Whether you home educate your child permanently or are home schooling for a shorter period, creating a personal and inviting space will not only motivate your little one’s productivity and inspiration, but it will also keep your home looking good and in order too. From dedicated home school rooms to DIY desks bursting with creativity, check out these ridiculously cool home school ideas that score top marks.
Side-by-Side Seating
Gabrielle Kessler for Folio Photography
This kitchen office was designed for a mom who wanted a space she could share with her 12-year-old son. Key features include outlets for two computers, a cordless phone, and a single printer, undercabinet task lighting, and a dividing column of drawers to stow craft and office supplies. This arrangement makes a great cooperative learning area for homes with multiple students, too.
Walled-Off Study Station
Jean Allsop/ Southern Living
Throw up some wall frames and create built-in room dividers, like the ones shown here, in a larger rooms.
The IRS is rolling out its pilot of a free direct tax filing program.
Taxpayers across 13 states might be eligible to try out the new program.
It’s part of the IRS’s continued efforts to make tax filing simpler and more cost-effective.
The IRS is rolling out its own free direct tax filing pilot program — and some taxpayers will be able to use it as soon as the 2024 tax filing season.
These are the states where eligible taxpayers could be able to use the pilot program in 2024:
Arizona
California
Massachusetts
New York
Alaska
Florida
New Hampshire
Nevada
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
Even in those states, eligible taxpayers will likely need to have fairly straightforward filing situations. Exact eligibility has not been determined yet, but the IRS anticipates that filers who report W-2 wages, or claim credits like the Child Tax Credit, will likely be eligible.
For instance, people reporting W-2 income, Social Security or unemployment benefits, or interest of $1,500 or under will likely be eligible.
Similarly, those claiming credits like the CTC and Earned Income Tax Credit should also likely be covered — and those with a standard deduction, alongside student loan interest and educator expenses, should also likely be able to participate.
Of course, the program is only a limited pilot. IRS Commissioner Werfel said in a press release that it does bring the US closer to the Treasury Department’s goal of making filing faster, easier, and inexpensive.
The IRS said that the online program will be an interview-based program available in Spanish and English, and mobile friendly — key aspects for lower-income filers, who have historically found themselves shut out of potential credits due to not having access to desktop computers.
Rick Heineman, a VP of communications at Intuit TurboTax, said in a statement to Insider that Direct File is “wholly redundant and will be of zero value to the vast majority of taxpayers.”
The Treasury has not yet provided a web address to access the program.
Open your file cabinets and take a stroll down memory lane. Still got the purchase agreement from the car you bought back in 1996? Bank statements from the Dark Ages, before you switched to digital documents?
Shredders were invented for just such an occasion.
Some things should never be destroyed. Among them are wills, titles, deeds, contracts or paperwork with raised seals, such as birth certificates. Scan these and store them digitally, and put the originals in a safe, fireproof location.
As for tax paperwork, Stacy (Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson) says you should keep your returns themselves, in case you ever need proof you filed your taxes — though you can digitize your returns and shred the paper versions. It gets more complicated with supporting documents: Many you don’t need, but some you will want to keep.
Here is what Stacy says:
How long do you have to keep your tax returns, digital or otherwise?
You need to keep a copy of your tax returns forever, in case you need to prove you filed.
As far as the supporting documents for tax returns, typically, you want to keep them for at least three years after the tax return is filed. That’s because the IRS typically can go back three years to audit returns.
While it may seem that three years is the limit, there are documents you’ll want to have much longer.
For example, I’ve owned my house since 2001. When I sell it, if I have a big profit, I might have to pay taxes on part of the gain. To reduce my taxes, I’ll need to show the money I’ve put into the house. So, I’ve kept all the receipts for improvements, some dating back to the first year I owned the house.
I’ll have to continue holding that paperwork for another three years after I sell the house and report the sale on my tax return.
There are other exceptions to the three-year rule for tax returns and supporting documents.
