WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress should provide the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-xavier-becerra-congress-29aef791e891a110677e918fb65cd733">$22.5 billion President Joe Biden wants for continuing the battle against COVID-19</a>&nbsp;without cutting other programs to pay for it, senior administration officials said Tuesday.

And if Republicans continue to insist that additional federal efforts to combat the pandemic must be paid for by culling spending elsewhere, the GOP should specify what it wants to cut, the officials said.

The remarks came nearly two weeks after a new round of COVID-19 funding was pulled out of a $1.5 trillion government-wide measure after rank-and-file Democrats rejected cuts that party leaders had negotiated with Republicans to pay for it. Though Biden signed the overall bill into law, the deletion of the COVID-19 funds was a major setback for Biden and Democrats.

“Our concern right now is that we are going to run out of money to provide the types of vaccines, boosters, treatments to the immunocompromised, and others free of charge that will help to continue to battle” the pandemic, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.

Top House Democrats have said they believe they will have to find savings to pay for the additional spending to move legislation through Congress. The biggest hurdle would be in the Senate, where Democrats will need at least 10 GOP votes to reach the 60 votes needed to move most significant bills to passage.

The White House has said the government is running out of funds for vaccines, testing and treatments, even as Omicron variant BA.2, which is fueling a virus resurgence in Europe and Asia, is appearing increasingly in the U.S.

The senior administration officials said the government has bought the doses it would need to vaccinate children up to age 5. But they said they only have enough vaccines to administer a fourth shot — which drug makers are recommending for many people — to those with compromised immune systems.

The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity as a requirement for reporters to participate in the telephone briefing.

Republicans say savings to pay for the new expenditures should be found from the trillions that Congress has already provided since the pandemic began two years ago. That includes a $1.9 trillion measure Democrats pushed through Congress over unanimous GOP opposition a year ago.

Asked about the administration officials’ comments, a spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., referred a reporter to comments McConnell made on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

McConnell said Republicans would consider the administration’s request but said they should use “some of this massive amount that was spent last year that’s not out the door yet. So let’s take a look at how to pay for it, and then we’ll be happy to decide whether or not to support it.”

GOP leaders say the administration has not provided figures they’ve sought on how much money remains unspent. The administration officials in Monday’s call said they’ve repeatedly provided plentiful data on the subject, and said Republicans have agreed to not require savings to pay for past emergencies.

Only around $300 billion of last year’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure remains unspent and not legally committed to a specific program or recipient, the administration officials said.

But around $240 billion of that has been promised to specific recipients like states and cities, who have built the amounts into their budgets, the administration officials said. The administration has held back some of the rest for emergencies, they said.

More than $100 billion of the money that’s so far unspent is for pandemic aid to state and local governments, and nearly that amount is for assistance to some pension plans, according to administration documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Biden’s pandemic spending request had been pared down to $15.6 billion as part of the compromise House bill. It would have been partly paid for by cutting billions in COVID-19 aid that last year’s bill had provided to 30 state governments but had not yet been sent to them.

Many Democrats refused to vote for the overall package until the cuts in state aid were removed, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ultimately agreed to do. Top Republicans had demanded the savings in exchange for supporting the legislation, and Pelosi dropped all the COVID-19 spending after substitute cuts were not found.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647908095685.png" alt="The White House has said the government is running out of funds for vaccines, testing and treatments, even as Omicron variant BA.2, which is fueling a virus resurgence in Europe and Asia, is appearing increasingly in the U.S.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House has said the government is running out of funds for vaccines, testing and treatments, even as Omicron variant BA.2, which is fueling a virus resurgence in Europe and Asia, is appearing increasingly in the U.S.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress should provide the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-xavier-becerra-congress-29aef791e891a110677e918fb65cd733">$22.5 billion President Joe Biden wants for continuing the battle against COVID-19</a>&nbsp;without cutting other programs to pay for it, senior administration officials said Tuesday.And if Republicans continue to insist that additional federal efforts to combat the pandemic must be paid for by culling spending elsewhere, the GOP should specify what it wants to cut, the officials said.The remarks came nearly two weeks after a new round of COVID-19 funding was pulled out of a $1.5 trillion government-wide measure after rank-and-file Democrats rejected cuts that party leaders had negotiated with Republicans to pay for it. Though Biden signed the overall bill into law, the deletion of the COVID-19 funds was a major setback for Biden and Democrats.“Our concern right now is that we are going to run out of money to provide the types of vaccines, boosters, treatments to the immunocompromised, and others free of charge that will help to continue to battle” the pandemic, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.Top House Democrats have said they believe they will have to find savings to pay for the additional spending to move legislation through Congress. The biggest hurdle would be in the Senate, where Democrats will need at least 10 GOP votes to reach the 60 votes needed to move most significant bills to passage.The White House has said the government is running out of funds for vaccines, testing and treatments, even as Omicron variant BA.2, which is fueling a virus resurgence in Europe and Asia, is appearing increasingly in the U.S.The senior administration officials said the government has bought the doses it would need to vaccinate children up to age 5. But they said they only have enough vaccines to administer a fourth shot — which drug makers are recommending for many people — to those with compromised immune systems.The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity as a requirement for reporters to participate in the telephone briefing.Republicans say savings to pay for the new expenditures should be found from the trillions that Congress has already provided since the pandemic began two years ago. That includes a $1.9 trillion measure Democrats pushed through Congress over unanimous GOP opposition a year ago.Asked about the administration officials’ comments, a spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., referred a reporter to comments McConnell made on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.McConnell said Republicans would consider the administration’s request but said they should use “some of this massive amount that was spent last year that’s not out the door yet. So let’s take a look at how to pay for it, and then we’ll be happy to decide whether or not to support it.”GOP leaders say the administration has not provided figures they’ve sought on how much money remains unspent. The administration officials in Monday’s call said they’ve repeatedly provided plentiful data on the subject, and said Republicans have agreed to not require savings to pay for past emergencies.Only around $300 billion of last year’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure remains unspent and not legally committed to a specific program or recipient, the administration officials said.But around $240 billion of that has been promised to specific recipients like states and cities, who have built the amounts into their budgets, the administration officials said. The administration has held back some of the rest for emergencies, they said.More than $100 billion of the money that’s so far unspent is for pandemic aid to state and local governments, and nearly that amount is for assistance to some pension plans, according to administration documents obtained by The Associated Press.Biden’s pandemic spending request had been pared down to $15.6 billion as part of the compromise House bill. It would have been partly paid for by cutting billions in COVID-19 aid that last year’s bill had provided to 30 state governments but had not yet been sent to them.Many Democrats refused to vote for the overall package until the cuts in state aid were removed, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ultimately agreed to do. Top Republicans had demanded the savings in exchange for supporting the legislation, and Pelosi dropped all the COVID-19 spending after substitute cuts were not found.

 Biden still wants additional $22.5 billion to battle COVID

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Police are investigating a shooting outside a bowling alley in Sioux Falls.

 According to authorities, the shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. Monday.

 Police spokesman Sam Clemens says a 28-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his neck as he was walking from his car to Eastway Bowl. 

Clemens says witnesses heard between two and four gunshots and police recovered two shell casings from the parking lot. 

Police investigators are still looking into what happened.

By Associated PressSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Police are investigating a shooting outside a bowling alley in Sioux Falls. According to authorities, the shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. Monday. Police spokesman Sam Clemens says a 28-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his neck as he was walking from his car to Eastway Bowl. The gunfire also damaged the building. Clemens says witnesses heard between two and four gunshots and police recovered two shell casings from the parking lot. Police investigators are still looking into what happened.

Shooting outside South Dakota bowling alley injures 1 person

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/sasse-sends-11th-hour-letter-to-get-wwii-hero-french-into-post-office-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 — U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s office said Monday that the effort by Nebraska 
congressional colleagues to rename the Benson branch post office after a
 Navy World War II hero with Omaha ties now has what it needs to 
advance.

Sasse
 spokesman Taylor Sliva confirmed that Sasse wrote a letter of support 
Monday to the Senate Homeland Security and General Affairs Committee, 
which handles post office naming bills.

“Petty
 Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French is an American hero,” Sasse 
wrote. “Should the Committee consider and favorably report H.R. 4168, I 
intend to support it if it is presented to the full Senate, including by
 supporting unanimous consent requests to expedite its consideration as 
needed.”

