WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that nearly
 1.5 million people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax 
year 2019 but face a July 17 deadline to submit their tax return.

The IRS estimates almost $1.5 billion in refunds remain unclaimed 
because people haven't filed their 2019 tax returns yet. The average 
median refund is $893 for this year, and the IRS has done a special 
state-by-state calculation to show how many people are potentially 
eligible for these refunds.

"The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people 
may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," said IRS 
Commissioner Danny Werfel. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, 
but time is running out. People face a July 17 deadline to file their 
returns. We recommend taxpayers start soon to make sure they don't miss 
out."

Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim 
their tax refunds. If they don't file within three years, the money 
becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

But for 2019 tax returns, people have more time than usual to file to
 claim their refunds. Usually, the normal filing deadline to claim old 
refunds falls around the April tax deadline, which is April 18 this year
 for 2022 tax returns. But the three-year window for 2019 unfiled 
returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
emergency. The IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2023-11_IRB#NOT-2023-21">Notice 2023-21</a> on Feb. 27, 2023, providing legal guidance on claims made by the postponed deadline.

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential unclaimed refunds 
for 2019 to be $893. That means half of the refunds are more than $893 
and half are less.

"With the pandemic taking place when the 2019 tax returns were 
originally due, people faced extremely unusual situations. People may 
have simply forgotten about tax refunds with the deadline that year 
postponed all the way into July," Werfel said. "We frequently see 
students, part-time workers and others with little income overlook 
filing a tax return and never realize they may be owed a refund. We 
encourage people to review their records and start gathering records 
now, so they don't run the risk of missing the July deadline."

By missing out on filing a tax return, people stand to lose more than
 just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2019. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2019, the credit was worth as much as $6,557. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds in 2019. Those who are potentially eligible for EITC in 2019 
had incomes below:

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2019 tax refund that their 
checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021.
 In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to 
the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child 
support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-TAX-FORM</a> (800-829-3676).

Need to file a 2019 tax return? Several options to get key documents

Although it's been several years since 2019, the IRS reminds 
taxpayers there are ways they can still gather the information they need
 to file this tax return. But people should start early to make sure 
they have enough time to file before the July deadline for 2019 refunds.
 Here are some options:

Based on tax information currently available, the IRS estimated 
how many people in each state may be entitled to a tax refund. The 
actual refund amount will vary based on a household's tax situation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that nearly
 1.5 million people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax 
year 2019 but face a July 17 deadline to submit their tax return.The IRS estimates almost $1.5 billion in refunds remain unclaimed 
because people haven't filed their 2019 tax returns yet. The average 
median refund is $893 for this year, and the IRS has done a special 
state-by-state calculation to show how many people are potentially 
eligible for these refunds."The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people 
may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," said IRS 
Commissioner Danny Werfel. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, 
but time is running out. People face a July 17 deadline to file their 
returns. We recommend taxpayers start soon to make sure they don't miss 
out."Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim 
their tax refunds. If they don't file within three years, the money 
becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.But for 2019 tax returns, people have more time than usual to file to
 claim their refunds. Usually, the normal filing deadline to claim old 
refunds falls around the April tax deadline, which is April 18 this year
 for 2022 tax returns. But the three-year window for 2019 unfiled 
returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
emergency. The IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/irb/2023-11_IRB#NOT-2023-21">Notice 2023-21</a> on Feb. 27, 2023, providing legal guidance on claims made by the postponed deadline.The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential unclaimed refunds 
for 2019 to be $893. That means half of the refunds are more than $893 
and half are less."With the pandemic taking place when the 2019 tax returns were 
originally due, people faced extremely unusual situations. People may 
have simply forgotten about tax refunds with the deadline that year 
postponed all the way into July," Werfel said. "We frequently see 
students, part-time workers and others with little income overlook 
filing a tax return and never realize they may be owed a refund. We 
encourage people to review their records and start gathering records 
now, so they don't run the risk of missing the July deadline."By missing out on filing a tax return, people stand to lose more than
 just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2019. Many low- and 
moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit
 (EITC). For 2019, the credit was worth as much as $6,557. The EITC 
helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain 
thresholds in 2019. Those who are potentially eligible for EITC in 2019 
had incomes below:<ul>
 <li>$50,162 ($55,952 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;</li><li>$46,703 ($52,493 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;</li><li>$41,094 ($46,884 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and;</li><li>$15,570 ($21,370 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2019 tax refund that their 
checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021.
 In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to 
the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child 
support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions">Forms, Instructions &amp; Publications</a> page or by calling toll-free <a href="tel:800-829-3676">800-TAX-FORM</a> (800-829-3676).<h2>Need to file a 2019 tax return? Several options to get key documents</h2>Although it's been several years since 2019, the IRS reminds 
taxpayers there are ways they can still gather the information they need
 to file this tax return. But people should start early to make sure 
they have enough time to file before the July deadline for 2019 refunds.
 Here are some options:<ul>
 <li>Request copies of key documents: Taxpayers who 
are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2019, 2020 or 
2021 can request copies from their employer, bank or other payers.</li><li>Use Get Transcript Online at IRS.gov. Taxpayers 
who are unable to get those missing forms from their employer or other 
payers can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a> tool. For many taxpayers, this is by far the quickest and easiest option.</li><li>Or request a transcript. Another option is for people to file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Form 4506-T</a>
 with the IRS to request a "wage and income transcript." A wage and 
income transcript shows data from information returns received by the 
IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, Form 5498 and IRA contribution 
information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to 
file their tax return. But plan ahead – these written requests can take 
several weeks; people are strongly urged to try the other options first.</li>
 </ul>Based on tax information currently available, the IRS estimated 
how many people in each state may be entitled to a tax refund. The 
actual refund amount will vary based on a household's tax situation.

Time running out to claim $1.5B in refunds for tax year 2019

Union, Nebraska —More than 75 firefighters from 26 departments continue to work the Waconda Fire located just south of Lake Waconda in Cass County which has burned more than 650 acres. The fire started in Iowa on Saturday and jumped across the Missouri River into Nebraska at approximately 6 p.m.

Cass County declared a disaster Sunday and requested state assistance to help with response to the brush fire.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;approved a state disaster which allows funds from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to be used to assist in the response. Cass County Emergency Management and Incident Command requested that the Nebraska Incident Management Assistance Team integrate with local responders to help with the response. The Nebraska National Guard sent a hand crew to work on the ground and a UH60 helicopter to drop water on the fire Sunday afternoon, the Nebraska State Patrol’s drone team arrived Sunday morning to provide aerial footage of the fire and members of the Wildland Incident Response Assistant Team arrived Saturday and Sunday to provide technical support on control and management of the fire.

According to Incident Commander&nbsp;Shane Adams&nbsp;of the Nehawka Volunteer Department fire command, the fire rapidly spread south to the area of East Union Road. Requests for all available units were immediately called as the fire was rapidly moving.

Adams reported that fire departments from across Cass County responded and assisted in fighting the fire. Additional units from across the entire State of Nebraska brought UTVs with water supply to reach the areas where full-size fire

“The terrain of this fire is treacherous,” Adams said. “Relief from local fire departments arrived late into the night and continued to fight fire all through the night. No structures have been affected at this time.”

Adams estimated the fire is 0% contained. He reports that firefighters will remain on scene overnight to monitor and control the fire.&nbsp;

News ReleaseUnion, Nebraska —More than 75 firefighters from 26 departments continue to work the Waconda Fire located just south of Lake Waconda in Cass County which has burned more than 650 acres. The fire started in Iowa on Saturday and jumped across the Missouri River into Nebraska at approximately 6 p.m.Cass County declared a disaster Sunday and requested state assistance to help with response to the brush fire.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;approved a state disaster which allows funds from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to be used to assist in the response. Cass County Emergency Management and Incident Command requested that the Nebraska Incident Management Assistance Team integrate with local responders to help with the response. The Nebraska National Guard sent a hand crew to work on the ground and a UH60 helicopter to drop water on the fire Sunday afternoon, the Nebraska State Patrol’s drone team arrived Sunday morning to provide aerial footage of the fire and members of the Wildland Incident Response Assistant Team arrived Saturday and Sunday to provide technical support on control and management of the fire.According to Incident Commander&nbsp;Shane Adams&nbsp;of the Nehawka Volunteer Department fire command, the fire rapidly spread south to the area of East Union Road. Requests for all available units were immediately called as the fire was rapidly moving.Adams reported that fire departments from across Cass County responded and assisted in fighting the fire. Additional units from across the entire State of Nebraska brought UTVs with water supply to reach the areas where full-size fire“The terrain of this fire is treacherous,” Adams said. “Relief from local fire departments arrived late into the night and continued to fight fire all through the night. No structures have been affected at this time.”Adams estimated the fire is 0% contained. He reports that firefighters will remain on scene overnight to monitor and control the fire.&nbsp;

26 fire departments battle Nebraska fire 

LINCOLN — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested
two people after a pursuit in North Lincoln overnight.


