Florida lawmakers are busy preparing for the next Legislative session, with hundreds of new bills already being filed.

Glynn County’s Hotel/Motel Tax will rise from 5% to 7% beginning July 1, 2025, following the signing of House Bill 732 by Gov. Brian Kemp on May 1. The new rate applies to all qualifying room nights starting July 1, even if reservations were made or prepaid before that date.

News4JAX political analyst and head of the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute Rick Mullaney joins me for this week’s episode of “Politics & Power” to break down all the issues in the president’s first 100 days.

Florida lawmakers are still nowhere close to agreeing on a budget for the next fiscal year. That means the legislative session that was supposed to wrap up Friday will not end on time.

Ready for some spring cleaning? Is it time to donate unused clothes, toss some trash, and ditch broken appliances? But what about all those old documents you’ve been holding on to?

The Internal Revenue Service extended the tax deadline to May 1 for all of Florida due to Hurricane Milton.

From paying off debt to investing in your home, the choices are endless, but which gives you the biggest bang for your buck? Consumer Reports breaks down the best ways to make every dollar count.

The deadline to file your taxes is less than a month away, and if you’re doing them for the first time, you might be feeling added pressure.

If you recently filed your taxes and discovered you owe Uncle Sam, maybe even a few thousand dollars, take a breath because you have options.

A new survey by McAfee reveals that Gen Z, despite being tech-savvy, is the most targeted group for AI-driven tax scams, with scammers using fake IRS communications to steal personal information.

Jacksonville is rapidly gaining recognition as a popular tourist destination, with many visitors expressing a strong desire to return to the River City.

Sue Long with the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University founded a group that tracks IRS audits and has testified before Congress about restructuring the IRS.

Consumer Reports explains just how the scams work, plus some filing advice on whether you plan to hire a pro or do your own.

As the end of his term nears, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to make a major push to lower property taxes in Florida.

It’s tax season and when looking for a tax preparer it’s a good idea to do some research.

The holidays are over and now it’s time to focus on the new year. First things first, taxes. The IRS will begin accepting returns between January 15 and the 31st.

The IRS has announced that Jan. 27 will be the first day it will start accepting and processing 2024 income tax returns.

A Florida man who owned a healthcare company embezzled $10 million; instead, he misappropriated the funds to purchase a yacht and went on a personal spending spree at luxury retailers like Cartier and Bergdorf Goodman, resulting in a loss of over $10 million to the IRS.

President Trump promised to make major tax cuts for Americans on the campaign trail, vowing to cut taxes on tips and overtime pay, social security taxes, and reduce corporate income taxes.

Certain items can be bought tax-free from Saturday through Sept. 6.

Communities across the country are trying to decide whether or not to shell out big bucks for professional sports stadiums. Supporters promise economic growth, but critics say the reality never lives up to the hype.

Retailers hope Floridians will heed multiple forecasts that the upcoming hurricane season will be more active than normal.

The deadline to file taxes is Monday at 11:59 p.m., and there are some options for those who waited until the last minute to complete them.

The April 15 tax deadline is one week away.

Taxes are due a week from today, April 15, and a mistake can be costly.

The deadline to file your taxes is April 15th. If you’re still working on yours, we have some last-minute advice to help you get the most out of your efforts.

Scammers look for ways to trick people into giving them money year-round, but tax season can be particularly fraught.

A "ghost tax preparer" is someone who isn't certified but still prepares tax returns.

April 15 will be here before you know it, but there are a few changes when it comes to tax filing this year that help keep more money in your pocket.

In a rare breakthrough, the House passed a $78 billion tax package, with bipartisan support, that would enhance the child tax credit for lower-income families and boost tax breaks for businesses.

In Georgia, a bill passed in 2022 that reduces the state income tax each year until it reaches 4.9% by 2029. Governor Brian Kemp is looking to amend the bill to speed up the state’s income tax cut.

If you are looking to hire someone to help you file your taxes, there are a lot of options out there. But before you pay anything, the Better Business Bureau is reminding you to do your research first.

Ohtani has decided to defer $680 million of the contract until after his playing days are over, meaning he’ll take in roughly $2 million of salary each year for the duration of the contract that will run through 2033.

Most taxpayers will be able to digitally submit a slew of tax documents and other communications to the IRS next filing season and the agency plans to go completely paperless in 2025.

A Ponte Vedra man who pleaded guilty to willful tax evasion was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,927,077.90 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

You need to get your 2022 tax return in to the IRS by next Tuesday, but if you can’t meet that deadline, you need to request an extension as soon as possible.

Even though only 0.38% of individual tax returns were audited in 2022, there are still some things that can increase your risk of being one of the unlucky few that get audited.

If you’ve finally gotten your taxes filed, you’re probably ready to put it all away and move on. Have you considered which documents you should keep? And for how long?

The tax deadline is fast approaching. April 18 is the last day you can send snail mail taxes or hit send electronically.

Willie Nelson owed millions in taxes, so the IRS came up with an idea to help.

Did you know when you’re getting ready for tax season, there are two types of preparation methods?

