What Jane Says: Taxes

Are you planning on filing your last-minute tax returns electronically? Make sure that a crook isn’t secretly looking over your shoulder while you’re online. “The bad guys are always surfing for mistakes,” says Fred Touchette, senior security analyst for AppRiver, an Internet security company. “The weakest link in computer security is usually the individual user.”
The [...]

Modern divorce is not about who was the meanest or who slept where. It’s about the money. Both spouse’s income and assets are – or should be – on the table. But couples don’t always know a lot about each other’s finances, or where to look. They might not even realize how much less they’re [...]

Having trouble paying taxes? To collect, the Internal Revenue Service uses a pernicious tactic that destroys your credit. It files a lien against your property. Supposedly, that guarantees payment. More likely, it will sink your personal finances, making it twice as hard for you to get back on your feet.
Under new rules announced by the [...]

While you’re mining this year’s tax instructions for savings on deductions and credits, don’t forget the special rules that come with your marital status. The so-called “marriage penalty” affects only couples with roughly equal incomes that year. The majority gets an Ozzie-and-Harriet ”marriage bonus.” Here’s a quick guide to the tax quirks [...]

What’s one of the country’s top New Year’s resolutions? “Get my personal finances on track.” It competes with “Lose five pounds” and way outdoes “Spend more time with family and friends.” If you get control of your money, you might even find it easier to control other niggling issues (like that extra Christmas weight). Here [...]

Have Jane Speak

"In the five years I have been with the organization, I have never before seen the audience give any speaker a standing ovation." — Ceramic Tile
Distributors Association
learn more

Jane’s Book Club

Jane’s Bio

Jane Bryant Quinn is a nationally known commentator on personal finance, with books and columns read and trusted by millions.
learn more