Advice & Expertise Blog

Taxes

1. 

   Is Filing Your Own Taxes Good or Bad?

   Amanda Peterson February 28, 2025  •  3 Minute Read

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   Is filing your own taxes a smart move? It can save money and offer control, but risks errors and missed deductions. CreditSoup weighs the pros and cons to let you decide what's best.

2. 

   10 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

   Kat Tretina January 22, 2025  •  4 Minute Read

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   You may have already started dreaming about ways you could use your refund dollars. But before you start spending, take a step back and consider if there are other ways you can use your refund to improve your financial standing. Learn more from these 10 smart ways you can use your tax refund.

3. 

   File Your Taxes For Free - On the IRS Website

   Amanda Peterson January 17, 2025  •  4 Minute Read

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   It's tax season and if you're debating whether to hire someone or file them free online, we have a solution for you. The IRS Free File Program let's qualified taxpayers file for free on their website. CreditSoup took the leg work out of it and has the details here.

4. 

   Squeeze the Most Out of Your Tax Refund: How Secured Credit Cards Can Boost Your Credit This Season

   Amanda Peterson April 15, 2024  •  2 Minute Read

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   It's tax time & you've got money to burn. Before you go on a spending spree, consider using your refund to invest in your financial future – by cleaning up your credit with a secured credit card.

5. 

   Unlock Tax Savings through Homeownership

   Amanda Peterson April 12, 2024  •  1 Minute Read

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   Owning a home comes with financial benefits beyond just building equity. CreditSoup has some tax deductions you might be eligible for. Ask your tax preparer for more information.

6. 

   The Young Adults Guide to Finance

   CreditSoup Staff April 9, 2024  •  8 Minute Read

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   Growing up is inherently unnerving. Money, however, doesn't have to be the scary monster that many people think. CreditSoup has all the details from money management to investments here, in this article from the CreditSoup.com blog.

7. 

   3 Ways Your Earned Income Tax Credit Can Level Up Your Finances (And How to Spend It Wisely)

   Johnny Monroe April 8, 2024  •  3 Minute Read

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   Before you splurge on a fancy vacation or that new gadget you've been eyeing, let's talk about how to leverage your Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to truly boost your financial well-being. CreditSoup explains here.

8. 

   Making Secured Cards Work for Tax Season

   Amanda Peterson February 16, 2024  •  5 Minute Read

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   Tax season can be a stressful time for many, but did you know that it can also be an opportunity to boost your financial health? Take a look into a secured credit card. CreditSoup has 3 top offers.

9. 

   5 Simple Tips to Budget For Tax Season

   Amanda Peterson February 14, 2024  •  2 Minute Read

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   CreditSoup's Wise Spend Wednesday has 5 simple tips to budget like a pro, this tax season. Learn expert tips to budget effectively for tax season, minimize tax liability and stay financially organized year-round.

10. 

    Fast Track Your Tax Refund with Walmart MoneyCard®

    Amanda Peterson January 29, 2024  •  6 Minute Read

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    Walmart MoneyCard is a debit card that rewards you for shopping at Walmart. Get your tax refund up to 5 days early when you direct deposit your tax refund into your Walmart MoneyCard® account! CreditSoup dives in.

11. 

    Make Your Tax Return Work for You with These 5 Brilliant Money Moves

    Scot Rumsey January 17, 2024  •  1 Minute Read

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    Your tax refund is an opportunity to solidify your financial situation. CreditSoup urges you to use these 5 hacks to make the most of your tax return and give your finances a boost.

12. 

    Don't Spend Your Tax Return - Here's Why

    Amanda Peterson April 5, 2023  •  1 Minute Read

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    If you have BIG plans for that tax return you might be receiving this year, we're here to say don't. CreditSoup's Wise Spend Wednesday tip this week is to not spend your tax return. Save it instead!

13. 

