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Prevent Identity Theft From Affecting Your Taxes

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MoneyTips When your identity is stolen, you have so many potential issues to deal with — changing passwords, closing accounts, dealing with fraudulent charges, and placing fraud alerts with the credit reporting agencies — that you may forget about potential tax fraud. Armed with your personal information, identity thieves can file a fraudulent tax return in your name and receive a refund before you realize your information has been compromised. Sometimes taxpayers are unaware of the breach until they have problems filing their taxes. What do you do if you fall victim to tax-related identity theft ? Start by responding to any IRS notice as instructed. Your first hint that there is an issue could be a notice from the IRS asking you to verify your identity because of a suspicious tax return with your Social Security number. Remember that almost all legitimate IRS contact will be through a letter in the ... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2RXQTSS

5 Financial Moves For 2021

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MoneyTips By Andrea Woroch Money is a top concern for most Americans these days and, with so much uncertainty still ahead, it's important to create financial security for yourself and your family as we enter into this new year. Improving your finances may seem like a daunting process, but getting started is half the battle. Here are five money moves you can tackle now to get the momentum going. 1. Plug budget leaks. Considering that 35% of Americans have less savings now than before the coronavirus took hold of our country, according to a recent survey from Bankrate.com, finding areas in your budget to rebuild savings should be a priority for the new year. Rebuilding an emergency fund may seem impossible now, but you may be surprised ho... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3sJkfoh

Watch Our Second Finance Fridays Blab!

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MoneyTips Some people swipe credit cards haphazardly during the holidays and accrue debt with little thought to the aftermath. It is also common for folks to blow their year-end bonuses on big ticket items before ever receiving them. People get swept up in the emotions of the holidays without considering the financial ramifications. In an effort to help curve these spending habits and assist folks in eliminating debt in 2016, MoneyTips took to Blab.im on December 18th for the latest installment in the MoneyTips Finance Friday discussions. Host Justin Simon was joined by sage financial experts Miranda Marquit and John Schneider of the Debt Free Guys . Watch the full replay below for all of their insights. Miranda Marquit is the financial blogging... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3bl4VaY

Watch Our Second Finance Fridays Blab!

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MoneyTips Some people swipe credit cards haphazardly during the holidays and accrue debt with little thought to the aftermath. It is also common for folks to blow their year-end bonuses on big ticket items before ever receiving them. People get swept up in the emotions of the holidays without considering the financial ramifications. In an effort to help curve these spending habits and assist folks in eliminating debt in 2016, MoneyTips took to Blab.im on December 18th for the latest installment in the MoneyTips Finance Friday discussions. Host Justin Simon was joined by sage financial experts Miranda Marquit and John Schneider of the Debt Free Guys . Watch the full replay below for all of their insights. Miranda Marquit is the financial blogging... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3bl4VaY

5 New Year's Resolutions To Raise Your Credit Score

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MoneyTips You're determined to make 2021 the year you raise your credit score. Why not get off to a good start with these five New Year's resolutions to send your credit score in the right direction? 1. Resolve to Check Your Credit Report – All your efforts will go to waste if identity thieves have already ruined your credit by opening accounts in your name and racking up unpaid bills. Check your credit report and look for any errors, rogue accounts, or fraudulent charges on your existing accounts. Address any problems as quickly as possible with the credit reporting agencies to limit the damage. Monitor your credit score regularly to gauge your progress and follow up with at least one more credit report check during the year. You can check your credit score and read your credit report for free within minutes by

11 Tips To Avoid A New Year's Credit Hangover

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MoneyTips Can you avoid a New Year's Day hangover? We're not referring to the traditional hangover that comes from too much alcohol, but the financial hangover that comes from too many charges on your credit card. Of course, you can avoid a New Year's credit hangover – especially with some help. Consider these eleven ways to keep holiday purchases under control. 1. Set a Holiday Budget – Review your overall budget , and then decide how much you can afford to spend for holiday gifts given your other expenses (including end-of-year expenses like property taxes and annual subscriptions). Don't let gift expectations drive your budget – let your budget set gift choices. 2. Make a Gift List – Divide up your gift budget among all your recipients and find gifts that fit within the desired budget. Start early, so you have time to look for the best pri... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2zTPhzM

7 Ways To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft This Black Friday

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MoneyTips Practice Safe Shopping What does Black Friday protection mean to you? Maybe it's helmets and elbow pads as you battle your fellow consumers for doorbuster deals. Maybe it's protecting your space in line. Maybe it should be taking precautions to prevent identity theft. The holidays represent peak season for identity thieves – probably because there are more transactions and more opportunities for theft. According to 2018 data compiled by ACI Worldwide, the number of "buy online, pick up in-store" (BOPIS) transactions between Thanksgiving Day and December 31 increased by 20% over 2017, while attempted fraud over the same period increased by 13%. Reduce your chances of identity theft over the Thanksgiving weekend by following these common-sense methods for practicing "safe shopping." Seven Ways to Thwart Black Friday Fraudsters 1. Protect Your Purse/Wallet – from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2TACOJQ