Sasse’s
 letter was the last step to including Omaha Navy veteran Charles 
Jackson French in the bill naming post offices. The rest of the 
delegation co-sponsored the Senate and House bills in mid-2021. As 
recently as Sunday, Sasse had not signed on <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/20/sasse-has-tuesday-deadline-to-get-post-office-named-for-omaha-wwii-hero/">as a sponsor or sent a letter</a>.&nbsp;

French
 saved the lives of 15 sailors after Japanese forces sank their ship in 
1942. Chester French, Charles’ nephew, said Monday he wanted to steer 
clear of politics and said he was glad Sasse wrote.

“I guess his heart was touched,” French said.

Family
 members, including Roscoe Harris, another of Charles French’s nephews, 
have said the post office naming bill was important because it told an 
American story about the value of sacrifice.

French’s
 story resonates because the Navy in those days didn’t recognize heroism
 by Black service members in the same way it did heroic acts by white 
service members, military experts said.

The
 Navy also limited the types of assignments given to Black sailors. 
French was a mess attendant in the galley, or kitchen, of the USS 
Gregory when it sank on Sept. 5, 1942.

Staff
 members for the Homeland Security and General Affairs Committee said 
Friday that postal renaming bills require support from both senators in a
 state to be considered, either as a co-sponsor of the bill or by 
sending a letter of support.

Sasse’s
 staff said he had campaigned on not sponsoring bills to rename post 
offices. But this weekend Sasse did not completely close the door on the
 possibility of writing a letter.&nbsp;

Sasse
 did co-sponsor a 2020 bill to rename a street near the Chinese embassy 
in Washington, D.C., after a Chinese man who tried to tell the world 
more about COVID-19.

Post
 office renaming bills rarely need more than a perfunctory voice vote 
once they clear the committee. Staff expect the bill to clear the 
committee this week and get a floor vote soon.

Sen.
 Deb Fischer, R-Neb., led the Senate effort to get French’s name 
included in the bill. She had encouraged Sasse to join other members of 
the Nebraska congressional delegation in honoring French’s service and 
his family’s wishes. Her office had no immediate comment on Sasse’s 
decision to send a&nbsp; letter.

Rep.
 Don Bacon, R-Neb., the initial sponsor of the House bill and a retired 
Air Force brigadier general, said he appreciated Fischer’s work and 
Sasse’s willingness to write the letter.

“I
 know the French family is thankful, and I believe the heroism of Petty 
Officer French is now part of Omaha’s legacy with this naming of the 
Benson Post Office,” Bacon said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647961030880.png" alt="Nebraska’s congressional delegation is trying to get the Benson post office branch at 63rd and Maple Streets named after Navy World War II hero Charles Jackson French. They needed a signature or letter from Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. (Cate Folsom/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska’s congressional delegation is trying to get the Benson post office branch at 63rd and Maple Streets named after Navy World War II hero Charles Jackson French. They needed a signature or letter from Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. (Cate Folsom/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/sasse-sends-11th-hour-letter-to-get-wwii-hero-french-into-post-office-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 — U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s office said Monday that the effort by Nebraska 
congressional colleagues to rename the Benson branch post office after a
 Navy World War II hero with Omaha ties now has what it needs to 
advance.Sasse
 spokesman Taylor Sliva confirmed that Sasse wrote a letter of support 
Monday to the Senate Homeland Security and General Affairs Committee, 
which handles post office naming bills.“Petty
 Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French is an American hero,” Sasse 
wrote. “Should the Committee consider and favorably report H.R. 4168, I 
intend to support it if it is presented to the full Senate, including by
 supporting unanimous consent requests to expedite its consideration as 
needed.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647961090088.jpeg" alt="The Baltimore Afro American newspaper honored French with this photograph and story in November 1942. (Bruce Wigo)" />
 <figcaption>The Baltimore Afro American newspaper honored French with this photograph and story in November 1942. (Bruce Wigo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sasse’s
 letter was the last step to including Omaha Navy veteran Charles 
Jackson French in the bill naming post offices. The rest of the 
delegation co-sponsored the Senate and House bills in mid-2021. As 
recently as Sunday, Sasse had not signed on <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/20/sasse-has-tuesday-deadline-to-get-post-office-named-for-omaha-wwii-hero/">as a sponsor or sent a letter</a>.&nbsp;French
 saved the lives of 15 sailors after Japanese forces sank their ship in 
1942. Chester French, Charles’ nephew, said Monday he wanted to steer 
clear of politics and said he was glad Sasse wrote.“I guess his heart was touched,” French said.Family
 members, including Roscoe Harris, another of Charles French’s nephews, 
have said the post office naming bill was important because it told an 
American story about the value of sacrifice.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647961130939.jpeg" alt=" This is a painting commissioned for the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It shows Charles Jackson French swimming injured sailors to safety after their ship sank in World War II. (Courtesy of International Swimming Hall of Fame.)" />
 <figcaption> This is a painting commissioned for the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It shows Charles Jackson French swimming injured sailors to safety after their ship sank in World War II. (Courtesy of International Swimming Hall of Fame.)</figcaption>
 </figure>French’s
 story resonates because the Navy in those days didn’t recognize heroism
 by Black service members in the same way it did heroic acts by white 
service members, military experts said.The
 Navy also limited the types of assignments given to Black sailors. 
French was a mess attendant in the galley, or kitchen, of the USS 
Gregory when it sank on Sept. 5, 1942.Staff
 members for the Homeland Security and General Affairs Committee said 
Friday that postal renaming bills require support from both senators in a
 state to be considered, either as a co-sponsor of the bill or by 
sending a letter of support.Sasse’s
 staff said he had campaigned on not sponsoring bills to rename post 
offices. But this weekend Sasse did not completely close the door on the
 possibility of writing a letter.&nbsp;Sasse
 did co-sponsor a 2020 bill to rename a street near the Chinese embassy 
in Washington, D.C., after a Chinese man who tried to tell the world 
more about COVID-19.Post
 office renaming bills rarely need more than a perfunctory voice vote 
once they clear the committee. Staff expect the bill to clear the 
committee this week and get a floor vote soon.Sen.
 Deb Fischer, R-Neb., led the Senate effort to get French’s name 
included in the bill. She had encouraged Sasse to join other members of 
the Nebraska congressional delegation in honoring French’s service and 
his family’s wishes. Her office had no immediate comment on Sasse’s 
decision to send a&nbsp; letter.Rep.
 Don Bacon, R-Neb., the initial sponsor of the House bill and a retired 
Air Force brigadier general, said he appreciated Fischer’s work and 
Sasse’s willingness to write the letter.“I
 know the French family is thankful, and I believe the heroism of Petty 
Officer French is now part of Omaha’s legacy with this naming of the 
Benson Post Office,” Bacon said.

Sasse sends 11th-hour letter to get WWII hero into post office bill

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/state-audit-reports-nearly-278000-went-wrongfully-to-public-retirees-who-already-had-died/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Nearly
 $278,000 from the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems was 
wrongfully sent to 11 people — before authorities figured out those 
people were no longer alive.

One
 woman had been dead for seven years. That’s 83 months of benefit 
payments worth $105,250, according to an audit released this week by the
 State Auditor of Public Accounts.

No
 money has been recouped in the case of the NPERS member who died in 
2014. Her payments were halted in 2021, and the case has been forwarded 
to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

A law enforcement investigation is underway for potential fraud, said Craig Kubicek, deputy state auditor.&nbsp;

“For it to go on that long is probably unusual — we’re talking seven years,” he said.

No
 names or responses from families of the deceased were included in the 
audit report. While some plans may allow benefits to go to a beneficiary
 after a death, Kubicek said these plans were not those types.&nbsp;

He
 said new procedures, based upon auditor recommendations, have been put 
in place to avoid future mistakes in the syste, which covers public 
employees of schools, judges and the Nebraska State Patrol.

In
 the past, NPERS relied on two checks to determine whether a member had 
died: obituary sections in three newspapers; and a vendor who performed a
 “death audit” every other month that cross-referenced member names with
 public sources.

Kubicek
 said state auditors noted inefficiencies in that process in 2020, and 
NPERS switched to a different vendor. That new provider identified the 
cases of the woman who had died in 2014 as well as seven others. Her 
payments halted in February 2021, as did six others.

The
 state audit team found three additional cases and recommended that 
NPERS strengthen its procedures further by obtaining a list of death 
certificates from the Department of Health and Human Services for 
comparison against benefit payment records. NPERS agreed.

With regard to the woman who had died in 
2014, the audit team found that NPERS had processed two changes to the 
member’s banking information – one a few months after she died, and the 
other in early 2019 — “without adequate documentation from the member.” 
In both instances, NPERS received notification of the changes from the 
Department of Administration Services but did not confirm the changes 
with the member prior to making the changes in the system.

