Just a friendly nudge — don’t forget to do your taxes! Here’s how to do it online at no cost.
5 free resources to grow your business
Entrepreneurs and small business owners need all the help they can get. When you’re a self-starter, you’re constantly on the go, multitasking and doing all you can to grow your company quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of free small business resources that can help you along the way.
That’s where we come in. We scoured the internet for some of the best freebies you can use. For example, we recommend saving money on Microsoft Office by using its free alternative, LibreOffice, instead.
It works just as well as Microsoft’s official programs but costs nothing, so you can put your money toward your small business. Tap or click here for our 10 favorite free apps. We also found a ton of business freebies you can use to grow your company. Keep reading to get started.
1. U.S. Small Business Administration
We love this website because it’s practically the Valhalla of small business knowledge. It can help you get funding through SGA-backed loans. It also has many programs to procure financial and federal contracts.
On top of that, it has guides that walk you through expanding to new locations, mastering your management system and more. It also offers specialized advice for female business leaders, minorities and veterans.
You can even use the SBA to find loans that help you when natural disasters hit your small business — or when expanding overseas. It’s a website you need to bookmark. Best of all, it’s free.
We’ve got you covered if you’re short on time and don’t want to click through pages trying to find free resources. We put together some of our favorite freebies from the SBA site. Scroll down for all the details.
2. Master market research and analyze your competitors
You’ll find many helpful small business tips online. Not all of them will apply to your specific situation, though. Sometimes, you just need hard data.
Financial safety: Protect yourself from these emerging tax scams
It happens every year. We need to file our taxes, and scammers come out to steal from us. Here’s what you need to know right now.
Every year, the IRS releases a list of scams to watch out for. These are the biggest ones for this year:
🤑 The tax man cometh … later: The $600 reporting rule for apps like PayPal and Venmo is delayed yet again. This rule says apps owe you a tax form for annual incomes over $600. For another year, personal payments and small sales won’t result in a new tax form. Don’t smile yet; anything over $5,000 (like a car you sell online or your side hustle income), and you’ll receive a Form 1099-K.
3 secrets to building a successful business
Chasing your passions can be scary because it comes with many risks. When I was 25, I left behind a job that paid $150,000 a year so I could help people understand media and technology. Since then, I’ve flourished — and I’d like to teach you three essential tips for starting a business.
Warning: Popular e-file tax site caught spreading malware for weeks
Filing your taxes electronically is a fast and easy way to get the dreaded chore out of the way each year. There are a number of IRS-authorized sites out there, but it seems you can’t even trust that anymore.
You’d think that an authorized site would be safe to use, but you’d be wrong.
🤑 Detroit block(chain) city: Starting in 2025, Detroit residents can use currencies like bitcoin and ethereum to pay for public services and even their taxes. Crypto will be converted into dollars via PayPal. The goal: To attract more tech-savvy residents and tech companies to the city.
⚠️ He was scammed, then taxed for it: A California man lost his life savings to scammers posing as the FTC. The fraudsters convinced him to move his money to a “secure account.” Huge mistake: He sent thousands in cash and gold through couriers and dipped into his retirement accounts, racking up over $30,000 in taxes. It’s one thing getting scammed, but it’s a double whammy to pay taxes on it.
Something that was always supposed to be free finally is: The IRS’ free tax filing program, Direct File, will be available in 24 states next year. It was limited to simple tax situations, like W-2 wage earners or Social Security retirement incomes, but in 2025, it’ll cover complex filings, too. Here’s more info on who can use it.
A 77-year-old woman in Troy, Michigan, was duped out of $80,000 after being told she’d won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. Millions of dollars and three cars could all be hers … after she paid the “taxes” upfront. Her bank warned her it was a scam, but she still wired the money. Sigh.
🛑 Thinking of driving for Uber? Pump the brakes. Dean Ceran, an Uber vet since 2016, grossed $100,000 in 2023 … and ended up with a measly $20,000. Most goes to taxes, maintenance and Uber’s hefty slice.
Here are the cities with the highest Airbnb fees
Here’s one major problem with the rental platform Airbnb. You go online, find a property with a price that works for you and book it — only for the total cost to skyrocket. What gives? Here’s a trick to avoid getting hit with those hidden fees.
Warning: Don't fall for these tax scams making the rounds
The deadline for filing 2023 taxes falls on Tuesday, April 18. Is your paperwork in order?
Scammers are ramping up their efforts as we get closer to the big day. Here are some tax scams to watch out for.
This woman's home was stolen right from under her - Don't let it happen to you
Your home is likely the largest purchase you’ll ever make. Homeownership is a lifelong commitment between mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, renovations, repair, and decorating.
Think about how much email correspondence you get just for your home. Bills and other important documents can get lost in the clutter of your inbox. You can prevent this by creating an email address just for your home. Tap or click here to learn more.
When to hire an employee vs. a contractor
So you need new talent to lighten the workload, but you aren’t sure about how much you should commit. If you’re wondering if you should hire an employee or an independent contractor, you’ve come to the right place. First, you need to break down exactly what you need and what you can afford.
Delete your selfies from ID.me - You don't need this to do your taxes
Filing taxes is a chore that most people don’t want to deal with. Unfortunately, there is no way of getting around them. It should be a painless experience, but the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made things more complex late last year.
True or false: You need to submit a selfie with your taxes this year
Many careers have been affected by the pandemic, as people were laid off or switched to remote work. Others found new sources of income, selling things or providing services online.
If you receive income via third-party payment processors such as PayPal, CashApp or Venmo, you may need to change how you report it. The government has added a provision for people earning more than $600 per year through third-party payment processors. Tap or click here to see how this change may affect you.
True or false: The federal government is tracking payments to friends and family over $600
The deadline for filing 2021 taxes is coming up. Tax Day falls on Monday, April 18, 2022. Is your paperwork in order?
Tax deductions are not always clear-cut. You may miss an opportunity to reduce the amount of money you need to send to Uncle Sam. We went ahead and put together eight tax deductions to get you started. Tap or click here to check out our list. And there might be changes that impact you this year.
Check the mail for this letter about your final IRS stimulus payment
The global pandemic shows no signs of letting up, with millions of people still struggling from furloughs or price increases. If you need to get tested for COVID-19, here’s where you can find at-home tests that are in stock.
Here's who can claim home office tax deductions (Sorry, remote workers)
The number of people who work remotely increased as the pandemic took hold, and while some have returned to the office, others are still working at home. People have started businesses from home or new careers as they were laid off or resigned from their jobs.