Early figures suggest Washington State could bring in $849 million in its first year of collecting the state's new capital gains tax. This is significantly more than the $248 million that lawmakers expected to collect. The tax, which was passed in 2021, applies to the sale or exchange of stocks,
The IRS is testing a free tax filing software
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is testing a new free tax filing software program that could make it easier for millions of Americans to file their taxes. The program, called IRS Free File, is a public-private partnership between the IRS and a group of tax preparation companies. IRS Free File
How to get investment funding to grow your business
If you're looking to grow your business faster, you may be wondering how to go about getting investment funding. There are a few different ways. One option is to seek out an angel investor. Angel investors are typically wealthy individuals who are willing to invest in early-stage businesses. They
Property taxes hit a new high in… Bellingham?
The Seattle area has a long history of high property taxes. In recent years, however, the rate of increase in property taxes has accelerated. This is due to a number of factors, including rising home values, new laws that have made it easier for governments to raise taxes, and the impact of the
Margin vs Markup: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to pricing products, no two terms are more often confused than margin and markup. While they are similar, they are two different things. Margin is the amount of money that a business makes on each sale after the cost of goods sold (COGS) has been subtracted. COGS is the cost of the
How to Keep Employees’ Morale Up with a Looming Recession
Sure, you get to be your own boss and set your own hours. But you also have to wear all the hats, from marketing to accounting to customer service. And that's not even counting the challenge of keeping your employees motivated and productive, especially during a recession. A recession is a period
How to Amend a Tax Return
This year's tax season has come to a close -- unless you live in California, in which case you've been granted an automatic 6 month extension due to fires and floods. Of course, there's nothing worse than finishing your taxes and second-guessing what you submitted. If you have made a mistake on
The New 40-Year Mortgage: Is It Right for You?
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved 40-year mortgages in May 2022. This is a significant change from the traditional 30-year mortgage, and it has both pros and cons for potential borrowers. Why was it approved? The FHA approved 40-year mortgages in an effort to make homeownership