Personal finance

Firefighters work as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades, California on Jan. 7, 2025. David Swanson | AFP | Getty Images Massive wildfires are devastating the Los Angeles area of Southern California. As of Thursday morning, at least five people were killed, more than 100,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate and nearly 2,000

Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images List prices for the top 25 prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D have nearly doubled, on average, since they were first brought to market, according to a new AARP report. Moreover, that price growth has often exceeded the rate of inflation, according to the interest group representing

Israel Sebastian | Moment | Getty Images The fourth-quarter estimated tax deadline for 2024 is Jan. 15, and missing a payment could trigger “unexpected penalties and fees” when filing your return, according to the IRS. Typically, estimated taxes apply to income without withholdings, such as earnings from freelance work, a small business or investments. But

Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Nearly 3 million individuals are poised to see their Social Security benefits increase, thanks to new changes signed into law by President Joe Biden this week. But with the higher checks could come additional tax burdens. The Social Security Fairness Act — which passed by a bipartisan majority

Erin Collins, national taxpayer advocate at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, speaks at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2021. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images As the IRS faces scrutiny from a Republican-controlled Congress, the agency’s internal watchdog has urged lawmakers to preserve taxpayer service and technology funding. The National