If you pay more taxes to the government than you are liable to, you are eligible for a tax refund, for which the government will give you a check for the amount overpaid by you.

Who receives a tax refund?
Any taxpayer who has overpaid the taxes in a particular year will receive a tax refund. In order to receive a refund, it is important to file the income tax return. Depending on the amount you receive in the form of a refund, you can use the same to meet your financial needs. You can determine the amount that needs to be received with the help of a tax refund calculator.

How can you track the refund?
If you are able to track the amount of refund you will be receiving, you can use it in an organized manner. This means you may to need to track the tax documents, receipts, and the forms throughout the year. It is advised to track important papers like property tax forms, student loan interest documents, charitable contributions, and other tax documents that are relevant to your financial life. It is ideal to begin early with tax planning so that you have enough time for tax credits. It also helps if you file the tax returns early. A tax preparer can help you make the most of a situation if you are not proficient with it. If you who do not receive the entire amount of refund, you need not worry. You can amend the tax return within 36 months of the original date of filing.

Where is your refund?
About 90% of the requested refunds are delivered within a period of 21 days of filing. The status of the refund can be tracked and tax filers can opt to receive it via a check, or you can ask for it to be delivered via an electronic transfer. You need to remember that the IRS might keep your refund on hold in case you have outstanding debts like student loan bills. Once you pay those debts, you will get the entire refund. Receiving a refund depends on your financial situation. It also varies from one person to another. You need to check your tax situation and the liability in order to determine whether you will receive the refund.

Once you receive the tax refund, you may use it wisely to improve your current financial situation.

There are a number of forms that are related to the filing of income tax for both individuals and businesses. Any individual, business, or a self-employed individual can use these tax forms for free.

Tax forms based on income
For any individual earning less than $62000, a special software that is offered through a partnership between a number of tax software providers and IRS is available. There are about 13 software providers who offer this free software to taxpayers. Many of them offer free state and federal return preparations as well as electronic filing services.

For individuals earning more than $62000, an electronic version of the paper form is available. However, they might require the assistance of a professional to help them with the same. The free tax forms are offered by Free File, including Form 1040, Form 1040A, as well as Form 1040EZ. Every form is free if the individual has children in college or earns money through the stock market. Similarly, all the forms are free if the individual has Form 1099, Form W-2, or an EIN for the purpose of business.

Filling tax forms
One may understand the step-by-step process of filing income tax returns through the free tax forms. During the peak tax filing season, one can get all their queries answered through the tax software products.

In order to file a tax return, one may begin with gathering all their documents, including the income statement. Business owners need to provide their employees with Form W-2 by the end of January so as to make it easier for them to file their tax returns. If one does not have their form, they may need to contact the employer and ask for the same. Those individuals who are unable to meet the April 18 deadline can use the free forms to submit for an extension. However, there is no extension to make the tax payment. One can only seek for an extension to file the return. Payment will need to be made in due time.

The free tax forms are simple and convenient to use. They make the tax filing process easier and quicker. If one has only salary income, it will be very easy to file returns and professional help would not be required. Understanding how the forms work, one can manage the filing system with ease.

It is never a good idea to settle for a savings account without conducting thorough market research. You may compare the benefits that are offered by different banks and make a decision based on your preferences. It is advisable to choose an account that pays a higher interest so as to make the most of your selection.

Following are the top ten savings accounts you may consider.

Salem Five
This bank offers a savings account which is known for the best yield, which is available at a rate of 2.05% APY.

Customers Bank
The savings account from this bank is also acclaimed for a high yield, which stands at 2.03% APY.

Northpointe Bank
The savings account offered by the bank is one of the 10 best savings accounts due to the high yield rate of 1.95% APY, which has made it ideal for savers. You can also open a savings account online.

Utah First Federal Credit Union
This savings account from this credit union is ideal for credit union customers and it offers a yield of 2% APY.

CIBC Bank USA
This bank offers a savings account with a competitive yield, which stands at 1.90% APY.

Citizens Access
With a 2% APY, the savings account from Citizen Access is one of the 10 best savings account based on the yield.

Radius Bank
The savings account offered by Radius Bank offers a yield of 1.86% APY.

PurePoint Financial
With an APY of 1.90%, the savings account offered by PurePoint Financial is known for a high yield and you can easily access the account across different devices.

Incredible Bank
The savings account offered by this bank has a high yield of 1.88% and has no monthly maintenance fees as well. This is one of the many reasons consumers prefer this savings account from Incredible Bank.

Popular Direct
Popular Direct is also a well-known bank that offers savings account has a high yield of 1.88% APY.

If you are seeking a high yield from your account, you may compare the best accounts based on the APY and choose the one with the highest yield. If you are seeking convenience and no maintenance fees, you can explore a little more for the banks that offer the same. There are endless options for you to choose from. You may base the decision on how easy it is to withdraw or deposit funds, or on how much will your money grow over a period of time.

With an increasing number of medical plans available today, it could become confusing to make a choice. Medicare Advantage Plans will give you coverage, very similar to Medicare, for your medical expenses. In a lot of cases, you will be required to get rid of the Medicare basic plan in order to be enrolled with a Medicare Advantage plan.

When choosing Medicare Advantage Plans for 2018, you need to keep in mind that those facilities which are not a part of the network would also be covered. In case of an emergency, you will have to go to that particular facility only in order to be fully covered. Therefore, it is best to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan which is available in your area so that it adds to your convenience.

What do Advantage Plans do?
The Medicare Advantage Plan provides you with additional benefits that other Medicare plans fail to offer. It offers you an extensive coverage which looks after different aspects of your medical expenses. The plan will cover you for emergency care, prescription drugs, and a lot more.

