2026 tax brackets and income rates

Pra-chid | Istock | Getty Images The IRS has announced new federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for 2026. In its announcement Thursday, the agency raised the income thresholds for each bracket, which apply to tax year 2026 for returns filed in 2027. The IRS also boosted figures for other provisions, including long-term capital gains…

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Furloughed workers face threat of no back pay

Commuters cross the street near the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. Al Drago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Government shutdowns have historically been an precarious time for federal workers, both for those required to remain on the job without pay and those furloughed. This shutdown comes…

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Trump’s tax changes for your charitable giving: What to know

New Year celebration concept. Front view. Close-up Anna Efetova | Moment | Getty Images President Donald Trump‘s “big beautiful bill” added trillions of dollars of tax breaks, some of which could impact your deduction for charitable giving. U.S. individual giving grew to $392.45 billion in 2024, up by about 5%, including inflation, from the previous year, according…

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Key financial steps for the end of the year

Strauss/curtis | The Image Bank | Getty Images Early in the fourth quarter is an ideal time to tackle some financial planning tasks that set you up for success for the rest of the year — and into 2026.  “It’s absolutely a great time to do that,” said Dan Moisand, a certified financial planner and…

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Furlough and layoff prep guide

The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States on October 4 , 2023.  Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Congress has until midnight on Tuesday to pass a funding bill and avoid a shutdown of the federal government. If lawmakers can’t agree, hundreds of thousands of federal employees could…

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Social Security’s retirement age language may change

Brothers91 | E+ | Getty Images Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is a big decision — and Congress is looking at changing the program’s wording to help people better understand their options. Understanding the trade-offs for claiming at different ages can be confusing, and some experts say the terms the agency currently…

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