taxes

For all the recent attention bestowed on Democratic Party progressives, there's new evidence so-called centrists aren't going to just fade away.

Not with former Vice President Joe Biden taking a commanding early lead over the many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls running to his left. National polls released Tuesday cast Biden well ahead of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and others vying for the party's nomination.

Monday was the deadline for Americans to file their 2018 tax returns, and it was also a day for many to commiserate about paying those taxes, particularly as changes to the tax code are now being realized.

Connecticut's unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. The state has stockpiled $1.2 billion in its budget reserve fund. But it's still not in a position to go on anything resembling a spending spree.

Not with state Comptroller Kevin Lembo warning lawmakers against counting on a repeat of last year's spike in tax collections. Job gains in 2018 also were not nearly as robust as initially reported. And no one can rule out the possibility of an economic downturn lurking around the corner.

Do you have credit card debt hanging over your head? Or maybe you've been thinking you should start saving for retirement, but you aren’t sure how to pay for it?

This hour we sit down with NPR correspondent Chris Arnold, who covers personal finance and consumer protection. NPR’s new family of podcasts, Life Kit, gives listeners practical tips for navigating life challenges from parenting to healthy eating. Arnold hosts Life Kit’s podcasts about money. They are all about figuring out how to get your finances in order in a fun and approachable way.

It's been nearly two months since Ned Lamont was sworn in as Connecticut's 89th governor. 

Elements of his budget proposal, released last month, are being opposed by many segments of the state's population.

Governor Ned Lamont has said he is open to negotiating almost everything in his budget proposal. Well, it seems like lots of people are going to take him up on his offer.

State legislators on opposite sides of the political spectrum are panning Lamont's plan to raise roughly $500 million a year by expanding the goods and services subject to the state's sales tax.

Some more good news for Connecticut homeowners who are struggling with crumbling foundations -- many will now be able to deduct the cost of repairs from their federal taxes over the next two decades. 

Employment and health care top the list of issues concerning Connecticut voters, according to a recent poll.

Connecticut is suing the federal government over Republican tax cuts. The $1.5 trillion cuts were signed by President Donald Trump in December and included a cap on federal deductions for state and local tax, or SALT.

Legislative leaders say they may consider a special session to look at potential problems with the state’s tax incentive programs for businesses. An audit of economic development incentives administered by state officials has found inaccuracies in both the level of tax credits and the amount of job creation achieved by the companies that benefited. 

The deadline to file federal income taxes is Tuesday. Many filers will use a paid preparation service on top of having to pay their taxes. But if you qualify for something the IRS calls the “Volunteer Income Tax Assistance” program or VITA, you can get them done for free.

The IRS has clarified that Connecticut homeowners who have already incurred expenses to repair crumbling foundations will be able to deduct existing losses from their federal taxes. 

State residents whose homes have crumbling foundations are among those who'll be out of luck under the new federal tax overhaul.