By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. What is IRS Direct File? The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. Who qualifies for IRS Direct File? The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. Income limits For the 2025 tax season: Types of income To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. Tax deductions You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. Tax credits The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. Which states offer IRS Direct File? More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: What if you’re not eligible to use Direct File? If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The boss of the company behind global fashion chain Uniqlo has told the BBC that the Japanese firm does not use cotton from the Xinjiang region of China in its products. It is the first time Fast Retailing's chief executive Tadashi Yanai has directly addressed the contentious issue. China is a crucial market for Uniqlo not just for customers but also as a major manufacturing hub. Xinjiang cotton was once known as some of the best fabric in the world. But it has fallen out of favour after revelations that it is produced using forced labour by people from the Muslim Uyghur minority . In 2022, tough US regulations on the import of goods from Xinjiang came into effect. Many global brands removed products using Xinjiang cotton from their shelves, which led to fierce backlash in China. Brands such as H&M, Nike, Burberry, Esprit and Adidas were boycotted. Sweden's H&M saw its clothing pulled from major e-commerce stores in China. At the time, Mr Yanai - who is Japan's richest man - refused to confirm or deny whether Xinjiang cotton was used in Uniqlo clothing, saying he wanted "to be neutral between the US and China" . His decision not to take a side helped Uniqlo to remain popular in China's huge retail market. But speaking to the BBC in Tokyo about the firm's measures to be more transparent about where the materials in its clothes come from and how they are made, he said: "We’re not using [cotton from Xinjiang]." "By mentioning which cotton we’re using..." he continued, before pausing and ending his answer with "Actually, it gets too political if I say anymore so let's stop here". Isaac Stone Fish, the chief executive and founder of Strategy Risks, a business intelligence firm with a China focus highlights the pressures on firms from both China and the US. "Not a single large company can remain politically neutral anymore," he says. "Both Beijing and Washington want companies to choose sides, and Tokyo will continue to lean closer to the United States in this matter." Even though Uniqlo has been expanding aggressively in Europe and the US, in Mr Yanai's own words, "we are not a known brand globally" and Asia is still its biggest market. The company has more stores in China than in its home country Japan, and Mr Yanai says he does not plan to change that strategy despite challenges in the world's second biggest economy . “There are 1.4 billion people in China and we only have 900 to 1,000 stores," he says. "I think we can increase that to 3,000.” Meanwhile, China is Uniqlo's single biggest manufacturing hub. The company also makes clothes in countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. In 2009, when 80% of its products were made in China , Mr Yanai told the BBC that China was getting too expensive and the firm was shifting production away "to lower-wage Cambodia to keep prices low". He now says it was challenging to repeat China's success as the world's factory in other countries as transferring years of experience proved difficult. Retailers like Uniqlo are also facing intense competition from ultra-fast fashion as brands like China's Shein and Temu gain popularity with price-conscious customers. But Mr Yanai says “I don’t think there’s a future for fast fashion". "They’re producing clothes without any careful consideration which you only wear for one season. That is a waste of the planet’s resources." He adds that Uniqlo's strategy is to focus on essential items that can be worn for years. In the 40 years that he has been in charge of the firm, Mr Yanai has grown the business he inherited from his father from a company with annual sales of around 100 million yen ($656,700; £522,400) to a global chain with 3 trillion yen of revenues this year. The 75-year-old says he aims to overtake Inditex, which owns the global chain Zara, as the world's biggest fashion retailer before he retires. But to achieve that, Uniqlo needs to expand not just in China but also in the West, where shoppers are increasingly conscious of human rights issues such as forced labour. Mr Yanai's ambitions may also face more hurdles as Donald Trump returns to the White House on a pledge to impose much higher tariffs on Chinese-made goods .‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’ season 7: Stream new episode on MTV for free tonight
