7 crucial mistakes to avoid when filing for tax refunds

7 crucial mistakes to avoid when filing for tax refunds

Filing for tax refunds is a herculean task. Navigating endless forms, doing the math, and meeting deadlines can get overwhelming. As a result, people make errors, which costs them dearly. From choosing the wrong filing status to submitting unsigned forms, we have discussed seven crucial mistakes individuals should avoid when filing for tax returns. Steering clear of these can eliminate unnecessary hassle and make the filing process smooth and seamless. Choosing the wrong filing status One of the most crucial mistakes taxpayers must avoid when filing their tax refunds is choosing an incorrect filing status. As per the IRS, taxpayers can choose from five filing statuses: single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separately, and qualifying widow (or widower). Each status has its own set of guidelines and effects. For instance, if a person is married, they must understand if they are filing jointly or separately. Filing under an incorrect status could lead them to receive a lower refund than they are eligible for. This is why selecting the correct status when filing for tax refunds is essential. To simplify things, the IRS has provided an online tool on its website where people can find their tax filing status.
Read Article
8 common golf mistakes and tips to fix them

8 common golf mistakes and tips to fix them

Learning a new sport can be fun but also challenging. Golf may appear straightforward as it only involves striking a ball into a hole. However, there are many complexities to study. It also takes a lot of practice to master, so learning to be patient is perhaps at the top of this list. To elevate one’s experience as a golf novice, here are eight common mistakes people make and how to fix them. Hyperextending the wrist Golf’s technicality is no secret. Hyper-extending the wrist, even by as little as 13 degrees, can make hitting the right shot much more challenging. There are three simple ways to recognize this error: Practice with a professional or participate in group training sessions. Practice the swing in front of a mirror. Use biofeedback tools to provide detailed insights. Correcting the error is simple, too! Simply focus on the wrist position at the top of the backswing and maintain balance from the top to get the right clubface impact for a clean, smooth shot! Wrong alignment Without the proper alignment, hitting the right shot becomes much more difficult. Most other sports have a visible target, making it easier to align oneself. With golf, however, this becomes a lot more complex.
Read Article
Top online money-making scams and how to avoid them

Top online money-making scams and how to avoid them

Online money-making scams are deceptive offers that scammers lay out for vulnerable individuals on the internet, who can lose a lot of money when they fall into the trap. These scams prey on the desire of people looking to get rich or make a quick buck as fast as they can. While the awareness of money-making scams has grown in today’s digitized world, one must learn about the common types of scams to stay protected. Top online money-making scams Here are some of the common scams wherein fraudsters promise people cash without any validating documents and without going through the right channels for investments or sales. “We buy ugly houses” scam There are several online ads, emails, and messages that tell people, “We buy ugly houses.” Essentially, these messages promise homeowners large amounts of cash in exchange for their old, worn down, and “ugly” homes. The scammers who run such schemes use several predatory tactics, including the deliberate undervaluation of homes, outright lying to people to dupe them of their property, or forcibly gaining legal access to unsuspecting users’ homes. Generally, property scammers target vulnerable people to be their victims. Such targets commonly include those who are in desperate need of cash, those who may be facing cognitive issues, or those who are dealing with the death of a loved one.
Read Article
Key pros and cons of online payroll services

Key pros and cons of online payroll services

While growth is the ultimate goal of a business, employee welfare is equally important, as employees help organizations achieve their goals. Effective management of payroll is a key part of ensuring employee satisfaction. Today, online payroll management tools have become popular as they help save time and manual effort. If one is considering opting for such a tool, here are some pros and cons of online payroll services to consider: Pros 1. Timely payments The process of manually computing payroll can take a long time, increasing the risk of salary delays and, consequently, employee dissatisfaction. Online payroll services offer a user-friendly format, helping HR personnel easily calculate monthly pay based on hours worked, paid and unpaid leave taken, overtime, and bonuses. With automated payroll management, employees receive their payments on time and can plan their monthly expenses well in advance. 2. Cost-effective option Research by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that companies outsourcing payroll spend approximately 18% less money than those computing payroll in-house. So, online payroll services enable companies to cut down costs, utilizing the money toward buying equipment or working on business strategies. 3. Timely and accurate tax filing Payroll errors are exceedingly common among organizations, with the IRS taking many businesses to task each year for faulty payroll calculations.
Read Article
8 important things to know about personal injury law claims

