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Why You Must File an Amended Return Some changes don’t require you to file an amended return, while others do. You don’t need to file an amended return if: Your errors were math errors—the IRS will make the changes.You forgot to attach tax forms—the IRS will ask for these. You must file an amended business tax return if: You made a substantial error on your return that will affect your tax liability (the amount you owe)You received new information that needs to be includedYour income, deductions, tax credits, refund amount, or dependent information changes...

Term vs. Whole Life and Universal Life Insurance Term life insurance provides a death benefit in the event you pass away during the term of the policy. It generally lasts between one and 30 years, and you can expect to pay premiums to the insurer for the entire duration. Because it has an end-date, it’s usually significantly less expensive than a permanent policy for the same death benefit. But term life insurance has some downsides....

Once you make a budget, you’ll see the areas in which you can cut costs. You’ll also learn how much you can save each month toward your future goals, and you’ll understand how to divide those savings among your short-, mid-, and long-term plans. Here are the steps in creating your first budget, Imagine Your Financial Future Sometimes it’s hard to remember why you wanted to budget until you think about all of the things you can do once you have enough money saved up....

Legal and Professional Fees for Business Startup When you are starting a business, keep track of all your costs while you are investigating business possibilities, creating the business, and setting up your organization. You will then need to separate costs for startup vs. organization. Organizational costs include fees for services performed by an attorney to help you organize your business, before the end of your first tax year. These fees are considered capital expenses, not operating costs, and they must be amortized (spread out) over a specific number of years....

Robert Deutschman / Getty Images Off-market properties are simply homes for sale that aren’t listed on a multiple listing service (MLS), a private online database used by real estate agents. You might pursue off-market sales in a variety of forms, such as through word of mouth, negotiating with a homeowner directly, or even buying a home at auction. The one thing these sales have in common is that buying an off-market listing isn’t as easy as buying a home on the MLS....

All of this information is helpful throughout the various stages of a job search. The more information you have, and the more you research a company, the better equipped you’ll be to write the perfect cover letter and ace the job interview. The Benefits Glassdoor.com allows you to browse real-time company reviews and ratings, as well as salary details for specific jobs with specific employers. Anyone can see basic information on companies, such as their size, mission, revenue, etc....

A green card is valid for ten years and must be renewed subsequently. A green card holder can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years as a lawful permanent resident. What is a Green Card? A green card is formally known as a Permanent Residence Card or USCIS Form I-551. The reason it’s called a green card is that the original card was made of green paper. The card has been other colors and redesigned many times since it was first issued, but it never stopped being known as a green card....

However, you may want to get out of your FHA loan for several reasons. For example, you may want to eliminate the cost of mortgage insurance, get a better interest rate, or have new terms. If you’re considering refinancing an FHA loan, learn more about the pros and cons, as well as how the process works. Can You Refinance an FHA Loan? Like with other mortgages, you can refinance FHA loans—but you’ll have to meet the requirements set by the new lender....

How to Request Direct Deposit You can request a direct deposit right on your 1040 tax return if you want the money sent to just one account. Indicate your bank’s routing transit number, your bank account number, and the type of account—checking or savings—on lines 35b, 35c, and 35d of your Form 1040 for tax return. (The lines of Form 1040 are subject to change each year, so be sure to double-check with the IRS, depending on the tax year....

Learn how to give bonds as a gift and the pitfalls you need to watch out for. How To Get Bonds There are a few basic types of bonds. U.S. Treasury bonds: Bonds issued by the U.S. federal government Foreign government bonds: Bonds issued by other governments Municipal bonds: Bonds issued by state and local governments Corporate bonds: Bonds issued by companies To get a bond, you’ll need to purchase it from the issuer or on the secondary market....

Using FBA is a standardized and fairly simple process: You save valuable time and money on processing and shipping orders.You can operate out of a smaller space because you don’t need to store products.You keep a greater portion of your profits, which can then be reinvested in your business.Customers know what to expect for shipping and processing, which makes them more likely to buy. Don’t Skip Your Own Marketing Create Accurate Listing Titles and Product Descriptions Sell Your Product in the Listing Include Multiple Large and Clear Photos Customers want to know what they’re buying, so you need to show exactly what you’re selling....

Detect Unauthorized Credit Card Charges Early Unauthorized credit card charges include any type of charge to your account for which you didn’t give permission. Often, unauthorized charges result from credit card theft—either from a stolen credit card or a compromised card number. Sometimes, unauthorized charges result from clerical error or a computer glitch. Either way, it’s your responsibility to find and report these charges as quickly as possible to minimize your liability for charges you didn’t make....

Looking for areas in your budget where you can cut costs is crucial, and finding ways to lower your monthly bills is a great place to start. Here are a few tricks you can try to lower your monthly bills and find more money worth saving. Rein in Subscriptions Most people don’t even know how many subscriptions they are paying for each month. To identify those charges, use your bank and credit card statements as a starting place....

Because general liability claims aren’t uncommon, business owners should have a basic understanding of the claims-filing process. You need to know when to file a claim, how to go about it, and what will happen after your claim has been submitted. Learn more about handling general liability claims for your business and more. What Is General Liability Insurance? General liability insurance covers claims against your business by customers, clients, and other third parties for bodily injury, property damage, or personal and advertising injury....

How much home insurance coverage you need is different than what you paid to purchase your house. But if the monthly premiums you pay for home insurance keep going up each year, you may wonder why your home’s insured value seems high. There are several things you can do if you don’t agree with the listed dwelling’s value or the estimated reconstruction cost of your home. This is true whether you think it is too low or too high....

How Much Does a Divorce Cost? According to Carl Graham, a divorce attorney at Graham Law, a typical uncontested divorce will cost between $4,000 and $8,000. A contested divorce could run you as low as $10,000 if the financial issues are fairly simple, or more than $50,000 if there is a custody battle and experts are needed. Graham’s estimates are in line with a survey by the legal site Nolo that found the median cost of attorney’s fees for a divorce with a lawyer in 2019 was $7,000, and the average was $11,300....

When you’re living on the road full-time or close to it, there are some important financial considerations to weigh in the balance. Here’s how to manage your money while pursuing the digital nomad lifestyle. How to Budget as a Digital Nomad A budget is something everyone needs to have but it can be even more important for digital nomads, especially if travel costs account for a large chunk of your expenses or your income is irregular....

How a Recession Impacts Your Mortgage Recessions are a slowdown in economic activity and are usually accompanied by a decline in financial markets, including the housing market. They are marked by reduced consumer spending. People are often reluctant to buy goods and borrow money. So in order to stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates. This helps increase consumer confidence and encourage borrowing and investing. As a result, mortgage rates tend to fall during a recession....

In this guide, you’ll learn the importance of goals, what makes a good investment goal, questions to ask yourself when setting them, and some next steps to take. Why Goals Matter Studies have shown the significance of setting goals in reaching financial success. One well-known example that continues to be referenced is a 1979 study conducted by and of MBA students. Of the graduating students, only 3% had written goals and plans to accomplish them, 13% had unwritten goals, and 84% had no goals at all....

What Is Google Pay? Google Pay is a mobile wallet and online payment service available for Android and iOS devices. The app allows users to connect their credit and debit cards, as well as bank accounts, to pay at checkout—both in-store and online—and send money to others. Additionally, users can track their spending, get cash-back offers, and eventually open a new bank account through Google Pay. Google Pay has three main features: Pay, Explore, and Insights....