If you underreport your income by 25%, the statute of limitations is doubled to six years. If you filed a fraudulent return, the IRS can go back to the days the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
But if you’re a typical taxpayer reporting your income and doing things the right way, three years is your answer.
Whatever your situation, though, digitize your documents and store them cheaply and safely in the cloud. Then, you won’t have to worry about them burning up, getting lost, getting eaten by mice or anything else. And you won’t have to worry about how long to keep stuff.
Note: Some paperwork should be kept updated, especially if it has to do with estate planning. For example, things may have changed — an inheritance from your parents, or grandchildren being born — since you wrote your will 10 years ago. You’ll find useful tips in “8 Documents That Are Essential to Planning Your Estate.”
As many longtime travelers know, it’s generally a good idea to start planning your trips ahead of time. But there is such a thing as planning too far in advance, particularly when it comes to getting airline tickets. Some people buy their tickets early in hopes of saving money and, while this is often what happens, it’s also possible to purchase your tickets too early.
If you buy your tickets in advance, you can get really good deals on flights, but if you’re not sure what’s going on with your travel plans, then buying in advance can be a waste of money. It’s also possible to spend more money on airline tickets if you buy them too early.
Ways To Save Money on Airline Tickets
Knowing the right time to purchase airline tickets is a big part of saving money on your trip, but there are several other methods to cut costs the next time you travel. Here are just a few:
Set up travel alerts. “I buy [airline tickets] and then set a Google alert for that same flight,” said Colleen Kelly, host at PBS Family Travel with Colleen Kelly. “If the price goes down, I can call the airline and they will refund the difference. I’ve done this numerous times. I also use the Hopper app and enter my details of when I would like to fly. This is helpful, especially if you have flexibility, to find the best deals on all different airlines.”
Stay flexible. “Some of the best ways to save money on booking airline tickets are to be flexible with your travel dates and buy during flight sales,” Middlestadt said. Sometimes, all you need to do is change your departure date by a day or two or switch to a nearby airport to save some money.
Check out several airlines. A lot of airlines compete with each other on pricing, but that doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best deal. Shop around among different airlines to see whether you can find a better deal.
Consider alternative transportation. Flying might be your only option for an international trip or if you’re going from one side of the country to the other. But if you’re staying closer to home, or if you’re visiting an area with excellent rail or metro transportation, consider these potentially cheaper options instead.
Best Time To Book Domestic Flights
Good news procrastinators: Studies show that you don’t need to book flights that far out to get a good deal. The Expedia study found that the sweet spot is 28 to 35 days before departure while the Google study found prices bottomed out 44 days before departure. However, both studies agree that you don’t want to wait until the last minute. Book at least 21 days before departure.
What Is The Best Day To Buy Airline Tickets?
Historically, travelers have been advised to book flights on Tuesdays to get the best flight deal. And there was a time when this was true. A decade ago, airlines generally launched new sales on Tuesdays, and airlines were generally quick to match each other’s prices. This could lead to cheap flight deals on Tuesdays. That is if an airline launched a new sale. However, this advice no longer holds true. Airlines don’t just release sales on Tuesdays, and airlines don’t always match their competitors’ sales. Now, the advice on what is the best day of the week to buy airline tickets depends on which study you read. According to a recent study by Expedia, the cheapest day to book flights is Sunday. When comparing Sunday flight prices to Friday, Expedia found that travelers save 5% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights. For the past four years, Sunday has been the best day of the week to book flights.
Nearly 2 million air fryers made by Cosori, sold between 2018 and 2022, are being voluntarily recalled after an internal investigation revealed an electrical malfunction may pose serious safety risks.
The air fryers, which were sold online by Amazon and through retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot, may overheat, melt, catch fire and smoke, the manufacturer reports.
The impacted air fryers, available in two different sizes and five distinct colors, can be identified using printed model numbers and exchanged for a free replacement.