At approximately 1:10 a.m. Monday, NSP received information that a vehicle had fled an
attempted traffic stop with the Lincoln Police Department. The vehicle was reportedly stolen. A
short time later, a trooper observed the vehicle, a Dodge Caravan, as it was speeding on Waverly
Road near Highway 77, north of Lincoln. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver
refused to yield and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.


The suspect vehicle fled southbound on Highway 77 toward Lincoln. The driver then turned
eastbound on Fletcher at which time a trooper attempted a tactical vehicle intervention. The
driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and continued fleeing, striking another trooper’s
patrol unit in the process. The vehicle continued southbound on Highway 77 and troopers
continued the pursuit.


The vehicle turned eastbound on Havelock Avenue and eventually turned northbound on 70th
Street. At the intersection of 70th and Burlington Avenue, a trooper successfully performed a
tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver and passenger were then
taken into custody without further incident.


The driver, Robert Allen, 37, of York, was arrested for willful reckless driving, assault on a
peace officer, flight to avoid arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of
methamphetamine, possession of marijuana – less than one ounce, and driving with a revoked
license. The passenger, Angel Hauschild, 27, of Shelton, was arrested for possession of
methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant. Both were lodged in Lancaster County jail.


The entire pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and
Lincoln Police Department assisted in the incident. No officers were injured.


NSPLINCOLN — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested
two people after a pursuit in North Lincoln overnight.
At approximately 1:10 a.m. Monday, NSP received information that a vehicle had fled an
attempted traffic stop with the Lincoln Police Department. The vehicle was reportedly stolen. A
short time later, a trooper observed the vehicle, a Dodge Caravan, as it was speeding on Waverly
Road near Highway 77, north of Lincoln. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver
refused to yield and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.
The suspect vehicle fled southbound on Highway 77 toward Lincoln. The driver then turned
eastbound on Fletcher at which time a trooper attempted a tactical vehicle intervention. The
driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and continued fleeing, striking another trooper’s
patrol unit in the process. The vehicle continued southbound on Highway 77 and troopers
continued the pursuit.
The vehicle turned eastbound on Havelock Avenue and eventually turned northbound on 70th
Street. At the intersection of 70th and Burlington Avenue, a trooper successfully performed a
tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver and passenger were then
taken into custody without further incident.
The driver, Robert Allen, 37, of York, was arrested for willful reckless driving, assault on a
peace officer, flight to avoid arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of
methamphetamine, possession of marijuana – less than one ounce, and driving with a revoked
license. The passenger, Angel Hauschild, 27, of Shelton, was arrested for possession of
methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant. Both were lodged in Lancaster County jail.
The entire pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and
Lincoln Police Department assisted in the incident. No officers were injured.

Two arrested after pursuit in North Lincoln

NEW YORK — Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.

On
 April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the 
U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday 
darkness.

It's been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-ap-top-news-us-news-oregon-north-america-11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">That was on Aug. 21, 2017.</a>

If
 you miss next year's spectacle, you'll have to wait 20 years until the 
next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in 
Montana and the Dakotas.

Here’s what to know to get ready for the 2024 show:

Next year's eclipse will slice a diagonal line across North America on April 8, which falls on a Monday.

It will start in the Pacific and first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time, <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/">NASA predicts</a>. Then, it’ll cross over into Texas and move across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in the afternoon.

All
 in all, it will hit parts of 13 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
 Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Cities in its path include Dallas; 
Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland and Buffalo, New York.

Parts
 of Canada — including Quebec and Newfoundland — will also get a glimpse
 before the eclipse heads out to sea in the early evening.

A total
 eclipse will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath — the path of 
totality. Outside that path, you can still see a partial solar eclipse, 
where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent 
shape.

Total eclipses happen about every 18 months, but a lot of times they cross over remote areas where few people see them.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light from reaching us.

Even
 though the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also 
about 400 times closer to Earth, explained University of Colorado 
astronomer Doug Duncan. So when the orbits line up just right, the 
little moon can block out the whole sun. Those who are standing in the 
right spots will experience totality: when the moon casts its shadow 
over the landscape.

“In just seconds, you go from bright, bright 
daylight to like the middle of the night,” said Dr. Debby Brown, who saw
 her first total eclipse in 2017 with Duncan in Grand Teton National 
Park in Wyoming.

“The stars are out. All of a sudden, all the animals are quiet,” recalled Brown, of Arlington, Virginia.

During the 2024 eclipse, totality will stretch to around four and a half minutes — almost twice as long as in 2017.

To
 catch the full eclipse experience, planning ahead is key, Duncan said. 
Weather could be a big factor since the eclipse is coming in the spring,
 when conditions are unpredictable. That’s why Duncan selected Texas for
 his eclipse tour next year, where there are better odds of clear skies.

Your
 choice also depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, said
 Bob Baer, who’s coordinating eclipse plans at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale.

Carbondale — in the crossroads of both 
the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths — will hold a viewing event at the 
school's stadium again. It’s a big group experience, Baer said: “The 
last 20 minutes before totality, the stadium gets as loud as a football 
game.”

But you can find eclipse events of all different flavors 
planned along the eclipse path: luxury cruises in Mexico, music 
festivals in Texas, farm camping in Arkansas, planetarium visits in 
upstate New York.

“The goal, at the end of the day, is to get as 
many people outside as possible, looking up during totality,” said Dan 
Schneiderman, who is helping the Rochester Museum and Science Center 
plan events. “Hopefully with their close friends and loved ones.”

You’ll want to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-mo-state-wire-ia-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-fd679ae2684b4c35b8ba64531cab2e80">grab eclipse glasses</a>
 to see the partial phases before and after totality, Schneiderman 
added. Looking at the partially covered sun without protection can cause
 serious eye damage.

Brown and her husband are planning to join Duncan’s eclipse tour in Austin. Her first eclipse experience flew by.

“I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy this even longer,” Brown said. “To be able to just lean into the moment.”

WHAT OTHER ECLIPSES ARE COMING UP?

The
 U.S. will get some eclipse action ahead of the big event in 2024. There
 will be an annular eclipse — when the sun isn’t completely covered, but
 appears like a ring of fire in the sky — later this year, on <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20the%20annular,at%2012%3A03%20p.m.%20CDT.&amp;text=The%20path%20of%20the%20annular%20solar%20eclipse%20next%20visits%20Mexico,Honduras%2C%20Nicaragua%2C%20and%20Panama.&amp;text=The%20annular%20eclipse%20crosses%20into%20South%20America%20in%20Colombia.">Oct. 14</a>.

The path of that eclipse will cross from Oregon down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Later this month, there will be a rare <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-april-20">hybrid eclipse</a>,
 which switches between a total and an annular eclipse at different 
points along its path. But few people will see it. The April 20 eclipse 
is mostly over the Indian Ocean, and only crosses over a few slivers of 
Australia and Southeast Asia.

With a 20-year gap until the next 
total solar eclipse in the U.S., Duncan says it will be worth it to be 
in the path of totality next year. He’s witnessed 12 total eclipses so 
far.

Seeing a partial eclipse — even if it’s 90% covered — means “you missed all the good stuff,” he said.