Get expert tax knowledge with the Ultimate Guide to Taxes Bundle — now only $19.99

If you grew up watching your parents get stressed around tax season, then you're probably not looking forward to filing yourself for the first time.

Tax season is underway, and the IRS is advising against waiting until the last minute to file.

Consumer Reports says there are other ways to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act by "going green" on your next home improvement project.

April 15 and the deadline to file your tax return is still a way off, but the time to start planning is now.

The latest price hike in fuel has essentially wiped out savings drivers could have seen from Florida’s gas tax holiday.

The Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that taxpayers affected by Hurricane Ian are eligible to receive tax relief following the recent disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Every Duval County school is getting safety and security upgrades as part of the district’s 15-year facility plan.

Florida Attorney General warns about using public wi-fi to file taxes.

Filing your taxes in the post-COVID era can be complicated and confusing. Laws are changing all the time.

It seems like you hear about it more and more these days: The extreme lengths people are going to in order to buy a new house; how much it costs to fill up the gas tank; and what we’re spending at the grocery store.

Georgia lawmakers face multiple key decisions on the final scheduled day of their 2022 session.

For those animal lovers who spend so much money on their pets and hope to recoup some of that cash spent when tax season arrives, this is the cold, hard reality: For the most part, you can’t.

Here are facts and figures of the OECD’s plan and what it hopes to achieve.

The committee overseeing Duval County’s half-cent sales tax for school improvement said in its first annual report it’s already ahead of schedule for how much revenue has been collected.

You may be feeling the effects of the huge gas price increase but it is also having an impact on something you may not have considered -- the money it takes to keep city cars and trucks operating.

You likely know what “income” means, and of course you’re aware of federal and state taxes, and the fact that we have to do them (or have them prepared for us, in some cases), every year. But how much do you know about income tax overall?

Whether you’re new to owning your own business or a seasoned vet, taxes can be so stressful. It’s easy to overlook things or simply forget an item here and there.

If you’re expecting a generous refund this season, you’ll want to make that money work as hard as you do.

The St. Johns County Board of Commissioners read through an official proposal Tuesday afternoon, which, if passed, would increase the county’s sales tax rate by one percent for at least the next ten years.

Tax havens, also known as offshore financial centers, are a country or jurisdiction that has minimal tax liabilities to foreign individuals or businesses.

Tax season is officially here, meaning you have the next couple months to get those returns filed! This year’s IRS deadline is April 18.

As Duval County Public Schools continues to grapple with a crippling teacher shortage and retention problem, superintendent Diana Greene recommended that the school board consider hiking property taxes by one mill in order to boost salaries, fill the record number of vacant staffing positions and bolster the district’s arts and athletic programs.

As tax filing season gets underway, parents are working to figure out what to do about the child tax credit, including those monthly advanced payments.

Tax season is here and it’s early this year. You can start filing electronically on Monday, but will the returns be bigger or smaller this year?

With tax season beginning Jan. 24, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is warning taxpayers to watch out for tax-related fraud.

Jacksonville city leaders on Tuesday voted 5-13 against repealing the implementation of a six-cent gas tax increase, which is set to go into effect in January.

For those who plan on donating to a charitable organization for Giving Tuesday, there could be some opportunities to receive money back when filing taxes next year.

Starting Thursday, an estimated 40,000 Florida families will begin receiving $250 to $300 payments as part of the American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit program.

If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, time is quickly running out.

Revenue generated from a half-cent sales tax, which was approved by Duval County voters in November, has started rolling in and taxpayers will soon be able to track exactly how the money is being used.

There’s a consumer alert for anyone who still needs to file their taxes.

More than 89,000 Floridians may be owed a 2017 income tax refund, according to the IRS.

If you already anticipate needing some extra time to file your federal tax return, there’s some good news. You can always file for an extension.

Even for those of us who think we have some knowledge about anything tax related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.

For those who will have to pay money on their tax returns, a big question usually follows once the amount owed is determined: Should I put this tax bill on my credit card?

Even if we think we have some knowledge about anything tax-related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.

Tax season can be a reason to laugh, as these famous TV episodes showed.

Below is a brief look at how the child tax credit will change under the $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden:AGE: Only children under the age of 16 are eligible for the current child tax credit, but the stimulus bill will make most children under the age of 18 eligible. AMOUNT: While the current child tax credit provides $2,000 per child each year, the stimulus bill will boost that to $3,000 for each child ages 6-17 years old; and $3,600 for each child under 6 years old. DISTRIBUTION: Like most credits, the current child tax credit is received as part of your annual filing process and is either applied to your income tax or your refund balance. The other half willLIABILITY: The new version of the child tax credit is expanded to be The new version of the child tax credit is expanded to be fully available to the poorest families , instead of restricting it based on the parents’ tax liability. To read the full text of the child tax credit section of the stimulus bill, refer to page 475 of the full document.

A common aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two or so years has been more employees working remotely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all those people were working from their homes.

Tax season is busier than usual for professional athletes and the people they put in charge of their taxes.

These 10 celebrities found out the hard way not to mess with the IRS.

Are you knee-deep in receipts, 1099 forms and W2s? Or are you all done?

When you hear someone say that he or she is an accountant, do you think of taxes right away?

