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Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary football
Mohamed Salah hits new Premier League goalscoring milestone as Liverpool fight back against LeicesterWoman cyber fraudster extorts Rs 20k from engg. studentNone
By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Actor Dies at 84
World News | US: House Approves USD895B Defence Bill with Military Pay Raise, Ban on Transgender Care for MinorsOpposition Leader Peter Dutton has defended his position on uniting the country under the one flag and gave a decisive answer to whether the Aboriginal flag should remain flying on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Mr Dutton told Sky News Australia's Credlin on Monday night he would continue to deliver press conferences with just the Australian flag behind him if elected as the next prime minister in the upcoming federal election. The Opposition Leader doubled down on his pledge during an appearance on Sunrise on Thursday morning, with host Nat Barr pressing Mr Dutton as to whether he had plans to remove the Aboriginal flag from the iconic bridge. "You're facing criticism after revealing you will refuse to put the Indigenous flag behind you, like Anthony Albanese has. You're going to get rid of it on the Harbour Bridge too according to Jacinta Price," Barr said. Mr Dutton, echoing his previous remarks on the matter, questioned how a country could be united if people identified under three different flags. "No other western democracy does that," he said. "I believe very strongly we should have an enormous amount of respect for the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander flags, but they are not our national flag. I want practical reconciliation. I want kids in Alice Springs to live in a safe environment." Barr then asked directly if the Aboriginal flag would remain on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge after it was permanently affixed on July 10, 2022. Mr Dutton said if elected as prime minister, his administration would work with the NSW government. "Obviously the state government has made a decision to put the flag up there, but for us, at a federal level, I'm not going to pretend that our country can be united when we're asking people to identify in different ways," Mr Dutton said. "We have an incredible migrant story in this country. We should be talking more about it. Should be very proud of our Indigenous heritage. But I don't believe that serving under three flags can unite the country." The Opposition Leader then referenced the rampant antisemitism plaguing the country in recent weeks to discuss the "social disharmony" in Australia. Mr Dutton said there was more social tension today "than we have for decades", adding he wanted to "bring the country together" if elected. "We can do that if we unite under one flag," he said. Barr again pressed Mr Dutton on whether the Aboriginal flag would be removed from the bridge before concluding the interview. "I think it's an issue for the New South Wales government," the Opposition Leader said. "My preference would be that we just, frankly, accept we have one national flag and that's the priority, but ultimately it's a decision for the NSW government." In his interview with Sky News host Peta Credlin, Mr Dutton said he would not display the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags behind him in press conferences as they are not “our national flags”. Anthony Albanese, in his first press conference as Prime Minister, installed both flags next to the Australian one as the three “represent our entire nation”. Mr Albanese said his government “didn’t make a fuss” or “put out a media release” after quietly installing the two additional flags, however, Mr Dutton said he was of the belief Australia was a country “united under one flag”. “We're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,” Mr Dutton told Credlin. “We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags. “I think the Prime Minister sends a very confusing message.”
