Quick Answer: The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) must be claimed by whoever legally lists the student as a dependent on their federal tax return. If a parent claims the undergraduate, the parent gets the credit; if the student is independent, they...
Key TakeawaysMost married couples lower their tax liability by choosing the Married Filing Jointly status, which preserves access to deductions that separate filers lose. When there is a significant income gap between partners, combining earnings on a joint...
Key TakeawaysYou do not have to pay federal income tax on rental earnings if you rent your home for 14 days or fewer per year and use it personally for more than 14 days (or 10% of the rental period). You will only receive a Form 1099-K if you exceed...
Key TakeawaysThe IRS considers all sports betting payouts as ordinary income, regardless of the amount or whether you received a tax form. For the 2026 tax year, you can only deduct 90% of your gambling losses against your winnings, even if you ended the...
Key TakeawaysAs a W-2 employee, you pay half of Social Security and Medicare tax through withholding. As a self-employed taxpayer, you pay both halves through self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your adjusted net earnings, and you also pay...
Key TakeawaysA large refund is an interest-free loan to the government, while a big bill suggests you are at risk for IRS underpayment penalties. Updating your Form W-4 by late April allows you to spread adjustments across the majority of the year,...