Kubicek
 said loss of NPERS funds can pose financial risk beyond members. If the
 fund would ever come up short, he said, the state might be asked to 
kick in financial assistance.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/21/state-audit-reports-nearly-278000-went-wrongfully-to-public-retirees-who-already-had-died/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Nearly
 $278,000 from the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems was 
wrongfully sent to 11 people — before authorities figured out those 
people were no longer alive.One
 woman had been dead for seven years. That’s 83 months of benefit 
payments worth $105,250, according to an audit released this week by the
 State Auditor of Public Accounts.No
 money has been recouped in the case of the NPERS member who died in 
2014. Her payments were halted in 2021, and the case has been forwarded 
to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.<h2>‘Potential fraud’</h2>A law enforcement investigation is underway for potential fraud, said Craig Kubicek, deputy state auditor.&nbsp;“For it to go on that long is probably unusual — we’re talking seven years,” he said.No
 names or responses from families of the deceased were included in the 
audit report. While some plans may allow benefits to go to a beneficiary
 after a death, Kubicek said these plans were not those types.&nbsp;He
 said new procedures, based upon auditor recommendations, have been put 
in place to avoid future mistakes in the syste, which covers public 
employees of schools, judges and the Nebraska State Patrol.In
 the past, NPERS relied on two checks to determine whether a member had 
died: obituary sections in three newspapers; and a vendor who performed a
 “death audit” every other month that cross-referenced member names with
 public sources.<h2>New vendor</h2>Kubicek
 said state auditors noted inefficiencies in that process in 2020, and 
NPERS switched to a different vendor. That new provider identified the 
cases of the woman who had died in 2014 as well as seven others. Her 
payments halted in February 2021, as did six others.The
 state audit team found three additional cases and recommended that 
NPERS strengthen its procedures further by obtaining a list of death 
certificates from the Department of Health and Human Services for 
comparison against benefit payment records. NPERS agreed.With regard to the woman who had died in 
2014, the audit team found that NPERS had processed two changes to the 
member’s banking information – one a few months after she died, and the 
other in early 2019 — “without adequate documentation from the member.” 
In both instances, NPERS received notification of the changes from the 
Department of Administration Services but did not confirm the changes 
with the member prior to making the changes in the system.Kubicek
 said loss of NPERS funds can pose financial risk beyond members. If the
 fund would ever come up short, he said, the state might be asked to 
kick in financial assistance.

Audit: $278K went to Neb. public retirees who already had died

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A young man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting death of a Lincoln, Nebraska police investigator. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that a jury returned guilty verdicts Monday on the murder count as well as assault, escape and weapons counts against 19-year-old Felipe Vazquez. 

He now faces a mandatory life prison term, plus 194 years, when he's sentenced May 25 for the death of investigator Luis “Mario” Herrera.

 Herrera was shot at Vasquez's Lincoln home on Aug. 26, 2020, and died 12 days later. 

Herrera, a 23-year veteran of the Lincoln Police Department, was shot as officers tried to serve an arrest warrant on Felipe Vazquez in the earlier stabbing death of another man.

By Associated PressCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A young man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting death of a Lincoln, Nebraska police investigator. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that a jury returned guilty verdicts Monday on the murder count as well as assault, escape and weapons counts against 19-year-old Felipe Vazquez. He now faces a mandatory life prison term, plus 194 years, when he's sentenced May 25 for the death of investigator Luis “Mario” Herrera. Herrera was shot at Vasquez's Lincoln home on Aug. 26, 2020, and died 12 days later. Herrera, a 23-year veteran of the Lincoln Police Department, was shot as officers tried to serve an arrest warrant on Felipe Vazquez in the earlier stabbing death of another man.

Man convicted of killing Lincoln police officer

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers 
how to avoid common errors on their tax returns. This filing season, the
 IRS is seeing signs of a number of common errors, including some 
taxpayers claiming incorrect amounts of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Child Tax Credit</a>.

To avoid errors on these common credits, there are some key steps people should remember. Taxpayers should refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a> for advance Child Tax Credit payments and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> for third Economic Impact Payment amounts they received– or their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 – to prepare a correct tax return. Claiming incorrect tax credit 
amounts can not only delay IRS processing, but can also lead to adjusted
 refund amounts.

Here are other easy ways to avoid common mistakes being seen so far this tax season.

File electronically. Taxpayers can use their computer, smartphone or tablet to file their taxes electronically, whether through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> or other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a>
 service providers, to help reduce mistakes. Tax software guides people 
through each section of their tax return using a question-and-answer 
format. Enter information carefully. This includes any information 
needed to calculate credits and deductions. Using tax software should 
help prevent math errors, but taxpayers should always review their tax 
return for accuracy.

Use the correct filing status. Tax software, 
including IRS Free File, also helps prevent mistakes when selecting a 
tax return filing status. If taxpayers are unsure about their filing 
status, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a> on IRS.gov can help them choose the correct status, especially if more than one filing status applies.

Answer the virtual currency question. The 2021 Forms
 1040 and 1040-SR ask whether at any time during 2021, a person 
received, sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any financial 
interest in any virtual currency. Taxpayers should not leave this field 
blank but should check either "Yes" or "No."

Report all taxable income. Underreporting income may lead to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest-on-underpayments-and-overpayments">interest</a>. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Organized tax records</a>
 help avoid errors that lead to processing delays and may also help to 
find overlooked deductions or credits. Taxpayers should have all their 
income documents on hand before starting their tax return. Examples are 
Forms W-2, 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC.

Include unemployment compensation. The IRS is seeing
 situations where people are not including unemployment compensation 
they received in 2021 on their tax returns. Although <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/exclusion-of-up-to-10200-of-unemployment-compensation-for-tax-year-2020-only">a special law</a>
 allowed taxpayers to exclude unemployment compensation from taxes in 
2020, it was only for that year. Unemployment compensation received in 
2021 is generally taxable, so taxpayers should include it as income on 
their tax return.

Double-check name, birth date and Social Security number entries. Taxpayers
 must correctly list the name, Social Security number (SSN) and date of 
birth for each person they claim as a dependent on their individual 
income tax return. Enter each SSN and individual's name on a tax return 
exactly as printed on the Social Security card. If a dependent or spouse
 does not have and is not eligible to get a SSN, list the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a> instead of a SSN.

Double check routing and account numbers. Requesting <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 of a federal refund into one, two or even three accounts is convenient 
and allows the taxpayer access to their money faster. Make sure the 
financial institution routing and account numbers entered on the return 
are accurate. Incorrect numbers can cause a refund to be delayed or 
deposited into the wrong account. Taxpayers can also use their refund to
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.

Mail paper returns to the right address. Paper filers should confirm the correct address for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment">where to file</a>
 on IRS.gov or on form instructions to avoid processing delays. Note 
that processing paper tax returns could take much longer than usual. 
Taxpayers and tax professionals are encouraged to file electronically if
 possible.

Sign and date the return. If filing a joint return, 
both spouses must sign and date the return. E-filers can sign using a 
self-selected personal identification number (PIN). Taxpayers should 
review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request">special instructions</a> to validate their 2021 electronic tax return if their 2020 return has not yet been processed.

Keep a copy. When ready to file, taxpayers should make a copy of their signed return and all schedules for their records.