Simple Hacks to Make the Holidays Merrier (and Cheaper)(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, the pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday can stretch budgets a bit too far. Many of today’s shoppers seek advice from their favorite online influencers, sourcing creative hacks, recipes, DIY projects, and tips to keep the holidays magical without overspending. In fact, 69% of consumers say they value and actively seek out influencer recommendations. Now, questions don’t need to get buried in the comments. This December, TextNow is flipping the script on holiday stress by introducing the Holiday Hotline , a free resource to help you navigate the season, with advice a mere text away. Whether it’s finding affordable gifts, creating a festive dinner on a budget, or even learning how to save on your monthly bills, the Holiday Hotline can make things simpler, cheaper, and—perhaps most importantly—more joyful. TextNow Holiday Hotline: Expert Advice at Your Fingertips From December 5–10, TextNow’s Holiday Hotline connects you with relatable experts (aka some of your favorite influencers including social media creator and podcast host Remi Cruz, Kayla Savings, and Melissa Weiss) who will share their go-to tips for a budget-friendly holiday. Here’s what you can expect: • Holiday Budgeting 101: Learn simple ways to stretch every dollar and avoid those dreaded post-holiday bills. • Affordable Gift-Giving Ideas: Thoughtful, creative gifts that won’t break the bank. • Festive Decorating on a Dime: Transform your home into a holiday wonderland with budget-friendly hacks. • Stress-Free Holiday Cooking: Recipes and meal-planning tips to impress your guests. Need more advice? Just text the hotline at 310-299-3584, and you’ll get personalized, practical tips sent straight to your phone. Win $1,000 for Your Holiday Dinner As if free expert advice wasn’t enough, TextNow is also giving you the chance to win big this holiday season. Enter the $1,000 Dinner Giveaway for a shot at a $1,000 gift card to cover your holiday expenses—whether it’s for food, gifts, travel, or whatever else makes your season special. Entering is simple: 1.Head to TextNow’s Instagram . 2.Like the giveaway post. 3.Share your best holiday tip in the comments (bonus: share the post to your story for an extra entry). 4.The giveaway runs from December 5-12, with winners announced from December 13-16. Save More This Holiday Season TextNow is more than just a phone service—it’s a way to take control of your budget, not just during the holidays but year-round. • Free Phone Service: Unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network free. No gimmicks, no contracts. • Free Essential Data: Get free data for such essential apps as maps, rideshare, and email when you activate your SIM card. • Additional Flexible Data Plans: Add extra data only when you need it, with hourly, daily, or monthly passes. Getting started with TextNow is easy. Download the app to call and text for free over Wi-Fi or unlock free cellular service with a $4.99 SIM card. Learn More For more details, visit www.TextNow.com . Word Count: 491TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian PressStubblefield accounts for 4 TDs, South Carolina State runs past Norfolk State 53-21
At the threshold of 2025
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship. The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South , but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance. That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race. “This one, we've got to take it on the chin,” Mayfield added. “It's a short week. It's Christmas week. We've got to focus on Carolina and figure out a way to win.” If Atlanta is able to maintain its lead, Tampa Bay could make the postseason as a wild card if the Bucs win out and the Commanders lose twice. Coach Todd Bowles sounds confident that his players understand the challenge ahead and will clean up mistakes that contributed to the end of their four-game win streak. “We’ve got to win a ballgame (this week). If we don’t win a ballgame, we don’t give ourselves a chance,” Bowles said Monday. “We have to focus on us like we’ve been doing,” the coach added. “We have to correct the mistakes, and we have to go out and win Sunday, and we’ve got to win the next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that.” The offense, which ranks third in the NFL at 389.8 yards per game, isn't a fluke. Despite losing to the Cowboys, Tampa Bay finished with 410 yards total offense. It was the team's fifth straight game — as well as an NFL-high ninth overall — with 400-plus yards. The Bucs are seventh in rushing (143.7 yards per game) after ranking 32nd each of the past two seasons. The defense yielded 292 yards passing against the Cowboys, 226 of it in the first half when Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bowles said shoddy tackling was the biggest issue — not poor coverage. Lamb had one reception for 5 yards after halftime. Mayfield's chemistry with rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who has 27 receptions for 336 yards and five TDs, continues to grow. McMillan had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown — his fourth in the past three games — against Dallas. He was also the intended receiver on Mayfield's deep throw that CB Jourdan Lewis intercepted in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off the Bucs in the closing minutes. Turnovers were costly against Dallas. The end-zone interception stopped the Bucs from cutting into a 26-17 deficit with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rachaad White's fumble with 1:31 left ended any hope for a last-minute victory. On both plays, defenders ripped the ball out of the grasp of the offensive player. “We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame," Bowles said. "We just have to have two hands on the ball, and we have to fight for it. We have to take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.” Bowles said it's too early to project the status of several starters for coming games, including S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee), who has missed the past two games. TE Cade Otton (knee) and LB K.J. Britt (ankle) were inactive against the Cowboys, while reserve WR Sterling Shepard left during the game with a hamstring injury. 