These bonds are non-marketable, meaning that they cannot be bought or sold on a secondary market. I Bond Taxation Basics Before getting into the special exemptions, here are the basics of I bond taxation: Series I savings bonds are not subject to state or local taxes. When you invest in Series I savings bonds, you won’t pay state or local taxes on the interest income you earn. That means that more money ends up in your pocket at the end of every year than if you were to own an ordinary bond....

In this article, you’ll find out about how to pay yourself, how you must pay taxes on your business income, and how you can save money on your business taxes by deducting business expenses. What Is an Independent Contractor? An independent contractor (IC) is simply someone who works for someone else but not as an employee. An employee is someone who works for a business, and the business controls what will be done and how it will be done....

A nexus must exist before a taxing authority can impose a tax on the enterprise, and it requires that there be a substantial link between the jurisdiction and the business. The concept of a nexus has become a complicated issue with the advent of online sales businesses that serve numerous states and countries. Learn more about what it means for you. What Is a Tax Nexus? The term “nexus” is used in tax law to describe a situation in which a business has a tax presence in a particular state....

Learn more about credit bureaus and why they are so important in our financial lives. What Is a Credit Bureau? Credit bureaus, also called “credit reporting agencies” (CRAs), are companies that collect and maintain consumer credit information. The three major CRAs in the U.S. are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each is a publicly traded, for-profit company. While there are other smaller agencies, creditors and lenders are most likely to check your credit with one of the major CRAs....

Enter the humble file cabinet. While these silent office heroes have been around forever, they’ve changed relatively little over time simply because they really don’t need to. Sure, simple design elements may have changed, casters have been added for mobility, and locks have been added for security, but the basic foundation of the design remains the same—a cabinet with large drawers you can pull out for easy access. Office storage solutions can’t get any easier....

What Is a Joint Venture? A joint venture is a strategic alliance where two or more people or companies agree to contribute goods, services and/or capital to a common commercial enterprise. The contributions can include resources such as capital, labor, or assets, skill or expertise such as experience and knowledge. Joint Venture Advantages By teaming up with other people or businesses in a joint venture, you can: Extend your marketing reach Access needed information, resources, and skill sets Build credibility with a particular target market Access new markets that would be inaccessible without the partner Access technical expertise and know-how that your company may be lacking Access intellectual property that would otherwise be out of your reach Access new revenue streams Share risks and expenses...

To find out, The Balance collected data on home prices, closing costs, interest rates, and other expenses associated with buying residential real estate. We then settled on two figures. The first is total cost at the outset of homeownership, including expenses such as the down payment and closing costs. We combined that data with regional income data in 21 of the largest U.S. metro areas to measure affordability (The Balance’s Home Affordability Index)....

While the CPI isn’t the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the number still shows that price growth on goods and services has slowed, making it more likely that the central bank will be a little more moderate in its rate hike decision. Anyone looking for a loan will likely welcome a smaller rate hike, since it means interest rates on mortgages, credit card debt, and more won’t go as high as they would have with another jumbo-sized hike of 75 basis points....

Existing homes aren’t faring much better, as high interest rates drive mortgages higher and discourage people from buying new homes. Fewer buyers has led to some reluctance from homeowners to list their properties. According to a report released today from the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales fell 7.7% in November and the total number of homes available for purchase were down 6.6%, remaining near historic lows. As a result of fewer options and a decline in affordability, the Mortgage Bankers Association said today that applications to purchase a home were down once again last week....

When foreign companies register with the SEC, you’re able to use the financial reports they file as sources of information alongside reputable analyst reports and data from company websites to help you determine whether an international investment is right for your portfolio. SEC Filings The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires all publicly traded U.S. companies to report their financial information. Foreign companies traded in the U.S. also have to make yearly filings that contain the same content if they’re listed on U....

The good news is that education doesn’t always have to come in the form of a four-year degree. Many high-paying, fast-growing jobs are accessible to workers with an associate degree, post-secondary award, certification, or apprenticeship. Investing in trade school could be the best possible move for your career. These are the highest paying trade-school jobs with a solid occupational outlook. Elevator and Escalator Installer/Repairer Elevator mechanics, installers, and repairers have a good occupational outlook and high earning potential....

When refinancing, you use money from a new loan to pay off an existing loan. You will have to go through a loan-approval process again. But for many homeowners, this process is worthwhile. Let’s take a look at when refinancing your mortgage makes sense, how to prepare yourself for it, and what steps you’ll need to take. When To Refinance Your Mortgage There are plenty of times when it can make sense to refinance your mortgage....

If you’re thinking about getting a credit card—or wondering whether to drop your credit card—understanding the dangers that come along with credit cards can help you cultivate better credit card habits. There are ways to use credit cards responsibly and avoid the traps that so many consumers risk falling into each day. The Temptation to Overspend Studies show that consumers spend more when they pay with credit cards than when they pay with cash....

Similarities Between ETFs and Mutual Funds An exchange-traded fund is much like a regular mutual fund in that when you buy a share of an exchange-traded fund, each share represents a tiny slice of all of the funds’ underlying investments, allowing you to diversify across a pre-determined set of stocks or bonds by owning one single fund. Most exchange-traded funds function like index funds. For example, let’s say you buy an S&P 500 Index ETF; that fund will own all 500 stocks listed in the S&P 500 index....

An understanding of civil litigation is crucial for any business owner. It is also necessary if you are an individual who has decided to take someone to court or who has been taken to court. In a business civil litigation, the two parties are the plaintiff, who files the lawsuit, and the defendant, the person the lawsuit is against. Getting an Attorney Both the plaintiff and defendant typically have attorneys....

For example, if a company owes interest on its long-term loans or mortgages, the TIE can measure how easily the company can come up with the money to pay the interest on that debt. In some respects, the times interest earned ratio is considered a solvency ratio. Since interest and debt service payments are usually made on a long-term basis, they are often treated as an ongoing, fixed expense. As with most fixed expenses, if the company is unable to make the payments, it could go bankrupt, terminating operations....

courtneyk / Getty Images On the other hand, some people do need to sell over the holidays, and some buyers have no alternative but to buy a home during the winter. Whether it’s best to keep your home on the market will come down to personal preference, but there are some benefits and drawbacks to consider as you make your decision. Housing Market Trends During the Holidays Historically, home sales fall in the winter months....

The average rate offered to homebuyers using a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage edged down to 3.85% from 3.87% the previous business day, backing further away from last week’s 3.95%, the highest we’d seen since 2020. The average for a 15-year fixed mortgage stayed at 2.97%, continuing to hover below the 3.07% seen last week, also a high point since 2020. Rates on most other major types of home loans fell or held steady....

The average rate offered for a 30-year conventional fixed mortgage stepped up to 6.40% from 6.32% the previous business day. The 15-year rate also rose, moving up to 5.48% from 5.36% the previous business day. Our mortgage rate data only dates back to 2020, but if other measures are any indication, both rates are near their highest levels in over a decade. Fixed mortgage rates tend to track the direction of 10-year Treasury yields, which usually rise with heightened inflation fears (and fall when those fears subside)....

The average rate offered for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.74% from 5.97% the previous business day. Last month it reached 6.19%, its highest point since at least 2019, and likely much farther back. (Our daily mortgage rate data only goes back to April 2021, but our data on yearly highs and lows date back to 2020, so we know rates weren’t higher in 2020, and if other measures are any indicator, may have hit their highest point in over a decade....