Israeli strikes without warning in central Beirut kill at least 15 as diplomats push for cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 15 people and injured dozens in central Beirut as the once-rare strikes in the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without Israeli warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but describe the disputed issues that remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli bombardment has killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Voters rejected historic election reforms across the US, despite more than $100M push JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Election reform advocates had hoped for a big year at the ballot box. That's because a historic number of states were considering initiatives for ranked choice voting or to end partisan primaries. Instead, voters dealt them big losses in the November elections. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota all rejected proposed changes to their voting systems. In Alaska, a proposal to repeal ranked choice voting appears to have narrowly fallen short. The losses in many states came even though election reform supporters raised more than $100 million, easily outpacing opponents. Supporters say they aren't giving up but plan to retool their efforts. The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war. It began with U.S. President Joe Biden reversing a longstanding policy by granting Kyiv permission to deploy American longer-range missiles inside Russian territory and ended with Moscow striking Ukraine with a new experimental ballistic weapon that has alarmed the international community and heightened fears of further escalation. Storm dumps record rain in Northern California, while US Northeast deals with winter storms HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — A major storm continues to drop heavy snow and record rain in California, causing small landslides and flooding some streets. Meanwhile on the opposite coast blizzard or winter storm warnings were in effect Saturday for areas spanning from the Northeast to central Appalachia. The storm on the West Coast arrived in the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, before moving through Northern California. Forecasters predicted that both coasts would begin to see a reprieve from the storms as the system in the northeast moves into eastern Canada and the one in the West heads south. Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not see robust results with the new medications. The response to the drugs varies from person to person and can depend on genetics, hormones and differences in how the brain regulates energy. Undiagnosed medical conditions and some drugs can prevent weight loss. Experts say it can take experimentation to help so-called nonresponders find results. Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A senior Pakistani police officer says fighting between armed sectarian groups in the country's restive northwest has killed at least 37 people. The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people. The officer said Saturday that armed men torched shops, houses and government property overnight. Gunfire is ongoing between rival tribes. Although Sunnis and Shiites generally live together peacefully in Pakistan, tensions remain in some areas, especially Kurram. These Peruvian women left the Amazon, but their homeland still inspires their songs and crafts LIMA, Peru (AP) — Many Shipibo-Konibo craftswomen migrated from their Indigenous communities in the Amazon to Peru's capital, Lima, in the past few decades. Their ancestors' legacy remains present through their songs and techniques, and some of them have managed to make a living out of their crafts. Textiles, jewelry and paintings convey the culture, worldview and beliefs from the lands where they were born. Doctor at the heart of Turkey's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies says he was a “trusted” physician. Dr. Firat Sari is one of 47 people on trial accused of transferring newborn babies to neonatal units of private hospitals, where they were allegedly kept for prolonged and sometimes unnecessary treatments in order to receive social security payments. Sari said patients were referred to him because people trusted him and he did not bribe anyone involved with Turkey’s emergency medical phone line. Sari, said to be the plot’s ringleader, faces up to 583 years in prison. Hydrate. Make lists. Leave yourself time. And other tips for reducing holiday travel stress Travel, especially during the holiday season, can be stressful. But following some tips from the pros as you prepare for a trip can make for a smoother, less anxious experience. One expert traveler suggests making a list a week before you go of things you need to do and pack. Cross off each item as you complete it during the week. Another tip is to carry your comfort zone with you. That could mean noise-canceling headphones, playlists meant to soothe airport travelers, entertainment and snacks from home. Carry a change of clothes and a phone charger in case of delays. Stay hydrated. Leave extra time. And know your airline's rules. Downloading the airline's app can help with that.
