in the Western District of Wisconsin has an important lesson about deadlines. The lesson is that if you are going to rely on special rules to cut things close, you better understand how the rules apply. The couple in the

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin The market resumed its rally from last week, amid renewed trade optimism. Kena Betancur/Getty Images Topline: With the signing of the phase one trade deal mere days away, the U.S. said that it would remove China from a list of countries that it considers as currency

Getty It’s so easy to start a side hustle. In fact, it’s effortless. Any hobby will do. Pick something you love. If you can make money off of it, all the better. You don’t even need to file any special paperwork. Everything can fit onto Schedule C of your personal tax return. There’s already a

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when and how a married couple can file, survivor’s benefits and the earnings test, divorced spousal benefits before retirement benefits, avoiding filing for retroactive retirement benefits unintentionally and the availability of divorced spousal benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin The world bank warned that risks to the global economy include tariffs, geopolitical tensions and a … [+] fresh global debt crisis. Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images Topline: The World Bank released a gloomy outlook for global economic growth on Wednesday, cutting its forecast for the

Getty Getty Want to pay off student loans? Make sure you understand the advantages and disadvantages for each repayment plan. Here’s what you need to know. 1. Student Loan Consolidation Federal student loan consolidation is the process of combining your federal student loans into a new federal student loan called a Direct Consolidation Loan. Only

It’s 1099 season, so I thought a recent decision in the Southern District of New York might rate some attention. I doubt the litigants want to be more famous because of this so I am going to call them Jane, the company and the other partners. If you must know who they are, you can

Getty Ready to file your 2019 tax return? The filing season officially opens on January 27, 2020, but taxpayers can get an early start today. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that Free File is officially open. Free File is available to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) was $69,000 or less in 2019. You can find your AGI

It doesn’t always make financial sense to defer withdrawals from retirement accounts as long as … [+] possible, especially now that the required minimum distributions age increased to 72. Getty The Secure Act increased the required minimum distribution (RMD) age from 70 1/2 to 72, marking the first change to the RMD age since first

The stock market ended a volatile week on a high note. Richard Drew/ASSOCIATED PRESS Topline: With stocks rising to new record highs on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged past the 29,000 mark for the first time ever, as Wall Street investors shrugged off a weak jobs report and the ongoing geopolitical tensions with

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Trump also suggested that a phase two deal might not be reached until after the 2020 election. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Topline: After announcing last month that a phase one trade agreement with China would be signed on January 15, Trump said in an interview on Thursday

President Trump doesn’t want to release his tax returns. After promising to make them public during his primary campaign, he later changed his mind. And even after winning his race for the White House, he continued to refuse, breaking with four decades of voluntary disclosure by American presidents. WASHINGTON DC, USA – JANUARY 8: US

Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Bitcoin currency sign in digital cyberspace. Technology Network and Internet marketing, Money … [+] Exchange background concept Getty After 5 years of the issuance of Notice 2014-21, in October 2019, IRS issued 43 Q&As further explaining the items covered on the original notice. Without any big