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Ellen Chang

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About

Ellen Chang is a freelance journalist who is based in Houston and writes articles for U.S. News & World Report. Chang previously covered investing, retirement and personal finance for TheStreet. She focuses her articles on stocks, personal finance, energy and cybersecurity. Her byline has appeared in national business publications, including USA Today, CBS News, Yahoo Finance MSN Money, Bankrate, Kiplinger and Fox Business. She is a proud graduate of Purdue University and a lover of random acts of kindness, volunteering and cats and dogs. Follow her on Twitter at @ellenychang and Instagram at @ellenyinchang.

  • How To Find The Best Tax Preparer or CPA

    If you have complicated taxes (say, you’re self-employed, or you have rental properties) or even if you simply hate doing your own taxes, finding a good tax preparer can be a huge help and relieve a lot of stress. A...
    How To Find The Best Tax Preparer or CPA

  • How To File Your Taxes For Free in 2024

    If you meet certain requirements, there are many ways to file your taxes for free. Taxpayers, particularly those with low to modest incomes or simple tax filings, can file for free using online software programs, or receive direct help from...
    How To File Your Taxes For Free in 2024

  • Do I Have To File A Tax Return?

    You may have no reason to worry about getting your taxes done on time—because you may not need to file a 2023 tax return at all. That may be the case if you didn’t earn enough money, relied mostly on...
    Do I Have To File A Tax Return?

  • When Will Inflation Go Down?

    Record levels of inflation continue to batter consumers, as everything from rent to hospital services continue to climb. So many are anxiously asking: When will inflation start to go down? A major break in the clouds came in early January...
    When Will Inflation Go Down?

  • How To File An Amended Tax Return

    It’s not uncommon to make a mistake on your federal tax return or leave out important information such as a tax deduction or credit that you’re entitled to. When that happens, the IRS has a process that gives you a...
    How To File An Amended Tax Return

  • What Is The First-Time Homebuyer Credit And Why Doesn’t It Exist Anymore?

    A tax credit for first-time homebuyers was launched in 2008 after the Great Recession caused the housing market to crash. Unfortunately, the credit isn’t available any more. It expired a decade ago under the terms of the legislation that created...
    What Is The First-Time Homebuyer Credit And Why Doesn’t It Exist Anymore?

  • 15 Common Tax Write-Offs You Can Claim On Your Next Return

    Taxpayers can take advantage of numerous deductions and credits on their taxes each year that can help them pay a lower amount of taxes—or receive a refund from the IRS. You may be able to claim the following 15 common...
    15 Common Tax Write-Offs You Can Claim On Your Next Return

  • Trademark Vs. Copyright Vs. Patent: What’s The Difference?

    Entrepreneurs who own a trademark, copyright or patent for a product or technology have an advantage over their competitors. But the process for obtaining these intellectual property protections can be long and complicated. Before you start the process, it is...
    Trademark Vs. Copyright Vs. Patent: What’s The Difference?

  • The Child And Dependent Care Credit Is Worth Up to $8,000 This Tax Season

    This tax season, an often overlooked tax credit could put up to $8,000 back in families’ pockets. Thanks to a temporary change codified in the American Rescue Plan, parents or guardians can now claim a maximum credit of $4,000 (50%...
    The Child And Dependent Care Credit Is Worth Up to $8,000 This Tax Season

  • Why Your IRS Refund Is Late This Year

    The IRS is swamped. As it struggles to manage processing issues due to the pandemic and last-minute changes from the latest tax credits approved by the Biden administration, there’s one painful consequence for many Americans: a potential delay in receiving...
    Why Your IRS Refund Is Late This Year

  • Making Health Insurance Cheaper For Millions Of Americans: President Biden’s Affordable Care Act Reforms

    Millions of Americans will temporarily have access to health insurance coverage at a lower cost due to the first wide-ranging expansion of the Affordable Care Act. The subsidies for health insurance are part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA),...
    Making Health Insurance Cheaper For Millions Of Americans: President Biden’s Affordable Care Act Reforms

  • How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?

    If you’re like many Americans, you may have tax returns from a decade ago languishing in a filing cabinet. But you don’t need to hold on to tax documents for as long as you might think. In almost all cases,...
    How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?

About

Ellen Chang is a freelance journalist who is based in Houston and writes articles for U.S. News & World Report. Chang previously covered investing, retirement and personal finance for TheStreet. She focuses her articles on stocks, personal finance, energy and cybersecurity. Her byline has appeared in national business publications, including USA Today, CBS News, Yahoo Finance MSN Money, Bankrate, Kiplinger and Fox Business. She is a proud graduate of Purdue University and a lover of random acts of kindness, volunteering and cats and dogs. Follow her on Twitter at @ellenychang and Instagram at @ellenyinchang.