Associated PressNEW YORK — Dust off your eclipse glasses: It’s only a year until a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.On
 April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the 
U.S., Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday 
darkness.It's been less than six years since a total solar eclipse cut across the U.S., from coast to coast. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-ap-top-news-us-news-oregon-north-america-11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">That was on Aug. 21, 2017.</a>If
 you miss next year's spectacle, you'll have to wait 20 years until the 
next one hits the U.S. But that total eclipse will only be visible in 
Montana and the Dakotas.Here’s what to know to get ready for the 2024 show:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680886783788.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>WHERE CAN I SEE IT?Next year's eclipse will slice a diagonal line across North America on April 8, which falls on a Monday.It will start in the Pacific and first reach land over Mexico around 11:07 a.m. local time, <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/">NASA predicts</a>. Then, it’ll cross over into Texas and move across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in the afternoon.All
 in all, it will hit parts of 13 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
 Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Cities in its path include Dallas; 
Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Cleveland and Buffalo, New York.Parts
 of Canada — including Quebec and Newfoundland — will also get a glimpse
 before the eclipse heads out to sea in the early evening.A total
 eclipse will be visible within a 115-mile wide swath — the path of 
totality. Outside that path, you can still see a partial solar eclipse, 
where the moon takes a bite out of the sun and turns it into a crescent 
shape.Total eclipses happen about every 18 months, but a lot of times they cross over remote areas where few people see them.WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ECLIPSE?Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light from reaching us.Even
 though the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also 
about 400 times closer to Earth, explained University of Colorado 
astronomer Doug Duncan. So when the orbits line up just right, the 
little moon can block out the whole sun. Those who are standing in the 
right spots will experience totality: when the moon casts its shadow 
over the landscape.“In just seconds, you go from bright, bright 
daylight to like the middle of the night,” said Dr. Debby Brown, who saw
 her first total eclipse in 2017 with Duncan in Grand Teton National 
Park in Wyoming.“The stars are out. All of a sudden, all the animals are quiet,” recalled Brown, of Arlington, Virginia.During the 2024 eclipse, totality will stretch to around four and a half minutes — almost twice as long as in 2017.WHAT'S THE BEST SPOT?To
 catch the full eclipse experience, planning ahead is key, Duncan said. 
Weather could be a big factor since the eclipse is coming in the spring,
 when conditions are unpredictable. That’s why Duncan selected Texas for
 his eclipse tour next year, where there are better odds of clear skies.Your
 choice also depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, said
 Bob Baer, who’s coordinating eclipse plans at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale.Carbondale — in the crossroads of both 
the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths — will hold a viewing event at the 
school's stadium again. It’s a big group experience, Baer said: “The 
last 20 minutes before totality, the stadium gets as loud as a football 
game.”But you can find eclipse events of all different flavors 
planned along the eclipse path: luxury cruises in Mexico, music 
festivals in Texas, farm camping in Arkansas, planetarium visits in 
upstate New York.“The goal, at the end of the day, is to get as 
many people outside as possible, looking up during totality,” said Dan 
Schneiderman, who is helping the Rochester Museum and Science Center 
plan events. “Hopefully with their close friends and loved ones.”You’ll want to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-mo-state-wire-ia-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-fd679ae2684b4c35b8ba64531cab2e80">grab eclipse glasses</a>
 to see the partial phases before and after totality, Schneiderman 
added. Looking at the partially covered sun without protection can cause
 serious eye damage.Brown and her husband are planning to join Duncan’s eclipse tour in Austin. Her first eclipse experience flew by.“I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy this even longer,” Brown said. “To be able to just lean into the moment.”WHAT OTHER ECLIPSES ARE COMING UP?The
 U.S. will get some eclipse action ahead of the big event in 2024. There
 will be an annular eclipse — when the sun isn’t completely covered, but
 appears like a ring of fire in the sky — later this year, on <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20the%20annular,at%2012%3A03%20p.m.%20CDT.&amp;text=The%20path%20of%20the%20annular%20solar%20eclipse%20next%20visits%20Mexico,Honduras%2C%20Nicaragua%2C%20and%20Panama.&amp;text=The%20annular%20eclipse%20crosses%20into%20South%20America%20in%20Colombia.">Oct. 14</a>.The path of that eclipse will cross from Oregon down through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.Later this month, there will be a rare <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-april-20">hybrid eclipse</a>,
 which switches between a total and an annular eclipse at different 
points along its path. But few people will see it. The April 20 eclipse 
is mostly over the Indian Ocean, and only crosses over a few slivers of 
Australia and Southeast Asia.With a 20-year gap until the next 
total solar eclipse in the U.S., Duncan says it will be worth it to be 
in the path of totality next year. He’s witnessed 12 total eclipses so 
far.Seeing a partial eclipse — even if it’s 90% covered — means “you missed all the good stuff,” he said.

Save the date: One year until total solar eclipse sweeps US

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced a series of enhancements to the online consumer application system for the Affordable Connectivity Program to make it easier for eligible consumers to apply and enroll in the program.  The nation’s largest-ever broadband affordability effort, the ACP is now supporting internet connections in 17 million households.  The program, authorized and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.  

“As of today, seventeen million households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.  No small feat.  But we aren’t stopping there.  We continue to look for ways to reach more people who could benefit from its support,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “Our application enhancements roll-out is part of our ongoing work to improve the consumer experience with the program, so even more families can get the support they need to get online and stay online.” 

 “We partnered with the Federal Communications Commission to advance the President’s mission to lower internet cost and expand internet for all, ensuring that every household has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.  The Affordable Connectivity Program application enhancements will streamline the process and ensure that benefits reach as many households as possible with as little friction as possible,” said U.S. Digital Service Deputy Administrator Cori Zarek.  “Our focus on simplifying the applicant's experience will help get affordable internet to more households, ensuring families can do their homework, work from home, and access critical government services.”

The enhancements are designed to reduce the time it takes to enroll by providing clear instructions, to decrease steps and to simplify language while continuing to protect against waste, fraud and abuse and guarding the integrity of the program.&nbsp; Enhancements were developed in consultation with digital navigators, digital equity advocates, and Internet Service Providers.&nbsp; The FCC will continue to make improvements to ensure that all qualifying consumers can easily access the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced a series of enhancements to the online consumer application system for the Affordable Connectivity Program to make it easier for eligible consumers to apply and enroll in the program. The nation’s largest-ever broadband affordability effort, the ACP is now supporting internet connections in 17 million households. The program, authorized and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. “As of today, seventeen million households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. No small feat. But we aren’t stopping there. We continue to look for ways to reach more people who could benefit from its support,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Our application enhancements roll-out is part of our ongoing work to improve the consumer experience with the program, so even more families can get the support they need to get online and stay online.” “We partnered with the Federal Communications Commission to advance the President’s mission to lower internet cost and expand internet for all, ensuring that every household has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet. The Affordable Connectivity Program application enhancements will streamline the process and ensure that benefits reach as many households as possible with as little friction as possible,” said U.S. Digital Service Deputy Administrator Cori Zarek. “Our focus on simplifying the applicant's experience will help get affordable internet to more households, ensuring families can do their homework, work from home, and access critical government services.”The enhancements are designed to reduce the time it takes to enroll by providing clear instructions, to decrease steps and to simplify language while continuing to protect against waste, fraud and abuse and guarding the integrity of the program.&nbsp; Enhancements were developed in consultation with digital navigators, digital equity advocates, and Internet Service Providers.&nbsp; The FCC will continue to make improvements to ensure that all qualifying consumers can easily access the Affordable Connectivity Program.

More than 17M households enrolled in discounted internet program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This Easter, Americans will devour more 
than 1 billion Peeps — those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance
 on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters">the Masters</a>.

What
 makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on
 ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along 
with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in 
the country — including Skittles and Hot Tamales.

Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators <a href="https://apnews.com/article/83322a29c173c2756755c0a2e9311064">banned Red No. 3 from makeup</a>. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups.

Now,
 a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in 
California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like 
tortillas and some store brand sodas.

The bill, scheduled for its 
first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world 
declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. 
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he 
wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative
 ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in 
Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there.

“They
 still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is 
they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with 
something else,” Gabriel said. “What we really want is for these 
companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that 
they made in Europe and elsewhere.”

The National Confectioners 
Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's 
not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just 
because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be 
received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a
 hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products 
overseas, according to the trade group.

“There's a lot more here 
at play than a simple soundbite solution,” said Christopher 
Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. “We need a 
comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended 
consequences for chocolate and candy companies.”

In addition to 
erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate 
and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated 
vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas.

The U.S. 
has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, 
researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time 
developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, 
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics.

Consumer
 safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the 
chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical
 to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and 
other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 
report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of 
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The International 
Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that 
California study was “based on insufficient scientific evidence.”

Titanium
 dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make 
colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like 
paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The 
International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide 
as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers 
Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in 
humans.

The candy industry insists the chemicals California is 
considering banning “have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and 
state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to 
be deemed safe,” according to a letter signed by various industry trade 
groups.

“These scientifically based regulatory processes should be
 allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes,” the letter
 stated.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental 
affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only 
reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is 
because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He 
says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new 
science.

“The confectioners and the food industry know the review 
process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for 
decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. “If 
FDA won’t fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous 
chemicals in our food, it’s up to states like California to keep us 
safe.”

Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes 
Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and
 gets their “ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable 
suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards.”

The 
company noted its development team is looking for other options, 
“including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same
 visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts.”

Associated PressSACRAMENTO, Calif. — This Easter, Americans will devour more 
than 1 billion Peeps — those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance
 on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters">the Masters</a>.What
 makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on
 ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along 
with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in 
the country — including Skittles and Hot Tamales.Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators <a href="https://apnews.com/article/83322a29c173c2756755c0a2e9311064">banned Red No. 3 from makeup</a>. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680886645163.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Now,
 a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in 
California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like 
tortillas and some store brand sodas.The bill, scheduled for its 
first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world 
declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. 
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he 
wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative
 ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in 
Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there.“They
 still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is 
they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with 
something else,” Gabriel said. “What we really want is for these 
companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that 
they made in Europe and elsewhere.”The National Confectioners 
Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's 
not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just 
because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be 
received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a
 hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products 
overseas, according to the trade group.“There's a lot more here 
at play than a simple soundbite solution,” said Christopher 
Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. “We need a 
comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended 
consequences for chocolate and candy companies.”In addition to 
erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate 
and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated 
vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas.The U.S. 
has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, 
researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time 
developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, 
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics.Consumer
 safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the 
chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical
 to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and 
other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 
report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of 
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.The International 
Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that 
California study was “based on insufficient scientific evidence.”Titanium
 dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make 
colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like 
paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The 
International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide 
as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers 
Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in 
humans.The candy industry insists the chemicals California is 
considering banning “have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and 
state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to 
be deemed safe,” according to a letter signed by various industry trade 
groups.“These scientifically based regulatory processes should be
 allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes,” the letter
 stated.Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental 
affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only 
reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is 
because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He 
says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new 
science.“The confectioners and the food industry know the review 
process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for 
decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. “If 
FDA won’t fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous 
chemicals in our food, it’s up to states like California to keep us 
safe.”Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes 
Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and
 gets their “ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable 
suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards.”The 
company noted its development team is looking for other options, 
“including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same
 visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts.”

