How to Cut College Costs by Thousands — and Avoid Decades of Debt As the cost of some private colleges nears $100,000 a year, graduates are drowning in student loans. MarketWatch’s Beth Pinsker will host college admissions expert Andy Lockwood to answer your questio...

This is tomorrow! Sign up now for my free webinar with Andy Lockwood on affording college — saving, neogitating, paying loans. Bring your questions. www.bigmarker.com/barrons-even...

Missed the filing deadline?
Still file.
The penalty for not filing is usually much higher than the penalty for not paying.
Even if you can’t pay yet, filing today can make a real difference.

IRS Issues New Rules For Clergy, Santa Clauses And Other Tipped Workers With just one week left in the tax filing season, the IRS has finalized regulations for the new, temporary, $25,000 tip deduction, with more examples of who qualifies.

The IRS has finalized regs for the “no tax on tips” deduction—and clarified which jobs qualify.

There’s now an official list of tipped occupations, along with rules defining what counts as a “tip” (Santa Claus impersonators are in, tax pros are out).

Details matter:
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

11 Tax Audit Red Flags You Shouldn't Fly When Filing Avoid IRS scrutiny by learning the 11 tax audit red flags you shouldn't fly. Stay informed and file correctly.

Be aware of (and beware!) these 11 tax audit red flags dontmesswithtaxes.com/tax-audit-re...

Intuit Wins Big In FTC Fight Over TurboTax “Free” Ads The Fifth Circuit vacated the FTC’s order, ruling that the case must be heard in federal court. The ruling could signal new limits on in-house enforcement.

The Fifth Circuit made a big call in the Intuit vs. FTC case (centered on whether the "free" ads were misleading).
The finding? The FTC can’t use its own in-house court for the claim, which could mean more such cases end up in federal court going forward. 👇

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Claim 2022 Tax Refund by April 15 2026 or Lose It You can still claim your 2022 tax refund, but hurry! The deadline is April 15, 2026. Learn how to secure your funds.

1.3 million nonfilers in 2023 have until this April 15 to collect their part of $1.2 billion in unclaimed tax refunds dontmesswithtaxes.com/1-3-million-...

Claim 2022 Tax Refund by April 15 2026 or Lose It You can still claim your 2022 tax refund, but hurry! The deadline is April 15, 2026. Learn how to secure your funds.

If you didn't file a 2022 tax year 1040 back in 2023 & were due a refund, you have until April 15 to file that old paperwork & get your unclaimed money. Miss the 4/15/26 deadline, and Uncle Sam gets to keep your tax cash! dontmesswithtaxes.com/1-3-million-...

Shocking!

Meet The IRS Special Agent Earning His Stripes As An NFL Referee During the week, Eugene Hall uses his tech savvy to chase down tax cheats, identity thieves and other fiscal frauds. And on football Sundays, he assesses penalties—five and ten yards at a time.

A fun fact about the side judge for today's Super Bowl. It's once again Eugene Hall. I wrote about him—and his connection to IRS Criminal Investigations—for @forbes.com in 2023.
You can read about him here:
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Filing a 1040 Even If You Do Not Have To Benefits Discover the benefits of filing a 1040 even if you do not have to. It might lead to unexpected refunds and advantages.

6 reasons to file a federal tax return even if you don’t have to dontmesswithtaxes.com/6-reasons-to...

The 10 Most Serious Problems Taxpayers Have With The IRS In her new report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins outlined the 10 biggest challenges taxpayers now face when dealing with the tax agency.

In her new report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins highlighted the 10 biggest challenges taxpayers now face when dealing with the tax agency.

At the top of the list? Amended returns (no surprise here).

You can find the whole list here:

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Bitcoin Jesus Tax Settlement and Its Implications Explore the saga of Bitcoin Jesus and his $49.9 million tax settlement that changed everything. Legal settlement or mere payoff?

Bitcoin Jesus tax evasion charges resolution: Legal settlement or mere payoff?
dontmesswithtaxes.com/dojs-bitcoin...

IRS Offers More Info On How The New Overtime Deduction Works The IRS has released a set of FAQs to answer questions about eligibility, reporting, and limits for the new, temporary overtime deduction.

The IRS has released more guidance about eligibility, reporting, and limits for the new, temporary overtime deduction.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Pay your 4th estimated tax amount by Jan. 15 If you get income that's not subject to withholding, you must cover the tax due by making estimated tax payments. The last one for the 2025 tax year is due Jan. 15, 2026. Yes, that is Thursday.

Don't forget: Pay - electronically is the best way - your 4th estimated tax amount by TODAY, Jan. 15. dontmesswithtaxes.com/pay-your-4th...