Request an extension, if needed. Taxpayers who 
cannot meet the April 18 deadline can easily request a six-month filing 
extension to October 17 and prevent late filing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty">penalties</a>. Use Free File or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>.
 But keep in mind that, while an extension grants additional time to 
file, tax payments are still due April 18 for most taxpayers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers 
how to avoid common errors on their tax returns. This filing season, the
 IRS is seeing signs of a number of common errors, including some 
taxpayers claiming incorrect amounts of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Child Tax Credit</a>.To avoid errors on these common credits, there are some key steps people should remember. Taxpayers should refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a> for advance Child Tax Credit payments and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> for third Economic Impact Payment amounts they received– or their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 – to prepare a correct tax return. Claiming incorrect tax credit 
amounts can not only delay IRS processing, but can also lead to adjusted
 refund amounts.<h2>Here are other easy ways to avoid common mistakes being seen so far this tax season.</h2>File electronically. Taxpayers can use their computer, smartphone or tablet to file their taxes electronically, whether through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> or other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a>
 service providers, to help reduce mistakes. Tax software guides people 
through each section of their tax return using a question-and-answer 
format. Enter information carefully. This includes any information 
needed to calculate credits and deductions. Using tax software should 
help prevent math errors, but taxpayers should always review their tax 
return for accuracy.Use the correct filing status. Tax software, 
including IRS Free File, also helps prevent mistakes when selecting a 
tax return filing status. If taxpayers are unsure about their filing 
status, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a> on IRS.gov can help them choose the correct status, especially if more than one filing status applies.Answer the virtual currency question. The 2021 Forms
 1040 and 1040-SR ask whether at any time during 2021, a person 
received, sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any financial 
interest in any virtual currency. Taxpayers should not leave this field 
blank but should check either "Yes" or "No."Report all taxable income. Underreporting income may lead to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest-on-underpayments-and-overpayments">interest</a>. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Organized tax records</a>
 help avoid errors that lead to processing delays and may also help to 
find overlooked deductions or credits. Taxpayers should have all their 
income documents on hand before starting their tax return. Examples are 
Forms W-2, 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC.Include unemployment compensation. The IRS is seeing
 situations where people are not including unemployment compensation 
they received in 2021 on their tax returns. Although <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/exclusion-of-up-to-10200-of-unemployment-compensation-for-tax-year-2020-only">a special law</a>
 allowed taxpayers to exclude unemployment compensation from taxes in 
2020, it was only for that year. Unemployment compensation received in 
2021 is generally taxable, so taxpayers should include it as income on 
their tax return.Double-check name, birth date and Social Security number entries. Taxpayers
 must correctly list the name, Social Security number (SSN) and date of 
birth for each person they claim as a dependent on their individual 
income tax return. Enter each SSN and individual's name on a tax return 
exactly as printed on the Social Security card. If a dependent or spouse
 does not have and is not eligible to get a SSN, list the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a> instead of a SSN.Double check routing and account numbers. Requesting <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 of a federal refund into one, two or even three accounts is convenient 
and allows the taxpayer access to their money faster. Make sure the 
financial institution routing and account numbers entered on the return 
are accurate. Incorrect numbers can cause a refund to be delayed or 
deposited into the wrong account. Taxpayers can also use their refund to
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.Mail paper returns to the right address. Paper filers should confirm the correct address for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment">where to file</a>
 on IRS.gov or on form instructions to avoid processing delays. Note 
that processing paper tax returns could take much longer than usual. 
Taxpayers and tax professionals are encouraged to file electronically if
 possible.Sign and date the return. If filing a joint return, 
both spouses must sign and date the return. E-filers can sign using a 
self-selected personal identification number (PIN). Taxpayers should 
review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request">special instructions</a> to validate their 2021 electronic tax return if their 2020 return has not yet been processed.Keep a copy. When ready to file, taxpayers should make a copy of their signed return and all schedules for their records.Request an extension, if needed. Taxpayers who 
cannot meet the April 18 deadline can easily request a six-month filing 
extension to October 17 and prevent late filing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty">penalties</a>. Use Free File or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>.
 But keep in mind that, while an extension grants additional time to 
file, tax payments are still due April 18 for most taxpayers.

IRS: Avoid these tax errors that will delay or adjust refunds

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday urged U.S. companies to make sure their digital doors are locked tight because of “evolving intelligence” that Russia is considering launching cyberattacks against critical infrastructure targets as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-024cfeb20ed4a60dc692401ffb3bb7be">war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;continues.

(Click below to listen to the warning from President Biden)

Addressing corporate CEOs at their quarterly meeting, Biden told the business leaders they have a “patriotic obligation” to harden their systems against such attacks. He said federal assistance is available, should they want it, but that the decision is theirs alone.

Biden said the administration has issued “new warnings that, based on evolving intelligence, Russia may be planning a cyberattack against us. ... The magnitude of Russia’s cyber capacity is fairly consequential, and it’s coming.”

The president said the federal government is “doing its part” to prepare for an attack and warned the private-sector CEOs that it also is in the national interest that they do the same.

“I would respectfully suggest it’s a patriotic obligation for you to invest as much as you can” in technology to counter cyberattacks, Biden told members of the Business Roundtable. “We’re prepared to help you, as I said, with any tools and expertise we possess, if you’re ready to do that. But it’s your decision as to the steps you’ll take and your responsibility to take them, not ours.”

Biden’s top cybersecurity aide, Anne Neuberger, expressed frustration at a White House press briefing earlier Monday that some critical infrastructure entities have ignored alerts from federal agencies to fix known problems in software that could be exploited by Russian hackers.

“Notwithstanding these repeated warnings, we continue to see adversaries compromising systems that use known vulnerabilities for which there are patches,” said Neuberger, who is the president’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies. “That makes it far easier for attackers than it needs to be.”

The federal government has been providing warnings to U.S. companies of the threats posed by Russian state hackers since long before the country invaded Ukraine last month. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has launched a “Shields Up” campaign aimed at helping companies strengthen their defenses and has urged companies to back up their data, turn on multifactor authentication and take other steps to improve cyber hygiene.

Neuberger said there’s no intelligence suggesting a specific Russian cyberattack against U.S. targets, but she did add that there has been increase in “preparatory activity,” like scanning websites and hunting for vulnerabilities, that is common among nation-state hackers.

In an written statement earlier Monday, Biden said Russia could launch a cyberattack against U.S. targets as retaliation for “the unprecedented economic costs we’ve imposed” on Russia through sanctions.

“It’s part of Russia’s playbook,” Biden said.

The United States and its allies have put a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-roman-abramovich-sports-business-european-commission-36125351edfe4892408c16c680175f7c">slew of sanctions</a>&nbsp;in place aimed at crippling the Russian economy, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-business-economy-congress-fa85685a926bb70d8d3dee3bd120a562">Biden recently announced</a>&nbsp;the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones to help Ukraine.

John Hultquist, a vice president of intelligence analysis at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said cyberattacks gives Russia the ability to punch back.

“Cyberattacks are a means for them to exact costs without crossing a major red line,” he said.

Russia is considered a hacking powerhouse but its offensive cyberattacks since it invaded Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-technology-europe-hacking-a61c1c631fd4fc945d02066e03fec534">have been muted</a>&nbsp;compared to what some feared. Russia has carried out significant cyberattacks against Ukraine in years past, including the devastating NotPetya attack in 2017 that spread far and wide and caused more than $10 billion in damage globally.

Neuberger said Russia cyberattacks against Ukraine are ongoing, though she did not provide specifics. She said the Biden administration has made clear there will be consequences if Russia engages with the U.S. in cyberspace.

“We’re not looking for a conflict with Russia. If Russia initiates a cyberattack against the United States, we will respond,” she said.

The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647908122804.png" alt="President spoke Monday during the Business Roundtable’s CEO Quarterly Meeting.-White House meeting" />
 <figcaption>President spoke Monday during the Business Roundtable’s CEO Quarterly Meeting.-White House meeting</figcaption>
 </figure>RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday urged U.S. companies to make sure their digital doors are locked tight because of “evolving intelligence” that Russia is considering launching cyberattacks against critical infrastructure targets as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-024cfeb20ed4a60dc692401ffb3bb7be">war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;continues.(Click below to listen to the warning from President Biden)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F689729175544503%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=534" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Addressing corporate CEOs at their quarterly meeting, Biden told the business leaders they have a “patriotic obligation” to harden their systems against such attacks. He said federal assistance is available, should they want it, but that the decision is theirs alone.Biden said the administration has issued “new warnings that, based on evolving intelligence, Russia may be planning a cyberattack against us. ... The magnitude of Russia’s cyber capacity is fairly consequential, and it’s coming.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The federal government is doing its part to get ready for potential Russian cyberattacks. We are prepared to help private sector companies with tools and expertise, but it is your decision as to the steps you’ll take and your responsibility to take them.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1506066965252780040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The president said the federal government is “doing its part” to prepare for an attack and warned the private-sector CEOs that it also is in the national interest that they do the same.“I would respectfully suggest it’s a patriotic obligation for you to invest as much as you can” in technology to counter cyberattacks, Biden told members of the Business Roundtable. “We’re prepared to help you, as I said, with any tools and expertise we possess, if you’re ready to do that. But it’s your decision as to the steps you’ll take and your responsibility to take them, not ours.”Biden’s top cybersecurity aide, Anne Neuberger, expressed frustration at a White House press briefing earlier Monday that some critical infrastructure entities have ignored alerts from federal agencies to fix known problems in software that could be exploited by Russian hackers.“Notwithstanding these repeated warnings, we continue to see adversaries compromising systems that use known vulnerabilities for which there are patches,” said Neuberger, who is the president’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies. “That makes it far easier for attackers than it needs to be.”The federal government has been providing warnings to U.S. companies of the threats posed by Russian state hackers since long before the country invaded Ukraine last month. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has launched a “Shields Up” campaign aimed at helping companies strengthen their defenses and has urged companies to back up their data, turn on multifactor authentication and take other steps to improve cyber hygiene.Neuberger said there’s no intelligence suggesting a specific Russian cyberattack against U.S. targets, but she did add that there has been increase in “preparatory activity,” like scanning websites and hunting for vulnerabilities, that is common among nation-state hackers.ADVERTISEMENTIn an written statement earlier Monday, Biden said Russia could launch a cyberattack against U.S. targets as retaliation for “the unprecedented economic costs we’ve imposed” on Russia through sanctions.“It’s part of Russia’s playbook,” Biden said.The United States and its allies have put a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-roman-abramovich-sports-business-european-commission-36125351edfe4892408c16c680175f7c">slew of sanctions</a>&nbsp;in place aimed at crippling the Russian economy, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-business-economy-congress-fa85685a926bb70d8d3dee3bd120a562">Biden recently announced</a>&nbsp;the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones to help Ukraine.John Hultquist, a vice president of intelligence analysis at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said cyberattacks gives Russia the ability to punch back.“Cyberattacks are a means for them to exact costs without crossing a major red line,” he said.Russia is considered a hacking powerhouse but its offensive cyberattacks since it invaded Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-technology-europe-hacking-a61c1c631fd4fc945d02066e03fec534">have been muted</a>&nbsp;compared to what some feared. Russia has carried out significant cyberattacks against Ukraine in years past, including the devastating NotPetya attack in 2017 that spread far and wide and caused more than $10 billion in damage globally.Neuberger said Russia cyberattacks against Ukraine are ongoing, though she did not provide specifics. She said the Biden administration has made clear there will be consequences if Russia engages with the U.S. in cyberspace.“We’re not looking for a conflict with Russia. If Russia initiates a cyberattack against the United States, we will respond,” she said.The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