California lawmaker wants Peeps to change its ingredients

LINCOLN —&nbsp;On Wednesday,&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen accepted the immediate resignation of Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins. Gov. Pillen thanks Director Goins for his honorable service to our country as a United States Marine and wishes him and his family the best.

The governor’s office will have further communication concerning future leadership for the Department of Economic Development in due course.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660765112114.png" alt="Tony Goins, former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.(Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Tony Goins, former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.(Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorLINCOLN —&nbsp;On Wednesday,&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen accepted the immediate resignation of Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins. Gov. Pillen thanks Director Goins for his honorable service to our country as a United States Marine and wishes him and his family the best.The governor’s office will have further communication concerning future leadership for the Department of Economic Development in due course.

Nebraska's top economic development official resigns

Sale Bill 2023 Spring

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 list of tax scams for 2023 with a reminder for taxpayers, businesses 
and tax professionals to watch out for these schemes throughout the 
year, not just during tax season.

Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare 
their tax returns. In reality, these scams can occur throughout the year
 as fraudsters look for ways to steal money, personal information, data 
and more.

To help people watch out for these scams, the IRS and the Security 
Summit partners are providing an overview recapping this year's Dirty 
Dozen scams.

"Scammers are coming up with new ways all the time to try to steal 
information from taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "People
 should be wary and avoid sharing sensitive personal data over the 
phone, email or social media to avoid getting caught up in these scams. 
And people should always remember to be wary if a tax deal sounds too 
good to be true."

Working together as the Security Summit, the IRS, state tax agencies 
and the nation's tax industry, including tax professionals, have taken 
numerous steps since 2015 to warn people about common scams and schemes 
during tax season and beyond that can increase the risk of identity 
theft. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;initiative is committed to protecting taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from scammers and identity thieves.

Some items on this year's list were new and some made a return visit.
 While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes.

Taxpayers should be aware of aggressive pitches from scammers who promote large refunds related to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit">Employee Retention Credit (ERC)</a>.
 The warning follows blatant attempts by promoters to con ineligible 
people to claim the credit. The IRS highlighted these schemes from 
promoters who have been blasting ads on radio and the internet touting 
refunds involving Employee Retention Credits. These promotions can be 
based on inaccurate information related to eligibility for and 
computation of the credit. Additionally, some of these advertisements 
exist solely to collect the taxpayer's personally identifiable 
information in exchange for false promises. The scammers then use the 
information to conduct identity theft.

Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications from those posing as legitimate organizations in the tax 
and financial community, including the IRS and the states. These 
messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text (smishing) or email 
(phishing) to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and
 financial information that can lead to identity theft. The IRS 
initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate 
contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill 
or tax refund.

Online account help from third-party scammers

Swindlers pose as a "helpful" third party and offer to help create a taxpayer's IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>&nbsp;at
 IRS.gov. In reality, no help is needed. The online account provides 
taxpayers with valuable tax information. But third parties making these 
offers will try to steal a taxpayer's personal information this way. 
Taxpayers can and should establish their own online account through 
IRS.gov.

The fuel tax credit is meant for off-highway business and farming use
 and, as such, is not available to most taxpayers. However, unscrupulous
 tax return preparers and promoters are enticing taxpayers to inflate 
their refunds by erroneously claiming the credit. The IRS has seen an 
increase in the promotion of filing certain refundable credits using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4136">Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels</a>.

Bogus charities are a perennial problem that gets bigger whenever a 
crisis or natural disaster strikes. Scammers set up these fake 
organizations to take advantage of the public's generosity. They seek 
money and personal information, which can be used to further exploit 
victims through identity theft.

Taxpayers who give money or goods to a charity might be able to claim
 a deduction on their federal tax return if they itemize deductions, but
 charitable donations only count if they go to a qualified tax-exempt 
organization recognized by the IRS.

Most tax preparers provide outstanding and professional service. 
However, people should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch 
for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of 
the refund. A major red flag or bad sign is when the tax preparer is 
unwilling to sign the dotted line. Avoid these "ghost" preparers, who 
will prepare a tax return but refuse to sign or include their IRS 
Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) as required by law. Taxpayers 
should never sign a blank or incomplete return.

Social media: Fraudulent form filing and bad advice

Social media can circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, 
and the IRS has recently seen several examples. These can involve common
 tax documents like Form W-2 or more obscure ones like Form 8944. While 
Form 8944 is real, it is intended for a very limited, specialized group.
 Both schemes encourage people to submit false, inaccurate information 
in hopes of getting a refund. Taxpayers should always remember that if 
something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Spearphishing and cybersecurity for tax professionals

Phishing is a term given to emails or text messages designed to get 
users to provide personal information. Spearphishing is a tailored 
phishing attempt to a specific organization or business.

The IRS is warning tax professionals about spearphishing because 
there is greater potential for harm if the tax preparer has a data 
breach. A successful spearphishing attack can ultimately steal client 
data and the tax preparer's identity, allowing the thief to file 
fraudulent returns.

Offers in Compromise are an important program to help people who 
can't pay to settle their federal tax debts. But "mills" can 
aggressively promote Offers in Compromise in misleading ways to people 
who clearly don't meet the qualifications, frequently costing taxpayers 
thousands of dollars. A taxpayer can check their eligibility for free 
using the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a>.

Where appropriate, the IRS will challenge the purported tax 
benefits from these types of transactions and impose penalties. The IRS 
Criminal Investigation Division is always on the lookout for promoters 
and participants of these types of schemes. Taxpayers should think twice
 before including questionable arrangements like this on their tax 
returns. After all, taxpayers are legally responsible for what's on 
their return, not a promoter making promises and charging high fees. 
Taxpayers can help stop these arrangements by relying on reputable tax 
professionals they know and trust.