The IRS Is Surviving Another Budget Fight In Washington—Barely So far, lawmakers have rejected sweeping reductions to IRS funding sought by the White House, opting for a trim. Still, the agency faces an uncertain future.

Lawmakers rejected deep IRS cuts, opting for a 7% reduction instead.

With the Senate moving the bill forward, a shutdown may be avoided—but questions remain about how long the IRS can keep functioning under ongoing pressure.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Free File Open to Eligible Filers for 2025 Taxes Eligible filers can now benefit from Free File for their taxes. Get started before the official filing season begins.

If you used IRS’ Free File last year to complete your federal taxes, then it's tax déjà vu time. The same eight tax software companies are back for the 2026 tax season. You can use one of them if your 2025 was $89,000 or less.
dontmesswithtaxes.com/same-8-tax-s...

IRS Sets January 26 Start For 2026 Tax Filing Season As Tax Law Changes Take Effect IRS has announced that the 2026 filing season will begin January 26, when tax law changes enacted in 2025, including no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, take effect.

The IRS has announced that the 2026 filing season will begin January 26, when tax law changes enacted in 2025 take effect. Some questions remain about the changes, and further IRS guidance is expected.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Business mileage tax deduction rate goes up in 2026, but two others are cut Understand the business mileage tax deduction for 2026 and maximize your savings with the new rate of 72.5 cents per mile.

If you use your car for business travel, your standard mileage deduction rate will increase 2.5 cents per mile in 2026. Other rates, however, will be lower next year.
dontmesswithtaxes.com/business-mil...

Ways to spend your FSA money so you don’t lose it Mom often is the best doctor. But sometimes, we must turn to professional physicians and treatments. FSA money can help in these cases, as long as you didn't lose the funds because you didn't use them...

Use, don't lose, your FSA funds. If your workplace medical flexible spending account must be spent by Dec. 31, here are some ways to spend those tax-saving funds.
dontmesswithtaxes.com/ways-to-spen...

Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 to all who celebrate!

Headed to an appt at SSA or IRS this week? Under a new executive order from President Trump, some federal offices will be closed on Christmas Eve and December 26, in addition to Christmas Day. Not all federal agencies will follow the same schedule.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Let’s keep an eye 👁️ on this!

Why 2026 Could Be A Good Year For Planned Charitable Giving 2026 gives taxpayers a chance to revisit charitable giving. Whether you’re donating cash, stock or money from a retirement account, a little planning can go a long way.

2026 offers taxpayers an opportunity to revisit charitable giving. Whether you’re donating cash, stock, or money from a retirement account, a little planning can go a long way.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

IRS Must Make Those Confusing Math-Error Notices Easier To Understand Thanks to the IRS MATH Act, the IRS must now explain mistakes in plain English, show any adjustments, and put your 60-day appeal deadline front and center.

Thanks to a new law, the IRS must now explain math-error mistakes in plain English, show any adjustments, and put your 60-day appeal deadline front and center.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

Thanksgiving Home is in Your Heart No matter the years ...or the distance... May you always carry

Warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 bmacards.com/F9jw61

Aspire to decency. Practice civility toward one another. Admire and emulate ethical behavior wherever you find it. Apply a rigid standard of morality to your lives; and if, periodically, you fail—as you surely will—adjust your lives, not the standards.

- Ted Koppel, June 14, 1998

IRS Has Significant Backlogs Following The Shutdown: What's Moving And What's Still Stuck The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is now over. The backlog of work, however, remains. As the IRS scrambles to get back to business as usual, expect delays.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is now over. The backlog of work, however, remains. As the IRS scrambles to get back to business as usual, expect delays. Here’s a look at processing times and what taxpayers and tax professionals should do.

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

What The End Of The Penny Means For Consumers America’s oldest coin had been around since 1793. Now that Trump has stopped the minting of new pennies, will 99 cent pricing disappear? And what about sales taxes?

America’s oldest coin had been around since 1793. Now that the Mint has stopped producing new pennies, will promotional 99-cent pricing disappear? And what about sales taxes?

www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...

The Government Shutdown Rolls On Edition Plus: What’s open at the IRS, the fight over premium tax credits, guidance on OBBBA, Social Security increases, digital taxes and tariffs, Section 179 expenses and more.

The latest edition of our free @forbes.com tax newsletter is out!
This week: The government shutdown rolls on.
Plus: What’s open at IRS, the fight over premium tax credits, guidance on OBBBA, Social Security increases, digital taxes, Section 179, and more.

www.forbes.com/sites/tax-br...