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The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

From doing your taxes for free to filing your first return, we’ve got you covered.

What should I do if I didn’t pay my taxes?
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

And other tax questions from Vox readers, answered.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
What should I do if I didn’t pay my taxes?
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

And other tax questions from Vox readers, answered.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
Tips and tricks for doing your taxes, according to an accountantTips and tricks for doing your taxes, according to an accountant
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

Including when to do them yourself, when to seek out help, and strategies for keeping track of it all.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
Why financial literacy education in the US sucksWhy financial literacy education in the US sucks
Play
Video

Blame the Space Race (kind of).

By Marie Cascione
Is the US running out of Social Security?Is the US running out of Social Security?
Play
Video

And how does it even work?

By Kimberly Mas

The latest in The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

Pilates, a xylophone, and a wedding from hell: How Vox readers spent their tax refunds
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

Some inspiration for tax refund season.

By Rebecca Jennings
The billionaire’s guide to doing taxes
Money

How the very rich lose money, overvalue art, buy very expensive life insurance, and somehow profit.

By Whizy Kim
Everything you need to know about filing taxes for the first time
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

Should you hire someone to help? What’s your filing status? And more questions on US taxes, answered.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris
4 ways to file your taxes for free
The Even Better Guide to Tax Season

Yes, doing your taxes is hard. No, you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars to file them.

By Allie Volpe
I got to see the IRS’s free tax-filing software in action. Here’s what I learned.I got to see the IRS’s free tax-filing software in action. Here’s what I learned.
Future Perfect

Meet Direct File, the federal government’s TurboTax alternative. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

By Dylan Matthews
Offered a bonus at work? Ask for a raise instead
Money

One-time checks are a little bit bogus.

By Emily Stewart
How are you supposed to start investing?
Personal Finance

There are many, many ways to save for retirement, and not all of them involve stocks and bonds.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
You don’t need to be rich to work with a financial planner
Even Better

What to know about the people who can help manage and grow your money — including how they get paid.

By Allie Volpe
How to get back money you didn’t even know you were owedHow to get back money you didn’t even know you were owed
Even Better

Find checks, security deposits, and refunds on unclaimed property.

By Allie Volpe
How to help America’s kids: Give their parents cashHow to help America’s kids: Give their parents cash
Policy

More states are stepping up, and on a bipartisan basis.

By Rachel Cohen
Tax pro-approved tips to make filing (a little) easier
Life

What to keep in mind before filing your taxes this year, according to tax experts.

By Allie Volpe
Over 60 million Americans have taxes so simple the IRS could do them automaticallyOver 60 million Americans have taxes so simple the IRS could do them automatically
Politics

“Automatic returns” could vastly simplify tax season for millions of people.

By Dylan Matthews
The IRS has a big opportunity to fix the way Americans file taxes
Politics

You shouldn’t need TurboTax to file your taxes. The IRS can and should make its own service.

By Dylan Matthews
Who wants to pay taxes?Who wants to pay taxes?
Mischiefs of Faction

A lot of people do, at least when they have direct input on how governments spend their money.

By Michael Touchton and Brian Wampler