Saturday, April 25, 2009

If you converted IRA to Roth in '08, you can still save on taxes

If you converted your individual retirement account to a Roth last year, you probably feel like someone who got married during a weekend in Vegas. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you're having serious second thoughts. When you convert...
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Adjust withholding on W-4 to keep tax credit on track

Your next paycheck will probably be a little fatter than usual, but it's not because your boss thinks you're swell. Instead, the increase reflects the Making Work Pay credit, part of the economic stimulus package enacted this year. Most taxpayers will...
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Stimulus benefits could end up costing retirees at tax time

When lawmakers enacted the economic stimulus package this year, they included benefits for seniors. Smart move: Many retirees also have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and they vote in large numbers. Unfortunately, some of the tax headaches we...
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Obama Touts Plan to Change College Loan System

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama, saying the country has to be more competitive in the world, called anew Friday for overhauling the system of college lending. The cost of higher education "has never been higher," said Obama, joined at the White House...
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GM gets another $2B in taxpayer loans, expected to scrap Pontiac

General Motors got another $2 billion emergency loan, the U.S. Treasury department said Friday, and is expected to announce soon it will kill its slow-selling Pontiac brand as it scrambles to slice underperforming units. Treasuary said it made the loan...
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Friday, April 24, 2009

7 Home Selling Moves to Avoid This Spring

Amid falling home prices, near record-low mortgage rates, and even an $8,000 tax perk from Uncle Sam, prospective buyers have plenty of reasons to dive into the real estate market. But with the teetering economy and financial markets, real estate experts...
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Why Obama Faces Grumbling From the Left

Democratic strategists are concerned that some of President Obama's recent policy decisions may end his honeymoon with his party's liberal activists. "His problem will be, how can he convince the left to let him be pragmatic?" says a prominent Obama...
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Don't Let Rush to File Taxes by Deadline Lead to Errors

Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines. Tax Day is less than a week away. But as you race toward the finish line, be mindful of common tax-filing errors. Some mistakes could cost you money. Others could raise red flags at the IRS. Tax software will...
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Obama Gets Tough on Abuses by Credit Card Industry

President Obama pledged Thursday to support legislation that protects credit card borrowers from unfair rate increases and cracks down on issuers who engage in deceptive lending practices. Obama said that while credit cards are an important source of...
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US Airways, Alaska Air add checked bag fees

US Airways (LCC) and Alaska Airlines (ALK) said Thursday they were imposing new charges on passengers to check their bags, adding to a growing array of fees to fly. US Airways passengers must pay $5 extra for each bag checked at an airport beginning...
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