U.S. Government News

Free Tax Help:New IRS Online Tool Helps Low- and Moderate-Income Taxpayers Find Locations for Help

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:19:25 PST

As part of a continuing effort to improve service to taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced today the availability of a new online tool to help people easily find a location for volunteer tax preparation assistance.

Government Free Credit Reports

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:42:56 PST

It's never too late, or too early, to get your financial house in order, and a great way to start is with a review of your credit reports. You are entitled to a free report from each of the three reporting agencies once a year. But don’t fall for offers of free reports that aren’t really free. There is onlyone authorized source to get your free reports under federal law

IRS Tax Refunds: IRS Recommends Direct Deposit for your Tax Refunds

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:20:45 PST

According to the IRS, Direct deposit is the fastest, safest way to receive your tax refund. When a taxpayer combines e-file and direct deposit, the IRS will likely issue your refund in as few as 10 days.

USCIS: How to Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Interview

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:09:46 PST

The citizenship interview is an important step toward becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, but it can also be one of the most stressful ones. That’s because it involves a meeting with a federal agent, not to mention taking and passing an English language comprehension and a Civics test.

The best way to avoid stress is to be well prepared for the interview. Below you will learn how the interview is structured as well as tips and resources to help you prepare for this important meeting.

Superbowl 2012, Statistics, Fun & Facts

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:18:03 PST

Super Bowl XLVI will be played Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, which will be the first time the Super Bowl has been played in Indiana. Indianapolis is the northernmost city in the United States to host the Super Bowl since Detroit hosted Super Bowl XL in 2006.

115 winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick - 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn top pick

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:00:53 PST

In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection.

Homeowners and Auto Insurance Deductibles

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:20:00 PST

Understanding how auto and homeowners insurance deductibles work is crucial to getting the most out of your insurance dollars, according to the (I.I.I.).

Homeowner Policies May Cover Windstorm Damages

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:54:07 PST

Responding to Current California Windstorms, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Urges Residents to Be Aware of What Their Insurance Policy Covers Offers Insurance Information on Fallen Trees, Damaged Cars and other Debris.

CDC Update: Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2010

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:38:42 PST

This document summarizes 2010 national data on gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis that are published in CDC’s report, Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2010. The data are based on state and local STD case reports from a variety of private and public sources, the majority of which come from non-STD clinic settings, such as private physician offices and health maintenance organizations.

Misuse of the muscle relaxant drug soma (carisoprodol) have doubled over five years

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:32:42 PST

Hospital emergency department visits involving the misuse of the muscle relaxant drug carisoprodol have doubled over five years, study shows

OSHA Publishes New Safety Materials for Laboratory Managers and Workers

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:09:41 PST

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published new educational materials for laboratory managers on protecting their workers from exposure to chemical, biological, and physical hazards

Social Networking Website for Kids Collected Kids’ Personal Information

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:01:24 PST

A website that advertises itself as the "Facebook and Myspace for Kids," has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he collected personally information from approximately 5,600 children without obtaining prior parental consent, in violation of the Commission’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA") Rule.

Commit To Quit Smoking During the Great American Smokeout

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:30:23 PST

It’s not easy to quit smoking, but the Great American Smokeout on November 17th can help you make the commitment to kick the habit for good.

Health Care Tax Credit: What Employers Need to Know about Claiming the Tax Credit

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:51:28 PST

Many small employers that pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage under a qualifying arrangement may be eligible for the small business health care tax credit. This credit can enable small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations to offer health insurance coverage for the first time.

U.S. Government Video Contest: Offers $1000.00 for Best Video

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:18:36 PST

Uncle Sam is looking to spread the word about how people can use USA website —the official web portal of the U.S. government—to make their lives easier and find all the government benefits and services they need.

Spam Attack: FTC Settlement Bans Alleged Spammer from Sending Unsolicited Text Messages

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:27:56 PST

An operator who allegedly sent millions of illegal spam text messages to consumers is banned from sending any unsolicited text messages, under a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission entered by a federal court.

FDIC: Protecting Your Finances If a Disaster Strikes: Are You Prepared?

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:33:07 PST

Are your most important possessions insured and your financial documents protected from ruin? And if you had only a few moments to evacuate your home and could not return for several days or even weeks, would you have access to cash, banking services and the personal identification you need to conduct your day-to-day financial life?

Tax Return Preparer Test: IRS Releases Specifications for Registered Tax Return Preparer Test

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:55:58 PST

The test is part of an ongoing effort by the IRS to enhance oversight of the tax preparation industry. Preparers who pass this test, a background check and tax compliance check as well as complete 15 hours of continuing education annually will have a new designation: Registered Tax Return Preparer.

Money Smart for Young Adults:FDIC Looking for Financial Educato

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:58:19 PST

The FDIC is in the early phases of a research study to evaluate the Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum. This study will assess how the curriculum impacts participants' financial knowledge and behavior. We are looking for financial educators who plan to teach part or all of the curriculum sometime in the coming months and are willing to distribute a short assessment quiz to students before the start of the first class that uses Money Smart for Young Adults.

Payday Loan Refund Checks: FTC Returns Almost $2 Million to Payday Loan Applicants Who Were Tricked into Buying Prepaid Debit Cards

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:28:02 PST

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing more than 110,000 refund checks to consumers defrauded by an online operation that tricked payday loan applicants into paying for an unrelated debit card. The FTC alleged that payday loan marketers Matthew Patterson, Mark Benning, Jason Strober, and Swish Marketing, Inc., worked with debit card marketers Jerry Klein, Joshua Finer, and VirtualWorks, LLC, to design the deceptive payday loan application form that triggered a charge of up to $54.95 for a prepaid debit card with a zero balance.