🎥 Cyber war: Biden warns companies of potential Russian attacks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Russia’s war in Ukraine could mean changes for Ed Kessel’s farm along a quiet stretch of western North Dakota.

Worldwide, farmers like Kessel are weighing whether to change their planting patterns and grow more wheat this spring as the war has choked off or thrown into question grain supplies from a region known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-africa-lifestyle-middle-east-1b41faaa7ac0984d0673023b68d39a70">“the breadbasket of the world.”</a>

Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. They are also top exporters of other grains and sunflower seed oil used for cooking and food processing.

Kessel said he may plant some more wheat and ride the tide of high prices that have spiked by a third since the invasion, helping offset losses from drought and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-italy-milan-lifestyle-5f7febf726aa02df8cb9d9599cfe3912">increasing cost of fuel</a>, but not a lot more.

“Honestly, it probably will help us plant a few more wheat acres. We’ll put a few more acres into wheat and a few more into sunflowers,” said Kessel, also first vice president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.

Major grain producers like the United States, Canada, France, Australia and Argentina are being closely watched to see if they can quickly ramp up production to fill in the gaps from lost Ukrainian and Russian supplies. But farmers are facing the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-west-megadrought-f02449c2db4f0ebeb1557bb39504c62d">another year of drought</a>, climbing fuel and fertilizer costs, and supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Major producers also are hamstrung by factors like legal limits on exports and farming patterns.

That means uncertainty for countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, Ethiopia and others that cannot grow enough wheat, barley, corn or other grains to meet their needs. The war has raised the specter of food shortages and political instability in countries that rely on affordable grain imports.

Any extra grain exports from anywhere in the world “will likely only partially offset lower Black Sea shipments over the remainder of the current season,” the International Grains Council said in its March report.

About half of the grain the World Food Program buys to feed 125 million people worldwide comes from Ukraine. The double blow of rising food prices and depressed wheat exports from the war is a recipe for “catastrophe not just in Ukraine, but potentially globally,” the head of the U.N. food assistance agency warned.

“It will impact millions and millions of people, particularly in the poorest countries of the world,” WFP Executive Director David Beasley told The Associated Press in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv last week as he visited a refugee center where food aid was distributed.

There are unanswered questions about how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-business-europe-airlines-b5bc1289b1d6c55d4a9a6a55378d8792">Western sanctions on Russia</a>, the world’s top wheat exporter, could affect its grain exports and distribution networks. Russia is also the biggest exporter of fertilizer, while Ukraine ships huge amounts of corn, rye, oats and millet. The Black Sea region is a top producer of the grains used to feed livestock worldwide.

Australia and India have responded with increased grain exports, but there’s little room for others to immediately do the same. That’s mainly due to recurrent drought, said Arnaud Petit, executive director of the International Grains Council.

The U.S. produced around 44 million tons of wheat for the 2021-2022 season. Just two to three years ago, it was over 50 million tons. Petit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate">pointed to drought</a>&nbsp;and farmers switching to more profitable crops.

Canada, Argentina and Australia could try to ramp up wheat production for the coming season that ends in mid-2023, but it’s too early to tell if farmers are changing their planting patterns to focus more on grains like wheat.

Doug Martin said it’s too late for his family farm in Manitoba, Canada, to make significant changes to what’s being planted now. Plus, growing a range of crops spreads out risks.

“Most producers have a set idea of what they are seeding and will probably stick to that,” Martin said.

Although higher wheat prices will reap earnings for farmers, that isn’t enough incentive to expand production because prices are also climbing for crops like oats, canola and barely.

“There are other crops that are going to get good returns,” Martin added.

Any increased production is running up against surging costs for supplies. The price of fuel has skyrocketed, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-columbus-mississippi-0e67d7fe0cdaaae9a53aa05bd9f7bfb6">cost of fertilizer was already high</a>&nbsp;because of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-russia-health-70b97e36da53f62eba588b44f2b394bc">crunch in natural gas</a>&nbsp;acutely felt in Europe.

“With cheaper fertilizers, it could have been possible to grow our way out of a global food security problem — possibly — but nutrients are anything but affordable or even accessible right now,” said Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University in Canada.

Philippe Dutertre grows wheat in Chemiré-le-Gaudin, in the Sarthe agricultural region about 210 kilometers (130 miles) southwest of Paris. He hasn’t decided whether to expand his wheat patch given soaring energy and electricity costs.

“We might be able to act a little bit on the crop rotation, but today, France produces wheat, corn, rapeseed for oils and other cereals,” he said. “We don’t have the certainty anymore to say that we will be able to guarantee the food security of France and Europe tomorrow.”

Australian farmers experienced a bountiful wheat season. Still, the agriculture department says Australia will not be able to respond to lower Ukrainian supplies right away because it’s already sold its exports through September.

The situation is similar in Argentina, another major grain exporter. A whopping 95% of its current wheat crop has already been sold.

Jorge Josifovich owns farmland in Pergamino, one of the richest agricultural areas in Argentina, where he grows wheat, corn and soybeans. Despite higher wheat prices, he said Argentine farmers might not be motivated to plant more because of high fertilizer and fuel costs, coupled with “a rigorous price control imposed by the government that is unfavorable to producers who sell their production to exporters.”

The calculus leaves the world’s biggest wheat importers vulnerable, including Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as war-torn Yemen and cash-strapped Lebanon. They are countries with huge populations in poverty, relying on affordable wheat for their diets.

Drought in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-middle-east-international-news-fc117ce69bfd9d4f5bcdc700c04cc73c">the Middle East is at its highest level</a>&nbsp;in at least 20 years, according to the Gro Drought Index, hindering any efforts to ramp up domestic wheat production.

There is potential for unrest if prices continue to rise, particularly in nations without sufficient stocks of wheat. They may be forced to wait to purchase it from the market, switch to rice or draw from their wheat reserves.

In Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat importer, the government recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-business-health-africa-f491084e286fb0ddb30d969c3716b49a">announced price caps&nbsp;</a>for unsubsidized bread and fines for violators in response to soaring prices.

The world has 278 million tons of wheat stock to help buffer shortfalls from Ukraine, said Petit of the International Grains Council. Half of that stock, however, is in China, which holds more than a year’s worth of supply to ensure food security for its 1.4 billion people.

Meanwhile, farmers a world away are making their own hard decisions. Tom Bernhardt, who operates a fifth-generation crop and cattle ranch near Linton in North Dakota, said no-till farmers like himself won’t deviate too much from their normal rotation and plant more wheat because it can lead to problems with soil health and weeds.

Plus, there’s no guarantee wheat prices will remain high.