If this is your first plan, you should start with the AARP Medicare Advantage Plan for 2018. It has a strong reputation for excellent service and is highly preferred by many. The Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan is also a popular choice among people who end up spending a lot on healthcare-related costs. This is because the plan covers various medical costs and emergency costs, which if you pay from your pocket, maybe a huge sum.

However, before you invest in a plan, you need to know the coverage and the type of service the plan offers. Even two identical plans may have different methods of coverage. Remember, you will not always get the coverage which you might want if you visit a hospital which is not a part of the network of the insurance company. You will only be able to enjoy the full facilities if you visit the network hospital.

There are different network plans you may choose from. Every plan will come with certain variations, but the clause about network location remains the same. In case of emergency, if you are admitted to an off-network hospital, you will receive some coverage, but not a complete coverage as per the plan. You can also look and research for Medicare Advantage plans of 2017. You must compare the costs and benefits of different plans before making a decision.

Most individuals are covered under the original Medicare policy. However, they are not aware of the fact that Medicare does not cover dental expenses. It does not provide for dental care, supplies, dental procedures like cleaning, fillings, dentures, tooth extractions, dental plates, or any other devices. If you get admitted to a hospital, Medicare Part A will pay a certain amount for the same only if you have emergency dental procedures.

Oral health must not be ignored. If you need a dental procedure, you may end up paying a huge amount from your pocket in the absence of a dental insurance plan. Therefore, it is best to invest in dental insurance plans so as to maintain the best dental health and hygiene economically. Dental insurance plans are available from private insurance companies and offer varied coverage. The cost of the same will also vary according to the plan.

Advantages of a dental insurance policy
The benefits of availing a dental plan include the following:

• Gives access to an extensive network of thousands of dentists in the state and across the country
• Includes regular teeth cleaning and X-rays
• Provides an oral cancer screening which is covered by dentists in the network

Most plans do not have a waiting period, but this varies from state to state and plan to plan. The coverage will include a range of services and procedures which will improve your oral health.

What to look for in a dental insurance plan
Even if you have a Medicare plan, it is best to purchase a dental insurance. You can compare different plans and choose the one based on your requirements. Some of the prerequisites of a good plan are as follows:

• Ensure the insurance provider you go for has a range of network hospitals within your area.
• Go for a policy that has no waiting period or a minimum waiting period to avail basic services, dental check-ups, and teeth cleaning sessions.
• Check if the policy includes an array of dental services such as oral surgery, endodontics, and prosthetics.

The cost of treatment and expenses will be covered under the dental insurance plan and you will not have to bear the expenses on your own. It is advisable for seniors as well to purchase this plan. The supplement plan is designed to provide an additional coverage to the original health insurance plan.

Working class citizens need to file their tax returns each financial year. However, citizens need not shoulder a tax burden as they have the right to claim certain deductions or exemptions. This can prove to be a relief. On an average, a citizen’s income tax rate ranges anywhere between 10% and 39.6%.

Need for an online tax calculator
Besides personal income tax, the other forms of payments that citizens could be required to make are generally state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and indirect taxes. As a result, calculating taxes manually may prove to be a tedious task for someone who is not used to making such calculations. This is where an online tax calculator comes to your rescue.

There are a plethora of options available for tax calculators online to precisely solve this problem. Using it is a pretty simple process and a much valuable one since eventually, it will determine a detailed analysis of the payments to be made and how much a person stands to take home on an annual or even a monthly basis for that matter.

How to use an online tax calculator
To use the calculator, start by filling in your gross income or salary. After this is the “filing status” since you have the option to file your taxes along with your partner if you are married. Different state governments tend to charge different tax rates. The next option is based on this to lend more precision to the tax amount. The calculator will also ask the number of dependents you have which could be in the form of children, spouse, or aged parents. Lastly, all monthly deductions or the contributions you make in different funds such as a retirement plan or to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) costs need to be added as well.

With all standard deductions implied and depending on the government’s tax brackets imposed, an online tax calculator helps you to determine your net income and plan for the long-term, besides calculating your tax liabilities.

An online tax calculator will help you efficiently calculate your taxes.

If you think you are eligible for a federal grant to meet your tuition fees, you need to be aware of the method of application for the same. The eligibility criteria for a grant may vary from time-to-time and you need to check whether you are eligible for one. If you are and if you wish to apply for grants, there is a specific procedure you will be required to follow. Grants are basically financial aid which you do not need to repay.

How to apply for a grant
To apply for a free grant, the first step is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. You will need to fill this form every year so as to remain eligible for the grant. The form will require you to fill out some information about your income, your parent’s income, and your assets so as to determine your financial condition and your ability to pay the tuition fees. Once you fill the form, you need to work with the college you are applying to. Apply for grants at the college of your choice, and you will get an insight into the amount you will receive and the time period within which you will receive the money.

Writing a grant proposal
The grant proposal will decide whether you will receive the grant or not. Therefore, it is important to write an excellent proposal to the one funding your education. The grantmaker should be convinced with your requirement for funds.

• Begin with identifying a need and state the same in the letter.
• Follow the same by explaining what you look to achieve from the grant.
• Focus on the end results and be very clear about the purpose of pursuing a particular degree or a course of education.
• Make sure you clearly describe your current financial situation and your inability to pay the fees.

The grantmaker will then look into additional documents which you may have to attach as proof. They will scrutinize your application and documents before a decision is taken. You need to keep in mind that the grant maker receives numerous applications every year, and therefore, they take time and research well before they give a grant to a student. So, if you wish to apply for free government grants, the foremost thing you need to learn is to write a convincing grant proposal.