It’s tax season, and scammers are paying to show up first when you search for IRS help.
🫀 Teen heart hacker: A 14-year-old in Texas built an AI-powered heart screening app that can detect cardiac issues in seven seconds with just a smartphone mic. Yes, seriously. It’s 96% accurate and already in clinical trials. App detects heart failure? I wonder if it can hear mine breaking during tax season.
$2.25
The nightly fee Hawaii’s tacking onto a $300 hotel stay, for climate karma points. It’s barely the price of a sad airport coffee, but multiplied by millions of tourists, it adds up, with some estimates as high as $100 million annually. Hawaii just became the first U.S. state to hit tourists with a climate tax: a 0.75% hike. Mahalo.
🪀 RIP, cheap stuff: The days of filling carts with $2 eyebrow stamp kits and glow-in-the-dark toilet lights might be numbered. Global trade crackdowns (like killing the “de minimis” tax loophole) are making it harder for cheap imports from places like Temu and SHEIN to flood U.S. markets. Goodbye, weird little gadgets. You served … some purpose.
💸 IRS scam link: It never stops. This time, if you Google how to get a business tax ID, the top results look official, but they’re not (paywall link). They’re ads from companies that charge you over $300 for something the IRS does for free. The real IRS site ends in .gov. Anything else? Fake.
Over $1 billion
In unclaimed tax refunds from 2021 will expire in four weeks. If you didn’t file your 2021 tax return, act fast or that money goes straight to the U.S. Treasury … forever. The average refund is $781, but some could get as much as $6,728! The deadline is April 15, 2025. See if you’re eligible on the IRS website.
It's (almost) always a scam
Scammers are using AI to pull off their most convincing tax fraud yet. Here’s what to watch for and how to protect yourself.
How to earn $25 million a year on eBay
Linda Lightman started by selling her kids’ video games on eBay in the ’90s. Today, she operates a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse with a dedicated team, all thanks to her eBay success. Plus, updates on Apple’s AI developments and tax credits for EVs.
California tests car tracking to tax your driving
California’s new road charge will track your mileage and charge you a fee based on how far you drive. Here’s my take in this short podcast.
Tax tip: How to deduct miles
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Tax dollars wasted on broadband services
Why waste taxpayer dollars on cable when satellite’s available? Here’s my take on why it’s time to switch, in 60 seconds.
Most invasive apps, Netflix sharing ends, ChatGPT news
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Shocker about EV tax credits you have to hear to believe
Want to help fight inflation? The government says you should buy an electric car! In 60 seconds, I’ll break down all the details.
How to boost your tax refund this year
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Tax tip: Easy way to scan docs without a scanner
Ready to scan all of your receipts for tax time? Listen to this one-minute podcast to get it done in a snap.
Watch out for child tax credit stimulus scammers
More stimulus money is coming in July and scammers are already working to rip you off. This time, they promise to help you extract the money from the IRS. Don’t fall for it!
The U.S. Digital Dollar is coming
The White House will require all cryptocurrency transfers of $10,000 or more to be reported for tax purposes. Here’s the full story.
Taxes and the pandemic: New rules to watch out for
It’s tax time. Get ready for hair-pulling, nail-biting and double-checking numbers so you don’t upset the IRS. Luckily, I’m here with everything you need to know this tax season, from COVID’s impact to the different tax websites you can file through. We’re talking about loans, finding your tax rates, common pitfalls and more with Rachel Cheek, a certified public accountant.
Good or bad for America - Behind the online sales tax supreme court ruling
The Supreme Court ruled allowing the states to collect sales taxes on online sales. Let’s get to the heart of the matter: Do you think this is right or wrong for America?