“I have never planted additional acres just to chase a price,” the the 61-year-old American farmer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647944163491.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Russia’s war in Ukraine could mean changes for Ed Kessel’s farm along a quiet stretch of western North Dakota.Worldwide, farmers like Kessel are weighing whether to change their planting patterns and grow more wheat this spring as the war has choked off or thrown into question grain supplies from a region known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-africa-lifestyle-middle-east-1b41faaa7ac0984d0673023b68d39a70">“the breadbasket of the world.”</a>Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. They are also top exporters of other grains and sunflower seed oil used for cooking and food processing.Kessel said he may plant some more wheat and ride the tide of high prices that have spiked by a third since the invasion, helping offset losses from drought and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-italy-milan-lifestyle-5f7febf726aa02df8cb9d9599cfe3912">increasing cost of fuel</a>, but not a lot more.“Honestly, it probably will help us plant a few more wheat acres. We’ll put a few more acres into wheat and a few more into sunflowers,” said Kessel, also first vice president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.Major grain producers like the United States, Canada, France, Australia and Argentina are being closely watched to see if they can quickly ramp up production to fill in the gaps from lost Ukrainian and Russian supplies. But farmers are facing the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-west-megadrought-f02449c2db4f0ebeb1557bb39504c62d">another year of drought</a>, climbing fuel and fertilizer costs, and supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Major producers also are hamstrung by factors like legal limits on exports and farming patterns.That means uncertainty for countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, Ethiopia and others that cannot grow enough wheat, barley, corn or other grains to meet their needs. The war has raised the specter of food shortages and political instability in countries that rely on affordable grain imports.Any extra grain exports from anywhere in the world “will likely only partially offset lower Black Sea shipments over the remainder of the current season,” the International Grains Council said in its March report.About half of the grain the World Food Program buys to feed 125 million people worldwide comes from Ukraine. The double blow of rising food prices and depressed wheat exports from the war is a recipe for “catastrophe not just in Ukraine, but potentially globally,” the head of the U.N. food assistance agency warned.“It will impact millions and millions of people, particularly in the poorest countries of the world,” WFP Executive Director David Beasley told The Associated Press in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv last week as he visited a refugee center where food aid was distributed.There are unanswered questions about how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-business-europe-airlines-b5bc1289b1d6c55d4a9a6a55378d8792">Western sanctions on Russia</a>, the world’s top wheat exporter, could affect its grain exports and distribution networks. Russia is also the biggest exporter of fertilizer, while Ukraine ships huge amounts of corn, rye, oats and millet. The Black Sea region is a top producer of the grains used to feed livestock worldwide.Australia and India have responded with increased grain exports, but there’s little room for others to immediately do the same. That’s mainly due to recurrent drought, said Arnaud Petit, executive director of the International Grains Council.The U.S. produced around 44 million tons of wheat for the 2021-2022 season. Just two to three years ago, it was over 50 million tons. Petit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate">pointed to drought</a>&nbsp;and farmers switching to more profitable crops.Canada, Argentina and Australia could try to ramp up wheat production for the coming season that ends in mid-2023, but it’s too early to tell if farmers are changing their planting patterns to focus more on grains like wheat.Doug Martin said it’s too late for his family farm in Manitoba, Canada, to make significant changes to what’s being planted now. Plus, growing a range of crops spreads out risks.“Most producers have a set idea of what they are seeding and will probably stick to that,” Martin said.Although higher wheat prices will reap earnings for farmers, that isn’t enough incentive to expand production because prices are also climbing for crops like oats, canola and barely.“There are other crops that are going to get good returns,” Martin added.Any increased production is running up against surging costs for supplies. The price of fuel has skyrocketed, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-columbus-mississippi-0e67d7fe0cdaaae9a53aa05bd9f7bfb6">cost of fertilizer was already high</a>&nbsp;because of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-russia-health-70b97e36da53f62eba588b44f2b394bc">crunch in natural gas</a>&nbsp;acutely felt in Europe.“With cheaper fertilizers, it could have been possible to grow our way out of a global food security problem — possibly — but nutrients are anything but affordable or even accessible right now,” said Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University in Canada.Philippe Dutertre grows wheat in Chemiré-le-Gaudin, in the Sarthe agricultural region about 210 kilometers (130 miles) southwest of Paris. He hasn’t decided whether to expand his wheat patch given soaring energy and electricity costs.“We might be able to act a little bit on the crop rotation, but today, France produces wheat, corn, rapeseed for oils and other cereals,” he said. “We don’t have the certainty anymore to say that we will be able to guarantee the food security of France and Europe tomorrow.”Australian farmers experienced a bountiful wheat season. Still, the agriculture department says Australia will not be able to respond to lower Ukrainian supplies right away because it’s already sold its exports through September.The situation is similar in Argentina, another major grain exporter. A whopping 95% of its current wheat crop has already been sold.Jorge Josifovich owns farmland in Pergamino, one of the richest agricultural areas in Argentina, where he grows wheat, corn and soybeans. Despite higher wheat prices, he said Argentine farmers might not be motivated to plant more because of high fertilizer and fuel costs, coupled with “a rigorous price control imposed by the government that is unfavorable to producers who sell their production to exporters.”The calculus leaves the world’s biggest wheat importers vulnerable, including Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as war-torn Yemen and cash-strapped Lebanon. They are countries with huge populations in poverty, relying on affordable wheat for their diets.Drought in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-middle-east-international-news-fc117ce69bfd9d4f5bcdc700c04cc73c">the Middle East is at its highest level</a>&nbsp;in at least 20 years, according to the Gro Drought Index, hindering any efforts to ramp up domestic wheat production.There is potential for unrest if prices continue to rise, particularly in nations without sufficient stocks of wheat. They may be forced to wait to purchase it from the market, switch to rice or draw from their wheat reserves.In Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat importer, the government recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-business-health-africa-f491084e286fb0ddb30d969c3716b49a">announced price caps&nbsp;</a>for unsubsidized bread and fines for violators in response to soaring prices.The world has 278 million tons of wheat stock to help buffer shortfalls from Ukraine, said Petit of the International Grains Council. Half of that stock, however, is in China, which holds more than a year’s worth of supply to ensure food security for its 1.4 billion people.Meanwhile, farmers a world away are making their own hard decisions. Tom Bernhardt, who operates a fifth-generation crop and cattle ranch near Linton in North Dakota, said no-till farmers like himself won’t deviate too much from their normal rotation and plant more wheat because it can lead to problems with soil health and weeds.Plus, there’s no guarantee wheat prices will remain high.“I have never planted additional acres just to chase a price,” the the 61-year-old American farmer said.

Ukraine war imperils wheat, but farmers in no rush to pivot

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers 
who have a tax bill that there are several ways to make payments, and 
there are options for many people who can't pay their tax bill in full 
by April tax deadline.

The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states. Some taxpayers
 who were victims of a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">natural disaster</a> have even longer to file their returns.

The IRS reminds people to timely file their tax return and pay 
whatever they can by the filing deadline to avoid late filing and 
interest penalties.

Taxpayers can use their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. Taxpayers can make a 
same-day payment for a 2021 tax return balance, an extension to file, or
 estimated taxes, which are all due by April deadline for most 
taxpayers. They can also view:

File by April 18, 2022 for most taxpayers

The most important thing everyone with a tax bill should do is file a
 return by the April 18 due date, for most taxpayers (even if they can't
 pay in full). Taxpayers may also request a six-month extension to file 
by October 17, 2022, to avoid penalties and interest for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty">failing to file on time</a>.

Though automatic tax-filing extensions are available to anyone who 
wants one, these extensions don't change the payment deadline. It is not
 an extension to pay. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">IRS.gov/extensions</a> for details.

Usually anyone who owes tax and waits until after that date to file 
will be charged a late-filing penalty of 5% per month. So, if a tax 
return is complete, filing it by April 18 is always less costly, even if
 the full amount due can't be paid on time.

IRS Free File is an easy, quick way to file that is available to 
eligible individuals and families who earned $73,000 or less in 2021. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> is available on IRS.gov.

Interest, plus the late-payment penalty, will apply to any payments 
made after April 18. Making a payment, even a partial payment, will help
 limit penalty and interest charges. The fastest and easiest way to pay a
 personal tax bill is with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, available only on IRS.gov. For a rundown of other payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

The IRS urges taxpayers to first consider other options for payment, 
including getting a loan to pay the amount due. In many cases, loan 
costs may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties the 
IRS must charge under federal law. Normally, the late-payment penalty is
 one-half-of-one percent (0.5%) per month. The interest rate, adjusted 
quarterly, is currently 3% per year, compounded daily.

If a loan isn't possible, the IRS can often help.

