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  • Extra Income Has Become a Necessity

    In recent surveys, it has been found that over 70% of households are looking for ways to make extra income. A second income is not always a luxury anymore - it is often a lifeline to make ends meet.  Yet, not every opportunity is worth the cost of your time and money.

    It used to be that success meant focusing on your full-time job, climbing the corporate ladder, and then retiring with a pension.  For many, that is no longer the path to an enjoyable retirement.  With costs soaring and wages not keeping up with inflation, people are finding that adding another income stream is essential.

    Many refer to this extra work as a "side hustle."  You know, you hustle hard, receive little in return, and can get "hustled" yourself by bad actors, empty promises, or outright scams.

  • How to Stop Website Spam Attacks

    One of the biggest headaches that those of us who design and maintain websites have are spammers. Those nefarious people who try to invade your website and use your servers to send out their junk to the masses. Since I maintain my own virtual private server (VPS), one of the biggest problems was spending the time to go in and delete the bogus accounts that were created or checking the logs to see if someone had found a way to insert malicious code into the site.

    I say 'was' because a couple of years ago I found a company called CleanTalk. After installing their service, my spam attacks dropped 99%. Seriously. The most I ever see anymore is a little comment spam or people trying to access a page that doesn't exist. I have been really amazed at how well their software works and how much time it has saved me.

  • IRS Simplifies Penalty Relief Process

    The IRS will soon implement a new process that automatically provides penalty relief for taxpayers with a history of filing returns and paying tax dues on time. This new relief system is expected to be phased in this summer.

    The new Automatic Exemption from Penalty will replace the long-standing First Time Abate administrative relief and is designed to simplify the process and reduce burden for those with a timely compliance history.

    “Automatic Exemption from Penalty reflects the IRS’ commitment to making the payment of taxes owed simpler and more consistent,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “By automatically applying penalty relief, the IRS recognizes that taxpayers who historically pay on time should not have to make a formal request for relief that is routinely granted.”

  • George Washington's Farewell Address is Still Relevant Today

    [In his farewell address, Washington warns against the rise of political parties and foreign entanglements.]

    United States, September 19, 1796.

    Friends, and Fellow-Citizens: The period for a new election of a Citizen, to Administer the Executive government of the United States, being not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person, who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those, out of whom a choice is to be made.

  • A New Penny to Celebrate

    President Donald Trump ordered the end of circulating penny production late last year to save taxpayers an estimated $56 million annually.  However, a special "dual-date" penny has returned exclusively for America’s 250th anniversary.   You won't find these in everyday cash transactions. These are a  one-year-only design upgrade.  (The only other time the U.S. has done this on such a widespread scale was during the 1976 bicentennial.) 

    The Mint's new redesigns feature a 1776 to 2026 "dual date," and many of the coins are already in circulation, including:

  • How Long Do You Need to Keep Your Tax Returns?

    One of the most often questions I get from clients is how long to keep their tax returns and records.  Most people think the proper answer is seven years.  But, it is a little more complicated than that.  That is because those forms, receipts, canceled checks, and other documents could be needed later. The IRS generally has three years after the due date of your return (or the date you file it, if later) to initiate an audit — that hasn't changed.

    In addition, some documents may be kept even longer. For instance, it might be wise to save W-2 forms until you start receiving Social Security benefits so you can verify your income if there's a problem - unless you go to the ssa.gov site and verify that they have the correct information recorded for you.

    Here is some general information on how long you should keep various types of information:

  • Getting Your Withholding Right

    One of the common problems I face helping people with there taxes is helping them get their withholding correct so they don't end up owning the IRS at the end of the year.  So how can you fine-tune your withholding and estimated tax payments for 2026?

    The IRS now has a withholding estimator on its website to help you figure out whether you are having the right amount of federal income tax withheld from wages, pensions, IRS distributions, etc. This tool asks about various sources of income, gives tips on credits and deductions, and estimates how much withholding to request.