A tax refund is money the government returns to you because you paid more in taxes than you owe during a tax year. This often occurs due to employer withholding, tax credits, or deductions. While many people view tax refunds as a financial windfall, they are actually a repayment of an interest-free loan made to the government. This article discusses how tax refunds work, strategies for maximizing them, and how to use them wisely. Overview Of How The IRS Tax Refund Works The U.S. tax system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. Employers deduct taxes from employees’ paychecks throughout the year…

The Potential Impact Of Musk’s Proposed $5,000 DOGE Dividend Checks On American Households Elon Musk recently indicated potential interest in a $5,000 stimulus check payout to American taxpayers, termed the DOGE Dividend check. On Wednesday, President Trump added his support to the potential DOGE refund saying, “there’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20 percent of the DOGE savings to American citizens. The numbers are incredible, Elon, so many millions, billions, hundreds of billions.” To understand its potential impact of a DOGE Dividend on Americans, we can compare the proposed amount to typical tax refunds and previous…

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction blocking the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan earlier this week, and even expanded it to include other repayment plans like REPAYE. In the opinion written by the court, it was argued that the Department of Education does not have the authority to make rules granting loan forgiveness beyond what Congress explicitly authorized. The result for borrowers is that the SAVE Plan will remain blocked, along with loan forgiveness under PAYE, REPAYE, and ICR. For borrowers in the SAVE forbearance, that will continue until everything is resolved. In the longer…

How Big Would A Potential Trump DOGE Dividend Be? The latest proposal making the rounds in Washington is the Trump DOGE Dividend, a creative idea designed to funnel a portion of projected federal savings into direct payments for American households. Originally introduced by James Fishback, the plan envisions channeling 20% of the savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency directly back to the public. On Wednesday, President Trump added his support to the concept, underscoring the potential of this initiative as both a policy tool and a powerful branding statement. An open question remains about how big a potential…

Student Loan Forgiveness: States Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands For years, the debate over student loan forgiveness has focused on sweeping federal proposals—big, one-size-fits-all plans that promise broad relief but often stall in political gridlock. Now, some states are taking a different approach: localized, targeted programs to solve workforce shortages while easing student debt. From Georgia to New York, lawmakers are rolling out state-specific loan forgiveness initiatives that reward professionals for working in high-need fields and underserved communities. Unlike federal proposals that offer blanket relief, these state programs function more like workforce development tools—paying off student loans in exchange…

The Texas Legislature is back in session. That means a continuation of the effort to significantly scale back the effect of the Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”), which is the Lone Star State’s Anti-SLAPP law. Bills have been filed or re-filed that seek to do away with parts of the TCPA which give that law its teeth. The Bills are SB336, HB 2459 and HB 2988. As will be discussed below, the Bills all fail to address the real problem confronting Texas courts and litigants ― the judicial pink elephant in the room. For instance, and despite research from the…

Trump’s New Interest In A DOGE Dividend Stimulus Check Donald Trump loves putting his name on things – buildings, steaks, and even stimulus checks. Now, he’s added fuel to the idea of a $5,000 DOGE Dividend stimulus check to taxpayers, courtesy of the Department of Government Efficiency. At a speech in Miami on Wednesday, Trump said his administration is considering a plan to give 20% of DOGE’s savings back to the public. “There’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20 percent of the DOGE savings to American citizens,” Trump said. “The numbers are incredible, Elon, so many…

Will You Get Musk’s DOGE Dividend Via A $5,000 Stimulus Check? In a recent social media exchange, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, hinted at the possibility of issuing $5,000 checks to American taxpayers—a concept dubbed the ‘DOGE Dividend.’ This proposal, originating from investment firm CEO and DOGE adviser James Fishback, suggests allocating 20% of DOGE’s projected savings and distributing it to taxpaying households. Let’s assess what we know now. The Genesis Of The DOGE Dividend And $5,000 Stimulus Check Calculation Fishback introduced the ‘DOGE Dividend’ on X (formerly Twitter), proposing that a portion of DOGE’s anticipated…

Uber Preferred Currency Fee: Dynamic Currency Conversion In Convenience Clothing When you travel abroad, you expect simplicity and transparency — especially when your financial tools promise no extra charges. Yet Uber is adopting a strategy — Uber preferred currency fee – that will default many to pay in their home currency, complete with a 1.5% surcharge. What Is Uber Preferred Currency? Uber is changing its app to display some ride fares in a passenger’s home currency with a fixed 1.5% currency conversion fee. This will start on Feb. 27, 2025, for United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union riders.…

The presidential pardon is a profound expression of executive clemency, granting the President of the United States the authority to forgive federal offenses, thereby restoring the rights and privileges forfeited due to criminal convictions. Rooted in the U.S. Constitution, this power has been exercised by presidents since the nation’s inception, serving as a tool for mercy, justice, and, at times, political strategy. In the past, presidents have used it sparingly but between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, thousands of pardons and commutations have taken place over the past few months. Historical Origins and Constitutional Basis The concept of the pardon…