Most individual taxpayers qualify to set up an online payment plan 
with the IRS, and it only takes a few minutes to apply. Applicants are 
notified immediately if their request is approved. No need to call or 
write to the IRS. The IRS notes that <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">online payment plans</a>
 are processed more quickly than requests submitted with 
electronically-filed tax returns. If a taxpayer just filed their return 
and knows that they'll owe a balance, they may be able to set up a 
payment plan online before they even receive a notice or bill.

There are two main types of online payment plans:

Taxpayers who do not qualify for an online payment agreement may still be able to arrange to pay in installments. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements">Additional Information on Payment Plans</a> for more information.

Some struggling taxpayers may also consider using these other payment options:

If the IRS determines a taxpayer is unable to pay, it may <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/temporarily-delay-the-collection-process">delay collection</a>
 until their financial condition improves. However, the total amount 
owed will still increase because penalties and interest are charged 
until paid in full. Taxpayers can request a delay by calling the phone 
number on their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-letter">notice</a> or <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>.

Some taxpayers qualify to have their late-filing or late-payment 
penalties reduced or eliminated. This can be done on a case-by-case 
basis, based on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-reasonable-cause">reasonable cause</a>. Alternatively, where a taxpayer has a history of compliance, the IRS can typically provide relief under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">First Time Abatement</a> program. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief">IRS.gov/penaltyrelief</a> for details.

Some taxpayers qualify to settle their tax bill for less than the 
full amount due, through an offer in compromise. Though there is 
typically a $205 non-refundable application fee, it is generally waived 
for low-income taxpayers and for offers based on doubt as to liability. 
The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a> can help determine eligibility for anyone interested in applying.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that they have rights and protections throughout the collection process. For details, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>&nbsp;PDF.

For more information about payments, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc202">Topic No. 202, Tax Payment Options</a>, on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers should know before they owe. The IRS encourages all taxpayers to check their withholding with the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers 
who have a tax bill that there are several ways to make payments, and 
there are options for many people who can't pay their tax bill in full 
by April tax deadline.The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states. Some taxpayers
 who were victims of a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">natural disaster</a> have even longer to file their returns.The IRS reminds people to timely file their tax return and pay 
whatever they can by the filing deadline to avoid late filing and 
interest penalties.<h2>Sign in to pay and see payment history</h2>Taxpayers can use their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. Taxpayers can make a 
same-day payment for a 2021 tax return balance, an extension to file, or
 estimated taxes, which are all due by April deadline for most 
taxpayers. They can also view:<ul>
 <li>Their Adjusted Gross Income, Economic Impact Payment amounts and
 advance Child Tax Credit payment amounts needed for their 2021 return,</li><li>Payment history and any scheduled or pending payments,</li><li>Payment plan details and</li><li>Digital copies of select notices from the IRS.</li>
 </ul><h2>Ways to pay</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-electronic-funds-withdrawal">Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW)</a>:
 This option allows taxpayers to file and pay electronically from their 
bank account when using tax preparation software or a tax professional. 
This option is free and only available when electronically filing a tax 
return. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>:
 Direct Pay is free and allows taxpayers to securely pay their federal 
taxes directly from their checking or savings account without any fees 
or preregistration. Taxpayers can schedule payments up to 365 days in 
advance. After submitting a payment through Direct Pay, taxpayers will 
receive immediate confirmation. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System</a>:
 This free service gives taxpayers a safe and convenient way to pay 
individual and business taxes by phone or online. To enroll and for more
 information, taxpayers can call <a href="tel:800-555-4477">800-555-4477</a>, or visit <a href="https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/">eftps.gov</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card">Credit card, debit card or digital wallet</a>:
 Individuals can pay online, by phone or with a mobile device through 
any of the authorized payment processors. The processor charges a fee. 
The IRS doesn't receive any fees for these payments. Authorized card 
processors and phone numbers are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Cash: For taxpayers who prefer to pay in cash, the
 IRS offers a way to pay taxes at one of its Cash Processing Companies 
at participating retail stores. The IRS urges taxpayers choosing this 
option to start early because it involves a four-step process. Details, 
including answers to frequently asked questions, are at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-with-cash-at-a-retail-partner">IRS.gov/paywithcash</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-by-check-or-money-order">Check or Money Order</a>: Payments
 made by check or money order should be made payable to the "United 
States Treasury." To help ensure that the payment gets credited 
promptly, taxpayers should also enclose a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040v.pdf">Form 1040-V</a>&nbsp;PDF
 payment voucher and print on the front of the check or money order: 
"2021 Form 1040"; name; address; daytime phone number; and Social 
Security number.</li>
 </ul><h2>File by April 18, 2022 for most taxpayers</h2>The most important thing everyone with a tax bill should do is file a
 return by the April 18 due date, for most taxpayers (even if they can't
 pay in full). Taxpayers may also request a six-month extension to file 
by October 17, 2022, to avoid penalties and interest for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty">failing to file on time</a>.Though automatic tax-filing extensions are available to anyone who 
wants one, these extensions don't change the payment deadline. It is not
 an extension to pay. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">IRS.gov/extensions</a> for details.Usually anyone who owes tax and waits until after that date to file 
will be charged a late-filing penalty of 5% per month. So, if a tax 
return is complete, filing it by April 18 is always less costly, even if
 the full amount due can't be paid on time.IRS Free File is an easy, quick way to file that is available to 
eligible individuals and families who earned $73,000 or less in 2021. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> is available on IRS.gov.<h2>Pay what you can</h2>Interest, plus the late-payment penalty, will apply to any payments 
made after April 18. Making a payment, even a partial payment, will help
 limit penalty and interest charges. The fastest and easiest way to pay a
 personal tax bill is with <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, available only on IRS.gov. For a rundown of other payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.The IRS urges taxpayers to first consider other options for payment, 
including getting a loan to pay the amount due. In many cases, loan 
costs may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties the 
IRS must charge under federal law. Normally, the late-payment penalty is
 one-half-of-one percent (0.5%) per month. The interest rate, adjusted 
quarterly, is currently 3% per year, compounded daily.If a loan isn't possible, the IRS can often help.<h2>Online payment plans</h2>Most individual taxpayers qualify to set up an online payment plan 
with the IRS, and it only takes a few minutes to apply. Applicants are 
notified immediately if their request is approved. No need to call or 
write to the IRS. The IRS notes that <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">online payment plans</a>
 are processed more quickly than requests submitted with 
electronically-filed tax returns. If a taxpayer just filed their return 
and knows that they'll owe a balance, they may be able to set up a 
payment plan online before they even receive a notice or bill.<h2>There are two main types of online payment plans:</h2><ul>
 <li>Short-term payment plan – The payment period is
 180 days or less and the total amount owed is less than $100,000 in 
combined tax, penalties and interest. There's no fee for setting one up,
 though interest and the late-payment penalty continue to accrue. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Long-term payment plan – Payments are made 
monthly, and the amount owed must be less than $50,000 in combined tax, 
penalties and interest. If the IRS approves a long-term payment plan, 
also known as an installment agreement, a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">setup fee</a>
 normally applies. But low-income taxpayers may qualify to have the fee 
waived or reimbursed. In addition, for anyone who filed their return on 
time, the late-payment penalty rate is cut in half while an installment 
agreement is in effect. This means that the penalty accrues at the rate 
of one-quarter-of-one percent (0.25%) per month, instead of the usual 
one-half-of-one percent (0.5%) per month.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers who do not qualify for an online payment agreement may still be able to arrange to pay in installments. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/payment-plans-installment-agreements">Additional Information on Payment Plans</a> for more information.<h2>Other payment options</h2>Some struggling taxpayers may also consider using these other payment options:<h2>Delayed collection</h2>If the IRS determines a taxpayer is unable to pay, it may <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/temporarily-delay-the-collection-process">delay collection</a>
 until their financial condition improves. However, the total amount 
owed will still increase because penalties and interest are charged 
until paid in full. Taxpayers can request a delay by calling the phone 
number on their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-letter">notice</a> or <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>.<h2>Penalty relief</h2>Some taxpayers qualify to have their late-filing or late-payment 
penalties reduced or eliminated. This can be done on a case-by-case 
basis, based on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-reasonable-cause">reasonable cause</a>. Alternatively, where a taxpayer has a history of compliance, the IRS can typically provide relief under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">First Time Abatement</a> program. Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief">IRS.gov/penaltyrelief</a> for details.<h2>Offer in Compromise</h2>Some taxpayers qualify to settle their tax bill for less than the 
full amount due, through an offer in compromise. Though there is 
typically a $205 non-refundable application fee, it is generally waived 
for low-income taxpayers and for offers based on doubt as to liability. 
The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_pre_qualifier/">Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool</a> can help determine eligibility for anyone interested in applying.The IRS reminds taxpayers that they have rights and protections throughout the collection process. For details, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>&nbsp;PDF.For more information about payments, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc202">Topic No. 202, Tax Payment Options</a>, on IRS.gov.Taxpayers should know before they owe. The IRS encourages all taxpayers to check their withholding with the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.