8 important things to know about personal injury law claims

Personal injury law is a vital component of our nation’s legal system. Many also call it tort law. It was designed to protect people’s rights and compensate them if they face mental or physical harm because of someone else’s negligence or intentional actions. It’s very important to understand the nuances of personal injury law and learn to make correct claims. Doing so helps navigate the legal landscape after an unfortunate incident. Important things to know about personal injury law claims Under personal injury law, one can make a legal claim in a state or federal court and recover monetary damages against any harm. These claims can be against an individual, company, or entity, including a government agency or an NGO. Here are a few interesting facts about these claims: 1. The claims can be varied The most common time when people use personal injury law is when they are involved in automobile accidents. But there are also other scenarios and incidents where one can make claims under tort law. Here are some of them: Medical malpractices Let’s suppose a person has experienced some physical harm because of a doctor’s negligence. In this scenario, the individual can ask for compensation not just against the practitioner but also the hospital and the clinic staff.
Read Article
Understanding cloud accounting and its benefits

Understanding cloud accounting and its benefits

Cloud computing has transformed workspaces in more ways than one can imagine. This has also been felt in the realm of accounting with the advent of cloud accounting. The term refers to the practice of using accounting software that is hosted on safe, remote servers. This gives companies the ability to store and access their accounting systems, reports, and more from anywhere in the world. Read on to learn more about cloud accounting software and its benefits. How does cloud accounting work? Cloud accounting uses web-based software to complete all tasks, from recording income and expenses to managing and balancing the books. This is hosted on a SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. To access this software, users need to log into an online solution that continues to update their work in real time. This reduces the hassle of installing, using, or maintaining individual desktop applications. It also allows employees across departments, branches, and locations to quickly access the same data for smooth, seamless functioning. How is it different from traditional accounting? Cloud accounting manages the same functions as traditional accounting – bookkeeping, record maintenance, report-making, etc. Traditional accounting requires the installation of a special application on the desktop.
Read Article
Top 6 banking scams and how to avoid them

Top 6 banking scams and how to avoid them

Scams have become increasingly common, with the Federal Trade Commission data indicating that a total of 2.8 million consumers recently lost around $5.8 billion in banking scams in a year. The banking sector finds newer and better ways to tighten security and protect user data, but it is also important for customers to be vigilant and avoid falling for scamming tactics, especially because money lost in scams is difficult to recover. 1. Overpayment scams Anyone who owns a business and sells their product or services online would be most vulnerable to such scams. Here, a scammer posing as a genuine customer may pretend to overpay for a product using a counterfeit check or money order, then ask the business to send the difference via wire transfer. Not only will one lose money on the shipped order, but they may also end up paying a fee to the bank for the returned check. To avoid this, one should verify the buyer’s address, name, and contact details. Second, one should reject a check with an amount higher than the selling price of the product or service and accept only traceable online payments. 2. Check-cashing scams Check cashing scams thrive on one’s compassion.
Read Article
5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a timeshare

5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a timeshare

Every year, thousands of people invest in timeshares. It is an excellent way of optimizing vacation or downtime from work without planning from scratch each time. Owning a property allows people to cut out the extra work of deciding a location, finding transport options, and gathering other necessary information. However, that is not all the data needed to make the decision. One should be aware of the commonly made mistakes when buying a timeshare. Making an impulsive decision Vacation is a time everyone wants to relive year after year. It brings out some ideas and plans that might need to be thought about again before acting on them. Vacation is the perfect time when people can get caught up in the exhilaration of living in a nice property and wanting to own something similar. However, purchasing a timeshare when on vacation might not be a good idea. Making an impulsive decision about such a matter could mean signing on contracts that haven’t been read through. It also keeps people from properly researching the company and the property they are gearing up to purchase. When exploring options, do not forget to use timeshare fee calculators available online. Forego the thought of performing cursory research.
Read Article