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Maximize your refund: Tips for debt, savings and investments

Maximize your refund: Tips for debt, savings and investments
Tax deductions help keep more money in your pocket, and when it's time to file your return, there are typically two ways to take them the standard deduction, *** single fixed amount, or itemize all of your deductions. How do you determine which is better for you itemized or standard? Basically, you look at the numbers. Phillips Joey is *** member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents with decades of experience in tax filing. We asked her about the most common personal deductions you could be missing out. On if you don't itemize out of pocket medical expenses, state and local taxes. Another big one is mortgage interest. Let's break those down. Medical expenses can be deducted once they exceed 7.5% of your gross income. State and local taxes like property taxes, can be deducted up to $10,000 and you can deduct interest paid on mortgage debt up to $750,000 to *** million dollars, depending on when you bought. Your home. All of these categories, they have to exceed the standard deduction, and the standard deduction has actually gotten *** lot higher. The standard deduction for tax year 2024 is $14,600 if you're single or married filing separately, $21,900 for head of household, and $29,200 for married couples filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouses. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 27. nearly doubled the standard deduction and eliminated or capped many itemized deductions. They were things like investment related expenses, tax preparation. The big one was unreimbursed employee business expenses. So those are all gone. The most recent IRS data shows only about 9% of taxpayers itemized deductions in tax year 2022. Ultimately, the standard deduction may be your best bet, but bottom line, do your math. If you itemize your deductions, it's important to keep your detailed records all throughout the year and hold on to them. The IRS can typically audit you up to 3 years after filing, and if they find *** substantial error, they may go back up to 6 years. Reporting in Washington, I'm Amy Lowe.
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Maximize your refund: Tips for debt, savings and investments
Congratulations for getting your taxes done and filed.If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re in line for a refund 바카라 게임 웹사이트 or already have received one 바카라 게임 웹사이트 you바카라 게임 웹사이트re in good company. A majority of U.S. filers typically do get money back. And this year is no exception.Based on the latest data from the IRS, as of April 4, the agency had already paid out $211 billion in refunds to nearly 68% of the households that had filed returns to the agency. The average payout was $3,116.Whatever amount you바카라 게임 웹사이트re getting, it바카라 게임 웹사이트s worth taking a beat to consider how best to use it to improve your current financial situation. And by 바카라 게임 웹사이트best,바카라 게임 웹사이트 think getting the most bang for your buck and increasing your psychological sense of security in what are objectively very uncertain times thanks to the confusing on-again, off-again U.S. tariffs regime, among other things.Get a 20% risk-free returnIt바카라 게임 웹사이트s hard to overstate just how many financial experts consistently hammer home the point that whenever possible you should pay off your expensive credit card debt.The average rate on a consumer credit card is 20.09%, according to Bankrate.com. So if you reduce or eliminate your debt at that kind of level, 바카라 게임 웹사이트it바카라 게임 웹사이트s a 20% risk-free return,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Greg McBride, Bankrate바카라 게임 웹사이트s chief financial analyst.If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re carrying balances on different cards at different rates, mathematically it makes sense to pay off your highest rate debt first, McBride said.But Dan Bennett, a certified financial planner with Lake Water Advisory, also noted that 바카라 게임 웹사이트there바카라 게임 웹사이트s a spreadsheet answer and an emotional answer.바카라 게임 웹사이트 By that he means it might make you feel good to use your refund to wipe away a smaller balance on a card so you can rack up a psychological win in paying off all that you owe. That바카라 게임 웹사이트s okay, he said, but only if the rate on the debt you want to eliminate is no more than five or six percentage points below that of your largest balance. If the differential is much larger, it makes more sense to apply it to your highest rate debt.If your refund reduces but does not eliminate your credit card debt, see if you qualify for a zero-interest balance transfer card, which can buy you up to 21 months interest free to pay off your remaining debt, said Jody D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini, a certified financial planner with Falcon Financial Group in alliance with Equitable Advisors.Cushion yourself against emergenciesFigure out how much cash you have for emergencies, including job loss. Ideally you바카라 게임 웹사이트ll want three to six months바카라 게임 웹사이트 worth of living expenses set aside; or up to a year바카라 게임 웹사이트s worth if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re self-employed or are your family바카라 게임 웹사이트s sole breadwinner.Or, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini suggested, you might consider having nine to 12 months바카라 게임 웹사이트 worth of expenses if your job is reliant on federal government contracts, which may be cut back; or you otherwise work in an industry that isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t offering great job security. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Employers are taking longer to hire these days. And you don바카라 게임 웹사이트t want to (just) get a job. You want to get the job that you want. And you don바카라 게임 웹사이트t want to feel crunched to make a decision if your money is running out,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she said.While recommended emergency-fund cash levels are hard to attain for many people, 바카라 게임 웹사이트They are a destination, not a starting point,바카라 게임 웹사이트 McBride said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트A refund can propel you down that pathway.바카라 게임 웹사이트And the good news is your emergency cash can earn a solid, inflation-beating return if you park it in an online high-yield savings account at an FDIC-insured bank, in a money market mutual fund, in a certificate of deposit or in a short-term Treasury bill, all of which are currently yielding roughly between 3.8% and 4.5%.바카라 게임 웹사이트You바카라 게임 웹사이트re still rewarded for cash right now,바카라 게임 웹사이트 D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini said.Split your refund to hit more than one goalChances are you may have competing financial goals. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s not necessarily either-or. If your windfall is big enough, you can make progress on multiple fronts. That average of $3,100 might let you pay down the last of your credit card debt, put some money in your emergency savings and then use the final chunk to take care of deferred maintenance on your home or automobile, so it doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트t cost you more later,바카라 게임 웹사이트 McBride said.Or, if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re not feeling like you바카라 게임 웹사이트ve got adequate job security, you might put your refund toward an emergency savings account, while using the earnings from that account to pay down some of your credit card balance on a zero-rate balance transfer card, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini suggested.Take advantage of lower stock pricesAnother way to split your refund is to divide it between short- and long-term savings, assuming you바카라 게임 웹사이트re not carrying credit card debt. Or, if you already have enough in emergency reserves, you can simply put the money towards your retirement savings.For instance, Bennett suggested taking advantage of the fact that the market rout in the past few weeks pushed stock prices lower. If you qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA 바카라 게임 웹사이트 where your after-tax money can grow and be withdrawn tax-free 바카라 게임 웹사이트 바카라 게임 웹사이트it may be a great opportunity to max out now,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Bennett said. Especially if you have a really long time horizon.Spend your refund smartlyIf you바카라 게임 웹사이트re fairly well set 바카라 게임 웹사이트 no credit card debt and adequate emergency and retirement savings 바카라 게임 웹사이트 you might consider buying something you want or need.While higher prices from President Donald Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s tariffs regime haven바카라 게임 웹사이트t filtered down to the consumer yet, they will, possibly as early as this summer 바카라 게임 웹사이트 unless there are major changes to his trade policy. There바카라 게임 웹사이트s no predicting anything.But if your old car or washing machine is on its last legs anyway and you were planning to get a new one later this year or early next, you might consider using your refund towards making the purchase a little sooner before the cost rises and inventories run out, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini said.Or, if you have the cash flow and you바카라 게임 웹사이트re worried about potential layoffs, you might consider using your refund to help pre-pay essential expenses 바카라 게임 웹사이트 e.g., home and auto insurance expenses for the rest of the year 바카라 게임 웹사이트 if that would make you feel more secure, Bennett said.