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As the gaming world is rapidly changing, high-performance laptops have emerged as a necessity for gamers while preserving portability and power. However, immenseness in processing comes along with a big challenge - cooling. In gaming laptops 2024, advanced cooling comes into play to meet the demands of those gamers who push their limits to the very end. Let’s see how these innovations are changing the face of gaming and why this should be interesting to every serious gamer. Gaming laptops are generally designed for very high-end CPUs and GPUs to have fluid gameplay at ultra-high settings. These are sources of much heat during extended usage, which if not well managed, may lead to performance throttling, the reduction in the lifespan of the hardware, and eventually system failures. Maintain Optimal Performance: Prevent thermal throttling by keeping temperatures within a safe range. Enhance Durability: Protect internal components from overheating and wear. Improve Comfort: Ensure laptops remain comfortable to use, even during long gaming sessions. Here are 8 gaming laptops that excel in cooling technology, ensuring top-notch performance and durability: Features liquid metal thermal paste and a vapor chamber design for efficient heat dissipation. Incorporates Cryo-Tech cooling technology and AI-optimized fan systems for quiet and effective thermal management. Utilizes a quad-fan setup and a vapor chamber to keep its powerful components cool. Equipped with 5th-generation AeroBlade 3D fans for enhanced airflow and quieter operation. Combines a sleek design with a custom vapor chamber and high-performance fans. Features ColdFront 5.0 cooling technology with improved air intake and liquid metal thermal paste. Uses Omen Tempest cooling with three-sided venting and five-way airflow for efficient heat management. Includes a Windforce Infinity cooling system with dual fans and multiple heat pipes for sustained gaming performance. Liquid metal is a game-changer for heat transfer. Unlike traditional thermal pastes, liquid metal conducts heat much more efficiently, keeping CPUs and GPUs cool under intense loads. Many high-end gaming laptops now feature vapor chambers, which offer superior heat dissipation compared to traditional heat pipes. This design allows for even heat distribution across the laptop’s chassis. It adjusts the fan speeds according to dynamic user behavior with Artificial Intelligence, respectively optimizes power usage, and predicts all kinds of thermal patterns. Laptops like the ASUS ROG series are introducing innovative airflow solutions, such as raising the rear of the laptop to improve ventilation or using multi-fan setups that efficiently expel heat from the system. Some manufacturers are now offering external liquid cooling docks that connect to laptops, providing desktop-grade cooling for portable machines. Bulk and Weight: Advanced cooling systems usually add to the size and weight of laptops, making them less portable. Cost: Revolutionary cooling can inflate the gaming laptop's price. Noisy Levels: Some fans start making noise at full operating speed, reducing immersion for gamers. Looking ahead, manufacturers are exploring technologies such as graphene-based cooling solutions and sub-ambient cooling systems that could revolutionize laptop thermals. The integration of liquid cooling directly into laptop designs without external docks also seems imminent. Advanced cooling systems will set courses for gaming laptops with unmatched performance, reliability, and lifespan. The manufacturers have made tremendous leaps in thermal innovation over the years and 2024 is probably a break-out year for portable gaming on the whole.
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AP News Summary at 11:11 a.m. ESTWorld No.1 Jannik Sinner ended his amazing season in a calm and confident way on Sunday in Malaga. The World No. 1 beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2), 6-2 to secure Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title. After the match, Italian captain Filippo Volandri lifted Sinner in celebration. Sinner then shared an emotional hug with Matteo Berrettini . This year was special for Berrettini, as he played a key role in the team’s success. Last year, he could only watch from the sidelines as Italy won. This time, he was on the court, helping Italy claim their third Davis Cup trophy . Earlier in the final, Berrettini defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2 to give Italy a 1-0 lead. After a tight start, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist dominated, winning nine of the last 11 games. He continued his unbeaten record against Van de Zandschulp, making it 5-0. A long, meaningful hug between Jannik Sinner & Matteo Berrettini after Italy wins Davis Cup for the 2nd year in a row. All the emotions from Matteo. He’s fought so hard these last few years just to set foot on a tennis court again. Heartwarming. pic.twitter.com/Ay3261dryC Italy’s win marked their third Davis Cup title and their second in a row. They are the first team to defend the title since Czechia in 2013. This victory came just days after Italy’s women’s team, led by Jasmine Paolini, won the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga. It has been a fantastic year for Italian tennis. Jannik Sinner joins Roger Federer in an elite list after Davis Cup win Jannik Sinner achieved something remarkable on Sunday (November 24). He became only the second male player in the Open Era, after Roger Federer in 2005, to avoid losing a match in straight sets all season. Serena Williams also managed this feat in 2013. In every match he played in 2024, Sinner won at least one set. He played 79 matches this season, including two at the Davis Cup, and finished with a 73-6 record. On Sunday, he helped Italy win their second consecutive Davis Cup title by defeating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6, 6-2 in the final. It was a fitting end to his best season yet. The 23-year-old ended the year as World No. 1. He won eight ATP titles, including his first two Grand Slams at the Australian Open and US Open. He also claimed the ATP Finals trophy just a week earlier. Sinner won more matches and titles than any other male player in 2024. His incredible season has firmly established him as one of the brightest stars in tennis. This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.
