Which financial documents should you keep?
And more of the week's best financial advice
Here are three of the week's top pieces of financial advice, gathered from around the web:
Financial documents to keep
For the millions of Americans itemizing their deductions, tax season is a time of "paper piles, bursting files, and inscrutable tax forms," said Ron Lieber at The New York Times. With the new tax bill offering fewer reasons to itemize, "there may be less mess in your future." But you will still want to retain "more than you might think." The IRS anticipates you'll keep your returns and "any supporting documentation" three years after filing. Make sure you also keep records of your IRA conversions to prove you've already paid tax when you withdraw. It's also important to retain copies of major insurance policies and any estate-planning documents. To cut down on paperwork, scan and save digital copies of receipts for deductible expenses.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Locating your old 401(k) accounts
"Do you know where your money is?" asked Ken Fisher at USA Today. Keeping track of old 401(k) accounts can be tricky. Americans lost track of more than $7.7 billion worth of retirement savings in 2015 alone. If you "accidentally and unknowingly" abandoned a 401(k), it's "time to retrieve it and take control." The good news is, "if your money was invested, it should still be growing." But you'll want to consolidate, because having multiple accounts with numerous fee structures and investment plans will be costly in the long term. Check old statements, contact your previous employers, or search the site of the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. "When everything is merged, you can work on your own or with your adviser to make sure the money is invested right for your goals and needs."
Determining your estimated taxes
"How much should I pay?" asked Jeanne Sahadi at CNN. It's a perennial question for those who pay quarterly estimated taxes. But it's "especially tricky this year," because the new tax law changed income tax rates, and eliminated some deductions and exemptions and added others. Tax experts are still awaiting guidance from the IRS on some key provisions, so until that advice arrives, it's probably "better to figure your estimated payments to match 100 percent (or 110 percent) of what you paid last year." It's not advisable to skip the quarterly payment that is due April 17 just because you are unsure of what you owe. "You could be hit with underpayment penalties for the quarter when you file your 2018 return next year."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Will Starmer's Brexit reset work?
Today's Big Question PM will have to tread a fine line to keep Leavers on side as leaks suggest EU's 'tough red lines' in trade talks next year
By The Week UK Published
-
How domestic abusers are exploiting technology
The Explainer Apps intended for child safety are being used to secretly spy on partners
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists finally know when humans and Neanderthals mixed DNA
Under the radar The two began interbreeding about 47,000 years ago, according to researchers
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The pros and cons of noncompete agreements
The Explainer The FTC wants to ban companies from binding their employees with noncompete agreements. Who would this benefit, and who would it hurt?
By Peter Weber Published
-
What experts are saying about the economy's surprise contraction
The Explainer The sharpest opinions on the debate from around the web
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The death of cities was greatly exaggerated
The Explainer Why the pandemic predictions about urban flight were wrong
By David Faris Published
-
The housing crisis is here
The Explainer As the pandemic takes its toll, renters face eviction even as buyers are bidding higher
By The Week Staff Published
-
How to be an ally to marginalized coworkers
The Explainer Show up for your colleagues by showing that you see them and their struggles
By Tonya Russell Published
-
What the stock market knows
The Explainer Publicly traded companies are going to wallop small businesses
By Noah Millman Published
-
Can the government save small businesses?
The Explainer Many are fighting for a fair share of the coronavirus rescue package
By The Week Staff Published
-
How the oil crash could turn into a much bigger economic shock
The Explainer This could be a huge problem for the entire economy
By Jeff Spross Published