Ninety percent of Americans will file their taxes online, either using a professional tax preparer or tax software. It’s the only one tested to earn top marks for data privacy, data security, and usability. You can also protect your personal tax information by simply looking for the HTTPS or a little lock at the beginning of a web address. So if either is lost or stolen, your personal data can’t be accessed. Consumer Reports has created a free online security planner to help you secure your devices and accounts.

When it comes to tax write-offs, many people will stretch the limits to see what they can get away with.

It is easy to put off doing your taxes until the last minute. No one likes to deal with the IRS, and sometimes, procrastination happens as a result.

Your job, health, and finances may look a little different in the year of COVID-19, and that doesn’t stop with taxes. “If you work in a high tax state or a state that’s separate from yours now you’ve got two state income tax returns you’re going to have to file,” said Gary Kane, CPA at Kane & Associates. Each state has their own tax laws, which varies by the number of days worked, so check with your advisor. Ad“The tax brackets are like stair steps and so if your income is down, you’ve gone down the stair steps, and you’re paying tax at a lower rate,” said Kane. “That can grow and earn tax free, and you can use that money to pay your medical bills,” said Kane.

There’s one day each year that sticks out to American taxpayers everywhere, and this year is April 18: Tax Day. But to another group of people -- the ones who make quarterly payments -- there are three other times a year to pay up.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee approved a bill Thursday requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax on internet purchases. Florida is one of only two states that don’t require out-of-state retailers to collect the sales tax due from online purchases. He wants any added revenue from the collection of internet sales tax to be offset by tax cuts elsewhere. If they want to do internet sales, what’s the revenue increase? AdFlorida is the only state that collects a sales tax on commercial rent payments.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tax season is here, and with more people filing online than ever before, the risk for identity theft is even greater. According to the IRS, 80% of all Americans file their tax return online. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 100,000 people reported either tax- or employment-related identity theft in 2020. The second is getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). This is not a new tool for the IRS, but the first time anyone can use it -- not just someone who has already been an identity theft victim.

Regardless of whether you’ve paid someone for help or tried to do it on your own, even just gathering all the data you need for filing your federal income taxes can seem daunting.

And if you lost your job, you may actually owe money to the government. Here are the most common questions News4Jax has been asked:Will I owe taxes on my stimulus payments? If you did not receive all of your stimulus money, on your 2020 tax return, you need to request that money under the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 1040 form. AdDo I owe taxes if I received unemployment benefits? The IRS is aware of those who received unemployment money and will expect you to include income on your tax return.

The “lookback” rule allows taxpayers to use either their 2019 or 2020 income, whichever is most beneficial, in order to get the most out of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These are considered the two most valuable tax credits for low- and moderate-income working families. And they are refundable tax credits, which are particularly beneficial because they can reduce the amount of tax someone owes to zero or potentially yield a refund. That is because people need some earned income to claim the credits and money from unemployment benefits is not considered earned income in the eyes of the IRS. The Earned Income Tax Credit is worth $538 to $6,660 depending on income and number of children.

Ron DeSantis is again seeking to hold sales-tax “holidays” for disaster-preparedness supplies and back-to-school shopping as part of economic initiatives included in a proposed $96.6 billion budget released Thursday. In his new budget proposal, DeSantis projected $65 million in savings for Floridians from the two proposed sales-tax holidays. AdDeSantis also asked for a 10-day disaster-preparedness tax holiday before hurricane season, with shoppers able to avoid sales taxes on storm supplies, including generators priced up to $750. DeSantis’ proposed budget also includes $5 million for Enterprise Florida, the state’s business recruitment agency, and $50 million for Visit Florida, its tourism-marketing arm. The Visit Florida funding would be the same as in the current fiscal year.

If you’ve been working from home, you may be wondering if you qualify for a home office tax deduction. The 2020 rate is $5 per square foot with a maximum of 300 square feet. So, if your office is 200 square feet that would be $1,000. Certain businesses, such as day cares, may have different qualifications for a home office deduction. These are complicated tax issues so be sure to check with your own tax advisor.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida in December recorded its best monthly general-revenue collections since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research estimated revenue for December at $336.7 million over a forecast revised in August. What’s more, the $2.999.4 billion in overall revenue was $154.4 million higher than what had been forecast before the pandemic hit. “The December results were above the pre-pandemic estimates for the month by the largest margin seen since the pandemic began,” the revenue report released Tuesday said. Sales tax numbers were up $178.3 million over the revised August forecast.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Voters in at least two dozen Florida counties are being asked to increase taxes on themselves or provide tax breaks for businesses creating jobs. The success of local tax referendums is often tied to how much control citizens have over the use of the funds. There are more than 25 tax referendums in the hands of local voters around the state. In nine counties, school boards are seeking to raise money through penny or half-penny sales taxes, or property tax increases. “So clearly the communities wanted to support their local school districts,” Messina said.

Earlier this week, the IRS announced the 2021 tax year annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax previsions. Those include tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The following are the 2021 tax rates, which will be used when filing taxes in 2022 for the previous year of income. Taxpayers with lower incomes with have lower federal tax rates. Click or tap here to learn about more changes that have come with tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2021.