Tax Day is just around the corner, and on April 15 this year's tax season will officially end. Hopefully you're part of the 68 percent of taxpayers who file before April 1, as reported by SurveyMonkey and aren't filing at the last minute. If so, a refund from the IRS might already be on its way to your bank account.
There's another reason to celebrate Tax Day besides the end of tax season: many businesses offer special Tax Day freebies and deals. We rounded up this list of the best offers with the help of our friends at BeFrugal, CouponSherpa, RetailMeNot and DealNews.
14 Tax Day Freebies and Deals on Food
Beef'O'Brady's: Get 15 percent off your purchase on April 15.
Bonefish Grill: Follow this link to claim an offer for $10 off your purchase, valid through April 20.
Boston Market: Diners who purchase one meal will get a second free on April 15.
Bruegger's Bagels: Get a Bagel Bundle that includes 13 bagels and two cream cheese tubs for just $10.40 from April 11 to April 15 with a coupon sent to members of Bruegger's Bagels' eClub.
Burger King: Use this coupon to claim a buy one, get one free offer on Whoppers through April 19.
California Tortilla: Chips and queso are free on April 15 for all California Tortilla diners who say "Taxes Shmaxes" at checkout.
Great American Cookie: Each visitor to this cookie seller's locations will receive a free sugar cookie on April 15.
Hard Rock Cafe: The music joint is bringing back its Sing for Your Supper event. On April 15, Hard Rock customers can sing live with the Hard Rock band to earn a free meal. Hours and availability might be limited and vary by location, so check with your city's Hard Rock Cafe location.
Kona Ice: Kona Ice trucks will be handing out free shaved ices and Hawaiian leis while parked at post office, tax preparation centers and other businesses.
McDonald's: Big Macs and Quarter Pounders are buy one, get one for just $0.01 on April 15 at select McDonald's locations.
Olive Garden: A buy one, take one deal gets customers two entrées from a select menu starting at just $12.99. Or you can claim a coupon good for $6 off a dinner for two here.
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt: Customers can get a frozen yogurt up to 16 ounces for just $4.15 on April 15. Customers can "like" the Orange Leaf Facebook page to claim the offer, and provide proof of claim via smartphone for redemption.
Outback Steakhouse: Celebrate the end of taxes with a steak dinner, and use this coupon to get 15 percent off at checkout through May 3.
Sonny's BBQ: The restaurant's IRS: Irresistible Ribs Special is offering ribs dinners for half price on April 15.
16 Tax Day Deals From Retailers
From retailers, we found the most offers on apparel, as well as sports and outdoor gear, books and office suppliers.
Alloy: A RetailMeNot-exclusive code, AVDRMN, gets shoppers 15 percent to 30 percent off purchases, with shoppers saving more as they spend more. Offer valid through April 30.
Ann Taylor: Get 25 percent off full-price items with the coupon code ANNT3BE, good through April 30.
Babies R Us: Shoppers can use this coupon to get $8 off Pampers or Huggies value boxes of diapers, valid through April 30.
Barnes & Noble: With taxes out of the way you might have time to catch up on your reading. If so, use coupon code X8W8L3A when shopping online to get 20 percent off a single item through May 1; exclusions apply.
Bon-Ton: Use this coupon to get $25 off when spending $75 or more through April 30.
Cabela's: Shoppers can save online only during the Cyberwalk Sale, which has sporting gear and outdoor equipment marked down up to 60 percent through April 15.
Carter's: Get 25 percent off purchases of $40 and up with code OKSP1514.
Dress Barn: Get 20 percent off a purchase by using promo code MMAR20 through April 21.
Express: Use coupon code 9068 online or this coupon in store to get 15 percent off through April 30. Some exclusions apply.
Finish Line: Through April 30, get $10 off purchases of $100 or more with coupon code APRIL10.
Foot Locker: Get 10 percent off when spending $50 or more online when you use code LKS10AFD through April 30.
Gap: Shoppers will get $25 of GapCash for every $50 spent through April 26 that can be redeemed May 13 through May 17.
HydroMassage: You can get a free HydroMassage experience with this coupon, valid April 13-17.
Justice: Get 40 percent off an entire purchase through April 16 by presenting this coupon at checkout.
L.L.Bean: Get a $10 gift card for every $50 spent through April 19.
Lane Bryant: Save up to $75 with code APRILGCLB through April 22. Savings are tiered by purchase minimums; spending $75 yields a $25 discount, $150 gets you $50 off or $75 off $225.
3 Last-Minute Tax Prep Deals
GOBankingRates found a couple deals for last-minute filers and those requesting tax extensions.
E-File.com: Use promo code 15OFF to save 15 percent on your tax extension.
Staples: Now that your taxes are out of the way, you can get rid of some of the related documents with Staples' offer to shred up to five pounds of documents for free from April 15 through May 2 with a coupon from the store's site. Staples also has a coupon for 10 percent off all mailing and shipping services, great if you're a last-minute filer.
TaxExtension: Promo code TWENTYOFF will save you 20 percent on your personal or business tax extension.
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The contents of an average wallet range from the essentials to the frivolous; that's why your wallet can not only expose you to a lot of risk should it fall into the wrong hands, it can also reveal a good deal about who you are and what you prioritize in your life.
Although we might carry certain items with us at all times, what's actually essential to keep on your person and what's better left at home? Here are a few tips that maximize utility and minimize risk.
4 Items You Should Always Keep in Your Wallet
Memberships. Loyalty programs at stores and pharmacies such as Rite Aid, Target and CVS can actually make a difference at checkout, depending on the store's policy. Memberships also include your swipe-in cards at the gym. Keep these handy to get the most out of your monthly membership dues.
It's recommended, however, to review all the terms of a loyalty program before signing up, as some come with up-front costs that could negate the benefits of membership or necessitate the use of branded, high-interest credit cards. And perhaps steer clear of memberships to grocery stores specifically. The Wall Street Journal found that in five comparisons of grocery stores that offered loyalty programs and local counterparts that didn't, all the stores that lacked a program offered lower prices -- in one case resulting in 29 percent savings.
Receipts and Coupons. Saving receipts can help consumers dispute false charges, track spending and -- in the event of a return -- are often the only way to get money back. As a best practice, save receipts until the transaction appears on your bank statement, if charged, and until you know with certainty that you won't have to return the item. Additionally, make sure to save any receipts you'll need when filing taxes.
There are few things more annoying than spending money at a store and receiving a coupon with your receipt for the next time you come back to shop -- which are usually only valid for a select period of days. However, organizing your wallet to house coupons with your cash can help keep your available discounts in your line of sight to use when available.
Coverage. Life will throw an unexpected curve ball at us every once in a while (usually, more often than we'd wish). That's why carrying everything from medical cards to insurance documents might be worth the hassle.
Keeping your medical cards, as well as information for services such as AAA, in your wallet can help you cut down on the paperwork of filing claims. A good rule of thumb is to keep insurance cards in your wallet and car insurance in your glove compartment, as an unexpected accident or traffic violation will require proof of your coverage.
The Essentials. Though Apple Pay and digital wallets might be the future, you should still keep a variety of payment forms on you. It's important to balance variety, however, with risk.
Consider carrying one or two credit cards with different credit limits to cover both large and small expenses. A debit card can also come in handy if you're pressed for cash -- credit cards will charge hefty cash advance fees.
Consider the possibility of losing your wallet when assessing how much cash and how many cards you should carry. Would you be OK opening yourself up to the potential loss of $60 and one credit card? What about $300, two credit cards and a debit card? This can help you pare down an overabundance of credit cards and minimize risk -- even improve your spending habits.
6 Items Better Left at Home
Having asked various money experts what they carry in their wallets for some time now, GOBankingRates has also gained insights into what you should never carry in your wallet. You're better off leaving these six items at home:
Social Security card.
Medicare card (as the owner's Social Security number is printed on it).
Anything, notes or cards, that reveal PINs or passwords.
Voter registration card.
Passport if not traveling.
Checks (which reveal bank account information).
Depending on your spending habits, however, your budget might benefit from bringing fewer credit and debit cards with you when shopping, handicapping your ability to splurge. Or go all the way and consider a cash-only policy, like the one practiced by personal finance author Rachel Cruze, who never carries a credit card.
First car insurance companies started offering discounts to customers who allowed them to track their driving habits. Now a U.S. life insurance company will offer discounts and other rewards to customers who allow them to track their health habits.
A new partnership between John Hancock and Vitality Group gives policyholders "opportunities to significantly save on their annual premiums and earn valuable rewards and discounts for taking steps to improve their health."
Vitality Group provides an incentive-based wellness program to employers seeking to reduce benefits costs. Vitality is partnering exclusively with John Hancock to introduce the concept of incentive-based wellness programs to the life insurance industry, according to a news release.
Privacy Issues
The New York Times reports that John Hancock is the first U.S. life insurance company to offer such a program, which raises privacy issues: "The concept -- which has been used in South Africa, where Vitality is based, Europe, Singapore and Australia -- has the potential to transform the way life insurance is priced, at least for consumers who are willing to continually share their health data. But it also raises questions about how that information will be protected - and whether it could be used in ways that ultimately work against a consumer's best interests."
The first step in participating is taking an "online Vitality Health Review," which will determine a policyholder's "Vitality Age, an indicator of overall health that may be higher or lower than their actual age, which can improve over time as they work toward living a healthier life." According to Vitality Group, most Americans are five years older than their actual age on average.
Policyholders will also receive a Fitbit fitness tracker, essentially a high-tech pedometer intended to be worn on the wrist like a bracelet throughout the day and while sleeping.
In addition to insurance breaks, John Hancock states that discounts and rewards that policyholders stand to earn would come from companies like Amazon, Hyatt and REI -- "just for walking, having regular check-ups and engaging in other everyday healthy activities."
Would you participant in a program like this if reduced your insurance rates? Let us know what you think in a comment below or on our Facebook page. Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving tips and advice, free! We'll also email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson's "205 Ways to Save Money" as soon as you've subscribed. It's full of great tips that'll help you save a ton of extra cash.
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One of the biggest headaches in moving forward with a home improvement project is determining the cost. Unless you're a contractor or home repair expert, it can be difficult to gauge the expected cost of everything from installing a faucet to remodeling a bathroom.
That's why it's helpful to consult a price-comparison study like the new True Cost Report by HomeAdvisor. Prices vary by geographic location, with kitchen and bathroom remodeling, for instance, costing the least in Cincinnati and the most in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Overpaying a Top Concern
Almost half of homeowners put off projects or try to complete them on their own if they can't find reliable cost information, HomeAdvisor found in a related survey of 367 homeowners.
Millennials, more than any other age group, attempt to do it themselves when they think hiring a pro is too expensive (64 precent) or put a project off when they don't know how much it will cost (52 percent), according to HomeAdvisor.
Overpaying for a home project is a concern among two-thirds of homeowners, and more than a third of don't know how much it will cost to hire a professional, the survey found. Most estimate that projects will cost less than the actual cost.
The report also found that nearly half of homeowners distrust professional estimates and assume they'll pay more. It found that 35 percent of homeowners reported paying more than originally quoted for projects.