80. Bucky Irving leads all NFL rookie RBs with 920 yards rushing. He needs 80 over the next two games to reach 1,000. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown against Dallas. That tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing TDs by a rookie running back in franchise history. Doug Martin set the record of 11 in 2012. Host Carolina on Sunday. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflLenovo's sixth-generation ThinkPad T14s is available now, starting at $1,598. It's is a powerful workhorse thanks to the new AMD Ryzen AI chipset and support for the speedy Wi-Fi 7 standard. Its display, on the other hand, isn't all that impressive considering its price tag. Whenever Lenovo isn't pushing the boundaries of laptop design, the brand is creating high-quality personal work computers like the new ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 . On the surface the T14s looks like your average ThinkPad with a lightweight, matte black body and an excellent keyboard. But if you examine it closely, you'll notice small differences that set it apart from the crowd. Also: The fastest laptops of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed For one thing, it houses a good selection of ports, including an HDMI 2.1 input and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, supporting power delivery and DisplayPort. Those last two inputs allow you to send a video signal to an external monitor and charge the device at the same time. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 stands tall as a great-performing laptop for busy business professionals. It can handle all sorts of tasks thanks to its AMD chipset and makes you look good at the same time via the 5MP webcam. However, I found the display a little disappointing. It outputs at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with the glass covered in an anti-glare coating, ensuring visibility under bright conditions. It is also Eyesafe certified , meaning the display emits low blue light to protect your eyes from strain. While this is all great, given its price point, I would've liked a 2K display instead. I also want to shout out the 5MP webcam. It supports video calls up to 1440p, enabling sharp, bright images. This laptop ensures you'll always look your best during those important calls. Your voice will be heard loud and clear thanks to a combination of Dolby Voice and the dual-array mics. To be better hear your audience, the speaker system supports Dolby Atmos for crisp sound. Also: This ultralight Copilot+ PC is my preferred laptop for working remotely. Here's why As great as the external hardware may be, the real star of the show here is what's inside the ThinkPad T14s. My review unit came with the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 processor, an AMD Radeon 880M graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. That new Ryzen chipset has made this model one of the best-performing Lenovo laptops I've tested. Benchmark scores are high across the board, especially in PCMark 10's Essential Productivity tests, earning 9,310 and 9,452 in the respective categories. These numbers indicate that apps open quickly and the hardware can multitask with ease. Cinebench results reveal the Ryzen AI 7 Pro is capable of fast image rendering. A major factor in this experience is the neural processing unit (or NPU, for short). It utilizes artificial intelligence to take some of the load off the main processor so it can operate unencumbered. I had around 50 tabs on Google Chrome running live streams on YouTube, videos on social media, and more alongside several open apps. Not once did I experience a modicum of lag. The one area where the benchmarking faltered is digital content creation, receiving its lowest scores in video editing, which isn't surprising. Due to the integrated GPU and subpar display, this computer isn't really meant for content creators. But for businesspeople, it's the perfect companion. Battery life was solid, although nothing mindblowing. On average, the computer ran for about 12 hours straight under the Best Power Efficiency mode. Under Best Performance, the number dropped down to 7.5 hours. Also: Why I prefer this Dell XPS desktop over the M4 Mac Mini for creative tasks These are still solid run times. Users can enjoy multiday longevity, but the device isn't as energy efficient as other laptops housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipset. The AMD processor may be too power-hungry to offer the same experience. Fortunately, the battery recharges quickly. A one-hour charge restored the battery to about 70%. Two unique features stood out to me as they help futureproof the ThinkPad. It supports both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The two behave similarly by offering faster, more secure connections for their respective standards. Even though both standards have been around for about a year each, they still haven't been widely adopted. Few routers actively support Wi-Fi 7, for example, although that number is slowly increasing . To harness these nascent networks, you'll need a trailblazing machine, and the ThinkPad T14s is just that. Prices for the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 start at $1,598, which is about what you'd expect from a ThinkPad with this level of hardware. I highly recommend the laptop to professionals (or anyone really) who want a lightweight powerhouse that can handle a wide array of office and productivity workloads. You can also configure this machine with higher-end components, including a 1TB SSD, but that will bring the price up to around $1,600. If you prefer something cheaper with a solid chipset, Lenovo is selling the ThinkPad T14s with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, starting at $1,181 . ZDNET's product of the year: Why Oura Ring 4 bested Samsung, Apple, and others in 2024 I tested Samsung's 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and watching Hollywood movies on it left me in awe I let my 8-year-old test this Android phone for kids. Here's what you should know before buying This ThinkPad checks all my boxes for a solid work laptop. Here's why it stands out