    5 Ways to Handle a Tax Bill You Can’t Afford

    Kat Tretina March 28, 2023  •  3 Minute Read

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    If you owe money, but don’t have the savings to cover the bill right now, it’s important to face the problem head on. You can decrease how much you’ll owe in penalties by using these 5 tips.

14. 

    What is an Earned Income Tax Credit & 3 Ways it Can Level-Up Your Finances

    Johnny Monroe February 27, 2023  •  4 Minute Read

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    Before you start planning that lavish vacation or buying a new gadget, let's talk about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the smartest ways to spend your tax return.

15. 

    To Spend, or Not to Spend, Your Tax Return?

    Camie Sims January 9, 2023  •  1 Minute Read

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    It’s not Christmas but it can feel like it with the sum of money we look forward to – the tax return. Be smart about that hard earned money!

16. 

    5 Tax Myths Debunked

    Kat Tretina March 10, 2021  •  3 Minute Read

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    The deadline to file your federal tax return is quickly approaching. If you’re like most people, tax season fills you with dread. Often, people feel stressed by preparing their taxes because they’re overwhelmed and don’t fully understand the rules. To help you file your taxes accurately, let’s debunk the five most common tax myths.

17. 

    Are Credit Card Rewards Taxable?

    Kat Tretina February 15, 2019  •  3 Minute Read

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    For the most part, you will not have to worry about your smaller amount rewards getting caught up in the IRS. Overall, cash back rewards do not need be reported because they are considered a discount, not reportable, taxable income.

18. 

    What to Do If You’re Audited

    Kat Tretina April 12, 2018  •  3 Minute Read

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    Last year, the IRS processed over 134 million tax returns. Of those returns, only one million were selected for an audit. Your chances of being selected are slim, but everyone is at risk of an audit. Audits are time-consuming and stressful, and many people don’t know how to proceed.

19. 

    How the Republican Tax Plan Will Affect You

    Kat Tretina January 24, 2018  •  3 Minute Read

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    When Republicans first unveiled their plans for a new tax plan, critics tore it apart. Now that the bill is becoming a reality, it’s important to understand just how it will affect you and your finances.

20. 

    5 Overlooked Tax Benefits for Millennials

    Kat Tretina December 21, 2017  •  3 Minute Read

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    As a recent graduate, making ends meet can be tough. Between rent, student loan payments, and utilities, there’s not much left over for anything else. The idea of owing the government even more during tax season can be terrifying.

21. 

    5 Steps to Take Now to Prepare for Tax Season

    Kat Tretina December 11, 2017  •  3 Minute Read

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    While you’re enjoying the holidays, the last thing you want to do is think about taxes. However, tax season is just around the corner and, if you’re not prepared, you can easily end up overwhelmed and stressed.

22. 

    3 Perks of Preparing Your Own Taxes – Online!

    Scott Delzer March 1, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Tax season is coming to a close sooner than you’d expect. Have you filed your taxes yet? One of the simplest ways to file your taxes is through an online tax preparation service.

23. 

    “Help! I Haven’t Filed My Taxes Yet!”

    Camie Sims April 1, 2015  •  1 Minute Read

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    Now that we’ve entered April, Tax Day is quickly approaching. If you haven’t filed your tax return yet, NOW is the time to get the process rolling!

24. 

    Should You File Your Own Taxes?

    Camie Sims February 3, 2015  •  1 Minute Read

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    Consumers, tax season is upon us. Are you still trying to decide on the best way to file your taxes this year?

25. 

    Pros and Cons to Filing Your Own Taxes

    Scott Delzer March 25, 2014  •  1 Minute Read

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    April 15th is the deadline for filing your taxes. Deciding whether you will hire a tax professional or do them yourself with online forms or software is one of the first step to filing.

26. 

    Income Tax Filing tips, for the Tax Procrastinators!

    Scott Delzer April 7, 2011  •  1 Minute Read

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    The IRS says as many as 25% of filers do so in the 2 weeks before the deadline. Once you've filed your 2010 return, just think, you have a whole year before you have to do it all over again!

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