The financial news that actually matters
Medicare beneficiaries who need hospital care in 2026 will face a $1,736 deductible before Original Medicare covers a single day of inpatient treatment. That figure, set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is $60 higher than the $1,676 charged in 2025. Because the deductible resets with each new benefit period and there is…
Families enrolled in high-deductible health plans can now shelter up to $8,750 a year from federal income tax through a single health savings account, collecting three distinct tax advantages on the same dollars. The IRS set that family contribution ceiling for calendar year 2026 through Rev. Proc. 2025-19, published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-21. For…
Taxpayers who owe the IRS more than they can pay in a single check now have a direct, self-service path to spread that balance over time. The agency’s Online Payment Agreement tool lets qualified filers apply for an installment plan and, in many cases, receive an immediate decision without calling or mailing paperwork. With the…
American grocery shoppers are paying sharply less for eggs than they were a year ago, with federal retail data showing the national average price per dozen falling roughly 35 percent from its mid-2025 peak. In May 2025, a dozen large Grade A eggs cost $4.548 on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics average-price…
Families in more than half the country now have a new path to offset private school costs after 27 states formally signed up for a federal tax credit that rewards donations to K-12 scholarship funds. The credit, worth up to $1,700 per taxpayer, applies only when donors give to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) in…
Federal and state agencies across the country are warning the public about a persistent phone scam in which callers claim the recipient missed jury duty and must pay a fine or face arrest. The Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and attorneys general in multiple states have all issued alerts confirming that…
Most American tax filers will not bother tracking receipts for charitable gifts, mortgage interest, or state and local taxes when they sit down to prepare their 2026 returns. The IRS confirmed that married couples filing jointly can claim a $32,200 standard deduction for tax year 2026, a figure large enough to keep roughly nine out…
Owners of certain Toyota Tundra trucks face a direct safety risk after the automaker issued a recall covering more than 43,000 vehicles because of engine debris that can stall the motor without warning. The recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under campaign number 26V320, targets Tundras with manufacturing contamination that can cut…
Homebuyers gained a small but measurable edge in May as existing-home sales climbed 3.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million, the fastest monthly pace since December. The National Association of Realtors reported the gain on June 9, 2026, crediting a rise in new listings for pulling some sidelined buyers back into…
Virginia homeowners who owe medical bills will gain a new shield against losing their homes when the state’s Medical Debt Protection Act takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law, codified as Chapter 59 of Title 59.1 in the Virginia Code, bans creditors from using foreclosure as a tool to collect on medical debt. Violations…