Top Costs
The report lists costs of 350 projects in 50 areas, along with a national average, and high and low costs (The 50 are the nation's largest designated market areas, essentially meaning that they have access to the same TV stations.) Here are some breakdowns, based on data provided by homeowners:
Kitchen remodel: $19,935 is the national average. The price range is wide, from $8,000 to $45,000, because there are so many variables, such as size of the room, quality of appliances and materials and possible layout changes. Most homeowners pay between $10,957 and $30,000 for a kitchen remodel. Homeowners in San Francisco; Los Angeles; Hartford, Connecticut; and San Diego reported paying the most. A kitchen remodel was cheapest in Indianapolis; Cincinnati; Memphis, Tennessee; and Milwaukee.
Bathroom remodel: $8,940 is the national average, with most people spending $5,000 to $13,000. The highest cost reported was $20,000. Again, the cost depends on variables, such as size of the room and materials and amenities that are upgraded. The highest costs were in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Memphis and San Diego. The least expensive bathroom remodels were in Greensboro, North Carolina; Cincinnati; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Exterior home painting: $2,500 is the national average, with most spending between $1,500 and $3,600. The top cost was $5,005. The home's size is the biggest factor, since it impacts how much paint, time and labor will be required. Painting the outside of a home was the most expensive in Boston, Los Angeles, Hartford and San Francisco. It was least expensive in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Pittsburgh; Columbus, Ohio; and Oklahoma City.
Sprinkler system: $2,500 is the national average. The highest cost is $4,500, and the lowest is $1,100. Sprinkler installation is one of the most popular searches on the website, and cost is affected by property size and quality of parts.
Septic tank installation: $4,500 is the national average for this service, which is the most searched for service on the site. Costs range from $1,260 to $11,000. The size and type of tank determine cost, with concrete the most common type at the average price range.
Other popular searches, with the national average cost: Clean a septic tank, $350; hire a land surveyor, $450; build an addition, $35,000; install an air conditioner, $5,000; install a furnace, $4,000; repair a foundation, $3,500; and install a roof, $6,429.
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Major League Baseball's new season just got under way on Monday, and it already has its first steamy controversial topic. It has nothing to do with how the Yankees will hold up without Derek Jeter or if the Giants can repeat as World Series champs. The real contest is taking place in the stands, where more and more people are recording and live-streaming the experience.
The Wall Street Journal turned heads on opening day with an article suggesting that the league might ban fans from broadcasting live video during the game. The original incendiary headline -- "MLB Will Bench Baseball Fans Caught Streaming Games" -- and some savory quotes from league and team executives made it seem as if that was the way that the 2015 season would play out.
"Fans don't have the right to emulate the game," Bob Bowman, Major League Baseball's president of business and media, is quoted as telling the Journal. "Live streaming doesn't change that."
Damage Control
Bowman leaped into damage control a day later, going on CNBC to point out that the story was "flat out wrong." However, even in that interview Bowman seems to be dodging the question of someone live-streaming an entire game. "We don't expect fans to stream the game. That's absurd."
"No fan goes to our game with the thought of streaming live a half an inning of a game," he would go on to say.
Baseball tolerates and encourages fans to take pictures and even short video clips while in the stadium. It's a smart way to get fans to feel closer to the game. It's also a great tool for viral marketing as they share their shots with friends online. The league knows this, but what happens when someone live-streams an inning or an entire game? It's going to happen. It might even be happening right now.
Stealing Home
The league's official policy is clear: Games are licensed content and live video is prohibited. Even credentialed media are limited to no more than two minutes of live in-game video. The question here is a matter of if and how the league will enforce the rule.
It's a thorny issue. No one is going to change the lyrics of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" -- replacing "just buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack" with "just whip out your GoPros and selfie sticks" -- but the booming popularity of live-streaming apps and the improving quality of portable cameras will be an issue this season.
Let's talk about the hardware first. Smartphone makers find themselves trying to outdo one another by improving the quality of their cameras with every passing year. There's also the explosive popularity of wearable cameras. GoPro (GPRO) sold nearly $1.4 billion worth of its high-end Hero cameras last year, 41 percent ahead of the prior year. Apple (AAPL) sold nearly 75 million iPhones during the holiday quarter. Baseball fans are buying these devices, and they're bringing them to the game.
The scarier part of the equation comes from the rapid ascent of live-streaming apps. This used to be a thin niche for folks who call themselves lifecasters. Justin.TV was a pioneer website that let folks broadcast their daily lives through wearable cameras before it shut down in 2014 after seven years of operation. Now that baton has been passed on to streaming apps, with Meerkat and Twitter's (TWTR) Periscope leading the way. The apps make it easier to use mobile phones to stream and watch live broadcasts. They are shooting up the ranks in app store popularity, and even celebrities are starting to take notice, the way that they followed early adopters onto Twitter, Instagram, and Vine.
It's a perfect storm, and Major League Baseball has to be wondering about the rain delay. There will be bandwidth concerns at the stadium level and piracy concerns at the league level.
Extra Innings
Pro leagues can be hypocrites. I've had Miami Dolphins season tickets since 1987, and I started a YouTube channel to publish clips of player interactions with fans from my seats by the tunnel. The National Football League used my video of Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola making an obscene gesture to fans four seasons ago as the basis for fining him $100,000. The league didn't offer me any whistleblower money for my video or protection from retaliation for filming it in light of the fine it collected. Instead the league came back a few months later and asked YouTube to remove a handful of my channel's videos. Thanks a lot, NFL.
There's a love-hate relationship between pro sports and camera-wielding fans, and it's probably about to get a lot worse.
It's a very fluid situation, as music festivals, Broadway stages, multiplexes, museums and even theme parks begin to consider bans on selfie sticks and video recording. Will America's greatest pastime get it right in the future? Will it be able to balance the benefits of social and viral marketing with the concerns of proprietary content? It's a whole new ball game.
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, GoPro, and Twitter. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Twitter. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. Check out The Motley Fool's free report on one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.
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Millions of taxpayers can't afford to pay their taxes, and many people in difficult financial situations get themselves into even more trouble by simply trying to avoid the notice of the IRS by never filing returns in the first place. The last thing that many taxpayers ever think of is to go directly to the IRS for help, but with a number of alternatives available to those who are having trouble meeting their tax obligation, going straight to the source for assistance can be your best bet toward getting right with the government. Below, we'll go through three things the IRS can do for you to make paying your taxes easier, but first, let's take a look at why ignoring the situation is such a big mistake.
The Problem With Not Filing
It's tempting to try to fly under the radar of the IRS, but it hardly ever actually works. The government receives tax reporting forms from a number of sources, including employers, financial institutions, and other entities that pay you even modest amounts of money for a wide variety of purposes. When you don't file a return, those tax-reporting forms create red flags because of the mismatch compared to your failure to report any income.
Moreover, the costs can be huge if you ignore the problem. Every month you go without filing a return, you'll incur a 5 percent penalty on the tax that you owe, up to a maximum of 25 percent. Failing to pay adds smaller penalties of half a percent a month, which over time can as much as double the maximum penalty owed. You'll also owe interest on unpaid amounts dating from the time when you should have filed your return and paid your taxes.
What the IRS Can Do
In the past, most people saw the IRS as a ruthless government equivalent of a collection agency, wielding tax liens and wage garnishments as tools for collecting back taxes mercilessly. Over the past several years, though, the IRS Fresh Start initiative has centered on helping to encourage compliance by recognizing the need for financial assistance and finding the best balance between being fair and being realistic about the government's ability to collect tax.
What the IRS will do for you depends on the gravity of your financial situation. If all you need is some additional time but expect to be able to pay in full within a few months, you can request a short extension either by using the IRS online payment agreement application at irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040. Doing so can buy you up to 120 days to get your tax bill taken care of, and when you combine it with an automatic six-month extension to file your return, you can avoid the most onerous failure-to-file penalty. You'll still owe penalties and interest, and you'll have to pay the bill in full within the 120-day period, but the benefit of the short extension is that it's free.
If you'll need more than just a few months to repay the IRS, then you'll want to take a look at setting up an installment agreement. Those who owe $50,000 or less can apply using the online payment agreement application, or IRS Form 9465 is available for filing as well. Fees of $43 to $120 apply to the request. With monthly payments directly debited from your checking account, you can set up installment plans for up to 72 months. Even if you owe more than $50,000, installment agreements might be available, although you'll have to provide a special financial statement to the IRS for their review.
Finally, if you have no ability to pay your taxes in full, you can make what's known as an offer in compromise. This agreement allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount. By looking at your assets and income, the IRS will determine whether it believes you could pay the full tax due or whether accepting the offer in compromise is the best way for it to get the most it can in taxes. To see if you're eligible, the IRS provides a pre-qualifying application that runs you through a number of eligibility-related questions.
No Free Lunch
Keep in mind that with all of these options, you'll end up having to pay additional amounts beyond the tax that you owe. In some cases, the interest and penalties you incur will make it smart to consider other sources of funds in order to get your taxes paid. Yet for those who don't have any good alternatives, turning to the IRS for help can actually be a lot less intimidating than you'd think.
Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger is fortunate enough to be able to pay his tax bill this year. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger or on Google Plus. Click here to check out our free report on one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.
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General Electric (GE) is getting out of the lending business, a major profit generator, as it focuses more on its industrial business and sheds a massive financial unit that had its own set of risks.
The company will buy back as much as $50 billion of its own stock, sending shares up more than 9 percent before the opening bell Friday and toward a new high for the year.
In addition to the sale of GE Capital, the company will sell most of its GE Capital Real Estate to funds managed by Blackstone (BX), and Wells Fargo (WFC) will buy a portion of the performing loans at closing. The company also plans to sell additional commercial real estate assets that will bring the total value of the deal to around $26.5 billion.
The company said market conditions were favorable to sell most GE Capital over the next two years. The extended run of low-interest rates has made the sale of a huge asset like this more feasible.
The financial division generates almost half of the company's profit, but is also is a huge regulatory burden and has caused some anxiety for investors.
"The business model for large, wholesale-funded financial companies has changed, making it increasingly difficult to generate acceptable returns going forward," GE said.
GE is already in talks with regulators about removing its tag as a "Systemically Important Financial Institution," which comes with a myriad of requirements not asked of an almost purely industrial entity.
"This is a major step in our strategy to focus GE around its competitive advantages," Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said.
The Fairfield, Connecticut, company will keep parts of its financing business related to its industrial operations, like GE Capital Aviation Services, Energy Financial Services and Healthcare Equipment Finance. The company says it will record about $16 billion in after-tax charges in the first quarter.
Shares jumped $2.44 to $28.17 in premarket trading, close to a two-year high.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. import prices fell in March as rising petroleum costs were offset by declining prices for other goods, a sign of muted inflation that supports the view the Federal Reserve will probably not raise interest rates in June.
The Labor Department said Friday import prices dropped 0.3 percent last month after a downwardly revised 0.2 percent gain in February.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast import prices slipping 0.3 percent after a previously reported 0.4 percent increase in February, when prices advanced for the first time after declining for seven straight months.
In the 12 months through March, prices plunged 10.5 percent, the largest drop since September 2009.
Lower crude oil prices and a buoyant dollar have dampened price pressures, leaving inflation running well below the Fed's 2 percent target.
Officials at the central bank, some of whom have shown a willingness to consider a rate hike at the June policy-setting meeting, view the low inflation environment as transitory.