As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up the annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>
 list of tax scams for 2023 with a reminder for taxpayers, businesses 
and tax professionals to watch out for these schemes throughout the 
year, not just during tax season.Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare 
their tax returns. In reality, these scams can occur throughout the year
 as fraudsters look for ways to steal money, personal information, data 
and more.To help people watch out for these scams, the IRS and the Security 
Summit partners are providing an overview recapping this year's Dirty 
Dozen scams."Scammers are coming up with new ways all the time to try to steal 
information from taxpayers," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "People
 should be wary and avoid sharing sensitive personal data over the 
phone, email or social media to avoid getting caught up in these scams. 
And people should always remember to be wary if a tax deal sounds too 
good to be true."Working together as the Security Summit, the IRS, state tax agencies 
and the nation's tax industry, including tax professionals, have taken 
numerous steps since 2015 to warn people about common scams and schemes 
during tax season and beyond that can increase the risk of identity 
theft. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;initiative is committed to protecting taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from scammers and identity thieves.Some items on this year's list were new and some made a return visit.
 While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes.<h2>2023 Dirty Dozen summary:</h2><h2>Employee Retention Credit claims </h2>Taxpayers should be aware of aggressive pitches from scammers who promote large refunds related to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit">Employee Retention Credit (ERC)</a>.
 The warning follows blatant attempts by promoters to con ineligible 
people to claim the credit. The IRS highlighted these schemes from 
promoters who have been blasting ads on radio and the internet touting 
refunds involving Employee Retention Credits. These promotions can be 
based on inaccurate information related to eligibility for and 
computation of the credit. Additionally, some of these advertisements 
exist solely to collect the taxpayer's personally identifiable 
information in exchange for false promises. The scammers then use the 
information to conduct identity theft.<h2>Phishing and smishing</h2>Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake 
communications from those posing as legitimate organizations in the tax 
and financial community, including the IRS and the states. These 
messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text (smishing) or email 
(phishing) to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and
 financial information that can lead to identity theft. The IRS 
initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate 
contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill 
or tax refund.<h2>Online account help from third-party scammers</h2>Swindlers pose as a "helpful" third party and offer to help create a taxpayer's IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>&nbsp;at
 IRS.gov. In reality, no help is needed. The online account provides 
taxpayers with valuable tax information. But third parties making these 
offers will try to steal a taxpayer's personal information this way. 
Taxpayers can and should establish their own online account through 
IRS.gov.<h2>False Fuel Tax Credit claims</h2>The fuel tax credit is meant for off-highway business and farming use
 and, as such, is not available to most taxpayers. However, unscrupulous
 tax return preparers and promoters are enticing taxpayers to inflate 
their refunds by erroneously claiming the credit. The IRS has seen an 
increase in the promotion of filing certain refundable credits using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4136">Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels</a>.<h2>Fake charities</h2>Bogus charities are a perennial problem that gets bigger whenever a 
crisis or natural disaster strikes. Scammers set up these fake 
organizations to take advantage of the public's generosity. They seek 
money and personal information, which can be used to further exploit 
victims through identity theft.Taxpayers who give money or goods to a charity might be able to claim
 a deduction on their federal tax return if they itemize deductions, but
 charitable donations only count if they go to a qualified tax-exempt 
organization recognized by the IRS.<h2>Unscrupulous tax return preparers</h2>Most tax preparers provide outstanding and professional service. 
However, people should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch 
for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of 
the refund. A major red flag or bad sign is when the tax preparer is 
unwilling to sign the dotted line. Avoid these "ghost" preparers, who 
will prepare a tax return but refuse to sign or include their IRS 
Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) as required by law. Taxpayers 
should never sign a blank or incomplete return.<h2>Social media: Fraudulent form filing and bad advice</h2>Social media can circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, 
and the IRS has recently seen several examples. These can involve common
 tax documents like Form W-2 or more obscure ones like Form 8944. While 
Form 8944 is real, it is intended for a very limited, specialized group.
 Both schemes encourage people to submit false, inaccurate information 
in hopes of getting a refund. Taxpayers should always remember that if 
something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.<h2>Spearphishing and cybersecurity for tax professionals</h2>Phishing is a term given to emails or text messages designed to get 
users to provide personal information. Spearphishing is a tailored 
phishing attempt to a specific organization or business.The IRS is warning tax professionals about spearphishing because 
there is greater potential for harm if the tax preparer has a data 
breach. A successful spearphishing attack can ultimately steal client 
data and the tax preparer's identity, allowing the thief to file 
fraudulent returns.<h2>Offer in Compromise mills</h2>Offers in Compromise are an important program to help people who 
can't pay to settle their federal tax debts. But "mills" can 
aggressively promote Offers in Compromise in misleading ways to people 
who clearly don't meet the qualifications, frequently costing taxpayers 
thousands of dollars. A taxpayer can check their eligibility for free 
using the IRS <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a>.<h2>Schemes aimed at high-income filers </h2><ul>
 <li>Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT): <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-remainder-trusts">Charitable Remainder Trusts</a>
 are irrevocable trusts that let individuals donate assets to charity 
and draw annual income for life or a specific period. Unfortunately, 
these trusts are sometimes misused by promoters, advisors and taxpayers 
to try to eliminate ordinary income and/or capital gain on the sale of 
the property.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Monetized Installment Sales: In these 
potentially abusive transactions, promoters find taxpayers seeking to 
defer the recognition of gain upon the sale of appreciated property. 
They facilitate a purported monetized installment sale for the taxpayer 
in exchange for a fee.</li>
 </ul><h2>Bogus tax avoidance strategies</h2><ul>
 <li>Micro-captive insurance arrangements: A 
micro-captive is&nbsp;an insurance company whose owners elect to be taxed on 
the captive's investment income only. Abusive micro-captives involve 
schemes that lack many of the attributes of legitimate insurance. These 
structures often include implausible risks, failure to match genuine 
business needs and, in many cases, unnecessary duplication of the 
taxpayer's commercial coverages.</li><li>Syndicated conservation easements: A conservation 
easement is a restriction on the use of real property. Generally, 
taxpayers may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the fair 
market value of a conservation easement transferred to a charity if the 
transfer meets the requirements of Internal Revenue Code 170. In abusive
 arrangements, which generate high fees for promoters, participants 
attempt to game the tax system with grossly inflated tax deductions.</li>
 </ul><h2>Schemes with international elements </h2><ul>
 <li>Offshore accounts and digital assets: The IRS 
continues to scrutinize attempts to hide assets in offshore accounts and
 accounts holding digital assets, such as cryptocurrency. The IRS 
continues to identify individuals who attempt to conceal income in 
offshore banks, brokerage accounts, digital asset accounts and nominee 
entities. Asset protection professionals and unscrupulous promoters 
continue to lure U.S. persons into placing their assets in offshore 
accounts and structures saying they are out of reach of the IRS. These 
assertions are not true. The IRS can identify and track anonymous 
transactions of foreign financial accounts as well as digital assets.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Maltese individual retirement arrangements misusing treaty:
 These arrangements involve U.S. citizens or residents who attempt to 
avoid U.S. tax by contributing to foreign individual retirement 
arrangements in Malta (or potentially other host countries). The 
participants in these transactions typically lack any local connection 
to the host country. By improperly asserting the foreign arrangement as a
 "pension fund" for U.S. tax treaty purposes, the U.S. taxpayer 
misconstrues the relevant treaty provisions and improperly claims an 
exemption from U.S. income tax on gains and earnings in and 
distributions from the foreign individual retirement arrangement.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Puerto Rican and foreign captive insurance:
 U.S. business owners of closely held entities participate in a 
purported insurance arrangement with a Puerto Rican or other foreign 
corporation in which the U.S. business owner has a financial interest. 
The U.S. business owner (or a related entity) claims a deduction for 
amounts paid as premiums for "insurance coverage" provided by a fronting
 carrier, which reinsures the "coverage" with the Puerto Rican or other 
foreign corporation. Despite being labeled as insurance, these 
arrangements lack many of the attributes of legitimate insurance.</li>
 </ul>Where appropriate, the IRS will challenge the purported tax 
benefits from these types of transactions and impose penalties. The IRS 
Criminal Investigation Division is always on the lookout for promoters 
and participants of these types of schemes. Taxpayers should think twice
 before including questionable arrangements like this on their tax 
returns. After all, taxpayers are legally responsible for what's on 
their return, not a promoter making promises and charging high fees. 
Taxpayers can help stop these arrangements by relying on reputable tax 
professionals they know and trust.<h2>Help stop fraud and scams</h2>As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF&nbsp;and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.Mail:Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

IRS: Scams, schemes target taxpayers even after filing season

LOS
 ANGELES (AP) — Travis Kelce is living his best life: On the heels of 
winning the Super Bowl and hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the Kansas 
City Chiefs superstar tight end will cap his successful string with a 
music festival this month.

The two-time Super Bowl winner 
announced Tuesday that he’ll host his first-ever festival called “Kelce 
Jam” during NFL Draft weekend. The inaugural event will be held April 28
 at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas — a metropolitan 
area of Kansas City.

The event will feature performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, DJ duo Loud Luxury and Kansas City rap legend Tech N9ne.

“With
 the draft coming to KC, I think it’s perfect timing for me to throw the
 biggest music festival that’s ever come here,” said Kelce, who believes
 the festival could lure around 15,000 attendees. “We’ll have some 
unreal stage productions, Kansas City’s best food, tons of attractions 
and football-related games. This will be a whole lot of fun.”

Kelce said he’s taking advantage of his surging popularity after the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Super Bowl 57</a>
 in February. Last month, he hosted “Saturday Night Live” and he 
co-hosts a flourishing podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, who plays 
for the Eagles.

In this moment, Kelce is enjoying “every bit of it” and feels ecstatic about his upcoming music festival.

“Every
 door that’s been opened because of winning the Super Bowl, I’ve been 
running through them,” he said. “It’s not going to stop anytime soon – 
especially with Kelce Jam. I think this will be the nail-in-the-coffin 
for the 2022 season.”

Kelce said he wanted to bring some of his 
favorite artists including Machine Gun Kelly – who is an Ohio native 
like himself. He felt inspired to host his own music festival after he 
attended four-time Super Bowl champion <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-gronkowski">Rob Gronkowski</a> ’s Gronk Beach during the NFL Draft in Las Vegas last year.

“I
 took note from what Gronk did last year,” he said. “I want to throw a 
big party knowing that the draft is coming to Kansas City. It’s a 
special event for the city to host. … I’m going to need Kansas City to 
come out and be electric with me.”

