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Taxes

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How bad credit can increase your car costs. Also in the news: Owning Bitcoin creates a complex tax situation, 13 last-ditch ways to avoid the poorhouse in retirement, and the top 7 tax deductions and credits people forget.

Good Driver, Bad Credit: What Makes Your Car Costs So High
It’s not just the monthly payment.

Owning Bitcoin Creates a Complex Tax Situation
Taxing cryptocurrency.

13 Last-Ditch Ways to Avoid the Poorhouse in Retirement
Before it’s too late.

Top 7 Tax Deductions And Credits That People Forget
Leave no deduction behind.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Seeking smart, funny – and a credit score above 700. Also in the news: Wellness travel helps you tune up or tune out, what you need to know about investing in IPOs, and a major tax mistake to avoid if you have student loans.

Seeking Smart, Funny — and a Credit Score Above 700
Your credit score could impact your dating options.

Wellness Travel Helps You Tune Up or Tune Out
Getting in touch with what matters.

What You Need to Know About Investing in IPOs
Proceed with caution.

Got student loans? Don’t make this major tax mistake
Don’t forget to deduct your interest.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How your money story can help you break free. Also in the news: Why you should freeze your child’s credit, 4 things that could make you a target for a tax audit, and what happens if you don’t pay a debt.

How Your Money Story Can Help You Break Free
Going way back to the beginning.

Why You Should Freeze Your Child’s Credit
Even children can be victim’s of identity theft.

4 Things That Could Make You a Target for a Tax Audit
Don’t leave yourself vulnerable.

What Happens if You Don’t Pay a Debt?
Nothing good.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Don’t let technology bully you into tipping. Also in the news: 4 things that could make you the target of an audit, how lending a hand by co-signing a loan can backfire, and 7 smart ways to spend a $1,000 tax refund.

Don’t Let Technology Bully You Into Tipping
You decide how much.

4 Things That Could Make You a Target for a Tax Audit
Freelancers especially.

Lending a Hand by Co-Signing a Loan Can Backfire
Good intentions can lead to bad trouble.

7 Smart Ways to Spend a $1,000 Tax Refund
How to spend your windfall.

Q&A: A large foreign bequest could trigger U.S. taxes

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Dear Liz: I have received an inheritance of $445,000 from a relative who died out of the country. Do I have to pay income tax on this money?

Answer: If you inherited from someone who was a U.S. citizen who lived abroad, then that person’s estate may be subject to U.S. estate taxes. The estate would have to be quite large, though. In 2017, estates worth less than $5.49 million per person were exempt from the tax. In 2018, the amount was raised to $11.18 million.

If you had paid any taxes on your inheritance to a foreign government, you could take a tax credit on your U.S. tax return for that amount.

Otherwise, you probably won’t owe any taxes. The federal government and most states don’t levy inheritance taxes on people who receive bequests. The exceptions are Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which do levy taxes on inheritances. All exempt spouses, and some exempt other immediate relatives.