Questions tagged [united-states]
For questions that relate to the laws, practices, and products of the United States.
14,242
questions
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1
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Can my employer increase my hours without increasing my salary?
Can my employer increase my hours without increasing my salary?
user454
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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COBRA eligibilty if employer changes providers at time of contract signing?
I have a contract from July to June. I am a teacher. At my meeting to discuss my position in September, I will probably be told that my hours are going to be reduced and I will no longer be eligible ...
maureen competello
12
votes
6
answers
1k
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What happened to the $1 coin in US?
The US, like Canada tried to introduce a $1 coin awhile back to reduce minting costs of the $1 paper bill. This was successful in Canada but not so much in the States. Why was it not widely adopted? ...
- 6,220
7
votes
1
answer
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Are you allowed to have both a 401(k) and a SIMPLE IRA? If so, what about limits?
Are you allowed to have both a 401(k) and a SIMPLE IRA? And what would the limits be on the combined total?
I have two employers but I am maxed out at one. My understanding is that I can't use a ...
- 271
12
votes
3
answers
815
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What is the best way to learn investing techniques?
I'm a very busy person (full-time job, family, etc) and want to invest over $50k of extra cash. There are so many ways that I can learn, but which ones will bear fruit? I am willing to pay money to ...
7
votes
1
answer
225
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How can I fix a mistake I made on my income tax filing? [US]
How can I fix a mistake I made on my income tax filing?
user454
30
votes
5
answers
228k
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Is there a limit on the dollar amount of a personal check?
Is there a limit on the dollar amount of a personal check?
user454
12
votes
1
answer
969
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How to claim a minor's income?
When a child earns money babysitting or doing yardwork for neighbors, it's common to ignore claiming the income, as income earned by the minor has its own deduction, and would likely not generate any ...
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How do you find the credit card with the best rewards/points? [US]
I'm using a CC that basically gives me 2% cash back on everything. It adds up, but I have a feeling that I'm not benefiting from how often I use my card. I easily put over a thousand each month on the ...
- 4,893
3
votes
1
answer
5k
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Where to find LEAPS option quotes (full chain)? CBOE & Yahoo! Finance not working
It appears that most sites that give stock option quotes are broken. I'm trying to get a full chain for 3M (MMM) in Jan 2012. I tried CBOE and Yahoo!. CBOE doesn't even show the LEAPS. Yahoo! ...
- 829
52
votes
4
answers
8k
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Recent graduate with new job: Choose Roth 401(k), or traditional 401(k)?
I just graduated, and I'm starting a new job soon. My employer has pretty good policy for matching 401(k) contributions, so I want to invest as much as possible, especially during this first year.
My ...
- 675
10
votes
2
answers
14k
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Do personal checks expire? [US]
Do personal checks expire in the US? Also, if I stamp the following on it:
VOID if not claimed within 60 days.
Will that be honored by most banks?
Related
Do personal cheques expire? [Canada]
- 7,856
6
votes
1
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2k
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Retroactive COBRA Premium Increase: Can my COBRA health insurance premiums be hiked retroactively?
I hope this is the right place to ask this, but if not let me know and I'll go away.
About 6 months ago I left a W-2 position to do independent consulting. Since then, I have been using my previous ...
- 161
10
votes
5
answers
613
views
Does my company's 401k plan provider matter to me?
My company is about to change the 401k provider it uses from one major provider to another. Does this matter to me, provided my company doesn't change any of it's benefits policies?
- 7,856
28
votes
5
answers
3k
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Where should I park my rainy-day / emergency fund?
This is the US companion of the same question for Canadians Where can I park my rainy-day/ emergency fund?. Basically I want to know what options I have for my emergency fund?
- 525
11
votes
1
answer
12k
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What is the difference between Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae?
What is the difference between the various US housing agencies referred to as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Ginnie Mae?
How were each of them affected by the sub-prime mortgage crisis (or, maybe the ...
- 6,220
4
votes
2
answers
512
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Rules for Broker Behavior with Covered Calls
When selling covered calls, there are a couple of things a broker could do if the stock has a sharp increase. Here's an example:
Buy Stock: $100
Sell Call $120@1month: $1
Two days later, the stock ...
