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Tax guidance and resources

Looking for advice on lowering your federal or state taxes? You’ve come to the right place. Plus, get news and advice related to tax brackets, property taxes, estate taxes and more.

Explore tax basics

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Do I have to file taxes? Here’s how to figure out if you should file a tax return

Taxes
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Donation value guide: Calculate the value of your donated items for your 2025 and 2026 taxes

Taxes
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What is the long-term capital gains tax? Here are the rates for 2025-2026

Investing
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Standard deduction vs. itemized deduction: Pros, cons and how to decide

Taxes

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Latest articles

The average tax refund each year, and how refunds work
The average tax refund in 2025 was $3,167, but refunds are expected to jump higher in 2026. Here’s what you need to know.
Young woman working on laptop at home.
If your income hits a specific level, you need to file a tax return. But it may make sense to file even if you’re not required to, so you can claim your tax refund.
How tax credits work, and how to qualify
Tax credits can help you save big on your taxes. Here’s how they work and how to qualify.
Father and young son with skateboard walking down the street.
The child tax credit can cut your tax bill by $2,200 per child, and up to $1,700 may be refundable to you. Here’s who qualifies for this valuable tax credit.
It pays to know the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains.
Roth IRA tax rules you should know
There are a lot of reasons to love Roth IRAs, but the tax rules governing them are complex. Here’s what you should know.
Young woman sits at her home office working on her finances.
Your adjusted gross income, or AGI, is your gross income minus a handful of items. Here’s how it works and why it matters.
How to file taxes for free
There are a handful of free options for filing your tax return, and many of them offer guided support to help you do it right.
The average tax refund each year, and how refunds work
The average tax refund in 2025 was $3,167, but refunds are expected to jump higher in 2026. Here’s what you need to know.
Young woman working on laptop at home.
If your income hits a specific level, you need to file a tax return. But it may make sense to file even if you’re not required to, so you can claim your tax refund.
How tax credits work, and how to qualify
Tax credits can help you save big on your taxes. Here’s how they work and how to qualify.
Father and young son with skateboard walking down the street.
The child tax credit can cut your tax bill by $2,200 per child, and up to $1,700 may be refundable to you. Here’s who qualifies for this valuable tax credit.
It pays to know the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains.
Young woman sits at her home office working on her finances.
Your adjusted gross income, or AGI, is your gross income minus a handful of items. Here’s how it works and why it matters.
Woman packing and sorting clothes to donate.
If you want to claim a tax deduction for your donations, you’ll need to place a value on each item. This valuation guide will help.
Couple looking at laptop while sitting on sofa at home.
The standard deduction is a valuable tax benefit, and one of the easiest to claim. And it got a boost in the 2025 tax law.
President Trump with tax reform documents
Many Americans haven’t noticed a pay hike on the heels of tax reform, Bankrate’s survey finds.
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Without pay stubs, you still can check the math on your W-2. Here’s what you can do.
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You can carry over losses on certain capital assets forever, but it’s not simple.
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You can only deduct real estate losses to offset gains, but there are a couple of exceptions.
Senior male in light blue sweater browsing tablet | Alistair Berg/DigitalVision/Getty Images
You’ll have to pay capital gains on the sale of your rental property. Here’s why.
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The interest on the home you bought for your in-laws may be deductible in these cases.
Grandparents and grandchildren sitting on couch © Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
While you can’t deduct your grandkids’ college costs, you can get a different tax break.
Man worried calculating tax return © olly - Fotolia.com
It’s possible you could use passive losses from real estate to offset a Roth conversion.