IRS: Electronic payment, agreement options available

NORFOLK, NEB.&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, working with Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, rescued a woman and arrested a Newman Grove man following a pursuit in rural Madison and Boone counties.

The incident began at approximately 2:15 a.m. Saturday, when the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call for a possible domestic incident occurring inside a moving vehicle. Deputies responded and requested assistance from NSP. It was determined that the 911 call had been made by a female who was being held inside the vehicle, against her will.

A deputy located the vehicle on county roads near Newman Grove and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox, refused to yield. The deputy initiated a pursuit.

As the vehicle fled westbound on 210th&nbsp;Street and entered Boone County, a trooper took over as the primary unit in the pursuit. Speeds during the pursuit were approximately 30 miles per hour.

After approximately three miles, the trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. Troopers and deputies were able to safely remove the female passenger from the vehicle and take the driver into custody without further incident.

The driver, Brandon Korth, 42, of Newman Grove, was arrested for false imprisonment and flight to avoid arrest. Korth was lodged in Antelope County Jail.

By Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;NORFOLK, NEB.&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, working with Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, rescued a woman and arrested a Newman Grove man following a pursuit in rural Madison and Boone counties.The incident began at approximately 2:15 a.m. Saturday, when the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call for a possible domestic incident occurring inside a moving vehicle. Deputies responded and requested assistance from NSP. It was determined that the 911 call had been made by a female who was being held inside the vehicle, against her will.A deputy located the vehicle on county roads near Newman Grove and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox, refused to yield. The deputy initiated a pursuit.As the vehicle fled westbound on 210th&nbsp;Street and entered Boone County, a trooper took over as the primary unit in the pursuit. Speeds during the pursuit were approximately 30 miles per hour.After approximately three miles, the trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. Troopers and deputies were able to safely remove the female passenger from the vehicle and take the driver into custody without further incident.The driver, Brandon Korth, 42, of Newman Grove, was arrested for false imprisonment and flight to avoid arrest. Korth was lodged in Antelope County Jail.

 Woman rescued, man arrested after pursuit in Madison County

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man who fell from a boat on a city lake over the weekend drowned, authorities said.

The incident happened around 11 a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/pleasant-hill-man-falls-overboard-drowns-at-city-lake">television station KSHB reported</a>.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Michael Hamilton, 67, fell from a boat he was aboard into Pleasant Hill City Lake, which is located about 27 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Investigators said bystanders tried to rescue the man and eventually pulled him from the water, but too late to save him. Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said he was not wearing a life jacket.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man who fell from a boat on a city lake over the weekend drowned, authorities said.The incident happened around 11 a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/pleasant-hill-man-falls-overboard-drowns-at-city-lake">television station KSHB reported</a>.The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Michael Hamilton, 67, fell from a boat he was aboard into Pleasant Hill City Lake, which is located about 27 miles southeast of Kansas City.Investigators said bystanders tried to rescue the man and eventually pulled him from the water, but too late to save him. Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators said he was not wearing a life jacket.

Patrol: Man falls from boat, drowns at Kansas City-area lake

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who have long enjoyed the benefits of historically low interest rates will have to adapt to a very different environment as the Federal Reserve embarks on what’s likely to be a prolonged period of rate hikes to fight inflation.

Record-low mortgage rates below 3%, reached last year, are already gone. Credit card interest rates and the costs of an auto loan will also likely move up. Savers may receive somewhat better returns, depending on their bank, while returns on long-term bond funds will likely suffer.

The Fed’s initial quarter-point rate hike Wednesday in its benchmark short-term rate won’t have much immediate impact on most Americans’ finances. But with inflation raging at four-decade highs, economists and investors expect the central bank to enact the fastest pace of rate hikes since 2005. That would mean higher borrowing rates well into the future.

On March 16, the Fed’s policymakers collectively signaled that they expect to boost their key rate up to seven times this year, raising its benchmark rate to between 1.75% and 2% by year’s end. The officials expect four additional hikes in 2023, which would leave their benchmark rate near 3%.

Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing gradually more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, thereby slowing inflation.

Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, in part because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so potentially could tip the U.S. economy into recession.

“The impact of a single quarter-point interest rate hike is inconsequential on the household budget,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “But there is a cumulative effect that can be quite significant, both on the household budget as well as the broader economy.”

Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:

I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES GO STEADILY HIGHER?

They already have in the past few months, partly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep doing so.

Still, mortgage rates don’t necessarily rise in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the rate on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.

Global turmoil, like Russia’s invasion, often spurs a “flight to safety” response among investors around the world: Many rush to buy Treasurys, which are regarded as the world’s safest asset. Higher demand for the 10-year Treasury would lower its yield, which would then reduce mortgage rates.

For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage, in turn, has jumped almost a full percentage point since late December to 3.85%,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" target="_blank">according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.</a>

If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has led to bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.

Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.

But Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, notes that there is such strong demand for homes, as the large millennial generation enters its prime home-buying years, that the housing market won’t cool by much. Supply hasn’t kept up. Many builders are struggling with shortages of parts and labor.

“We’ll still have a pretty robust housing market his year,” Kushi said.

For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.

Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances, and the rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.

Should the Fed decide to raise rates 10 times or more over the next two years — a realistic possibility — that would significantly boost interest payments.

The Fed’s rate hikes won’t necessarily raise auto loan rates as much. Car loans tend to be more sensitive to competition, which can slow the rate of increases.

WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?

Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587780450451.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who have long enjoyed the benefits of historically low interest rates will have to adapt to a very different environment as the Federal Reserve embarks on what’s likely to be a prolonged period of rate hikes to fight inflation.Record-low mortgage rates below 3%, reached last year, are already gone. Credit card interest rates and the costs of an auto loan will also likely move up. Savers may receive somewhat better returns, depending on their bank, while returns on long-term bond funds will likely suffer.The Fed’s initial quarter-point rate hike Wednesday in its benchmark short-term rate won’t have much immediate impact on most Americans’ finances. But with inflation raging at four-decade highs, economists and investors expect the central bank to enact the fastest pace of rate hikes since 2005. That would mean higher borrowing rates well into the future.On March 16, the Fed’s policymakers collectively signaled that they expect to boost their key rate up to seven times this year, raising its benchmark rate to between 1.75% and 2% by year’s end. The officials expect four additional hikes in 2023, which would leave their benchmark rate near 3%.Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing gradually more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, thereby slowing inflation.Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, in part because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so potentially could tip the U.S. economy into recession.“The impact of a single quarter-point interest rate hike is inconsequential on the household budget,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “But there is a cumulative effect that can be quite significant, both on the household budget as well as the broader economy.”Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:___I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES GO STEADILY HIGHER?They already have in the past few months, partly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep doing so.Still, mortgage rates don’t necessarily rise in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the rate on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.Global turmoil, like Russia’s invasion, often spurs a “flight to safety” response among investors around the world: Many rush to buy Treasurys, which are regarded as the world’s safest asset. Higher demand for the 10-year Treasury would lower its yield, which would then reduce mortgage rates.For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage, in turn, has jumped almost a full percentage point since late December to 3.85%,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" target="_blank">according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.</a>HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE HOUSING MARKET?If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has led to bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.But Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, notes that there is such strong demand for homes, as the large millennial generation enters its prime home-buying years, that the housing market won’t cool by much. Supply hasn’t kept up. Many builders are struggling with shortages of parts and labor.“We’ll still have a pretty robust housing market his year,” Kushi said.WHAT ABOUT OTHER KINDS OF LOANS?For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances, and the rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.Should the Fed decide to raise rates 10 times or more over the next two years — a realistic possibility — that would significantly boost interest payments.The Fed’s rate hikes won’t necessarily raise auto loan rates as much. Car loans tend to be more sensitive to competition, which can slow the rate of increases.WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to thicken their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.This is particularly true for large banks now. They’ve been flooded with savings as a result of government financial aid and reduced spending by many wealthier Americans during the pandemic. They won’t need to raise savings rates to attract more deposits or CD buyers.But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts will likely be an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.If you’re invested in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that hold long-term bonds, they will become a riskier investment. Typically, existing long-term bonds lose value as newer bonds are issued at higher yields.