Category: Changes and Deadlines

The IRS began accepting tax year 2025 returns in January, and for millions of families, the refund math looks noticeably different this year. New provisions under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 have raised standard deduction levels and adjusted child tax credit parameters, prompting a wave of speculation that some refund checks could…

The IRS released its 2026 tax bracket adjustments with little fanfare, but the numbers reflect more than routine inflation indexing. The changes trace back to a specific piece of legislation that alters how tax parameters are set, creating a split outcome: some filers stand to keep more of their income, while others face a heavier…

The new SALT deduction rules signed into law by President Trump hand most filers a higher cap on state and local tax write-offs, but households earning between $500,000 and $600,000 face a sharp and punishing phase-down that could erase the benefit entirely. This income band sits in a policy dead zone: too high to claim…

The Internal Revenue Service is warning tax filers that phone lines will likely see a sharp spike in call volume during the week of February 16, 2026, a period the agency considers one of the busiest stretches of every filing season. For millions of Americans trying to check refund status or resolve account questions, that…

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act is already reshaping how millions of American workers think about their tax bills. Under its new deductions for tips and overtime pay, some households could see their federal income tax drop to zero when they file 2025 returns next year. The real question is not just who qualifies on…

One-time tax rebate checks could soon start arriving in Wisconsin mailboxes if lawmakers approve a plan to tap a projected state budget surplus. The proposal has exposed tensions inside the GOP while also prompting direct negotiations between Gov. Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos over how much to send back and how much to…

Picture a nurse in Texas sending part of every paycheck to parents in Mexico, or a student in New York helping family in the Philippines. Starting in 2026, a new 1 percent federal tax on many cash-funded remittances will skim money off those transfers before they ever leave the United States. That change will matter…

The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that a new senior bonus deduction will deliver $93 billion in additional tax relief for seniors over the next four years, offering eligible filers a chance to reduce their 2025 tax bills significantly. This $6,000 deduction per qualifying individual became law when President Biden signed Public Law 119-21 on…

The Internal Revenue Service warns that two of the most valuable tax breaks for working families can also be the ones most likely to slow a refund. When taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), strict timing rules and identity checks can hold up money for weeks….

Congress has long held the power to review and block laws passed by Washington, D.C.’s elected leaders, even when those laws deal with local matters like taxes or criminal justice. That authority comes from the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which created limited self-government in the 1970s while keeping Congress in ultimate control. The…