Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Florida’s push to unwind local property taxes has moved from slogan to a detailed, high stakes experiment in rewriting how the state pays for schools, police, and basic services. Governor Ron DeSantis is now tying that effort more tightly to his broader budget and constitutional agenda, sharpening the focus on who actually benefits and who…
Property taxes are suddenly at the center of some of the boldest tax experiments in decades, from statehouse plans to wipe out bills for homeowners to federal efforts that reshape how much local tax you can write off. Together, these moves could shift thousands of dollars a year for households that own even a modest…
Retirees are staring at one of the most dramatic tax rewrites in years, as President Donald Trump’s so called “big beautiful bill” reshapes how seniors are taxed and how much help they get from Medicare. The law promises richer deductions and short term relief, but it also sets up a cliff that could leave older…
California’s electric vehicle market has been jolted by the sudden disappearance of federal tax credits, turning what was once a straightforward $7,500 discount into a confusing scramble for new incentives. State leaders are now racing to rebuild a patchwork of rebates and matching funds that can keep EVs moving off dealer lots and onto freeways….
Millions of Americans who count on early tax refunds to cover rent, car payments, and credit card bills are discovering that the money they expected within weeks may now arrive much later. A mix of policy changes, processing bottlenecks, and the threat of a federal government shutdown is turning what is usually a predictable payout…
Your tax refund has suddenly become collateral in a political fight in Washington, and the timing could not be worse. With filing season already underway, a partial federal shutdown is colliding with the weeks when millions of households count on refunds to catch up on bills, pay down holiday debt, or rebuild thin savings. I…
Independent contractors enjoy flexibility that traditional employees rarely see, but the tradeoff is a more complicated tax life. Instead of automatic paycheck withholding, you are responsible for calculating what you owe, tracking multiple forms, and hitting a series of quarterly and annual deadlines. Understanding those rules is the difference between smooth filing and surprise penalties….
The Jan. 31 information‑return deadline has come and gone, and if you did not get your 1099s out on time, the clock is already ticking on IRS penalties. The good news is that the system is tiered, so a brief delay costs far less than ignoring the problem altogether, but the bad news is that…
For families with significant assets, 2026 is shaping up as a rare window to move wealth to the next generation with relatively little friction from the tax code. The federal estate and gift framework now combines a high lifetime exemption with stable annual limits, and that mix creates planning opportunities that can sharply reduce what…
California is scrambling to keep its electric vehicle market from stalling after the loss of federal tax breaks, racing to stand up new state rebates before buyers walk away from showrooms. The state is betting that a fresh wave of incentives can keep EV sales growing even as the federal government steps back. I see…