iles.

How to Visualize Data for Your Area ondata.census.gov Looking for an easy way to start exploring Census Bureau data? Discover how to visualize the most popular statistics for your area through the data visualization profiles on data.census.gov. Learn More Data Gems is a series of short videos available for data users who are looking for an easy and quick way to enhance their knowledge of Census data and concepts. If you have comments and ideas for future Data Gems, send an email to census.academy@census.gov.  If you enjoy our Data Gems, give us a shout-out on social media using the hashtag #CensusAcademy.  Share This About Census Academy Let us show you how to find and use Census Bureau data for your everyday uses, including informing your business plan, supporting grant proposals and research projects, developing apps, urban development planning and services, and much more! Whether you’re looking for economic or demographic data, we can teach you how to get what you need for your various projects. To request free workshops and trainings for your organization, send us an e-mail at census.askdata@census.gov

Your Health Care Is in Women’s Hands

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Your Health Care Is in Women’s Hands Women have driven 80% of the overall growth in the booming health care field since the turn of the century. The number of full-time, year-round workers in health care occupations has almost doubled since 2000, increasing from 5 million to 9 million workers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Women account for three-quarters of full-time, year-round health care workers today. Read More This rapid increase is expected to continue, as many health care occupations are projected to grow even faster than average.  About half of full-time, year-round health care workers have at least a college degree, and almost a quarter have an advanced degree. This often translates into earnings differences across occupations. Continue Reading...

Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This

In Case You Missed It From Horseback to Satellite, How U.S. Census Bureau Checks Addresses: Since the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau has completed a count of every person living in the United States and its territories every 10 years by literally walking (or riding on horseback) on every single road and every single block in the country. In 2010, that was 11.2 million blocks — or 67 million miles traveled. Learn More Here are some more 2020 Census Address Canvassing Resources: News Release: U.S. Census Bureau Announces the Start of First Major Field Operation for 2020 Census Press Kit: 2020 Census Address Canvassing Operation

About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.

IRS automatically waives estimated tax penalty for eligible 2018 tax filers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is automatically waiving the estimated tax penalty for the more than 400,000 eligible taxpayers who already filed their 2018 federal income tax returns but did not claim the waiver.

The IRS will apply this waiver to tax accounts of all eligible taxpayers, so there is no need to contact the IRS to apply for or request the waiver.

Earlier this year, the IRS lowered the usual 90% penalty threshold to 80% to help taxpayers whose withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total 2018 tax liability. The agency also removed the requirement that estimated tax payments be made in four equal installments, as long as they were all made by Jan. 15, 2019. The 90% threshold was initially lowered to 85% on Jan 16 and further lowered to 80% on March 22.

The automatic waiver applies to any individual taxpayer who paid at least 80% of their total tax liability through federal income tax withholding or quarterly estimated tax payments but did not claim the special waiver available to them when they filed their 2018 return earlier this year.

“The IRS is taking this step to help affected taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “This waiver is designed to provide relief to any person who filed too early to take advantage of the waiver or was unaware of it when they filed.”

Refunds planned for eligible taxpayers who paid penalty

Over the next few months, the IRS will mail copies of notices CP 21 granting this relief to affected taxpayers. Any eligible taxpayer who already paid the penalty will also receive a refund check about three weeks after their CP21 notice regardless if they requested penalty relief. The agency emphasized that eligible taxpayers who have already filed a 2018 return do not need to request penalty relief, contact the IRS or take any other action to receive this relief.

For those yet to file, the IRS urges every eligible taxpayer to claim the waiver on their return. This includes those with tax-filing extensions due to run out on Oct. 15, 2019. The quickest and easiest way is to file electronically and take advantage of the waiver computation built into their tax software package. Those who choose to file on paper can fill out Form 2210 and attach it to their 2018 return. See the instructions to Form 2210 for details.

Because the U.S. tax system is pay-as-you-go, taxpayers are required by law to pay most of their tax obligation during the year, rather than at the end of the year. This can be done by having tax withheld from paychecks, pension payments or Social Security benefits, making estimated tax payments or a combination of these methods. 

            

Like last year, the IRS urges everyone to do a “Paycheck Checkup” and review their withholding for 2019. This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill or a penalty when they filed this year. It’s also an important step for those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change. Those most at risk of having too little tax withheld include those who itemized in the past but now take the increased standard deduction, as well as two wage earner households, employees with nonwage sources of income and those with complex tax situations.

