Personal finance

Asiavision | E+ | Getty Images If you haven’t filed your taxes because you owe money, it may be a costly mistake, financial experts say. That’s because the late filing penalty for federal taxes is 5% of your unpaid balance per month capped at 25%, whereas the late payment fee is 0.5%, said certified financial planner Larry Harris, director

A driver uses the Uber app to drop off a passenger. Chris J. Ratcliffe | Bloomberg via Getty Images When Sergio Avedian, 55, started driving full time for Uber and Lyft in 2016, he used to make $3,000 a week. “Now, it’s impossible to make that kind of money,” he said. Coming out of the

Thomas Barwick | Digitalvision | Getty Images A shortened workweek may become the reality for many employees in California. Legislation is now working its way through the state legislature that would make the standard workweek 32 hours for companies with more than 500 workers. There would be no cut in pay, and those who work

The Biden administration has grappled with ending the pause on loan payments as the economy’s recovery from pandemic lows continues. Jose M. Osorio | Tribune News Service | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education has extended the payment pause on federal student loans for the sixth time since the pandemic began more than two

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty Images As the coronavirus pandemic wears on and government aid sent at the beginning of the crisis runs out, Americans are feeling the impact of tight budgets. One-quarter of Americans said that they felt financially stressed all the time last year, according to a CNBC + Acorns Invest in

Luminola | E+ | Getty Images When you find yourself about a decade away from retirement, it might be time to evaluate whether that target-date fund you’ve been investing in still makes sense for you. Although these “set it and forget it” funds offer a way to put your savings on autopilot by gradually shifting

Justin Paget | Digitalvision | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic has increased Americans’ awareness of the need to have a will, living trust or other similar end-of-life document prepared. Yet only about 33% of Americans have put these plans in place, according to a new survey from senior living referral service Caring.com. That means that

Inflation is surging — and if it keeps up, Americans may start nixing their travel plans. Some 40% of U.S. adults said they would cancel a vacation or trip if consumer prices continue to rise, according to a new CNBC + Acorns Invest in You survey, conducted by Momentive. The online poll was taken March

Travelers booking luxury trips to Europe have not canceled amid the Ukraine war, says travel advisor Jessica Griscavage of Runway Travel. Pictured, Grignan, France. Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no end in sight, how are Americans’ European vacation plans being affected? It depends on whom you

Hinterhaus Productions | Getty Images About 7.7 million Americans count on monthly government checks through a program for low-income seniors or people with disabilities. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, as it’s known, provided an average benefit of $569 per month as of November. One big change — updating the program’s rules around income from work

In this article TREE Anchiy Tax Day is swiftly approaching, and for most filers that means a refund is also likely on the way. This year, many taxpayers are planning to save any refunds they receive in an effort to boost their personal wealth. Some 46% of people plan to save their refunds, according to

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks during a Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing on Feb. 23, 2021. Greg Nash | Pool | Reuters Americans increasingly favor a wealth tax on the ultra-rich. But despite an uptick in proposals, these policies have struggled to gain traction. President Joe Biden in March unveiled the latest federal wealth tax

bymuratdeniz | iStock | Getty Images There are 10 days until April 18, the tax deadline for most Americans, and the IRS has already sent more than 63 million refunds worth over $204 billion in total, as of April 1, the agency reported Friday. Almost one-third of Americans don’t file until the last minute, according to a

If you’re one of those procrastinators who still hasn’t filed your taxes, you’re not alone. About one-third of Americans wait until the very last minute.  A survey from IPX 1031 finds the most common reason this year for the delay is the belief that if there’s no refund, there’s no rush to file. Nearly one-third

Carla Osborn, second from left, with her classmates at Clovis Community College in New Mexico. Source: Bob Dart “I didn’t want to give up, but it could have come to the point that I couldn’t afford school,” said Carla Osborn, 31, from Portales, New Mexico. Osborn is studying nursing at Clovis Community College, located in a

Willie B. Thomas | Digitalvision | Getty Images Saving for retirement is an important financial task. But what should workers do if they don’t have access to a sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), through their employer? In 2021, 28% of workers in private industry and state and local government didn’t have an employer-sponsored retirement

Recent graduates may have just gotten an extended break on their student loan payments, but college debt remains a substantial hurdle for nearly everyone with a degree. “Attending and affording college can be next to impossible without taking out a student loan, thanks to the exponential rise in college tuition,” said Bankrate.com analyst Sarah Foster.

A “Now Hiring” advertisement in a store window in Bay Shore, New York, on March 24, 2022. Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images Claims for unemployment insurance last week fell to their lowest level in more than 50 years — yet another sign workers are reaping the benefits of a hot labor market. Americans filed

Student Olivia Raymond participates in a personal finance course in her middle school class in West Orange, New Jersey, in February 2020. CNBC Pursuing financial literacy is something that should continue beyond traditional school years, according to several state governors. “We think it’s a lifelong experience,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told CNBC’s Sharon Epperson

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Most payday loan borrowers aren’t using the lowest-cost repayment option in states where it’s available, perpetuating a cycle of high fees and debt, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday in a report. In some cases, payday lenders have withheld information about these “no-cost extended repayment plans” from borrowers to