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☆ Here's how to pick the best free tax filing option this season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

IRS Free FileA public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Alliance, a nonprofit comprised of tax software companies, IRS Free File offers free guided tax prep software for eligible filers. If you're comfortable with tax software, Free File has eight partners this season, with varying income eligibility — and some offer free linked state filings. Volunteer tax prep from IRS programsIf you're looking for more guidance, you may also qualify for free tax prep from IRS programs with trained volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program offers free tax prep for taxpayers typically making up to $64,000, in addition to filers with disabilities and limited English proficiency. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide also offers free tax prep for low- to moderate-income older adults.

Persons: Tim Hugo, Hugo, Steven Hamilton Organizations: U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Taxpayers, IRS, Alliance, National Taxpayer, Volunteer, Internal Revenue, The George Washington University, Social Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

☆ Nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim this 'valuable credit,' IRS says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Laylabird | E+ | Getty ImagesTens of millions of Americans file tax returns every year — and many are missing a "valuable credit," according to the IRS. In 2022, roughly 23 million filers received $57 billion from the earned income tax credit, or EITC, a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers. But nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim the EITC, which averaged $2,541 in 2022, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters during a press call last week. How the earned income tax credit works"The credit is reasonably complex," said Steven Hamilton, assistant professor of economics at The George Washington University. There's a 'high improper payments rate'"Millions of eligible taxpayers fail to claim the EITC, while other taxpayers claim amounts for which they are not eligible, leading to a high improper payments rate," National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in the 2023 Purple Book of legislative recommendations.

Persons: Danny Werfel, you've, Steven Hamilton, Hamilton, There's, Erin Collins Organizations: The George Washington University, IRS, Center, Black, Stanford University Locations: U.S

☆ House passes child tax credit expansion — which could benefit millions of families, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

J_art | Moment | Getty ImagesHouse lawmakers on Wednesday night passed a $78 billion bipartisan tax package, including a child tax credit expansion that could benefit millions of children in low-income families, according to policy experts. If enacted, the bill would expand access to the child tax credit, or CTC, and retroactively boost the refundable portion for 2023, which could affect taxpayers this filing season. The child poverty rate "precipitously dropped" during the 2021 child tax credit expansion, Hamilton said. Modeling a permanent version of the 2021 child tax credit increase, the report projects higher graduation rates and future earnings for childhood child tax credit recipients. Nikhita Airi Research analyst at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

Persons: Chuck Marr, Marr, Steven Hamilton, Hamilton Organizations: Images, Center, Budget, Urban, Brookings Tax, The George Washington University, Rescue Plan, Columbia University, . Census, CTC, Urban Institute, Modeling, Airi

☆ The world will have its first trillionaire within a decade, but poverty won't be eradicated for another 229 years, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In just three years, the world has witnessed a "supercharged surge in extreme wealth," new data shows. In the U.S. alone, billionaires are 46% richer than they were in 2020, while the three wealthiest men — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison — have increased their net worth by 84%, a recent Oxfam report on global inequality found. If current trends continue, the world will have its first trillionaire within a decade, but poverty won't be eradicated for another 229 years. "We expect to see continued concentration of extreme wealth at the very top," added Rebecca Riddell, policy lead economic and racial justice at Oxfam. There are, however, signs of progress, noted Steven Hamilton, assistant professor of economics at George Washington University.

Persons: — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison —, Amitabh Behar, Rebecca Riddell, Steven Hamilton Organizations: Oxfam, America, U.S . Census, Interim, Finance, House Republicans, George Washington University Locations: U.S

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