Susan Tompor

(TNS)—Tax filers now want to keep COVID-19 in mind, as well as other potential threats. The Internal Revenue Service has its own special page dedicated to tax-related coronavirus updates. For those with health savings accounts, the IRS said high-deductible plans can pay for 2019 novel coronavirus testing and treatment, and individuals with such plans would…

(TNS)—A Troy, Mich., man picked up the phone and a man who called himself Alex Wade was on the line. Wade, who said he worked at Amazon, claimed that a drastic mistake took place where too much money had been refunded from an earlier purchase and deposited into the man’s bank account. The man needed…

(TNS)—Most of us find it nerve-racking enough that we’re forced to focus on gathering our piles of paperwork to fill out our tax returns. Now adding to our stress, we must watch out for tax season scam artists, too. The crooks are everywhere from the gym parking lot to the latest emails and text messages.…

(TNS)—The rules of the retirement game just saw a sizable overhaul in Congress, giving a nod to the reality that many Americans can’t afford to quit working. The changes aren’t massive enough to put to rest concerns about an upcoming retirement crisis where some forecast a growing gap between the haves and have-nots. Even so,…

(TNS)—As shoppers whip out the plastic for online deals, the holiday angst only heightens when it comes to threats to your credit card accounts and other personal information. Even consumers who shop online through a major retailer, like Macy’s, can fall victim to some of these incredible hacking incidents. During a one-week period in early…

(TNS)—Medicare open enrollment is ongoing and ends December 7. And you better believe the scammers know it. Maybe it’s someone making a call, claiming to be from your insurance company and demanding information on the spot. Some scammers say you’ll need to buy a gift card or wire money soon so that you won’t lose…

(TNS)—If you’re retired or soon to retire, one big thing you’ll need to ask is: Am I going to be socked with a huge income tax bill come April? “During the first year or two of retirement, it’s a big transition tax-wise,” said George W. Smith, a certified public accountant with his own firm in…

(TNS)—Summer will soon be fading out of view and, like it or not, 2019 will move toward a close. So what exactly have you done to withhold more money out of your paycheck to cover that 2019 tax bill? If you need a motivator, the Internal Revenue Service has launched its much-anticipated new Tax Withholding…

(TNS)—No doubt, it’s tempting to sign up for a “quick fix” to clean up your credit. Who wouldn’t want to instantly find a way to add 100 or more points to a credit score to qualify for a rewards-packed credit card? Or maybe, finally, qualify for a great deal on a car loan? But the…

(TNS)—The thrill of shopping on your phone or online, of course, is that it makes stocking up on groceries, buying a rug for the apartment or even shopping on a Friday night after a glass of wine or two all that much easier. But if you want to get the very best price, step back…