How to Reduce Capital Gains Tax
When you sell an investment or property for more than you paid, the profit can be subject to capital gains tax, which can take a meaningful bite out of your return. The good news is…
Author: Editorial Team
How to Find Your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income)
Your adjusted gross income, or AGI, is one of the most important numbers on your tax return. It affects how much tax you owe, which deductions and credits you qualify for, and it is often…
How to Get Your W-2 Online
When tax season arrives, you need your W-2, the form that reports your annual wages and the taxes withheld from them, to file your return. If your paper copy has not arrived or you have…
How Many Allowances Should You Claim?
"How many allowances should I claim?" is one of the most common tax questions, but the answer has changed in a way many people have not caught up with. The federal system no longer works…
How to Fill Out a W-9 (and How to 1099 Someone)
If you do freelance or contract work in the United States, or if you hire independent contractors, you will run into Form W-9 and the related 1099. They sound intimidating but are actually straightforward once…
How to Fill Out a W-4
Starting a new job in the United States almost always means filling out a Form W-4, the document that tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paychecks. Getting it right…
How to Fill Out a Deposit Slip and Balance a Checkbook
Two classic banking skills still come in handy today: filling out a deposit slip and balancing a checkbook. Even in a digital age, you may need to complete a deposit slip at a branch, and…
How to Get a Cashier’s Check
For big, important payments, a personal check or a transfer does not always cut it. The seller of a car or the office handling a home deposit may insist on a cashier's check, a form…
How to Find Your Routing and Account Number
Setting up direct deposit, paying a bill, or linking an account often requires two numbers: your routing number and your account number. If you are not sure where to find them or what each one…
Wire Transfer vs ACH: Speed, Cost, and When to Use Each
When you need to move money electronically between bank accounts, two methods dominate: wire transfers and ACH transfers. They sound similar and both move money without cash or checks, but they differ in speed, cost,…