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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One of the best ways to wreck your day . . . is to wreck your car! But scary (and expensive) as collisions can be, there’s more than one way to damage your car—heck, it can get damaged when you’re not even driving it! And when random car damage strikes,…
Key takeaways Thanks to its generous cash back rates, the Chase Freedom Flex® can potentially earn you more than the Citi Double Cash® Card. Additionally, the Chase Freedom Flex offers the same welcome bonus as the Citi Double Cash offers — but with a much lower spending requirement. Still, rotating…
Just like anything else in life, managing your money when you’re single has its pros and cons. Pros? No money fights (unless you fight the voice inside your head). Cons? A single income with less accountability. But no matter what your pros and cons list looks like, getting ahead with…
REPORT SUMMARY 88% of U.S. adults said high school did not leave them “fully-prepared” for how to handle money in the real world. 3 in 4 U.S. adults said in the years after high school, they “often” (32%) or “sometimes” (42%) felt stress because of money. 72% of U.S. adults…
It seems to be an unwritten rule in life that once you turn 18, you have to get a credit card—as if you magically become a mature adult the moment someone hands you a piece of plastic. (And let’s be real, most adults I know struggle with plastic.) Now, to my dad’s…
It’s the end of the month, and you’re out of money—again. It’s a hopeless feeling scrambling to see which bills you can pay late and scrounging around in the pantry for food until your next paycheck. If that’s you, hear this: You aren’t alone. In fact, 78% of Americans live…
These days, most people have heard enough horror stories about timeshares to know you should run for the hills whenever someone tries to sell you one. When it comes to vacation clubs and travel clubs, though, things are a little different. Those programs have started popping up a lot over…
Key takeaways College costs have been climbing fast over the last two decades, putting more pressure on families to weigh both affordability and the long-term value of attending college. Bankrate’s study found small college towns, such as Champaign, Ill. and Blacksburg, Va., deliver the best mix of lower living costs,…
Wedding bells are ringing! Do you hear them? Soon, you’ll be celebrating love, stuffing your face with wedding cake, and doing the chicken dance in front of family and friends. But first—you have to shop for a wedding gift. That part isn’t always easy. You’ve got to think about your budget…
Earn 3% cash back. Get 20,000 bonus points. Gain more sky miles with each swipe! Credit card points are the main way credit card companies reel you in. After all, who doesn’t love free stuff? But all those “free” rewards actually come at a cost—and either you’re the one paying…
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