- 829
12
votes
1
answer
642
views
What are the consequences of filing personal income tax return past the deadline of April 15th (i.e. filing late)? [US]
Today – April 15th – is the income tax filing deadline in the U.S.
Here in Canada, we still have until the end of the month. Perhaps we get a little longer to figure things out because ...
- 31.7k
9
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Foreclosure process: What happens when a bank forecloses on a home?
I know it is a long complicated process, but what is the high level overview of what a bank does when it forecloses on a house? Beyond credit getting hurt, what else?
Where does the bank get it's ...
- 25.2k
20
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Should I wait until I have a 20% down payment to buy a home?
With an FHA loan that only requires a 3.5% down payment, I'm able to buy a home right now and comfortably afford the monthly payments. However, I know that means I'll pay PMI and more interest over ...
4
votes
3
answers
454
views
Homeowner's association funding a project in a condo: Bank wants an individual guarantor. What to do?
From time to time my HOA (homeowner's association) needs extra money for a project (eg painting fences, fixing roofs, plumbing repair, etc). They typically respond by raising the monthly HOA dues for ...
- 829
1
vote
1
answer
105
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Rules for FHA loan availability
I'm trying to find the laws on what makes a condo complex available for FHA loans. I hear it has something to do with the amount of money on reserve and the owner/occupancy ratio. Does anyone know ...
- 829
6
votes
1
answer
403
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Can I deduct equipment that I'm required to purchase by my employer?
If my employer requires that I own a laptop and other computer equipment, but does not provide them, am I able to deduct the expense of purchasing the equipment? I know that I definitely would deduct ...
3
votes
3
answers
380
views
How do I use investments to lower my taxes [US]?
I'm not sure how this works. Do you just report on your taxes which investments you contributed to during that year, and then get a deduction?
I want to pay less taxes, and put my income in some ...
4
votes
1
answer
164
views
What do new Overdraft rules for U.S. banks mean for transactions, when they go into effect July 1, 2010?
The rules will affect ATM withdrawals and debit card transactions, and are meant to protect consumers with an opt-in option. What does this mean?
- 8,683
4
votes
1
answer
325
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Where can I find a list of common US income tax deductions?
Where can I find a list of common tax deductions in the US? I'd like to know so I can keep more receipts and pay less tax.
- 7,856
10
votes
3
answers
2k
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How to determine new, lower interest payments after a lump sum mortgage payment, i.e. new amortization schedule?
Here's a financial math problem:
I have a mortgage at about $78,0000 with 5.5% interest and 56 of 360 monthly payments were made. I'm currently paying about $360/month in interest charges. If I pay ...
- 829
9
votes
2
answers
8k
views
TurboTax is telling me to open an IRA now, and get a $5K deduction this year, is this a smart thing to do?
I'm 21 years old, and 2009's total itemized deduction for me is $1,908. I'm going with the standard deduction, but next year seems like it has a lot of potential to save if I open up this IRA that ...
14
votes
1
answer
763
views
If I were to get audited, what would I need?
I've been an independent contractor for about 2 months now. I'm saving receipts for all my business-related expenses, and I use Mint.com to track all my personal finances -- Everything business ...
- 1,190
5
votes
3
answers
6k
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Travelled to New York State & bought something. Can I get sales tax refund back?
I drove to Buffalo, NY over the weekend with some friends, and I bought myself a shiny new Apple iPad. I had to pay New York State sales tax at the Apple Store, as well as declare my iPad purchase at ...
- 31.7k
14
votes
2
answers
2k
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Difference between Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
What is the practical difference between a Health Savings Account and a Flexible Spending Account? What are the pro's and con's of each, and are there situations where either is best?
- 7,856
7
votes
1
answer
9k
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My daughter got married last year in late August, can I still claim her part year?
If my 21-yr-old daughter lived at home (and I provided more than half of her support) until her wedding in late August of last year, can't I still claim her as a dependent of some sort?
Jeff Hoenshell
8
votes
2
answers
515
views
Married during the tax year, how does that work
I got married this last year in December. I had done my taxes as if I was not married and had no dependents, which was correct in January. My wife currently does not have a job. Should this effect ...