But the combination of low inflation and weak economic growth in the first quarter has prompted many economists to push back their rate hike expectations to later in the year.
And some economists believe monetary policy tightening will only begin in 2016. The Fed has kept its key short-term interest rate near zero since December 2008.
Last month, imported petroleum prices rose 0.8 percent after jumping 5.2 percent in February.
Import prices excluding petroleum fell 0.4 percent in March. They had dropped 0.3 percent in February. Imported food prices fell 1.1 percent after being unchanged in February.
The report also showed export prices edged up 0.1 percent last month after slipping 0.2 percent in February. Export prices declined 6.7 percent in the 12 months through March, the largest drop since July 2009.
The IRS estimates that 28 percent of filers wait until the last 15 days of the tax season. And a portion of those will file on the very last day; some will submit tax returns electronically while others will head to the post office on Wednesday to mail their tax return. Failing to do so will result in a late tax return fine and other penalties from the IRS.
On Tax Day, many post office hours are extended. But as the number of taxpayers who file electronically rises, the number of people filing taxes last-minute has fallen, meaning that post offices are reducing extended Tax Day hours.
Post Offices Open Late on Tax Day in All 50 States, D.C.
GOBankingRates has compiled a list of post offices offering extended hours on April 15 in every state. Post offices with regular hours or collections of 7 p.m. and later are featured on this list, as well as those that reported other Tax Day services, like tax return collection boxes, later pickups or self-service kiosks. This list is not all-inclusive and other locations might offer later hours -- and locations on this list could offer extended hours that aren't listed; GOBankingRates aimed to find post offices with the latest regular or confirmed Tax Day hours in major metropolitan areas in each state.
Readers should verify Tax Day hours with their local post office, which will be able to provide more details on April 15 operations. In addition, please pay attention to collection hours, as these vary from closing hours for many post offices and could directly affect a filer's deadline for mailing a tax return on Tax Day. You can also call 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) for detailed information on Tax Day post office extended hours, collection boxes and mail pickups in your area.
Lastly, pay attention to details and watch out for common tax-filing mistakes, from using the wrong amount of postage to writing the wrong address or not including all necessary forms. If you're still worried about making that April 15 deadline, you might still be able to request a tax extension.
Alabama Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The main Birmingham post office is open until 8 p.m. on weekdays, while other post offices in Birmingham and other major cities including Mobile and Montgomery are open as late as 6 or 6:30 p.m.
351 24th St N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: 205-521-0822
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Alaska Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The Anchorage Main Office's regular hours extend until 11 p.m. and it also offers a self-serve kiosk filers can use, but note that the latest collection time is 7 p.m. and it is unclear if this will be extended for Tax Day. Other post offices in Anchorage and other Alaskan cities like Fairbanks and Juneau are only open as late as 6 p.m.
4141 Postmark Dr
Anchorage, AK 99530
Phone: 907-266-3266
Open until 11 p.m, last collection at 7 p.m.
Arizona Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The main Phoenix post office offers retail hours until 9:30 p.m. with the last mail collection at 9 p.m., and the Tucson post office on Cherrybell is open until 7 p.m.
4949 E Van Buren St Rm 187
Phoenix, AZ 85026
Phone: 602-225-3158
Open until 9:30 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
1501 S Cherrybell Stra Rm 205
Tucson, AZ 85726
Phone: 520-388-5043
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Arkansas Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Unfortunately, most Arkansas locations close before 6:30, but the GMF Box Section office on McCain Blvd. is open until 6:30 with last collection at 7 p.m.
4700 E McCain Blvd
Little Rock, AR 72231
Phone: 501-955-6363
Open until 6:30 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
California Post Office Hours on Tax Day
There are several post offices with extended hours on Tax Day in the Golden State. In Central California, a Santa Barbara post office will be open until 9 p.m. In the San Francisco Bay area, there are two San Jose post offices open as late as 9 p.m., and in Southern California there are at least three post offices offering collection up to midnight.
1675 7th St Rm 236
Oakland, CA 94615
Phone: 510-251-3373
Open until 8:30 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1300 Evans Ave Ste 30
San Francisco, CA 94188
Phone: 415-643-3790
Open until 8:30 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
925 Blossom Hill Rd Ste 1407
San Jose, CA 95123
Phone: 408-224-3039
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
2200 Eastridge Loop Ste 1062
San Jose, CA 95122
Phone: 408-270-2368
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
1750 Lundy Ave
San Jose, CA 95101
Phone: 408-437-6687
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1026 Coast Village Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: 805-969-1148
Open until 9 p.m. on April 15
7001 S Central Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90001
Phone: 323-586-4415
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at midnight
3101 W Sunflower Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92799
Phone: 714-662-6474
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 12 midnight
1900 W Redlands Blvd
San Bernardino, CA 92403
Phone: 909-335-4462
Open until 7:30 p.m., last collection at 12 midnight
9029 Airport Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90009
Phone: 310-649-7400
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 10 p.m.
2300 Redondo Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90809
Open until 5 p.m., last collection at 10 p.m.
28201 Franklin Pkwy
Santa Clarita, CA 91383
Phone: 661-775-7166
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
Colorado Post Office Hours on Tax Day
There is only one Denver post office offering extended hours on Tax Day:
7550 E 53rd Pl
Denver, CO 80217
Phone: 303-853-6758
Open until 12 midnight, last collection at midnight
Multiple post offices throughout the city and state are offering mail deposit boxes with collections at midnight where filers can place their returns to get an April 15 postmark. The U.S. Post Office released statements listing these post offices in the following areas:
Connecticut residents should plan to get to the post office early; our study didn't find any post offices open on Tax Day past 5:30 p.m. Taxpayers should also consider traveling to post offices in nearby states like New York.
Delaware Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Delaware residents can visit post offices in New Castle and Newark to mail their tax returns up to 8 p.m. on April 15.
147 Quigley Blvd
New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: 302-323-2260
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
401 Ogletown Rd
Newark, DE 19711
Phone: 302-737-5771
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
Florida Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa all have at least one post office open until at least 9 p.m., while a number of post offices in the Miami area offer hours of 8 p.m. or later.
1100 Kings Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32203
Phone: 904-366-4820
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
10401 Post Office Blvd
Orlando, FL 32862
Phone: 407-826-3419
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
3501 Bessie Coleman Blvd Fl 3
Tampa, FL 33630
Phone: 813-877-0374
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 7:30
1455 NW 107th Ave Ste 106
Doral, FL 33172
Phone: 305-392-2567
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
2200 NW 72nd Ave Ste 514
Miami, FL 33152
Phone: 305-470-0689
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 7:30 p.m.
11301 S Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33256
Phone: 305-252-9870
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
Georgia Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Good news for Atlanta tax filers: The main post office is open 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, meaning it will be open until midnight on Tax Day with a last collection at 8 p.m. There is also a post office in Columbus with a late last collection of 8 p.m.
3900 Crown Rd SW
Atlanta, GA 30304
Phone: 404-765-7570
Retail hours from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1101 Cumberland Mall SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 770-541-1395
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
3916 Milgen Rd
Columbus, GA 31907
Phone: 706-562-1782
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Hawaii Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The islands of Hawaii only have one post office open late, the main office in Honolulu, which has hours and collections until 8 p.m.
3600 Aolele St Rm 208C
Honolulu, HI 96820
Phone: 808-423-6029
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Idaho Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Idaho residents should plan to get the post office early on Tax Day, as the latest hours offered are 5:30 p.m.
Illinois Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Chicago has one post office that is open until midnight, and other Illinois cities like Aurora, Bedford Park, Naperville and Rockford are open until 7 p.m.
433 W Harrison St Fl Lobby
Chicago, IL 60699
Phone: 312-983-8130
Open until 12 midnight, last collection at 6 p.m.
6801 W 73rd St
Bedford Park, IL 60499
Phone: 708-563-7800
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
525 N Broadway
Aurora, IL 60505
Phone: 630-844-8810
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
1750 W Ogden Ave
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: 630-717-2662
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5:45 p.m.
5225 Harrison Ave
Rockford, IL 61125
Phone: 815-229-4804
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Indiana Post Office Hours on Tax Day
An Indianapolis post office offers hours until 8 p.m., while other Indiana cities like Bloomington, Fort Wayne and Noblesville have post offices open until 7 p.m.
2760 Fortune Cir E
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone: 317-464-6841
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
520 S Walnut St
Bloomington, IN 47401
Phone: 812-334-7013
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
1529 W Dupont Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Phone: 260-451-0139
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5:15 p.m.
1900 Pleasant St
Noblesville, IN 46060
Phone: 317-773-9775
Open until 7:30 p.m., last collection at 5:15 p.m.
Iowa Post Office Hours on Tax Day
No Iowa post offices could be found offering extended Tax Day hours, though the main Des Moines post office has a late collection of 8:30 p.m.
1165 2nd Ave
Des Moines, IA 50318
Phone: 515-283-7585
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at 8:30 p.m.
Kansas Post Office Hours on Tax Day
A Topeka post office is open until 7 p.m. and the main Wichita office has a late collection of 8:00 p.m. Those in the Kansas City area might want to consider referring to our Missouri section for extended Tax Day post office hours in their area.
1410 NW Gage Blvd
Topeka, KS 66618
Phone: 785-295-9160
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
7117 W Harry St
Wichita, KS 67276
Phone: 316-219-4361
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Kentucky Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Kentucky post offices in Lexington and Louisville are open until 8 and 9 p.m., respectively, while a Bowling Green post office offers a late pickup of 10 p.m.
5300 Scottsville Rd
Bowling Green, KY 42104-9997
Phone: 800-463-3083
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 10 p.m.
1088 Nandino Blvd
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-231-6700
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1420 Gardiner Ln
Louisville, KY 40231
Phone: 502-454-1763
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Louisiana Post Office Hours on Tax Day
New Orleans and Baton Rouge each have a post office that will be open until 7 p.m. on April 15.
701 Loyola Ave
New Orleans, LA 70113
Phone: 504-589-1706
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
4700 Millwood Dr
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Phone: 225-752-4251
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
Maine Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Maine residents can visit two different Portland post offices on Tax Day to mail their tax return on time, with each open and collecting mail until 7 p.m.
400 Congress St Ste 9998
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: 207-761-0267
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
125 Forest Ave
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: 207-871-8519
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Maryland Post Office Hours on Tax Day
A local press release from the Baltimore District indicated that on Tax Day post offices in this area will only open for regular hours. Two Maryland post offices will be open until 7 p.m. on Tax Day, however, in Baltimore and in Gaithersburg.
900 E Fayette St Rm 118
Baltimore, MD 21233
Phone: 410-347-4202
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
16501 Shady Grove Rd
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Phone: 301-670-6085
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Massachusetts Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The main Boston post office is open until midnight on Tax Day, while two other Boston-area post offices are open and collecting mail until 7 p.m. In the Springfield area, the post office at the Bradley Airport might be the best bet for last-minute filers, with Tax Day hours until 10 p.m.
25 Dorchester Ave Rm 1
Boston, MA 02205
Phone: 617-654-5302
Open until 12 midnight, last collection at 8 p.m.
1295 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: 617-738-1649
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
770 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-575-8700
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
50 Holyoke St
Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone: 413-536
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6:30 p.m.
10 Schoephoester Rd
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Phone: 860-292-3308
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 10 p.m.