Congratulations for getting your taxes done and filed.

If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re in line for a refund 바카라 게임 웹사이트 or already have received one 바카라 게임 웹사이트 you바카라 게임 웹사이트re in good company. A majority of U.S. filers typically do get money back. And this year is no exception.

Advertisement

Based on the latest data from the IRS, as of April 4, the agency had already paid out $211 billion in refunds to nearly 68% of the households that had filed returns to the agency. The average payout was $3,116.

Whatever amount you바카라 게임 웹사이트re getting, it바카라 게임 웹사이트s worth taking a beat to consider how best to use it to improve your current financial situation. And by 바카라 게임 웹사이트best,바카라 게임 웹사이트 think getting the most bang for your buck and increasing your psychological sense of security in what are objectively very uncertain times thanks to the confusing on-again, off-again U.S. tariffs regime, among other things.

Get a 20% risk-free return

It바카라 게임 웹사이트s hard to overstate just how many financial experts consistently hammer home the point that whenever possible you should pay off your expensive credit card debt.

The average rate on a consumer credit card is 20.09%, according to Bankrate.com. So if you reduce or eliminate your debt at that kind of level, 바카라 게임 웹사이트it바카라 게임 웹사이트s a 20% risk-free return,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Greg McBride, Bankrate바카라 게임 웹사이트s chief financial analyst.

If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re carrying balances on different cards at different rates, mathematically it makes sense to pay off your highest rate debt first, McBride said.