LOS
 ANGELES (AP) — Travis Kelce is living his best life: On the heels of 
winning the Super Bowl and hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the Kansas 
City Chiefs superstar tight end will cap his successful string with a 
music festival this month.The two-time Super Bowl winner 
announced Tuesday that he’ll host his first-ever festival called “Kelce 
Jam” during NFL Draft weekend. The inaugural event will be held April 28
 at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas — a metropolitan 
area of Kansas City.The event will feature performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, DJ duo Loud Luxury and Kansas City rap legend Tech N9ne.“With
 the draft coming to KC, I think it’s perfect timing for me to throw the
 biggest music festival that’s ever come here,” said Kelce, who believes
 the festival could lure around 15,000 attendees. “We’ll have some 
unreal stage productions, Kansas City’s best food, tons of attractions 
and football-related games. This will be a whole lot of fun.”Kelce said he’s taking advantage of his surging popularity after the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Super Bowl 57</a>
 in February. Last month, he hosted “Saturday Night Live” and he 
co-hosts a flourishing podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, who plays 
for the Eagles.In this moment, Kelce is enjoying “every bit of it” and feels ecstatic about his upcoming music festival.“Every
 door that’s been opened because of winning the Super Bowl, I’ve been 
running through them,” he said. “It’s not going to stop anytime soon – 
especially with Kelce Jam. I think this will be the nail-in-the-coffin 
for the 2022 season.”Kelce said he wanted to bring some of his 
favorite artists including Machine Gun Kelly – who is an Ohio native 
like himself. He felt inspired to host his own music festival after he 
attended four-time Super Bowl champion <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-gronkowski">Rob Gronkowski</a> ’s Gronk Beach during the NFL Draft in Las Vegas last year.“I
 took note from what Gronk did last year,” he said. “I want to throw a 
big party knowing that the draft is coming to Kansas City. It’s a 
special event for the city to host. … I’m going to need Kansas City to 
come out and be electric with me.”

Chiefs' Travis Kelce to host music festival in Kansas City

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-salaried-worker-buyout-cost-cuts-e479be59daf1b000ff9fbe79ce9baf3d">company's buyout offers</a>, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.

GM
 said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in 
costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end 
of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.

The
 buyouts come at an uncertain time for the auto industry, which is in 
the midst of a transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles.
 GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.

The
 Detroit automaker and its competitors are making huge capital outlays 
to develop and build new electric vehicles, all while continuing to make
 cars, trucks and SUVs with gasoline engines. They're also spending big 
to get scarce minerals and parts needed for EV batteries.

"The 
steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, 
and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared 
statement.

GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by 
reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on 
internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending
 across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement 
said.

At a Bank of America conference Tuesday, GM Chief Financial 
Officer Paul Jacobson said the company will take a $1 billion 
first-quarter charge because of the buyouts, but said it will save $1 
billion per year as the workers leave later in in 2023. “You’ve got a 
pretty quick payback,” Jacobson said.

Last month GM offered 
buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and
 global executives who have been with the company at least two years.

Jacobson
 said the number of workers taking the buyouts is about what GM 
expected. The company made the offers in an effort to reach cost goals 
without layoffs, he said.

“It’s important that we were willing to 
pay for the voluntary program to incent people to go who maybe were 
closer to retirement or had just decided they wanted a change in career 
or lifestyle, at the same time to do everything we can to try to avoid 
involuntaries or layoffs," he said. “And I think we’re in a position 
where we’re going to be able to do that.”

GM's statement didn't 
completely rule out layoffs in the future, though, saying that 
"involuntary separations are not a consideration at this point.”

Employees taking the buyouts had to sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to leave by June 30.

U.S.
 salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of 
service, up to 12 months. They’ll also get COBRA health care and part of
 the bonuses they would receive this year.

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-salaried-worker-buyout-cost-cuts-e479be59daf1b000ff9fbe79ce9baf3d">company's buyout offers</a>, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.GM
 said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in 
costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end 
of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.The
 buyouts come at an uncertain time for the auto industry, which is in 
the midst of a transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles.
 GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.The
 Detroit automaker and its competitors are making huge capital outlays 
to develop and build new electric vehicles, all while continuing to make
 cars, trucks and SUVs with gasoline engines. They're also spending big 
to get scarce minerals and parts needed for EV batteries."The 
steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, 
and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared 
statement.GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by 
reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on 
internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending
 across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement 
said.At a Bank of America conference Tuesday, GM Chief Financial 
Officer Paul Jacobson said the company will take a $1 billion 
first-quarter charge because of the buyouts, but said it will save $1 
billion per year as the workers leave later in in 2023. “You’ve got a 
pretty quick payback,” Jacobson said.Last month GM offered 
buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and
 global executives who have been with the company at least two years.Jacobson
 said the number of workers taking the buyouts is about what GM 
expected. The company made the offers in an effort to reach cost goals 
without layoffs, he said.“It’s important that we were willing to 
pay for the voluntary program to incent people to go who maybe were 
closer to retirement or had just decided they wanted a change in career 
or lifestyle, at the same time to do everything we can to try to avoid 
involuntaries or layoffs," he said. “And I think we’re in a position 
where we’re going to be able to do that.”GM's statement didn't 
completely rule out layoffs in the future, though, saying that 
"involuntary separations are not a consideration at this point.”Employees taking the buyouts had to sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to leave by June 30.U.S.
 salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of 
service, up to 12 months. They’ll also get COBRA health care and part of
 the bonuses they would receive this year.

About 5K GM salaried workers take buyouts, avoiding layoffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday met with his council of advisers on science and technology about the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-risks-petition-elon-musk-steve-wozniak-534f0298d6304687ed080a5119a69962">risks</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-bard-ai-14ee02cb71b32f0e1fc87a4173c03796">opportunities</a> that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence development pose for individual users and national security.

Biden said that “tech companies have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe before making them public."

“AI
 can help deal with some very difficult challenges like disease and 
climate change, but it also has to address the potential risks to our 
society, to our economy, to our national security,” Biden told the 
group.

The White House said the Democratic president would use the
 AI meeting to “discuss the importance of protecting rights and safety 
to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards" and to 
reiterate his call for Congress to pass legislation to protect children 
and curtail data collection by technology companies.

Artificial 
intelligence burst to the forefront in the national and global 
conversation after the release of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, which 
helped spark <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-software-dd445694f34a6b7a0444db9988330229">a race</a>
 among tech giants to unveil similar tools, while raising ethical and 
societal concerns about new tools that can generate convincing prose or 
imagery that looks like it's the work of humans.

Italy last week 
temporarily blocked ChatGPT over data privacy concerns, and European 
Union lawmakers have been negotiating new regulators to limit high-risk 
AI products.

The U.S. so far has taken a different approach. The 
Biden administration last year unveiled a set of far-reaching goals 
aimed at averting harms caused by the rise of AI systems, including 
guidelines for how to protect people’s personal data and limit 
surveillance.

The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights notably did 
not set out specific enforcement actions, but instead was intended as a 
White House call to action for the U.S. government to safeguard digital 
and civil rights in an AI-fueled world.

Biden's council, known as 
PCAST, is composed of science, engineering, technology and medical 
experts and is co-chaired by the Cabinet-ranked director of the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar.

Asked if AI is dangerous, Biden said Tuesday, “It remains to be seen. Could be.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday met with his council of advisers on science and technology about the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-risks-petition-elon-musk-steve-wozniak-534f0298d6304687ed080a5119a69962">risks</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-bard-ai-14ee02cb71b32f0e1fc87a4173c03796">opportunities</a> that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence development pose for individual users and national security.Biden said that “tech companies have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe before making them public."“AI
 can help deal with some very difficult challenges like disease and 
climate change, but it also has to address the potential risks to our 
society, to our economy, to our national security,” Biden told the 
group.The White House said the Democratic president would use the
 AI meeting to “discuss the importance of protecting rights and safety 
to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards" and to 
reiterate his call for Congress to pass legislation to protect children 
and curtail data collection by technology companies.Artificial 
intelligence burst to the forefront in the national and global 
conversation after the release of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, which 
helped spark <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-software-dd445694f34a6b7a0444db9988330229">a race</a>
 among tech giants to unveil similar tools, while raising ethical and 
societal concerns about new tools that can generate convincing prose or 
imagery that looks like it's the work of humans.Italy last week 
temporarily blocked ChatGPT over data privacy concerns, and European 
Union lawmakers have been negotiating new regulators to limit high-risk 
AI products.The U.S. so far has taken a different approach. The 
Biden administration last year unveiled a set of far-reaching goals 
aimed at averting harms caused by the rise of AI systems, including 
guidelines for how to protect people’s personal data and limit 
surveillance.The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights notably did 
not set out specific enforcement actions, but instead was intended as a 
White House call to action for the U.S. government to safeguard digital 
and civil rights in an AI-fueled world.Biden's council, known as 
PCAST, is composed of science, engineering, technology and medical 
experts and is co-chaired by the Cabinet-ranked director of the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar.Asked if AI is dangerous, Biden said Tuesday, “It remains to be seen. Could be.”

Biden says tech companies must ensure AI products are safe

Popular food delivery website Door Dash seemingly was overwhelmed by a fast-food restaurant's hour-long offer and was unavailable as of early Friday evening.