Michigan Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Michigan residents in the Detroit and Grand Rapids areas have options for post offices to visit on Tax Day. Filers should note early collection hours; however, Michigan post offices might offer later collections or deposit box pickups on Tax Day that can be verified by calling the individual post office.
1401 W Fort St Rm 1006
Detroit, MI 48233
Phone: 313-226-8075
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
3800 Greenfield Rd
Dearborn, MI 48120
Phone: 313-337-4700
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
12245 Beech Daly Rd
Redford, MI 48239
Phone: 313-937-1242
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
23125 Greater Mack Ave
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080
Phone: 586-498-2874
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
225 Michigan St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Phone: 616-776-1575
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
3665 28th St SE Ste 6F
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: 616-285-0364
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Minnesota Post Office Hours on Tax Day
In the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, there are two post offices open late on tax day: one in Minneapolis and one in Saint Paul.
100 S 1st St
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-349-4715
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
5001 Northwest Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55111
Phone: 612-970-7643
Open until 11 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Mississippi Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Mississippi residents can deposit their tax returns at the main post office in Jackson until 9 p.m. on Tax Day.
401 E South St
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-351-7096
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
Missouri Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The Missouri post offices that offer the latest Tax Day hours are located in Kansas City and St. Louis.
300 W Pershing Rd Ste 251
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-374-9180
Open until 7 p.m.
1720 Market St Rm 3035
Saint Louis, MO 63155
Phone: 314-436-6853
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8:30 p.m.
Montana Post Office Hours on Tax Day
In Billings, post offices close early at 5:30 p.m. and the last collections are 6 p.m., though Tax Day hours might be different, making it worth calling the post office to verify hours. The main Missoula post office also closes at 5:30 p.m., but has a late last collection of 8 p.m. that can help last-minute filers make sure their returns are in on time.
1100 W Kent Ave
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-329-2270
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Nebraska Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Nebraska post offices offer some decent options for filers on Tax Day: Lincoln residents can deposit their tax returns by 7 p.m., while those in the Omaha area can visit one post office open until 7 p.m. or drop off their return at another location for a later 8 p.m. collection.
700 R St
Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: 402-473-1731
Open until 6 p.m, last collection at 7 p.m.
1124 Pacific St Rm 107
Omaha, NE 68108
Phone: 402-345-1338
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
5346 S 136th St
Omaha, NE 68137
Phone: 402-891-9033
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Nevada Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Several Las Vegas area post offices offer hours and collections as late as midnight on Tax Day, as well as an additional temporary post office service site at the Mandalay Bay open until 8 p.m. The post office also provided a list of several Las Vegas-area post offices that will offer deposit boxes on Tax Day with collections of 10 p.m., available here. For Reno residents, the main post office's hours on Tax Day will follow the regular schedule, but returns can be deposited there by 12 midnight.
1001 E Sunset Rd Unit 1001
Las Vegas, NV 89199
Phone: 702-361-9200
Open until midnight., last collection at midnight
7271 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: 800-275-8777
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
2000 Vassar St
Reno, NV 89510
Phone: 775-788-0729
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at midnight
New Hampshire Post Office Hours on Tax Day
New Hampshire residents outside of Manchester should plan to head to their local post office early on Tax Day, as only the main Manchester office has regular hours up to 7 p.m. and a late collection of 8 p.m.
955 Goffs Falls Rd Ste 998
Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: 603-626-6887
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
New Jersey Post Office Hours on Tax Day
In the Newark area, the latest a post office is open is 7 p.m. with the last collection even earlier at 5 p.m. The story is the same for post offices in other New Jersey cities like Bayonne, and Woodbridge, while those in Jersey City would likely have better luck searching for a New York City post office open late on Tax Day.
2 Federal Sq
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-693-5231
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
570 Broadway
Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: 201-339-2029
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
400 N Wood Ave Ste A
Linden, NJ 07036
Phone: 908-925-8836
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5:30 p.m.
60 Main St
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: 732-634-4985
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
New Mexico Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Don't expect New Mexico post offices to be open late on Tax Day, as most close their doors by 5:30 p.m. Filers in Albuquerque can head to the city's main post office on Tax Day to deposit returns as late as 7 p.m.
1135 Broadway Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87101
Phone: 505-346-8052
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
New York Post Office Hours on Tax Day
There are a number of post offices in the New York City area open until 7 p.m. or later; those listed below were open past 7. Be aware, however, that while New York City post offices might have later collections for Tax Day, the listed last collection time for many of these locations is an early 5 p.m. New York residents outside of the city might have better luck, as post offices in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse had collection times as late as 9:30 p.m.
90 Church St Fl 1
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-330-5105
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
421 8th Ave
New York, NY 10001-9998
Phone: 212-330-3296
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
450 Lexington Ave Fl 2
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-330-5724
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
909 3rd Ave Ste 401
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-330-5566
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
558 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718-402-3430
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
271 Cadman Plz E Ste 1
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718-855-0912
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
4165 Main St Ste 1
Flushing, NY 11355
Phone: 718-321-6893
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
1425 Central Ave
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518-458-7217
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
30 Karner Rd
Albany, NY 12288
Phone: 518-452-2324
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
285 Cayuga Rd
Buffalo, NY 14241
Phone: 716-631-3531
Open until 8:30 p.m., last collection at 6:45 p.m.
1335 Jefferson Rd
Rochester, NY 14692
Phone: 585-272-5953
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
5640 E Taft Rd
Syracuse, NY 13220
Phone: 315-452-3501
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 9:30 p.m.
North Carolina Post Office Hours on Tax Day
North Carolina post offices all seem to have regular hours with closings well before 7 p.m. The latest any post office is open is the Winston-Salem post office on Silas Creek Parkway, which is open and collects mail until 6 p.m. Make sure to check with your local North Carolina post office, however, as it might offer unannounced accommodations for late filers on Tax Day.
North Dakota Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Two North Dakota post offices offer midnight collections on Tax Day in Fargo, though these offices will close according to usual hours.
657 2nd Ave N Rm 104
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: 701-241-6115
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at midnight
1455 32nd St S
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: 701-241-6144
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at midnight
Ohio Post Office Hours for Tax Day
Both Columbus and Cleveland have a 24-hour post office, and while these Ohio post offices list a last collection of 5 p.m. they might offer a later collection for Tax Day, so be sure to call and verify. In the Cincinnati area, the latest post office hours on Tax Day are 7 p.m.
2323 Citygate Dr
Columbus, OH 43218
Phone: 614-472-0713
Open 24 hours, last collection at 5 p.m.
4299 Sawyer Rd
Columbus, OH 43236
Phone: 614-231-1054
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
850 Twin Rivers Dr
Columbus, OH 43216-9712
Phone: 614-469-4516
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
5801 Postal Rd
Cleveland, OH 44181
Phone: 216-433-4023
Open 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
2400 Orange Ave
Cleveland, OH 44101
Phone: 216-443-4046
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
1623 Dalton Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45234
Phone: 513-684-5009
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
Oklahoma Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The Will Rogers World Airport post office in Oklahoma City is offering one of the latest Tax Day hours of Oklahoma post offices, open until 11 p.m., though the Center City post office in Oklahoma City offers a later collection time of 7 p.m. A Tulsa post office is also open late, offering service and collecting mail until 10:30 p.m. on Tax Day.
6500 Air Cargo Rd
Oklahoma City, OK 73195
Phone: 405-815-2632
Open until 11 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
305 NW 5th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: 405-232-2198
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
2161 N Cargo Rd Ste A
Tulsa, OK 74115
Phone: 918-834-6086
Open until 10:30 p.m., last collection at 10:30 p.m.
Oregon Post Office Hours on Tax Day
If you live in Oregon, your best bet to find a post office open late on Tax Day is Portland. The Portland Airport post office is open until 10 p.m., while the main Portland post office on Hoyt collects mail until 9 p.m.
715 NW Hoyt St
Portland, OR 97208
Phone: 503-294-2399
Open until 6:30 p.m, last collection at 9 p.m.
7640 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97238
Phone: 503-335-7918
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 8:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania Post Office Hours for Tax Day
On Tax Day, Pennsylvania post offices will operate according to usual hours, according to a press release from the local USPS offices, though collection boxes with later hours than those listed below might be posted outside some offices. Hours posted for Pittsburgh offices were on the earlier side, 7 p.m., while the main Philadelphia post office is open until 9 p.m. Post offices are also offering extended Tax Day hours in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Bethlehem.
1425 Crooked Hill Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17107
Phone: 717-257-2301
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1400 Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17604
Phone: 717-396-6925
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7:15 p.m.
17 S Commerce Way
Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: 610-882-3247
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
1001 California Ave Rm 1002
Pittsburgh, PA 15290
Phone: 412-359-7084
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
1936 Park Manor Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15244
Phone: 412-787-9672
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
3000 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-895-9012
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 6 p.m.
622 S 4th St Ste 1
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 215-462-1248
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
Rhode Island Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Last-minute tax filers in Rhode Island should plan to head to the main Providence post offices, which on Tax Day will be open and collecting mail until 9 p.m.
24 Corliss St Rm 100
Providence, RI 02904
Phone: 401-276-8619
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 9 p.m.
South Carolina Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Those filing last-minute in South Carolina should plan to head to the post office early on Tax Day. A search of extended post office hours in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg and other cities in the state shows that not many post offices will be open past 5:30 p.m.
South Dakota Post Office Hours on Tax Day
South Dakota offices follow the same trend as those in South Carolina, with most closing fairly early. The main post offices in Sioux Falls and Rapid City do offer later collections, however, of 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Tennessee Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Both Nashville and Memphis have a post office with a late collection of 8 p.m. Other good bets for last-minute tax filers in Tennessee might be the Memphis Airport, open until 10 p.m, and the main post office in Chattanooga, with a last collection of 7 p.m..
6050 Shallowford Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-499-8294
Open until 6:30 p.m., last collection at 7 p.m.
4233 Louis Carruthers Dr
Memphis, TN 38130
Phone: 901-332-6580
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 5 p.m.
555 S 3rd St Lobby
Memphis, TN 38101
Phone: 901-521-2575
Open until 11:59 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
525 Royal Pkwy
Nashville, TN 37229
Phone: 615-872-5749
Open until 9 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Texas Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Late filers in the Houson area should plan to get their return in earlier, as the main post office only collects mail until 8 p.m. Dallas and San Antonia residents are luckier, with a post office in each area offering hours until 10 p.m., while those in Austin are less so with most post offices in that area closing at 5:30 p.m, though the main office does collect mail at 8 p.m.
8225 Cross Park Dr
Austin, TX 78710
Phone: 512-342-1259
Open until 5:30 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
401 Dallas Ft Worth Turnpike
Dallas, TX 75260
Phone: 214-760-4526
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
2200 W 32nd St
Dallas, TX 75261
Phone: 972-453-3372
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
401 Franklin St
Houston, TX 77201
Phone: 713-226-3161
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
8401 Boeing Dr
El Paso, TX 79910
Phone: 915-780-7525
Open until 6:30 p.m., last collection at 8:45 p.m.
10250 John Saunders Rd
San Antonio, TX 78246
Phone: 210-828-0267
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 6:45 p.m.
