Photography by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate The tax deadline will be here before you know it. The good news is that there are a few different options to file your taxes for free in 2026 — and many of them offer guided support to make sure you file your…
Key takeaways Figuring your AGI is a crucial step on the path to calculating your taxable income and, in turn, your tax bill. Your AGI determines your eligibility for a variety of tax deductions and tax credits. (Sometimes, your modified adjusted gross income comes into play — more on that…
Key takeaways The standard deduction is a specific dollar amount that you can use to reduce your taxable income. You have to choose between claiming the standard deduction and itemizing (that is, claiming expenses that you paid). The standard deduction amount usually increases each year for inflation. Also, the standard…
Key takeaways The deadline to file federal income tax returns this year — to report income earned in 2025 — is April 15, 2026. If you file an extension, you have until Oct. 15 to file your federal tax return. If you file an extension you have until Oct. 15…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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When people hear the phrase debt management program, there’s often confusion, hesitation, or even fear attached to it. As a credit counselor, I see this every day. Many individuals know they’re overwhelmed by debt, but they don’t fully understand what their options are or what…
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Tip 3: Learn How to Create a Better ‘To Do’ List When we make resolutions, we tend to resolve to do certain things.…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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Like it or not, winter is here (unless you live in Florida). And you know what that means—it’s time to brace yourself (and your budget) for a crazy high heating bill. Ugh. It’s no secret that paying to keep your whole house warm isn’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save on…
Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Key takeaways If you’re buying a home, an appraisal waiver can help you avoid the cost and time commitment of an in-person home appraisal. Instead, your mortgage lender will use an automated underwriting system to estimate the property’s value. However, automated systems can’t catch all…
Buying or selling a house is probably the biggest financial transaction you’ll ever make—after all, there are hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake. That’s a lot of money! Because buying or selling a house is so expensive and complicated (hello, paperwork!), having a good real estate agent in your corner…
This page was originally published in early 2022 and still contains relevant reader quotes from that time. The rest of the article has since been updated. Key takeaways Hotels can charge you for damages done during your stay, which are usually found while inspecting your room after you check out.…
Retirement is a time for you to enjoy what you love—whether that’s traveling, spending time with family, or serving your community. If you want to live your retirement dream, you need a plan. And knowing the best cities to retire can help you make your hard-earned dollars go farther when…
Key takeaways Do your research to decide which financial professional — a therapist, advisor or credit counselor — can best help you. It’s hard work to eliminate debt, so commit fully to the process. No matter which you choose, realizing you need help is the first step. Credit card debt…
When it comes to car insurance, the age-old question is, How much car insurance do I need? Here’s a quick-and-dirty answer: You need $500,000 worth of liability insurance. That’s the type of auto coverage you’re legally required to have to drive anywhere. And that’s the bare minimum amount of coverage…
Ever wondered why we need so many acronyms to talk about health plans? There are a lot of letters! But look at it this way. It’s way easier to say PPO than preferred provider organization. Or HDHP instead of high deductible health plan. Shortening the names is a good start!…
Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images It can be tough to find a travel credit card if your credit score has seen better days, as many of the best travel rewards credit cards require a FICO score of 670 or higher. While options may be limited, you can still earn rewards toward travel…
You’ve seen it in every kind of movie from horror to comedy. A grieving family gathers around a lawyer’s desk for the reading of the will. In most of those movies, a greedy youngster is after an older relative’s wealth (Knives Out). Or the will forces an heir to change…
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