But Dan Bennett, a certified financial planner with Lake Water Advisory, also noted that 바카라 게임 웹사이트there바카라 게임 웹사이트s a spreadsheet answer and an emotional answer.바카라 게임 웹사이트 By that he means it might make you feel good to use your refund to wipe away a smaller balance on a card so you can rack up a psychological win in paying off all that you owe. That바카라 게임 웹사이트s okay, he said, but only if the rate on the debt you want to eliminate is no more than five or six percentage points below that of your largest balance. If the differential is much larger, it makes more sense to apply it to your highest rate debt.

If your refund reduces but does not eliminate your credit card debt, see if you qualify for a zero-interest balance transfer card, which can buy you up to 21 months interest free to pay off your remaining debt, said Jody D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini, a certified financial planner with Falcon Financial Group in alliance with Equitable Advisors.

Cushion yourself against emergencies

Figure out how much cash you have for emergencies, including job loss. Ideally you바카라 게임 웹사이트ll want three to six months바카라 게임 웹사이트 worth of living expenses set aside; or up to a year바카라 게임 웹사이트s worth if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re self-employed or are your family바카라 게임 웹사이트s sole breadwinner.

Or, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini suggested, you might consider having nine to 12 months바카라 게임 웹사이트 worth of expenses if your job is reliant on federal government contracts, which may be cut back; or you otherwise work in an industry that isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t offering great job security. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Employers are taking longer to hire these days. And you don바카라 게임 웹사이트t want to (just) get a job. You want to get the job that you want. And you don바카라 게임 웹사이트t want to feel crunched to make a decision if your money is running out,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she said.

While recommended emergency-fund cash levels are hard to attain for many people, 바카라 게임 웹사이트They are a destination, not a starting point,바카라 게임 웹사이트 McBride said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트A refund can propel you down that pathway.바카라 게임 웹사이트

And the good news is your emergency cash can earn a solid, inflation-beating return if you park it in an online high-yield savings account at an FDIC-insured bank, in a money market mutual fund, in a certificate of deposit or in a short-term Treasury bill, all of which are currently yielding roughly between 3.8% and 4.5%.

바카라 게임 웹사이트You바카라 게임 웹사이트re still rewarded for cash right now,바카라 게임 웹사이트 D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini said.

Split your refund to hit more than one goal

Chances are you may have competing financial goals. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s not necessarily either-or. If your windfall is big enough, you can make progress on multiple fronts. That average of $3,100 might let you pay down the last of your credit card debt, put some money in your emergency savings and then use the final chunk to take care of deferred maintenance on your home or automobile, so it doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트t cost you more later,바카라 게임 웹사이트 McBride said.

Or, if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re not feeling like you바카라 게임 웹사이트ve got adequate job security, you might put your refund toward an emergency savings account, while using the earnings from that account to pay down some of your credit card balance on a zero-rate balance transfer card, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini suggested.

Take advantage of lower stock prices

Another way to split your refund is to divide it between short- and long-term savings, assuming you바카라 게임 웹사이트re not carrying credit card debt. Or, if you already have enough in emergency reserves, you can simply put the money towards your retirement savings.

For instance, Bennett suggested taking advantage of the fact that the market rout in the past few weeks pushed stock prices lower. If you qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA 바카라 게임 웹사이트 where your after-tax money can grow and be withdrawn tax-free 바카라 게임 웹사이트 바카라 게임 웹사이트it may be a great opportunity to max out now,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Bennett said. Especially if you have a really long time horizon.

Spend your refund smartly

If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re fairly well set 바카라 게임 웹사이트 no credit card debt and adequate emergency and retirement savings 바카라 게임 웹사이트 you might consider buying something you want or need.

While higher prices from President Donald Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s tariffs regime haven바카라 게임 웹사이트t filtered down to the consumer yet, they will, possibly as early as this summer 바카라 게임 웹사이트 unless there are major changes to his trade policy. There바카라 게임 웹사이트s no predicting anything.

But if your old car or washing machine is on its last legs anyway and you were planning to get a new one later this year or early next, you might consider using your refund towards making the purchase a little sooner before the cost rises and inventories run out, D바카라 게임 웹사이트Agostini said.

Or, if you have the cash flow and you바카라 게임 웹사이트re worried about potential layoffs, you might consider using your refund to help pre-pay essential expenses 바카라 게임 웹사이트 e.g., home and auto insurance expenses for the rest of the year 바카라 게임 웹사이트 if that would make you feel more secure, Bennett said.