IRS eliminates Direct File. How can I file my taxes for free now?
Direct File — the short-lived, free IRS tax-filing tool — is officially over, shut down less than two years after launch amid shifting priorities in Washington. During its brief run, Direct File gave taxpayers a streamlined, no-upsell way to file their federal taxes for free. Close to 300,000 taxpayers across 25 states used it in […]
FSA vs. HSA: Which account is best for you?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs), also known as healthcare flexible spending arrangements (HCFSAs), let you save for eligible medical expenses with pre-tax dollars. You generally can’t have both types of accounts, so read on to learn the details of each to decide which, if either, is best for you. Both HSAs […]
What is a W-2 form? How to read one and file it correctly.
The IRS Form W-2 is one of the most important documents used when filing your federal tax return. What’s on your W-2 could be the difference between owing a tax payment and receiving a refund. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your return with confidence. The IRS refers to Form W-2 as the […]
How to score Super Bowl 2026 tickets with credit card points
If you aren’t looking to spend an arm and a leg — or a few thousand dollars — on Super Bowl tickets, consider using credit card rewards to soften the blow and book your admission to the bucket-list experience of a lifetime. Even if you don’t have sufficient rewards for the tickets themselves, rewards credit […]
Tax brackets and rates for 2025-2026
Do you know your tax bracket? Even if you do, are you clear on what it means for the taxes you’ll pay. Real quick: Your tax rate is the percentage of income you pay in taxes, but it isn’t the same for all the money you earn. Different portions of income you earn are taxed […]
Tax credit vs. deduction: Which is better?
Saving money by shrinking your tax bill feels great, and it all starts with knowing how to use tax deductions and tax credits to your advantage. Before you file your return, make sure you understand how each one works and why they both reduce your tax burden — just in different ways. A tax credit […]
What is a dependent care FSA?
A dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) is a tax-advantaged account that lets you build tax-free savings for adult and childcare expenses. It’s a nice perk, but it requires some planning, and there are rules you need to follow. DCFSAs are part of many employer benefits packages or cafeteria plans. You can sign up for […]
How sports betting taxes work and what you might owe
Sports betting only became legal in the United States in 2018 after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal ban and ruled that states could individually determine what forms of gambling were legal within their boundaries. This opened the floodgates for various state legislatures to decide whether to allow sports betting. Currently, 40 […]
Meet Seattles New Mayor, Katie Wilson
Activism / January 7, 2026 Her victory was won by the precariat: renters, transit riders, and democratic socialists who rallied, rang doorbells, created social media, and registered new voters. A day after Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration, 3,000 miles west of New York, the people of Seattle celebrated their own democratic socialist miracle, swearing in Mayor Katie […]
Venezuela in American Politics—Plus, VA Housing for Homeless Vets
Jon Wiener: From The Nation magazine, this is Start Making Sense. I’m Jon Wiener. Later in the show: the VA must end homelessness among disabled vets, by providing housing: that’s what the 9th circuit court of appeals ordered in a historic ruling. Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel will explain. But first: Trump, Venezuela, and American […]