Yellen: Treasury exploring ways to expand free tax filing program

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers Wednesday that the department is looking into ways to expand on the limited direct file pilot program with possible extensions in functionality and applicable tax credits up for debate. The free program, which is like a scaled-down version of the popular tax preparation software, has encountered fierce opposition from … Read more

Property tax redux, crucial land-use votes at in Colorado legislature

There are now just 10 days left in the 2024 Colorado legislative session. With a number of hefty bills still in the legislative pipeline, that means 10 days of long nights, voting marathons and hectic scrambling lie ahead of us. Or, to paraphrase how one senator put it to The Denver Post last week: Go … Read more

Here are the key things to know about your restricted stock units

When you receive equity compensation from an employer, it typically requires a comprehensive financial plan — and restricted stock units are no exception. In 2000, only 20% of public companies granted restricted stock or restricted stock units, primarily for senior executives or higher, according to the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. That percentage, however, has jumped to … Read more

What to know before opting into your employee stock purchase plan

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images If you work for a publicly traded company, you may have access to discounted company shares via an employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP. While the benefit can be valuable, you need to know the rules and risks before opting into your company’s plan, financial experts say. In … Read more

Los Gatos-Saratoga district voters should reject parcel tax hike

Officials of a small South Bay high school district have put their thumb on the election scale by calling a special tax election for May 7. The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District’s Measure A would impose a nine-year parcel tax to help cover operating costs starting at $128 annually and increasing with inflation. The … Read more

Here are key things to know before tapping inherited IRAs

Jacob Wackerhausen | iStock / 360 | Getty Images If you’ve inherited an individual retirement account since 2020, you could have a shorter timeline to withdraw the money, which can trigger tax consequences. But there are a few things to consider before emptying an inherited account, experts say.  Under the Secure Act of 2019, so-called … Read more

Short-term rentals in Colorado avoid tax hikes from killed bill

A bill that would have significantly grown taxes for thousands of short-term rentals in the state was killed in its first committee hearing late Tuesday even after the sponsor attempted to make changes to the legislation. In its original form, Senate Bill 33 would have required any property used as a short-term rental for more … Read more

What taxpayers can learn from the Biden, Harris 2023 tax returns

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks about healthcare in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 26, 2024. Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty Images President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris released their annual tax returns Monday, and there are lessons within for average Americans, according to tax experts. The president … Read more

Supervised drug use, gun-free zones, RTD bill in Colorado legislature

With just over three weeks left in this year’s session of the Colorado General Assembly, lawmakers are starting in earnest to push through their preferred policies — and that urgency means bill schedules will become even more fluid. Major bills are still being introduced, and some — chiefly around property taxes and relief — are … Read more

How the U.S. government is regulating AI

The U.S. government is considering laws to help society adapt to the introduction of artificial intelligence. Early users of the technology are already seeing labor productivity gains. For example, Klarna, a buy now, pay later financial services provider, estimates that its AI assistant tool will increase its profit outcome by $40 million by the end … Read more