Utah Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The main Salt Lake City post office collects mail until 8:15 p.m., but other Utah post office Tax Day hours might be limited as the majority of post offices close by 5:30, including in Southern Utah. It would be worth it, however, to call your local Utah post office on Tax Day to see if it will be offering a deposit box with late collection for tax returns.
1760 W 2100 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84199
Phone: 801-974-2332
Open until 6 p.m., last collection at 8:15 p.m.
Vermont Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Vermont tax filers should plan to head to the post office early on Tax Day, as most offices in Burlington, Montpelier and other cities close and stop collecting mail by 5:30 p.m. Make sure to contact your local Vermont post office for Tax Day hours, just in case it is offering extended hours or a deposit box with a late pickup.
Virginia Post Office Hours on Tax Day
A press release from the post office advises tax filers that Virginia post office hours on Tax Day will follow the normal schedules. This means many Virginians should head to the post office early to file taxes on April 15.
8409 Lee Hwy
Merrifield, VA 22116
Phone: 703-698-6356
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
Washington Post Office Hours on Tax Day
On Tax Day, most Seattle and Spokane post offices close by 6 p.m. A Tacoma post office will be open until 7 p.m. and collecting mail until 8:30 p.m., however, and Vancouver residents might be able to visit a Portland, Ore., post office to mail a return later in the day. Check with your local Washington post office to see if it is staying open late on Tax Day or offering late collection for returns.
4001 S Pine St
Tacoma, WA 98413
Phone: 253-471-5384
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8:30 p.m.
Washington, D.C. Post Office Hours on Tax Day
The best bet for D.C. area tax filers to get their return in on time might be the post office near Union Station, which is open until 7 p.m, or even neighboring cities like Merrifield, Virginia. However, most D.C. post offices close by 6 p.m.
2 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-636-1259
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 6:30 p.m.
West Virginia Post Office Hours on Tax Day
West Virginia post office hours on Tax Day will follow a normal schedule, according to a press release from the USPS. This means West Virginia tax filers planning to mail a return on April 15 should head to the post office early, as most locations in Charleston, Morgantown and other cities are closed by 6 p.m.
Wisconsin Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Wisconsin post offices will also follow regular hours on Tax Day. The good news is that some Madison and Milwaukee post offices will still offer later hours, collecting mail as late as 8 p.m.
3902 Milwaukee St
Madison, WI 53714
Phone: 608-246-1228
Open until 7 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
345 W Saint Paul Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: 414-270-2308
Open until 8 p.m., last collection at 8 p.m.
5500 S Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone: 414-481-0272
Open until 10 p.m., last collection at 6:30 p.m.
Wyoming Post Office Hours on Tax Day
Bad news: most Wyoming post offices close by 5:30 p.m., and no additional information has been released indicating that they will be offering extended hours on Tax Day. It might still be worthwhile to call your local Wyoming post office to inquire about Tax Day hours.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images
April Fool's pranks can be unpleasant for the recipient. But there was nothing funny at all when the house of St. Paul, Minnesota, retired truck driver Jimmy Ware went up in flames on April 1. As the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported, he had been drinking a beer when he got the news. Ware drove to the house, which had been owned by his parents before him, turned around and headed back to the bar.
"I couldn't stand looking at it no more," the 66-year-old told the news organization. "Lost my checkbook. Lost everything." A downed power wire ignited dried vegetation, and the flame spread to take his home. Ware had no insurance on the building and was reluctant to ask help of anyone.
Apparently Comcast was more than willing not to offer any. It took a week of calling before the company would cancel Ware's cable television service, according to the Pioneer Press.
Ware's daughter, Jessica Schmidt, was trying to help her father piece his life and deal with important basics, like finding a place to live and rebuilding his life. Canceling cable service should have been a quick task, except that it wasn't.
When Schmidt called Comcast, she was told that she needed the account number to cancel. That was gone, along with every other record and belonging that Ware once had. Her father got on the phone and gave the company the last four digits of his Social Security number, but that apparently wasn't enough.
Corporate Policy
Comcast's policy had been put into place to protect privacy and keep one person from canceling another's service. But sometimes reality doesn't work by corporate rules.
"I've said to Comcast, 'Here's your choice, disconnect the service or send someone out to fix the cable, because it's not working,'" Schmidt said to the Pioneer Press. "The [Comcast] guy said, 'That doesn't make sense, because the house burned down.' I said, 'Exactly, shut the service off.'"
And still they didn't, though finally, at the end of what must have been a horrific week, Comcast relented, saying that customer service personnel had mishandled the matter. Not only did the company finally cut off service, backdated to the fire, but it said it wouldn't charge Ware for the equipment that was likely a puddle somewhere.
Ted S. Warren/AP
There were plenty of winners and losers this week, with the world's largest premium coffeehouse giving employees a full ride at an online college and a social gaming pioneer taking an odd step backward.
We've become addicted to Netflix. The leading premium video service revealed that it served up 10 billion hours of content during the first three months of the year. That's big. Just two years ago Netflix was serving up 4 billion hours of video during that year's first quarter.
Subscriber growth has been pretty impressive in that time. We've seen Netflix's global base of streaming accounts grow 69 percent to 61.4 million over the past two years. Usage has soared 150 percent to hit 10 billion hours. In other words, the typical subscriber is streaming a lot more these days. That bodes well for Netflix's quarterly report next week.
It seems as if "CEO" is not a word you can play on Zynga's "Words With Friends" game, and it's something that the company itself continues to struggle with these days. The struggling developer and publisher of mobile games announced this week that Don Mattrick was stepping down immediately on Wednesday. He'll receive a $4 million buyout in the process.
Mattrick will be replaced by founder Mark Pincus. A founder coming back to take the reins isn't always a bad thing: Let's raise a toast to Steve Jobs and Howard Schultz. However, Zynga shares rallied in 2013 when Pincus was replaced by Mattrick. The market feared that Pincus wasn't seasoned enough to handle a mobile company that was starting to show some growing pains after bookings peaked in 2012.
Mattrick was the top dog at Xbox, and he seemed like quite the catch at the time. Unfortunately for Zynga, revenue tanked in 2013 and fell even lower in 2014. The company that defined social gaming a few years ago with "FarmVille" and "Mafia Wars" is reeling, and bringing back a founder the market wanted replaced two years ago doesn't seem like the solution.
There's one more reason to want to become a barista when you grow up: Starbucks announced this week that it will foot the bill for employees to obtain four-year college degrees. Yes, it's limited to the offerings available at the online campus of Arizona State University. But it's still a college degree, and it's open to the more than two-thirds of Starbucks employees who have not obtained college degrees.
Starbucks and the virtual university are sharing the costs, reimbursing Starbucks employees at the end of every completed semester. Starbucks isn't requiring employees to stay at the company after they graduate, but it's a safe bet that most will acknowledge the favor by sticking around a bit. It's a smart move at a time when companies are trying to stand out to recruit the best job candidates.
The PC -- Loser
Once again, the personal computer is a loser. Global PC shipments fell to 68.5 million during the first quarter according to industry tracker IDC. That is 6.7 percent fewer desktops and notebooks than were shipped a year earlier. You have to go all the way back to 2009 to find the last time that PC makers shipped fewer units, and that was during the global recession, when companies and consumers were clutching their pocketbooks and bracing for the worst. The mobile revolution continues to crush the PC.
The Apple Watch became available for preorder on Friday morning. There has been no shortage of knocks on the tech giant's first push into wearable computing. The battery life is too short. The device is too expensive. Initial reviews have also been lukewarm.
However, at the end of the day, you know that Apple is going to sell a ton of these. It wouldn't be a surprise if the initial inventory sells out before the weekend is over, and this is a smartwatch that won't hit the market for another two weeks.
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Apple, Netflix, and Starbucks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. Looking for a winner for your portfolio? Check out The Motley Fool's one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA customer tries on an Apple Watch at an Apple store Friday in New York.By Noel Randewich and Astrid Wendlandt
SAN FRANCISCO and PARIS -- Customers preordering Apple's smartwatch Friday will have to wait at least a month for delivery, an early sign of strong demand for company chief Tim Cook's first new major product.
People flocked to Apple's stores around the world to get a close-up look at the Apple Watch, the tech company's first foray into the personal luxury goods market.
The device was available for preorder online and to try out in stores by appointment, but not to take home. Cook, interviewed on cable television channel CNBC, said initial orders were "great."
Apple predicted Thursday that demand would exceed supply at product launch.
Without knowing how many watches consumers have ordered, Wall Street analysts said it was too early to adjust their estimates for sales of the gadget. Another key factor in the watch's success will be demand once an initial wave of interest from Apple enthusiasts subsides.
The watch goes on sale officially on April 24, online and through appointments in shops, including trendy fashion boutiques in Paris, London and Tokyo, part of Apple's strategy of positioning the wearable computer as a must-have accessory.
But soon after online preorders opened on Friday, Apple's website listed shipping times in June for some models of the watch and four to six weeks for others.
Brisk Bidding
There was immediately brisk bidding on eBay (EBAY) for confirmed orders for watches, with hundreds of sellers looking to make a few hundred or even thousand dollars by passing on their watches, once received.
The lowest-priced Sport model on eBay was $470, a markup of more than $100. A top-of-the-line gold Apple Watch Edition was listed for $20,000 on eBay, $3,000 more than its official price.
Testing Apple's mastery of consumer trends, the watch is an untried concept for the Cupertino, California-based company. It straddles a technology market accustomed to rapid obsolescence and luxury goods whose appeal lies in their enduring value.
At an Apple store in Paris, staff cheered the first customers, most of them men under 30 years old.
"I have everything from Apple, so now I need to get the watch," 19-year-old Jeremy Dugue, wearing an Armani leather jacket, said after ordering the stainless steel model at 1,149 euros ($1,218).
The Apple Watch sport starts at $349 while the standard version comes in at $549 in the United States. High-end "Edition" watches with 18-karat gold alloys are priced from $10,000 and go as high as $17,000.
Mixed Reviews
At Apple's flagship store in New York, Jack Weber, who was visiting from Charlottesville, Virginia, said he would give his wife a top-of-the-line "Edition" as a 50th-anniversary gift.
"What more perfect wedding present could there be than this watch," he said.
Long wait times will likely stimulate more demand for the watch -- which allows users to check email, listen to music and make phone calls when paired with an iPhone -- with little risk of losing impatient customers, said JMP (JMP) analyst Alex Gauna.
"You would want to catch up by the holiday season," Gauna said. "But based on what's out there in Android land, I don't think there's an extreme risk in near term of losing customers who must have a smartwatch and will go to some alternative."
Android is Google's mobile operating system used on many smartwatches.
Reviewers this week praised the watch, which also helps users monitor their health and exercise, as "beautiful" and "stylish" but gave it poor marks for relatively low battery life and slow-loading apps.
Sales estimates for 2015 vary widely. Piper Jaffray (PJC) predicts 8 million units and Global Securities Research forecasts 40 million. By comparison, Apple sold nearly 200 million iPhones last year.
Apple's watch is widely expected to outsell those by Samsung, Sony (SNE) and Fitbit, which have attracted modest interest from consumers. It will likely account for 55 percent of global smartwatch shipments this year, according to Societe Generale.
"Apple will outsell its wearable rivals by a very wide margin but it will do this on the power of its brand and its design alone," independent technology analyst Richard Windsor said.