To get started, check out the new Tax Withholding Estimator, available on IRS.gov. More information about tax withholding and estimated tax can be found on the agency’s Pay As You Go web page, as well as in Publication 505.

IRS Revenue Ruling

IRS GuideWire August 14, 2019

News Essentials What's Hot News Releases IRS - The Basics IRS Guidance Media Contacts Facts & Figures Around The Nation e-News Subscriptions IRS Resources Compliance & Enforcement Contact My Local Office Filing Options Forms & Instructions Frequently Asked Questions News Taxpayer Advocate Where to File

Issue Number:    RR-2019-19 Inside This Issue Revenue Ruling 2019-19 provide that an individual receives a distribution check from a qualified plan and does not to cash the check.  The revenue ruling concludes that the individual’s failure to cash the check does not permit the individual to exclude the amount of the designated distribution from gross income under § 402(a) and does not alter the employer’s withholding obligations under § 3405 or Form 1099-R reporting obligations under § 6047(d). Revenue Ruling 2019-19 will be in IRB 2019-36, dated September 3, 2019.

FTC Stops Student Loan Debt Relief Scheme, Charges Operators with Misleading Consumers Operators allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $23 million

July 11, 2019

TAGS:

 

• deceptive/misleading conduct
 
• Bureau of Consumer Protection
 
• Consumer Protection
• Advertising and Marketing
 
• Credit and Finance
 
• Credit and Loans
 
• Debt
 
• Debt Relief
 
• Education

The Federal Trade Commission has stopped a student loan debt relief scheme, alleging it bilked more than $23 million from thousands of consumers with false claims that it would service and pay down their student loans. After the FTC filed a complaint seeking to end the deceptive practices, a federal court temporarily halted the scheme and froze its assets.

According to the FTC’s complaint, since at least 2014, the operators of Mission Hills Federal and Federal Direct Group have lured consumers into paying hundreds to thousands of dollars in illegal upfront fees with false promises to lower consumers’ monthly student loan payments. The defendants also allegedly tricked consumers into submitting their monthly student loan payments directly to the defendants by falsely claiming to take over servicing the consumers’ loans. In reality, the defendants either only applied minimal payments on consumers’ loans or, in many instances, applied none of the payments to the loans, diverting consumers’ payments to themselves.

“Debt relief companies can’t collect advance fees or masquerade as federal student loan servicers,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Anyone asking for upfront fees to help with student loan debt is likely a scammer, and consumers should hang up and alert the FTC.”

The Commission also alleged that the defendants obtained consumers’ student loan credentials, such as their FSA ID—a username and password used to log in to U.S. Department of Education websites—to log in and change consumers’ contact information, effectively hindering or entirely preventing consumers’ loan servicers from communicating with consumers. Many consumers went months or years before discovering that their student loans were not being repaid, according to the complaint.

The FTC has charged the following defendants with violating Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule: Elegant Solutions, Inc. (also doing business as Federal Direct Group); Trend Capital Ltd. (also doing business as Mission Hills Federal); Dark Island Industries, Inc. (also doing business as Federal Direct Group and formerly known as Cosmopolitan Funding, Inc.); Heritage Asset Management, Inc. (also doing business as National Secure Processing); Tribune Management, Inc. (also doing business as The Student Loan Group); and three individual defendants, Mazen Radwan, Rima Radwan, and Dean Robbins.

How to Avoid Student Loan Debt Relief Scams

To help consumers avoid falling victim to such fraud, the FTC has consumer education related to student loan debt relief scams at ftc.gov/StudentLoans.

Only scammers promise fast loan forgiveness, and they often pretend to be affiliated with the government. Consumers should never pay an upfront fee for help, and should not share their FSA ID with anyone.

Consumers can apply for loan deferments, forbearance, repayment, and forgiveness or discharge programs directly through the U.S. Department of Education or their loan servicer at no cost; these programs do not require the assistance of a third-party company or payment of application fees. For federal student loan repayment options, visit StudentAid.gov/repay. For private student loans, contact the loan servicer directly.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered a temporary restraining order in the case on July 10, 2019.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS:
Consumer Response Center
877-382-4357

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nicole Drayton
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2565

STAFF CONTACT:
Michelle Grajales
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3172