- 7,856
1
vote
1
answer
148
views
Are there any special rules for charging sales tax in US Territories such as Puerto Rico?
Are there any special rules for charging sales tax in US Territories such as Puerto Rico?
- 7,856
6
votes
2
answers
837
views
What can I deduct while assisting in caring for elderly relatives that do not live with me?
I provide all transportation to medical appointments, do their shopping, drive them to church, do their foot care, provide some meals -weekly, assist with ecercising, house cleaning. I do not want ...
Mischelle Wilson
7
votes
1
answer
241
views
Do Americans still need extra health care / medical insurance after reform to health care? [U.S.]
Does the passage of the recent bill in the US change the way Americans budget for health care? If so who benefits?
- 6,220
6
votes
5
answers
2k
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Is it true that Income Tax was created to finance troops for World War I?
I remember hearing that income tax was specifically created to finance the war effort during World War I. Is this true? If so was it originally intended to be a temporary measure?
- 6,220
8
votes
3
answers
2k
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What is the best option for an occasional driver in the USA?
I never had a car before, but I'm starting to feel the need of having one.
Fortunately, I can bike to work, and would only use the car on weekends (and very occasionally on weekdays). Additionally, I'...
- 261
20
votes
2
answers
9k
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Need advice recovering money lost due to debit card fraud! Bank wont help!
I was recently the victim of credit card fraud. My number and some of my info was compromised and subsequently used to run up about $500 worth of online charges within a week's time.
This was on my ...
- 309
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
I just moved to the United States. What should I do to develop a good credit rating, fast?
I just moved to the US for working purposes, and found out that for a lot of stuff you buy, you need to have a good credit rating (or pay more, or make a security deposit, etc).
I found out also that ...
- 261
6
votes
3
answers
33k
views
An ecommerce retailer forgot to charge my credit card, & I received the package. Legally speaking, must I inform them they didn't charge me?
I recently made a large purchase from an online retailer's outlet store. The online store was having performance problems the day I ordered, but it is large trusted company so I placed the order ...
- 25.2k
5
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How do I get a US credit or debit card if I reside outside the US?
I am from Hungary and I would like to purchase sometimes from US web services like iTunes and so on. They require US cards and billing address. Is it possible to have one without traveling to the US? ...
- 2,438
20
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6
answers
8k
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In what state should I register my web-based LLC?
DISCLAIMER: I understand that as a US corporation, you're required to pay taxes in whatever state you A) do business in, b) pay employees in, and c) have property in. I understand that registering in ...
- 1,190
13
votes
5
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2k
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What should I do with the stock from my Employee Stock Purchase Plan?
I've got an employee stock purchase plan program. The details are a little tricksy, but I basically get to buy about 2500 shares of company stock at something like $2.33/share... and the stock has ...
user296
18
votes
3
answers
974
views
Is there any way to know how much new money the US is printing?
There is a lot of talk about the Fed printing money.
Is there any way to know how much new money is being printed and when?
- 472
6
votes
1
answer
153
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What investment strategy would you deduce from the latest article from Charles Munger?
One of the most interesting article I read in the last months was from Charles Munger (vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway).
Here is a link:
http://www.slate.com/id/2245328/pagenum/all/
I would be ...
5
votes
3
answers
881
views
Is there any site to compare the security of (online) banking services?
I work in the computer industry, and I know a few things about security, like the fact that those "security questions" that you're asked for are pretty much completely bogus and not useful as security....
user296
6
votes
1
answer
234
views
Is there any site you can find out about the 'bonus features' of credit cards? [closed]
I'm doing fairly well financially, and pay my credit cards off monthly, so to me they are less useful for financing and more useful as a matter of convenience. As such, I'd like to know more about the ...
user296
2
votes
1
answer
170
views
What are good strategies to maximize cross border shopping benefits? [Canada]
Depending the length of one's visit to the US from Canada there are different limits and different exemptions. This also assumes that the price discount is worth it. What strategies have people ...
- 6,220
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What are the benefits and downsides to an LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship vs. Individiual?
As a followup to my previous question, what benefits are there for an LLC vs. a Sole Proprietorship? What are advantages and disadvantages to both and also vs. just being paid as a person?
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