"Consequently, I am sticking to my 20 million forecast for the first 12 months and see the potential for some sogginess in the stock as reality sets in."
Apple shares (AAPL) were up 0.45 percent at $127.13 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq.
-With additional reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in Bangalore; Teppei Kasai in Tokyo; Paul Sandle in London; Pauline Askin in Sydney; Malathi Nayak in New York; Yasmeen Abutaleb in San Francisco; and Bill Rigby in Seattle.
All 10 primary S&P 500 sectors ended up on the day but the S&P Industrials index, driven by gains in GE shares, was by far the best performer and rose 1.5 percent.
General Electric (GE) rose 10.8 percent to $28.51, hitting its highest level since September 2008 after it said there was potential to return more than $90 billion to investors through 2018.
This is indicative of a broader trend, a refocus on shareholders, and that can provide a support for markets.
Friday marked the biggest one-day jump for the stock, as well as the most active session, since March 2009. More than 351 million shares changed hands, making GE the most active name on the New York Stock Exchange by far. It was also the S&P 500's biggest percentage gainer.
"This is indicative of a broader trend, a refocus on shareholders, and that can provide a support for markets," said David Lebovitz, global market strategist for J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York. "If we continue to see buybacks and higher dividends, and I suspect we will, that makes a more convincing case for equities going forward."
The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) rose 98.92 points, or 0.55 percent, to 18,057.65, the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GSPC) gained 10.88 points, or 0.52 percent, to 2,102.06 and the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) added 21.41 points, or 0.43 percent, to 4,995.98.
For the week, the Dow is up 1.6 percent, the S&P is up 1.7 percent and the Nasdaq is up 2.3 percent. Both the Dow and S&P notched their second straight week of gains, helped by a pickup in merger activity.
Earnings Season
Investors are looking ahead to the first-quarter earnings season. While some companies reported this week, next week will see results from a number major firms, including several banks. Profits of companies on the S&P 500 are projected to have declined by 2.9 percent in the first three months from a year ago, according to Thomson Reuters data.
"There's a bit of a rough patch ahead, but I think we should be able to jump over lower expectations," said Lebovitz, "I don't anticipate a sharp fall in stocks throughout the season."
Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by 1,782 to 1,232, for a 1.45-to-1 ratio on the upside; on the Nasdaq, 1,603 issues rose and 1,100 fell for a 1.46-to-1 ratio favoring advancers.
The benchmark S&P 500 index was posting 26 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq composite was recording 93 new highs and 21 new lows.
About 5.47 billion shares traded on all U.S. platforms, according to BATS exchange data, down from the month-to-date average of 6.22 billion.
What to watch Monday:
The Treasury Department releases the federal budget for March at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
Right now, you could spend $249 on a new 32 GB iPod Touch -- or you could spend $159 for the refurbished version. Both come from the Apple store in a sparkling white box with new accessories, a new battery and a one-year warranty. Which do you choose?
Refurbished electronics are basically items that have been opened or used at some point. It could be because of any of the following reasons:
An item bought and returned because the customer didn't like it.
An item bought and returned for a cosmetic defect.
An item bought and returned for a functional defect.
A display or demo item.
A recalled item.
You may be worried you'll be buying a lemon if you get a refurbished electronic device, but that concern may be overblown. A 2011 report from consulting firm Accenture found that only 5 percent of returned electronics had an actual product defect.
Even for those that are defective, most major manufacturers have a rigorous process by which they test, repair and then retest returned items before selling them as refurbished. As a result, you may end up with a refurbished device that has some minor cosmetic issues such as scratches or discoloration, but it should work flawlessly out of the box.
Where Should You Buy Them?
Because refurbished electronics may be used, you always want to buy them from a trusted source. Typically, that means a major retailer or manufacturer. Look online in the clearance or outlet sections of these companies' websites: Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Dell, Epson, HP, Newegg and Sony.
You can find plenty of refurbished electronics on eBay as well, but buying through eBay can be tricky. Contact the manufacturer to see if the auction is being run by an authorized reseller, and then double-check their feedback for any recurring problems.
If the seller isn't authorized by the manufacturer, you may want to move along. Unauthorized sellers may have vastly different standards when it comes to testing and repairing refurbished items. Plus, these sellers may not offer warranties or accept returns.
How Do You Know It's a Good Deal?
First, look up the going price of the item you're buying. How much are retailers selling it for brand new? Refurbished items are often, but not always, a bargain. Just as you would compare prices for any other purchase, shop around before buying a refurbished product. Beyond price,review how the item was refurbished and what your options are if it ends up being defective. Look for answers to all the following questions.
What is the refurbishing process?
Is the item tested again after any necessary repairs are made?
Could there be cosmetic damage?
Does the item come with the same accessories as a new item?
Is there a warranty or return policy that will let you send back a defective item?
If so, do you need to pay a restocking fee?
Finally, don't forget to look for coupon codes or promos that may bring your final price down even more.
Is There Anything You Shouldn't Buy Refurbished?
Some people warn against buying refurbished TVs, printers and hard drives, but you probably don't need to make an entire category of products off-limits.
Instead, never buy something sold "as is." While most refurbished products are as good as new, there is always the chance you'll get a defective product that wasn't repaired correctly. Don't get stuck with a lemon. Make sure you have a warranty and the opportunity to make a return.
Have you ever bought something refurbished? Was it a deal or a dud? Post a comment below or on our Facebook page with your story. Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving tips and advice, free! We'll also email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson's "205 Ways to Save Money" as soon as you've subscribed. It's full of great tips that'll help you save a ton of extra cash.
For taxpayers anxiously awaiting a check in the mail or a sum deposited directly into their bank account, the wait can be fraught with worry. After all, a delayed refund can mean more than waiting a few extra days for your cash -- it can signal problems with your return. So when should you give worrying a rest, and when is there real cause for concern?
Where's My Return?
According to the IRS, refund information is available as soon as 24 hours after an e-filed return is received, while the status on a mailed return takes about three to four weeks. The IRS's Where's My Refund? tool is popular with taxpayers wanting to check on their return. In fact, it's so popular that the tool has been known to get jammed by eager taxpayers checking on their returns several times a day.
By early March, the website and mobile app had received more than 179 million hits, although the IRS has only processed 72 million tax returns by roughly the same period. The disparity is the result of people making multiple visits per day. "Where's My Refund? is the quickest and easiest way for taxpayers to get important information about their tax refund," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a statement. "Taxpayers need to remember that the Where's My Refund? system is updated every 24 hours, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more than once a day."
"Early-season filers are blowing up the IRS with Where's My Refund?" said Brian Ashcraft, director of operations for Liberty Tax. "But the IRS recently announced that more than 90 percent of refunds are being issued in less than 21 days." The question that remains: "What's the issue with the remaining 10?"
Possible Reasons for a Delay
Ashcraft said there are a number of reasons a refund could be delayed, any of which are a legitimate cause for concern. "Incomplete or glaring errors on the return could do it, or they could get an additional IRS review. Certain returns are flagged, or if your return has been impacted by identity theft or fraud."
But Melissa Labant, director of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants tax staff, said taxpayers will know that's an issue long before they go to check the status of their refund. "If there's an issue of identity theft, in most cases, you'll know when you attempt to file your return," she says. "The IRS won't allow you to file your return because another one has been filed under your Social Security number."
Earlier in the tax season, some TurboTax customers encountered this sort of fraud when they attempted to file a state return, only to discover one had already been filed with their information. The holdup with your tax refund could also involve withholding. "Unpaid child support, federal agency debt, outstanding student loans, back state income tax -- any of these things could offset the refund," Ashcraft said. "But if it does, you'll be notified."
Before you assume the worst, remember a few things: The IRS is short-staffed, and sometimes a delay is just a delay. "With the recent budget cuts at the IRS, it may simply take longer to process everyone's returns," Labant said.
When to Take Action
If you haven't heard anything three weeks after of filing your return, it's time to check in with the IRS. "After 21 days, that would be the only time you'd realize that something didn't go through as normal," Ashcraft said, "and you can talk to an IRS representative."
If a month goes by and you haven't heard anything, visit the Where's My Refund? page for more information. If your refund has been lost, you can request a replacement check if it has been more than 28 days from when your refund was mailed.
And keep in mind there's always the possibility that a minor error is holding things up. "It's not always 'the sky's falling' if you didn't get your refund," Ashcraft said. "Sometimes, you just didn't fill it out properly."
If you're a woman, you can count on extra barriers on the road to retirement. According to a recent Vanguard study, the average man participating in a defined contribution plan maintained by the brokerage has more than $121,000 saved, while the average woman has only about $78,000 socked away.
How can women catch up and ensure that they're saving enough? Start by recognizing the hurdles you face, and build your retirement plan around them. We identify nine reasons women may never retire and how you can get past them to reach a comfortable retirement.
1. You're Going to Live Too Long
According to the Social Security Administration, today's average 65-year-old man can expect to live until age 84.3; the average 65-year-old woman can expect to live until age 86.6. Living a long and happy life is a blessing, but it's one you'll have to pay for: The extra time on this earth drives up the amount you'll need to save for daily expenses and increasing medical costs as your health inevitably deteriorates.
In her Rethinking Retirement column Plan for a Long Life, Kiplinger's senior editor Jane Bennett Clark advises: "You can estimate your life expectancy using calculators such as Living to 100 and the Blue Zones' Vitality Compass. If the calculators put you at 95, that's reason to work longer and delay taking Social Security. For each year you delay after full retirement age until age 70, you get an 8 percent bump in benefits. It also means you should take an annuity instead of a lump sum if you have a defined-benefit pension plan and are given the choice.
"Another strategy to fund a long life is to buy an annuity, which delivers a guaranteed payment until you die. Of the choices, a fixed immediate annuity is the most straightforward. For a bigger payout, consider a deferred-income annuity (also known as longevity insurance). You pay for it up front and delay taking the income for, say, 20 years. Get expert advice before you buy one." Be prepared: Women's extended longevity means higher prices for most annuities and long-term-care insurance policies.
2. You Don't Make Enough Money
Women save for retirement more aggressively than men, at a rate about 6 percent to 12 percent higher across all income levels, according to Vanguard's "How America Saves" study. But because they earn less, their efforts add up to smaller nest eggs. And there's a double whammy: Lower lifetime earnings also lead to lower Social Security benefits in retirement.
Start saving as soon as possible. Given enough time, even a relatively small sum can grow into a sizable nest egg. For example, if a 25-year-old saves just $286 a month, assuming an 8 percent return, she'll have $1 million by the time she turns 65. Bump it up to $573 a month to hit $2 million by age 65.
Even better: Earn more money. To make sure you're being compensated fairly, check sites such as Payscale and Glassdoor to see what other people with similar jobs in your area are getting paid. If your salary isn't comparable, be prepared to negotiate. If it is, figure out how to climb your career ladder to the next income level. For example, learning a new skill such as coding (with a free class) may make you a more valuable employee.
3. You Never Learned How to Invest
Women tend to express little confidence in their ability to invest. According to a recent Merrill Lynch study, 55.3 percent of women identify their knowledge of financial markets and investing as being below average. Only 27.2 percent of men feel the same. If your lack of confidence keeps you from investing entirely, your retirement portfolio will undoubtedly suffer.
