Author: troyashbacher

The IRS ended Direct File, the free, online pilot program that nearly 300,000 taxpayers in 25 states used to file returns for tax year 2024. The IRS website for Direct File says “Direct File is closed. More information will be available at a later date.” “We have better alternatives,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the acting IRS commissioner, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, according to multiple news outlets. “It wasn’t used very much, and we think that the private sector can do a better job.” Direct File allowed eligible taxpayers to file tax returns directly with the IRS…

As a parent, there’s nothing quite like watching your child’s eyes light up on Christmas morning. That joy is what makes the late-night wrapping, the budgeting, and even the long lines at the store feel worth it. But somewhere along the way, many of us have felt the pressure for that joy to come with a price tag. The bigger the pile, the better the morning — or so we’ve been led to believe. I’ve been there too. When my oldest, James, was little, I used to measure how magical Christmas would feel by how many gifts I could afford…

No one is perfect. We don’t always get it right on the first try — on the golf course or in retirement.According to one legend, Canadian golfer David Bernard Mulligan once hit a bad tee shot, re-teed and jokingly called it a “correction shot.” His friends embraced the term, and the “mulligan” was born.Many retirees wish they could do the same. For example, 62% of retirees would like to go back and plan differently for retirement, a Lincoln Financial Group survey found. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE…

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on November 5 to determine whether the president’s emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) include the power to impose tariffs. If the Court strikes them down, many US consumers and businesses could temporarily breathe a sigh of relief, as this would render most of President Trump’s imposed tariffs illegal. However, even without IEEPA, many goods would continue to face tariffs. The Trump administration’s Section 232 tariffs would remain in place, and the scope of these tariffs could potentially broaden over the ensuing months, especially if the president pursues other…

The IRS sent layoff notices to almost 1,400 employees, adding to the losses at the agency where 25% of staff had left as of May, according to a court document filed earlier this week in a lawsuit brought by unions against the federal government. In a previous document filed by Treasury in the lawsuit being heard in the Northern District of California, officials said 1,446 Treasury employees would be laid off. The IRS provided specifics of those layoffs on Tuesday, saying 1,399 of those 1,446 work at the IRS. According to this week’s court document, reduction-in-force notices were sent to:…

Key Takeaways On October 1st the U.S. federal government shut down after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep it funded. Now in its sixth week, the shutdown marks the longest lapse in federal funding in U.S. history. Congress remains at a standstill over whether to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs). About three quarters of the public continue to say Congress should extend the expiring tax credits, including more than nine in ten (94%) Democrats, three in four (76%) independents, and half of Republicans. As the debate continues, this poll shows that…

The July 2025 budget reconciliation law, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, established the Rural Health Transformation Program (referred to here as the “rural health fund”), which will distribute $50 billion to states with approved applications. The rural health fund was created to help offset the impact on rural areas of the law—which includes an estimated $911 billion in federal Medicaid spending reductions over ten years, including an estimated $137 billion in rural areas based on KFF estimates. The fund was also motivated by ongoing concerns about the financial vulnerability of many rural hospitals. CMS has indicated that the funds…

Authored by KFF’s Jen Kates and Boston University’s Debbie Stenoien and Allyala Nandakumar as well as independent consultant Michael Ruffner, this post for ThinkGlobalHealth identifies and examines several key issues and questions that lie ahead for the America First Global Health Strategy — the first roadmap for what comes next for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other global health programs the United States supports financially.

This Healthy System Tracker analysis, authored by KFF and the Peterson Center on Healthcare, examines remote monitoring technologies, identifying the types of patients and health conditions they serve and what is spent on these services. There are an estimated 300,000 adults with employer-sponsored health coverage for whom insurers received at least one remote monitoring claim in 2023. Among adults under 65 with private health insurance, older people and women are most likely to use remote monitoring. These services are mostly used for people with hypertension and other circulatory diseases, and musculoskeletal conditions. The median cost of remote monitoring varies, ranging…

American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty are two home warranty companies with wide coverage, offering repairs for major home systems and appliances. While American Home Shield will pay more toward approved repairs, Choice Home Warranty tends to be more affordable for premiums and service fees.NerdWallet rating NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty’s cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.  Limited-Time Deal: $50 off and 1st month of membership for free when the payment is annualon Choice Home Warranty’s websiteNerdWallet rating NerdWallet’s ratings are determined…