It’s that time of the year again; the time when you gather up all of your paperwork, forms, and other information necessary to file those dreaded taxes. While the tax process doesn’t change much from year-to-year, there are a few things that may look different for you depending on whether you have been taking advantage of the Child Tax Credits that were available for eligible filers.
New Tax Information for When You File
You may have heard about, or even taken advantage of the ‘Advance Child Tax Credit Payments’ in 2021, so what does that mean when you go to file your 2021 taxes? Important changes to the Child Tax Credit have helped many families get advance payments of the credit. Half of the total credit amount likely has been paid in the form of advance monthly payments. While the other half will be claimed when you file your 2021 income tax return. For more details, check out this link to the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021 or ask your tax advisor.
Tax Season Resources
With tax season just around the corner, we wanted to put resources at your fingertips! With our Banzai! Education Wellness Center, you can browse a number of articles related to tax season!
From articles on completing a return to calculators for the child tax credit, we want you to get the most out of your money so check it out today!
How to be Responsible with your Tax Refund with our Tax Refund Guide.
So, you’ve filed your taxes…now what? Hopefully, you are receiving a tax return from the IRS. If so, we encourage you to be smart with your refund. Unfortunately, though, the reality is that many of us don’t use that refund responsibly and we squander it away in a short period of time.
Don’t worry, you can still be excited and dance a little while holding that check in your hands (or, more likely seeing that deposit via your online banking). But, once the excitement wears off, begin to change your carefree spending habits and start being responsible with your tax refund money.
First, you need to prioritize your financial goals. Then, decide which of these responsible refund options are most important.
Save
Saving your tax return money will give you much more satisfaction in the long run than spending it all on a new 60” flat screen TV to replace that 55” TV that you already have. Here are responsible ways to save:
A) Build Your Emergency Fund
The ideal emergency fund covers at least 3 months’ worth of expenses. But if you’re just starting your emergency fund, try starting out with $1,000.
B) Let Money Grow in a Share Certificate
Another way to save with your refund could be to put it in a share certificate. This is where your money earns interest, which results in more money for you just by letting it sit there and grow!
Pay Down
Putting a large amount of your refund toward other higher balances can help alleviate some of the existing debt that’s weighing on you. Also, consider paying off debt with the highest interest rate first.
Down Pay
Have you been interested in getting a new-to-you vehicle, but have held back? Now is your chance to take that refund and use it as a down payment on an auto loan.
Build Credit
Getting a secured credit card is a great option to help build credit. Getting a credit card can be a bit scary, but it’s easier when you secure the card. It works like this: Say you want to get a $500 limit on a credit card; you use the $500 you “saved” as a security deposit for the card while still being able to use a credit card to make purchases. As long as you make your monthly payments and use the card responsibly, it can help build your credit score!
Pre Pay
Having a pre-paid debit card is a good alternative to carrying around cash or having to stop by an ATM often. Putting portions of your refund on a pre-paid debit card can make life much easier.
Fun
You can spend your tax refund responsibly while still having some fun! Set a small portion of your return aside and use it on the most important person, YOU! Treat yourself to something you don’t normally get to do or have, like extra Starbucks trips, a spa day, get a few tickets to see your favorite sports team, a night on the town, or even a trip to a destination you’ve been wanting to travel to!
If you think that any of these tips sound like something that you want or need to do, then CSE Federal Credit Union is here to help! Stop in or call us at 330.452.9801 and any of our credit union professionals can help you get started down the right financial path! Now that you have these tips, you can be in control and enjoy your tax refund responsibly!
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