Increasing your financial literacy is the key to building a smart portfolio. "You need to educate yourself so you can make decisions with confidence," says Nicole Mayer, a financial planner in Riverwoods, Illinois. Kiplinger is a good place to learn the basics of investing, so just reading this story means you're off to a good start.
Once you're ready to start investing, we recommend going with mutual funds. They are the easiest and most cost-effective way to diversify your portfolio. If you're investing through a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan, you likely have a limited menu of funds to choose from. Within an IRA, all the choices might seem overwhelming. Your simplest option: a target-date fund whose assets gradually shift toward less-risky investments as you approach your retirement date. Or try various index funds to build a balanced, low-cost portfolio. And consult the Kiplinger 25 for our favorite no-load managed funds.
4. You Rely on Your Husband to Make Financial Decisions
An overwhelming majority of wives still defer to their husbands when it comes to money matters. Only 27 percent of married women report taking control of their financial and retirement planning, according to a recent survey from Prudential. The good news is that that figure has climbed from just 14 percent in 2006. Such arrangements leave women vulnerable, if only once their husbands pass away. Unfortunately, 39.4 percent of women over age 65 are widows.
Make sure you play a prominent role in shaping your shared nest egg and building a retirement plan. "It is critical that every woman take personal responsibility for her financial independence through education and personal involvement rather than relying on someone else to do it for her," says Kathleen Hastings, a financial planner with FBB Capital Partners in Bethesda, Maryland. "No one will care more about your financial independence than you do."
You can start by asking the same critical questions you should've asked even before you got married and laying out all of your assets, income, investments, expenses and debts-whether individually or jointly held. When it comes to retirement planning, discuss your expected sources of retirement income, including Social Security, employee-sponsored plans, pensions and individual retirement accounts. Learn about tax-planning and Social Security strategies that might benefit you as a widow.
5. You Took Time Off From Work to Focus on Family
Even if you don't become a pro bono caretaker for life, motherhood will likely shrink your nest egg. A few months of maternity leave (multiplied by the number of kids you ultimately have) or a few years at home can set back your nest egg. Even if you work part-time to bring in income, you may still miss out on benefits (such as a 401(k) match) that can help you reach your retirement goals.
Taking time to care for aging parents might strain your finances, too. According to the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, caregivers (69 percent of whom are women) are estimated to lose more than $303,000 in potential lifetime income-from lost hours and pay to decreased chances for promotions or bonuses.
During your full-time working years, maximize your retirement benefits. Most private companies offer a 401(k) plan; in the public sector, you may get a 403(b) or 457 plan or the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan. Typically, your employer will match 25 percent to 100 percent of your contributions, which are deducted pretax from your paycheck, up to 6 percent of your salary. In other words, your boss is giving you free money for retirement-take it.
You can also try finding an employer who allows a flexible schedule to help you juggle work and family responsibilities. Publications such as Working Mother publish annual lists of the best companies for moms trying to strike that balance. If you earn money from freelance work, you can also contribute to a solo 401(k) or simplified employee pension.
6. You Chose to be a Stay-at-Home Mom
All the work that moms do for their families adds nothing to their retirement savings, and many of them opt to make it their single (though much-demanding) job. According to the Department of Labor, about 30 percent of mothers (versus just 7.2 percent of fathers) with children under 18 do not participate in the labor force, meaning they have no income to call their own-and no way to save for their senior selves independently.
As long as he earns income, your husband can contribute to a spousal IRA on your behalf-up to $5,500 in 2015 (or $6,500, if you're 50 or older). If the modified adjusted gross income on your joint federal tax return falls below $193,000, you can make it a Roth IRA. Contribution amounts begin to phase out for incomes above $183,000 for married couples filing jointly.
If you worked outside the home at some point, don't forget about any retirement accounts associated with that job. You may want to roll the funds into an IRA, but it might make more sense to let the money grow where it is. Review your options to see what is best for you.
7. You Think About Others Too Much
When setting financial priorities, women tend to consider the needs of loved ones as much as, if not more than, their own. According to the Merrill Lynch survey, 57.5 percent of women feel financially responsible for their children, parents and spouse. "Women need to make sure they leave something for their kids-to help their kid buy their first home or send their grandkid to college," says Mayer. "It happens for men too, but I see it as not just a want for my female clients but as a need that they work into their plans."
Put your own needs first. Women and men alike ought to prioritize saving for retirement over other financial goals, such as the kids' college funds. And don't think of it as being selfish. "I believe the best gift you give your children is your own financial well-being and independence," says Hastings. "We need to set our children free from the burden of a parent's financial problems."
8. You Spend Too Much on Health Care
Health care costs tend to be higher for women than they are for men throughout their lives, especially in later years. In fact, out-of-pocket medical spending for women age 65 and older totaled $2,721 per person in 2010, 31 percent more than the average $2,073 spent by men of the same age, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. While long-term-care insurance can help defray retired health care costs, women can expect to pay 40 percent to 60 percent more than their male counterparts for new policies, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
You can trim those costs using simple tactics, such as switching to generic medications and using in-network providers. And take advantage of the tax savings offered by a health savings account. As for long-term-care coverage, if you're married, you should buy a policy as a couple for the best deal. Also check the benefit options offered by your employer; you may find advantageous group rates that don't penalize you for your gender.
9. Your Divorce Is Tearing You Apart
On top of the emotional turmoil, ending a marriage means separating once-shared household expenses, divvying up assets and letting go of the security of a spouse's income. Especially for a woman who spent decades relying solely on her husband's paychecks, the change can be financially devastating. Make sure you get your fair share of all the marital property, including all the cash stashed in various retirement funds accumulated throughout your marriage.
Don't forget to take stock of Social Security benefits that may be due to you: If you were married for 10 or more years and you don't remarry, you may be eligible to collect benefits on your ex-spouse's earnings record. Consider hiring a certified financial divorce analyst, who is licensed to deal with this big life transition and help ensure you get an equitable division of assets. Find one near you through the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.
Once your divorce is final, you face a whole new life and a new budget to go with it. "You might have to change your lifestyle, cut back your expenses, find a different job to make more money," says Mayer, who is a certified financial divorce analyst. "All these things are going to be thrown at you, and you have to be able to make good decisions that are in your best interest. So be sure to slow down and take care of yourself first."
In the Money Mic series, LearnVest hand sover the podium to people with controversial views about money. Today, one man gives us the scoop on how he's used credit card rewards to take international trips totaling $195,000 -- for just $14,000 cash.
Eight years ago my life looked a lot different than it does today. I was living in Bloomington, Indiana, working as an accountant in the finance department for an engine manufacturing company. While I liked my job, what I really relished was one major bonus it offered-the opportunity to travel the world.
On a fairly regular basis, I'd jet off to Australia, China and Mexico to do internal audits at our overseas locations-and I always made sure to extend my stay in order to explore new cities. Although I was bringing in about $50,000, who was I to turn down a free trip? So when I decided to go back to school full-time to get my MBA in 2007, I was sad to give up these travel perks, and decided to research other ways to see the world on the cheap.
That's when I stumbled on a blog about the creative ways you can redeem credit card rewards for amazing travel experiences. Through my research I learned that racking up credit card points to score free airfare and hotel stays was actually quite easy, thanks to a strategy called churning. Put simply, churning is when you apply for multiple credit cards in order to capitalize on their lucrative sign-up incentives, which issuers give you in return for meeting a certain spending requirement.
When done right, you can bank hundreds of thousands in rewards points -- but there's a catch. Churning is only a financially sound strategy if you're able to meet the spending minimums without blowing your budget, and you can pay off your balance in full every month. Otherwise, the interest you'll pay will overshadow any benefits. This was the first I'd ever heard of churning, but the concept didn't seem so outlandish. After all, I was no stranger to using credit cards for unconventional purposes.
When I was a junior in college at Indiana University in Bloomington, I got an internship in Chicago, so I needed a car. Instead of taking out a loan, I used a 0 percent APR credit card to pay for my Ford Escort-meaning I essentially got an interest-free loan for 18 months. After that I rolled over the remaining balance to another 0 percent APR card-and paid it off within two years.
Churning and My Credit Score
When it came to churning, however, the question mark was how the process would affect my FICO score. But when I investigated further, and couldn't find information to suggest it would endanger my good standing-my score was in the high 600s, and I didn't have any debt -- I decided to start slowly and keep close tabs on my credit. If I dinged my score in any way, however, I'd stop.
It was around that time that I started dating my future wife, Emily, a project manager at a cleaning supplies company. She'd grown up in a middle-class family, and road-tripping to amusement parks passed as a vacation -- so I knew travel was a priority for her too. But Emily was hesitant when I first explained the idea to her. She didn't want her new boyfriend's crazy idea to tank her credit, which was also in the high 600s.
So I embarked on the process myself, at first just aiming to earn enough points to cash in for a short, weekend trip to St. Louis -- which I was able to do quickly. That's all it took for Emily to decide she wanted to try her hand at churning, so we could pool our resources and go on even bigger trips. We were excited to see where the journey would take us.
Our First Taste of Champagne on a Beer Budget
By the time I graduated from grad school in 2009, Emily and I had accumulated well over a million points. My approach was to open three or four credit cards at a time, every three months. The theory was that if I spaced out the credit inquiries, I'd further mitigate any potential hits to my credit.
When I first started accumulating travel rewards points, a typical offer was that you'd get 25,000 points in exchange for charging $500 to $1,000 within three months. These days it's not uncommon to get 50,000 points for spending $3,000 within that same window of time.
Some cards gave me specific airline miles for instance, I eventually accumulated enough to earn American Airlines' gold status, which gives me priority boarding and check-in, better seats, and more miles on paid flights-while others just gave me generic points to redeem at a variety of hotels and airlines.
I also regularly browsed for information on how to score extra points for dining and shopping, which you can do by making purchases through credit card issuers' online shopping portals. And Emily and I made sure to charge every expense possible -- from groceries to utility bills -- to rack up more rewards.
Diligent Usage of Each Card
I typically kept each card open for a minimum of 10 months before I called up the credit issuer to ask for a retention bonus. If I got it-or some other benefit that was worth more than the annual fee -- I'd hang onto the card. For instance, one of my cards gives me a free one-night stay at a specific hotel chain anywhere in the world each year -- which is definitely worth the $49 annual fee.
Of course, we were extremely careful to pay off our balances in full, and I diligently tracked both Emily's and my credit score, using a free identify-theft monitoring service. Our scores actually climbed into the 700s, thanks to our diligence in remaining consumer-debt-free and making on-time payments.
After a couple years of building up our balances, we finally put our points to good use -- in a big way.
After Emily quit her job in anticipation of our move to Kansas for my post-grad-school gig as a brand manager at Colgate-Palmolive, we redeemed about 150,000 points and miles to take a monthlong trip across Europe.
We flew coach into Portugal, working our way east through nine other countries. We spent nothing on airfare and very little on accommodations, which included a stay at a high-end hotel right next to the opera house in Bristol, England. The only money we had to shell out was less than $100 in airline fees, plus train tickets and meals.
Honeymoon in Paris, Second Honeymoon in Bora Bora
As we watched our points balances grow, we started plotting even more trips. In 2010 we took a lavish, $32,000 honeymoon to Paris -- for just $2,000 cash. That got us first-class airfare, plus a week's stay at the Park Hyatt in the center of the city. Just a few years later, we decided to take a second honeymoon to Bora Bora. The cost if we didn't have points and miles? $30,000. What we shelled out: $2,000.