Wendy's announced its "Biggie Power Hour" <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/03/wendys-has-a-biggie-deal-with-doordash-to-get-up-to-30-off-your-order-this-week.html">earlier this week</a> — $30 off of an order than included a Biggie Bag — but only from 5 to 6 p.m. Central.

<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/doordash/">DownDetector</a>, which monitors the status of popular websites, showed a dramatic spike in reports from Door Dash users beginning just before 5 p.m. Central.&nbsp;

Via its Twitter account, Door Dash said it was working to resolve the issue and advised users to use the mobile app rather than the website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680302036119.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Popular food delivery website Door Dash seemingly was overwhelmed by a fast-food restaurant's hour-long offer and was unavailable as of early Friday evening.Wendy's announced its "Biggie Power Hour" <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/03/wendys-has-a-biggie-deal-with-doordash-to-get-up-to-30-off-your-order-this-week.html">earlier this week</a> — $30 off of an order than included a Biggie Bag — but only from 5 to 6 p.m. Central.<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/doordash/">DownDetector</a>, which monitors the status of popular websites, showed a dramatic spike in reports from Door Dash users beginning just before 5 p.m. Central.&nbsp;Via its Twitter account, Door Dash said it was working to resolve the issue and advised users to use the mobile app rather than the website.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are currently experiencing issues with our consumer platform. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.&mdash; DoorDash Help (@DoorDash_Help) <a href="https://twitter.com/DoorDash_Help/status/1641928254360801280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680301883800.png" alt="Via DownDetector.com" />
 <figcaption>Via DownDetector.com</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680302243165.png" alt="Via DownDetector.com" />
 <figcaption>Via DownDetector.com</figcaption>
 </figure>— Post News Network

🍔 Big deal from Wendy's coincides with Door Dash issues Friday

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today cautioned taxpayers 
to resist questionable tax practitioners and independent promoters 
selling schemes aimed at wealthy taxpayers.

As part of the IRS annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>,
 these potentially abusive arrangements involve things like Charitable 
Remainder Annuity Trusts and monetized installment sales. These tools 
can be misused by promoters, who can advertise these schemes to attract 
clients. The promoters misapply the rules and leave the filers 
vulnerable."

"The IRS remains concerned about abusive tax arrangements, and they 
remain a focal point for our enforcement efforts," said IRS Commissioner
 Danny Werfel. "Taxpayers should beware of potentially abusive 
arrangements and promoters pushing them. People should seek out trusted,
 reputable tax advice and not be fooled by aggressive advertising and 
sales pitches."

This highlights day ten in the IRS annual Dirty Dozen campaign – a 
list of 12 scams and schemes that put taxpayers and the tax professional
 community at risk of losing money, personal information, data and more.
 Some items on the list are new and some are making a return visit. 
While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes at large.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT)

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-remainder-trusts">Charitable Remainder Trusts</a>
 are irrevocable trusts that let individuals donate assets to charity 
and draw annual income for life or for a specific time period. The IRS 
examines charitable remainder trusts to ensure they correctly report 
trust income and distributions to beneficiaries, file required tax 
documents and follow applicable laws and rules. A charitable remainder 
annuity trust (CRAT) pays a specific dollar amount each year.

Unfortunately, these trusts are sometimes misused by promoters, 
advisors and taxpayers to try to eliminate ordinary income and/or 
capital gain on the sale of property. In abusive transactions of this 
type, property with a fair market value in excess of its basis is 
transferred to a CRAT. Taxpayers may wrongly claim the transfer of the 
property to the CRAT results in an increase in basis to fair market 
value as if the property had been sold to the trust. The CRAT then sells
 the property but does not recognize gain due to the claimed step-up in 
basis. Next, the CRAT purchases a single premium immediate annuity 
(SPIA) with the proceeds from the sale of the property.

By misapplying the rules under sections 72 and 664, the taxpayer, or 
beneficiary, treats the remaining payment as an excluded portion 
representing a return of investment for which no tax is due.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that they are legally responsible for what 
is on their tax return, not the practitioner or promoter who entices 
them to sign on to an abusive transaction.

In these potentially abusive transactions, promoters find taxpayers 
seeking to defer the recognition of gain upon the sale of appreciated 
property. They facilitate a purported monetized installment sale for the
 taxpayer in exchange for a fee. These installment sales occur when an 
intermediary purchases appreciated property from a seller in exchange 
for an installment note. The notes typically provide for payments of 
interest only, with principal being paid at the end of the term. In 
these arrangements, the seller gets the lion's share of the proceeds, 
but improperly delays the recognition of gain on the appreciated 
property until the final payment on the installment note, often years 
later.

These are examples of potentially abusive arrangements that taxpayers
 should avoid, many of which are now advertised online. The IRS 
recommends that taxpayers considering these types of arrangements 
carefully review the legal requirements underlying them and consult with
 competent, independent, qualified advisors before engaging or claiming 
any purported tax benefit.

Where appropriate, the IRS may assert accuracy-related penalties 
ranging from 20% to 40% of an underpayment of tax, or a civil fraud 
penalty of 75% of any underpayment of tax related to transactions like 
those listed here. However, this is not an exclusive list of 
transactions the IRS is scrutinizing, and taxpayers and practitioners 
should always be wary of participating in transactions that seem "too 
good to be true."

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF and any supporting materials to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward.

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today cautioned taxpayers 
to resist questionable tax practitioners and independent promoters 
selling schemes aimed at wealthy taxpayers.As part of the IRS annual <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen">Dirty Dozen</a>,
 these potentially abusive arrangements involve things like Charitable 
Remainder Annuity Trusts and monetized installment sales. These tools 
can be misused by promoters, who can advertise these schemes to attract 
clients. The promoters misapply the rules and leave the filers 
vulnerable.""The IRS remains concerned about abusive tax arrangements, and they 
remain a focal point for our enforcement efforts," said IRS Commissioner
 Danny Werfel. "Taxpayers should beware of potentially abusive 
arrangements and promoters pushing them. People should seek out trusted,
 reputable tax advice and not be fooled by aggressive advertising and 
sales pitches."This highlights day ten in the IRS annual Dirty Dozen campaign – a 
list of 12 scams and schemes that put taxpayers and the tax professional
 community at risk of losing money, personal information, data and more.
 Some items on the list are new and some are making a return visit. 
While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency 
enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers and the tax 
professional community about various scams and schemes at large.<h2>Schemes aimed at high-income filers</h2><h2>Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT)</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-remainder-trusts">Charitable Remainder Trusts</a>
 are irrevocable trusts that let individuals donate assets to charity 
and draw annual income for life or for a specific time period. The IRS 
examines charitable remainder trusts to ensure they correctly report 
trust income and distributions to beneficiaries, file required tax 
documents and follow applicable laws and rules. A charitable remainder 
annuity trust (CRAT) pays a specific dollar amount each year.Unfortunately, these trusts are sometimes misused by promoters, 
advisors and taxpayers to try to eliminate ordinary income and/or 
capital gain on the sale of property. In abusive transactions of this 
type, property with a fair market value in excess of its basis is 
transferred to a CRAT. Taxpayers may wrongly claim the transfer of the 
property to the CRAT results in an increase in basis to fair market 
value as if the property had been sold to the trust. The CRAT then sells
 the property but does not recognize gain due to the claimed step-up in 
basis. Next, the CRAT purchases a single premium immediate annuity 
(SPIA) with the proceeds from the sale of the property.By misapplying the rules under sections 72 and 664, the taxpayer, or 
beneficiary, treats the remaining payment as an excluded portion 
representing a return of investment for which no tax is due.The IRS reminds taxpayers that they are legally responsible for what 
is on their tax return, not the practitioner or promoter who entices 
them to sign on to an abusive transaction.<h2>Monetized Installment Sales</h2>In these potentially abusive transactions, promoters find taxpayers 
seeking to defer the recognition of gain upon the sale of appreciated 
property. They facilitate a purported monetized installment sale for the
 taxpayer in exchange for a fee. These installment sales occur when an 
intermediary purchases appreciated property from a seller in exchange 
for an installment note. The notes typically provide for payments of 
interest only, with principal being paid at the end of the term. In 
these arrangements, the seller gets the lion's share of the proceeds, 
but improperly delays the recognition of gain on the appreciated 
property until the final payment on the installment note, often years 
later.These are examples of potentially abusive arrangements that taxpayers
 should avoid, many of which are now advertised online. The IRS 
recommends that taxpayers considering these types of arrangements 
carefully review the legal requirements underlying them and consult with
 competent, independent, qualified advisors before engaging or claiming 
any purported tax benefit.Where appropriate, the IRS may assert accuracy-related penalties 
ranging from 20% to 40% of an underpayment of tax, or a civil fraud 
penalty of 75% of any underpayment of tax related to transactions like 
those listed here. However, this is not an exclusive list of 
transactions the IRS is scrutinizing, and taxpayers and practitioners 
should always be wary of participating in transactions that seem "too 
good to be true."<h2>Report tax fraud</h2>As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages 
people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax 
schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare 
improper returns.To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14242.pdf">Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers</a>PDF and any supporting materials to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.Mail:Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center 
Stop MS5040 
24000 Avila Road 
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405 
Fax: 877-477-9135Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office">IRS Whistleblower Office</a>&nbsp;for possible monetary reward.For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-tax-schemes-and-abusive-tax-return-preparers-irs-lead-development-center">Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers</a>.