Around 2 million air fryers have been voluntarily recalled after manufacturers at Cosori discovered they may pose a fire risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that affected consumers need to “immediately stop” using the appliances in question, which were widely available and sold between June 2018 and December 2022 both in stores and online — as well as in Canada and Mexico.
The new IRS guidance means tax season can proceed, and many Americans won’t face surprise taxes on these payments.
A week after telling millions of Americans to hold off filing their tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service provided guidance on the taxability of certain state payments Friday to clear up the confusion.
Here is the whole story direct from the IRS:
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service provided details today clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made by 21 states in 2022.
The IRS has determined that in the interest of sound tax administration and other factors, taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns.
During a review, the IRS determined it will not challenge the taxability of payments related to general welfare and disaster relief. This means that people in the following states do not need to report these state payments on their 2022 tax return: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Alaska is in this group as well, but please see below for more nuanced information.
In addition, many people in Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia also will not include state payments in income for federal tax purposes if they meet certain requirements. For these individuals, state payments will not be included for federal tax purposes if the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and either the recipient claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive a tax benefit.
The IRS appreciates the patience of taxpayers, tax professionals, software companies and state tax administrators as the IRS and Treasury worked to resolve this unique and complex situation.
The IRS is aware of questions involving special tax refunds or payments made by certain states related to the pandemic and its associated consequences in 2022. A variety of state programs distributed these payments in 2022 and the rules surrounding their treatment for federal income tax purposes are complex. While in general payments made by states are includable in income for federal tax purposes, there are exceptions that would apply to many of the payments made by states in 2022.
To assist taxpayers who have received these payments file their returns in a timely fashion, the IRS is providing the additional information below.
Refund of state taxes paid
If the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and either the recipient claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive a tax benefit (for example, because the $10,000 tax deduction limit applied) the payment is not included in income for federal tax purposes.
Payments from the following states in 2022 fall in this category and will be excluded from income for federal tax purposes unless the recipient received a tax benefit in the year the taxes were deducted.
Georgia
Massachusetts
South Carolina
Virginia
General welfare and disaster relief payments
If a payment is made for the promotion of the general welfare or as a disaster relief payment, for example related to the outgoing pandemic, it may be excludable from income for federal tax purposes under the General Welfare Doctrine or as a Qualified Disaster Relief Payment. Determining whether payments qualify for these exceptions is a complex fact intensive inquiry that depends on a number of considerations.
The IRS has reviewed the types of payments made by various states in 2022 that may fall in these categories and given the complicated fact-specific nature of determining the treatment of these payments for federal tax purposes balanced against the need to provide certainty and clarity for individuals who are now attempting to file their federal income tax returns, the IRS has determined that in the best interest of sound tax administration and given the fact that the pandemic emergency declaration is ending in May, 2023 making this an issue only for the 2022 tax year, if a taxpayer does not include the amount of one of these payments in its 2022 income for federal income tax purposes, the IRS will not challenge the treatment of the 2022 payment as excludable for income on an original or amended return.
Payments from the following states fall in this category and the IRS will not challenge the treatment of these payments as excludable for federal income tax purposes in 2022.
For a list of the specific payments to which this applies, please see this chart.
Other payments
Other payments that may have been made by states are generally includable in income for federal income tax purposes. This includes the annual payment of Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend and any payments from states provided as compensation to workers.
[1] Only for the supplemental Energy Relief Payment received in addition to the annual Permanent Fund Dividend.
[2] Illinois and New York issued multiple payments and in each case one of the payments was a refund of taxes, which should be treated as noted above, and one of the payments is in the category of disaster relief payment.
Well, so much for early promises by the IRS that taxpayers could expect to “experience improvements” as they file their 2022 returns this year.
Taxpayers in more than 20 states were warned last week by the Internal Revenue Service to hold off filing their tax returns for now until the IRS irons out how the taxpayers in those specific states should report, if at all, money received from their states through special tax refunds or payments in 2022.