At that point we'd mastered the redemption process, which is fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it. If you're using points or miles from a specific airline or hotel, you simply log in to your account on their websites and create an itinerary. And if you're using generic credit card points, you can do some research to find out which airlines and hotels they partner with and transfer your points.
One big tip we picked up: You need to be flexible. For example, we'd often find that we could save a lot of points by flying out on a Wednesday, instead of a Friday-so it's best to plan ahead. If you're staying within the U.S., a couple months' time should be plenty to book. But if you have your eye on a bigger, international vacation, you'll likely have the most availability if you start looking for deals a year in advance.
Daraius DubashThe couple traded in 90,000 miles each for first-class tickets on Etihad Airways. Smart Spending, Smart Travel Planning
In the past eight years, Emily and I have visited more than 30 countries on six continents, flying first class to Europe, Asia and throughout the U.S. When you look at what all our trips should've cost versus what we actually spent, it's mind-boggling. All in all, we estimate we've paid just under $14,000 for $195,000 worth of international getaways.
In addition to the long-haul jaunts we've taken, another perk of having so many points at our disposal is that we're able to book last-minute domestic travel affordably. When Emily's grandmother got sick, Emily was able to book a quick trip to Florida, and our hefty points balance made that a stress-free reality.
Considering our success, Emily and I often field questions from friends who want to get in on what I call the "big travel for small money" fun. The first thing we recommend: Name your travel goals. Do you want to start with a big trip to Europe, like we did? Or do you want to stick to domestic travel?
Where Do You Want to Go?
Let your goals dictate your sign-up strategy because different cards offer specific benefits. For example, if you mostly want to travel within the U.S., you might apply for a domestic airline card because you'll get bigger bang for your miles, so to speak. But if Europe or Asia is on your wish list, you'd likely choose a different card for a carrier that services a good amount of international destinations.
And don't neglect hotel-specific cards. Many people associate rewards with frequent flier miles, but hotel programs are valuable too. They can allow you to stay at places you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford-like a $1,000 room in Paris. Or just help you save money if prices are higher than usual, thanks to large conferences or other events filling up rooms.
Perhaps most important of all? Plan out how you'll reach the minimum spending requirements before you apply for a new credit card. If you need to charge $5,000 in the first three months -- but you aren't planning on spending that money on needs or other items you were already budgeting for -- don't risk it. The goal is to use cards to pay for things you'd buy no matter what -- you'll just be doing it in a way that lets you experience the world like you never dreamed.
A note from LearnVest: Credit card churning should only be considered if you have excellent credit, pay your balance in full each month, and are comfortable with the spending requirements. And even then, increasing your utilization ratio by closing cards with high limits and initiating multiple "hard pulls" on your credit can lower your score-and make it appear as if you have a significant need to borrow funds. For these reasons LearnVest recommends using just one go-to rewards card, and only closing those with annual fees, provided one of those is not your longest-standing account.
LearnVest Planning Services is a registered investment adviser and subsidiary of LearnVest, Inc., that provides financial plans for its clients. Information shown is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal or tax planning advice. Please consult a financial adviser, attorney or tax specialist for advice specific to your financial situation. Unless specifically identified as such, the individuals interviewed or quoted in this piece are neither clients, employees nor affiliates of LearnVest Planning Services, and the views expressed are their own. LearnVest Planning Services and any third parties listed, linked to or otherwise appearing in this message are separate and unaffiliated and are not responsible for each other's products, services or policies.
creativedc/Flickr
From an arts and crafts marketplace going public to the top dog in microprocessors trying to overcome weakness in the PC market, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street.
Monday -- Water Works
The new trading week kicks off with Layne Christensen (LAYN) posting quarterly results after the market close. The provider of global water management, construction and drilling solutions is expected to post another quarterly deficit, but revenue is supposed to inch marginally higher when pitted against the prior year's fiscal fourth quarter.
It should still be a good quarter outside of the likely red ink. Layne Christensen revealed a few days ago that it had signed several significant new contracts during the quarter, worth roughly $110 million.
Tuesday -- Intel Outside
Earnings season kicks off this week, and one of the big names reporting will be Intel (INTC). The semiconductor giant has been trying to retain its relevance as consumers move away from desktops and laptops to smartphones and tablets, but it hasn't been an easy transition.
Intel warned last month that it will fall short of its earlier guidance. Weak demand for desktop PCs and economic uncertainties in Europe forced it to scale back its outlook: Its original target of $13.7 billion in revenue would be closer to $12.8 billion. We'll find out where Intel ultimately landed when it reports fresh financials on Tuesday.
Wednesday -- Taxing Situation
It's April 15, and we all know what that means. Wednesday is the deadline to file tax returns for 2014. If you're not ready -- and you're probably not alone -- it's not a big deal as long as you file an extension by the end of the day. That will buy you another six months, but sooner or later you're going to have to settle up with Uncle Sam. Or you can mark the day with a discount or free item.
Thursday -- Hello, Etsy
One of this year's most anticipated IPOs will be Etsy, the fast-growing online platform that's turned arts and crafts into a cottage industry for many artisans. There were 1.4 million active sellers on Etsy by the end of last year, and they're there because there were also 19.8 million active buyers.
Artists sold $1.93 billion worth of merchandise through Etsy last year, 43 percent more than they did in 2013. Etsy is expected to price its IPO on Thursday. The initial pricing range is between $14 and $16, but it wouldn't be a surprise if that figure inches higher ahead of Thursday's debut. It will trade on Nasdaq with the obvious ticker symbol of ETSY.
Friday -- We Bring Good Things to Life
Fridays are usually quiet on Wall Street, but that doesn't apply during earnings season. General Electric (GE) will be reporting quarterly results on Friday morning. Analysts feel that GE will post a profit of $0.30 a share for the quarter. That's less than the 33 cents a share it earned a year earlier, but the company has managed to beat Wall Street expectations in three of the past four quarters.
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Intel. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. Is your portfolio ready for what 2015 has to offer? Click here to check out our free report for one great stock to buy for this year and beyond.
Tony Dejak/APRev. Brian K. Wilbert, right, and Yorki Encalada at the Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin, Ohio. Wilbert married Encalada in 2012, at a ceremony in upstate New York.By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
WASHINGTON -- A necessary burden for most Americans, Tax Day is an accounting nightmare for thousands of gay and lesbian couples as they wrestle with the uneven legal status of same-sex marriage in the United States.
They live in a country that recognizes their marriages, but some reside in the 13 states that do not, an issue that will be argued before the Supreme Court later this month.
At tax time, and Wednesday is the filing deadline, it gets complicated because most state income tax returns use information from a taxpayer's federal return.
Straight couples simply copy numbers from one form to another. But that doesn't work for same-sex couples reporting combined incomes, deductions and exemptions on their federal tax returns. These couples must untangle their finances on their state returns, where they are still considered single.
"We're adults, we're contributing to the welfare of society and yet, here's this one thing that just reaches up every year and kind of slaps us in the face," said Brian Wilbert, an Episcopal priest who lives in Oberlin, a small college town in northern Ohio.
Wilbert married his husband, Yorki Encalada, in 2012, at a ceremony in upstate New York. He is filing a joint federal tax return for the second time this year. But Ohio, which doesn't recognize same-sex marriages, requires the couple to file their state tax returns as if they were single.
"It may not be the most burning thing," Wilbert said. "But as we think about equality and marriage equality, this is an important thing because it's part of what couples do."
Supreme Court Ruling
The number of states that recognize same-sex marriages has grown to 37, plus the District of Columbia, since the Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.
After the ruling, the IRS announced that it would recognize same-sex marriages for federal tax purposes, even if couples lived in states that didn't.
The Supreme Court is scheduled hear arguments in another same-sex marriage case April 28. Advocates hope the court will compel the remaining states to recognize gay and lesbian marriages.
Opponents of same-sex marriage want the court to send the issue back to the states. They note that recognition of same-sex marriage has spread largely through court orders, rather than the ballot box.
"It's not about the rights of a handful of people who want to change the institution of marriage," said Phil Burress of Citizens for Community Values, an Ohio group. "It's about the will of the people."
The benefits of marriage are a mixed bag when it comes to taxes. Some couples, especially those with disparate incomes, can lower their combined tax bills by getting married. Others pay a marriage penalty.
Marriage Recognition
The vast majority of married couples in the U.S. file joint federal tax returns in which they combine their incomes, exemptions, deductions and credits to calculate their tax liability. But same-sex couples aren't allowed to file joint tax returns in most states that don't recognize their marriages. Instead, they have to unravel their finances and file separate state returns.
"So you have this one return that would normally give you the numbers to do your state tax return, but instead you have to split all your incomes again and pretend like you're not married," said Deb L. Kinney, a partner at the law firm of Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica in San Francisco.
"Your health care benefits will be taxed differently and your credits will be different. Your interest deduction could be different, and then you have to go through the allocation on each return," Kinney said. "It's much more expensive and cumbersome."
With the tax filing deadline approaching on Wednesday, states that don't recognize same-sex marriages are dealing with these issues in different ways. Five states require same-sex couples to fill out multiple federal tax returns, sometimes called dummy returns, so they can come up with the appropriate numbers for their state returns. This is how it works in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan and Nebraska.
'Dizzying'
First, a same-sex couple fills out a joint federal income tax return, just like any other married couple. This is the return they file with the IRS.
You have to literally make out five returns and file three.
Next, each spouse fills out a separate federal return as if the filer was single. Information from these returns is used to fill out state income tax returns, which are filed as if each was single.
"You have to literally make out five returns and file three," said Scott Squillace, a tax lawyer who wrote a legal guide for gay and lesbian couples called, "Whether To Wed."
"It's dizzying."
There's more.
"If someone with a joint bank account writes a check for a charitable donation, the question is, do you split it 50-50? Or is it that person's deduction when they file a single return?" said Arianne Plasencia, a tax lawyer at the Carlton Fields law firm in Miami.
Kansas, North Dakota and Ohio take a different approach. These states provide worksheets that same-sex couples must complete to separate their finances. In Ohio, the form has 31 lines, though most couples don't need to fill out every line.
"There is no way that I, as a Joe Q. Public, who happens to be gay and in a same-gender marriage, would figure out how to fill this form out," said Wilbert, the Episcopal priest. "I mean, it's just impossible."
Wilbert said he had to hire an accountant to do his taxes for the first time in his life. "I also had to get an extension, which I never had to do."
Mix of Laws
The issue is moot in South Dakota because there is no state income tax. It's less of an issue in Arkansas and Mississippi because these states don't use information from federal returns on their state income tax forms.
Alabama has same-sex married couples divide the income and taxes they report on their federal returns, based on each spouses' share of their combined income.
Missouri doesn't recognize same-sex marriages, but Gov. Jay Nixon issued an executive order requiring gay and lesbian couples to file joint state tax returns if they file a joint federal return.
This is much simpler than in other states. But what if filing as a married couple causes your taxes to go up?
"For the people it hurts, how unfair," said Janis Cowhey, a tax partner at the Marcum accounting firm in New York. "You won't recognize my marriage, but you're going to make me pay more in taxes because I got married somewhere else."