IRS: New schemes targeting high-income tax filers

Russia's
 security service arrested an American reporter for The Wall Street 
Journal on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent has 
been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War. The newspaper 
denied the allegations and demanded his release.

Evan Gershkovich,
 31, was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, about 
1,670 kilometers (1,035 miles) east of Moscow. Russia's Federal Security
 Service accused him of trying to obtain classified information.

Known
 by the acronym FSB, the service is the top domestic security agency and
 main successor to the Soviet-era KGB. It alleged that Gershkovich “was 
acting on instructions from the American side to collect information 
about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian 
military-industrial complex that constitutes a state secret.”

The 
Journal "vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the 
immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan 
Gershkovich,” the newspaper said. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and 
his family.”

The arrest comes at a moment of bitter tensions between the West and Moscow over <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its war in Ukraine</a> and as the Kremlin intensifies a crackdown on opposition activists, independent journalists and civil society groups.

The
 sweeping campaign of repression is unprecedented since the Soviet era. 
Activists say it often means the very profession of journalism is 
criminalized, along with the activities of ordinary Russians who oppose 
the war.

Earlier this week, a Russian court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crackdown-opposition-father-drawing-7ef43a8fb8f0110638b96a677a222b2b">convicted a father</a>
 over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two 
years in prison. His 13-year-old daughter was sent to an orphanage.

Gershkovich
 is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in 
Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow 
correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. 
Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an 
employee of the Soviet Union's United Nations mission who was arrested 
by the FBI, also on spying charges.

At a hearing Thursday, a Moscow court quickly ruled that Gershkovich would be kept behind bars pending the investigation.

While
 previous American detainees have been freed in prisoner swaps, a top 
Russian official said it was too early to talk about any such deal.

In
 Washington, the Biden administration said it had spoken with the 
Journal and Gershkovich's family. White House press secretary Karine 
Jean-Pierre condemned the arrest "in the strongest terms" and urged 
Americans to heed government warnings not to travel to Russia.

The
 State Department was in direct touch with the Russian government and 
seeking access to Gershkovich, Jean-Pierre said. The administration has 
no “specific indication” that journalists in Russia are being targeted, 
she said.

Gershkovich, who covers Russia, Ukraine and other 
ex-Soviet nations as a correspondent in the Journal’s Moscow bureau, 
could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. Prominent
 lawyers noted that past investigations into espionage cases took a year
 to 18 months, during which time he may have little contact with the 
outside world.

The FSB noted that Gershkovich had accreditation 
from the Russian Foreign Ministry to work as a journalist, but ministry 
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that Gershkovich was using his 
credentials as cover for "activities that have nothing to do with 
journalism.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It 
is not about a suspicion, it is about the fact that he was caught 
red-handed.”

Gershkovich speaks fluent Russian and had previously 
worked for the French news agency Agence France-Presse and The New York 
Times. He was a 2014 graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, where he was a
 philosophy major who cooperated with local papers and championed a free
 press, according to Clayton Rose, the college's president.

His 
last report from Moscow, published earlier this week, focused on the 
Russian economy’s slowdown amid Western sanctions imposed after Russian 
troops invaded Ukraine last year.

Associated PressRussia's
 security service arrested an American reporter for The Wall Street 
Journal on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent has 
been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War. The newspaper 
denied the allegations and demanded his release.Evan Gershkovich,
 31, was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, about 
1,670 kilometers (1,035 miles) east of Moscow. Russia's Federal Security
 Service accused him of trying to obtain classified information.Known
 by the acronym FSB, the service is the top domestic security agency and
 main successor to the Soviet-era KGB. It alleged that Gershkovich “was 
acting on instructions from the American side to collect information 
about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian 
military-industrial complex that constitutes a state secret.”The 
Journal "vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the 
immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan 
Gershkovich,” the newspaper said. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and 
his family.”The arrest comes at a moment of bitter tensions between the West and Moscow over <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its war in Ukraine</a> and as the Kremlin intensifies a crackdown on opposition activists, independent journalists and civil society groups.The
 sweeping campaign of repression is unprecedented since the Soviet era. 
Activists say it often means the very profession of journalism is 
criminalized, along with the activities of ordinary Russians who oppose 
the war.Earlier this week, a Russian court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crackdown-opposition-father-drawing-7ef43a8fb8f0110638b96a677a222b2b">convicted a father</a>
 over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two 
years in prison. His 13-year-old daughter was sent to an orphanage.Gershkovich
 is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in 
Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow 
correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. 
Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an 
employee of the Soviet Union's United Nations mission who was arrested 
by the FBI, also on spying charges.At a hearing Thursday, a Moscow court quickly ruled that Gershkovich would be kept behind bars pending the investigation.While
 previous American detainees have been freed in prisoner swaps, a top 
Russian official said it was too early to talk about any such deal.In
 Washington, the Biden administration said it had spoken with the 
Journal and Gershkovich's family. White House press secretary Karine 
Jean-Pierre condemned the arrest "in the strongest terms" and urged 
Americans to heed government warnings not to travel to Russia.The
 State Department was in direct touch with the Russian government and 
seeking access to Gershkovich, Jean-Pierre said. The administration has 
no “specific indication” that journalists in Russia are being targeted, 
she said.Gershkovich, who covers Russia, Ukraine and other 
ex-Soviet nations as a correspondent in the Journal’s Moscow bureau, 
could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. Prominent
 lawyers noted that past investigations into espionage cases took a year
 to 18 months, during which time he may have little contact with the 
outside world.The FSB noted that Gershkovich had accreditation 
from the Russian Foreign Ministry to work as a journalist, but ministry 
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that Gershkovich was using his 
credentials as cover for "activities that have nothing to do with 
journalism.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It 
is not about a suspicion, it is about the fact that he was caught 
red-handed.”Gershkovich speaks fluent Russian and had previously 
worked for the French news agency Agence France-Presse and The New York 
Times. He was a 2014 graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, where he was a
 philosophy major who cooperated with local papers and championed a free
 press, according to Clayton Rose, the college's president.His 
last report from Moscow, published earlier this week, focused on the 
Russian economy’s slowdown amid Western sanctions imposed after Russian 
troops invaded Ukraine last year.Ivan Pavlov, a prominent Russian
 defense attorney who has worked on many espionage and treason cases, 
said Gershkovich's case is the first criminal espionage charge against a
 foreign journalist in post-Soviet Russia.“That unwritten rule 
not to touch accredited foreign journalists, has stopped working,” said 
Pavlov, a member of the First Department legal aid group.Pavlov 
said the case against Gershkovich was built to give Russia “trump cards”
 for a future prisoner exchange and will likely be resolved “not by the 
means of the law, but by political, diplomatic means.”Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov ruled out any quick swap.“I
 wouldn’t even consider this issue now because people who were 
previously swapped had already served their sentences,” Ryabkov said, 
according to Russian news agencies.In December, WNBA star Brittney Griner <a href="https://apnews.com/54de0cc371615a7165053a76eff17380">was freed</a> after 10 months behind bars in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.Another American, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sports-paul-whelan-government-and-politics-537c7eb77baee6f0342dbde07c184763">Paul Whelan</a>,
 a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia 
since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. 
government have said are baseless.“Our family is sorry to hear 
that another American family will have to experience the same trauma 
that we have had to endure for the past 1,553 days,” Whelan's brother 
David said in an emailed statement. “It sounds as though the frame-up of
 Mr. Gershkovich was the same as it was in Paul’s case.”Jeanne 
Cavelier, of the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, said 
Gershkovich's arrest “looks like a retaliation measure of Russia against
 the United States.”"We are very alarmed because it is probably a
 way to intimidate all Western journalists that are trying to 
investigate aspects of the war on the ground in Russia,” said Cavelier, 
head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk at the Paris-based group.Another
 prominent lawyer with the First Department group, Yevgeny Smirnov, said
 that those arrested on espionage and treason charges are usually held 
at the FSB's Lefortovo prison, where they are usually placed in total 
isolation, without phone calls, visitors or even access to newspapers. 
At most, they can receive letters, often delayed by weeks. Smirnov 
called these conditions “tools of suppression.”Smirnov and Pavlov
 both said that any trial would be held behind closed doors. According 
to Pavlov, there have been no acquittals in treason and espionage cases 
in Russia since 1999.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

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