We’re looking at one mind-boggling blunder that puts tens of millions of taxpayers on the hook in states that include California, Massachusetts and Virginia.
Tax software companies and tax professionals are waiting to see what move the IRS takes next, too.
Some tax software companies have concluded that some state tax payments are not taxable and have programmed their software so the payments are not reported.
Tax professionals told me that there likely isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer here that can apply to every state. But general guidelines and tax rules will be taken into account to address how states paid out the money.
Taxpayers are stuck in a filing season ditch. If they’re depending on getting a decent size federal income tax refund early in the season, forget it. They need to delay filing a return as the IRS works out what experts say could be fairly complex guidance. The IRS is expected to issue some word in the coming days.
The National Taxpayer Advocate issued a highly critical blog Thursday that questioned why the IRS waited so long to address whether special tax refunds or payments will be treated as taxable income on a federal income tax return. The same blog also stated that the IRS failed to provide timely guidance involving a change in reporting of payments of more than $600 on platforms, like Venmo and PayPal.
If these taxpayers file early anyway, they risk doing their taxes wrong.
At least 22 states authorized tax rebates last year as their coffers were buoyed by strong economic growth and federal pandemic aid, according to the Tax Foundation. The following states sent rebate checks to at least some of their taxpayers last year, the Tax Foundation said:
Last Thursday, PayPal began notifying nearly 35,000 of its customers that their accounts were breached between Dec. 6 and 8. During the two days, PayPal claims that no money was stolen from anyone.
The hackers were still able to obtain personal and private information, including full names, dates of birth, physical addresses, social security numbers and tax identification numbers. PayPal halted the intrusion within two days, reset the passwords for affected users and said no unauthorized transactions were attempted.
PayPal’s internal investigation revealed that the hackers used a method known as credit stuffing to breach the accounts of these victims. Credential stuffing is when hackers use existing credentials already floating around the dark web to hack into private accounts. They use bots with lists of usernames and passwords acquired in previous data breaches and try the credentials at multiple online services with the hope that customers have not recently changed their passwords. This is where those who use the same passwords across multiple different accounts could run into a big problem.
If you were one of the victims of this PayPal attack, then PayPal should have already reset your password. When you go to make a new password, make sure it is a strong password with capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. The company is also offering victims two years of free identity monitoring from Equifax.
There are steps you can take to ensure that something like this never happens to you.
Create strong passwords and don’t use the same ones for multiple accounts: you can find out more about creating strong passwords and great password managers
Use 2-factor authentication: take advantage of 2-factor authentication for any services you use that offer it. This is one extra step that will keep a hacker out of your private information even if they get their hands on your login credentials.
In short, “knolling” is an organizational method that involves arranging groups of tools and other everyday like objects into parallel lines or 90-degree angles. The result is a workspace that looks clean and symmetrical, where the items you use regularly are clearly displayed, instead of tidied away. Your stuff is not only accessible, but also aesthetically pleasing.
Photo: nadianb (Shutterstock)
You may have also seen Instagram posts featuring knolling—similar to the image above—where its more commonly referred to as “flat-lay photography.”
The name “knolling” is a reference to Knoll, Inc.: An American furniture company founded in 1938 that has manufactured chairs, tables, desks, and storage pieces from iconic designers and architects, including Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, Marcel Breuer, and Frank Gehry.
The organizational method dates back to 1987, when sculptor Andrew Kromelow and artist Tom Sachs were both working in Gehry’s studio. Kromelow coined the term, and Sachs popularized it.
How to use knolling to organize your space
In 2010, Sachs created a video for his employees titled “10 Bullets,” which he described as “the studio manual.” One of the 10 bullets is “Always Be Knolling,” in which he breaks down the organizational method into four steps:
Scan your environment for materials, tools, books, music, etc., which are not in use.
Put away everything not in use. If you aren’t sure, leave it out.
Group all like objects.
Align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on or the studio itself.
Source:
‘Knolling’ Is ‘Kondoing’ for Maximalists (lifehacker.com)
