California’s affordability crisis has worsened over the past decade with skyrocketing gas prices, a housing and homelessness crunch, and other living costs on the rise — and what Californians are paying for health insurance is getting worse, too, according to new national data. The Golden State saw a staggering 45.8% jump in the amount of … Read more
It’s a taxing time. While the official tax day is always April 15, if you filed an extension, Oct. 15 is your new deadline. The new due date gives taxpayers six extra months to get their paperwork in order. According to the IRS, over 20 million taxpayers are expected to file tax returns by the … Read more
Americans can brew beer in their kitchens and make wine at home, but just try making a bottle of whiskey or gin — and people can run afoul of a federal law that dates back more than 150 years. That distinction caught the attention of Ohio resident John Ream, a former aerospace engineer and home-brewing … Read more
The scale may go down, but it doesn’t always stay there. About 1 in 8 American adults now says they’ve used GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight or manage a chronic condition. But many also stop using them — and often regain the weight. “It came back with taxes,” said Pamela … Read more
Wealthy Californians are fleeing the Golden State’s punishing policies for the snow-capped Southern Alps in New Zealand. A surge of wealthy Americans, particularly Californians, are snapping up “golden visas,” where they pay at least NZ$5 million — roughly $2.9 million — to secure the right to live, work and study in the country, the Financial … Read more
Californians already struggling to afford day-to-day necessities will be hit even harder next year when a hefty increase in health insurance rates goes into effect. Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, announced this month that its private health plans will see prices rise on average 9.9% in 2027 for the second straight year. This … Read more
Kids are bummed, but parents are beaming. While summer isn’t over just yet, back-to-school shopping can soon be checked off the list. And your state may be the reason for some serious savings. Running from July into August, states across the country have sales tax holidays — tax-free weeks where states eliminate tax from select … Read more
With summer in full swing, gas prices are shifting into high gear. States across the country are increasing their gas tax right as the Fourth of July weekend approaches — happy birthday, America. The time comes as pump prices are still 40% higher than in February. And the state with the highest gas tax in … Read more
Attorneys for comedian Carlos Mencia are demanding his immediate release from jail, blasting what they describe as an “absurd show of force” after the comic was arrested in a sweeping tax fraud case unveiled by prosecutors as the debut bust for a new Los Angeles business crime unit. The emergency motion, filed in the Van … Read more
California Democrats agreed this week to tax-related proposals that could raise health insurance premiums and slap a new tax on software downloads — as critics blast the deal for piling on costs at the worst possible time. California lawmakers inked a $356 billion state budget late Monday that will be negotiated and finalized with Gov. … Read more
Think all clothing sizes are priced equally? Fat chance. The bigger the person, the bigger the price tag. It’s the crushing reality that shoppers of a certain size claim to face, per trending allegations that Target imposes “fat tax” surcharges on plus-size clothing. “I brought a size [Large] and a 3x [Extra Large] to the … Read more
San Diego’s crippling tax on vacation homeowners has spectacularly backfires as it emerges it is losing around $10 million per year. Hundreds of short-term rental property owners are simply not paying the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The tax, which ranges from 8% to 13.75% and impacts platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, applies to stays of … Read more
One of Europe’s most crowded tourist cities is cracking down on cruises and their passengers, with the mayor of the city pushing to fast-track a tax hike on short-stay passengers. Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni on Wednesday said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current … Read more
According to a new study, tax refunds are continuing to increase year-on-year — but half said they’ve had to spend it all on necessities just to get by. The poll of 2,000 U.S. taxpayers who have received their tax refund this year found the average person got $2,825 back, a healthy increase from $2,300 from … Read more
Need a tax break? Today, April 15, is Tax Day, and after all that time and energy spent filing taxes, you might want to treat yourself. Luckily, there are plenty of food deals and freebies available to get your hands on. File your taxes then head to one of these restaurants for extra savings this … Read more
A change at the U.S. Postal Service could ultimately push up your deadline to file taxes. Taxes are due April 15, but if you’re filing by mail, the necessary deadline could actually be as early as April 9, thanks to a little-known switch at the USPS, tax experts warn. In January, the mail service said … Read more
Tax Day is quickly approaching, and with just one week left to file, it’s important to keep a close eye on common mistakes that taxpayers make. Filling out tax returns can be confusing, and there are some easy ways that people can slip up when filing themselves, according to Lisa Greene-Lewis, TurboTax expert and CPA, … Read more
They’re getting a poor return on their precious time investment. A mere typo in a tax document has threatened the refunds of more than 50,000 taxpayers in New York, leading to some receiving smaller payouts than anticipated, while others were sent notices asking for additional payments. The error has since been corrected, officials said, but … Read more
As Californians suffer from highest-in-the-nation gas prices, GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has one easy fix — follow Australia. Australia on Monday announced it will slash the fuel excise tax in half from April to June, which would save drivers nearly 13 dollars on a 17-gallon tank of fuel, reported Al-Jazeera. Now it’s on to … Read more
Some pet owners might be able to snag a $1,000 “dog credit” this tax season to help pay for food and other necessities for four-legged friends. As Americans are gearing up to submit their tax returns by Tax Day on April 15, pet parents may be wondering if they can get a break by claiming … Read more