By KATHLEEN PENDER, San Francisco Chronicle
Net Worth: Questions on COBRA benefits
Recent columns on unemployment and the federal subsidy for COBRA health coverage have generated a lot of questions from readers. Here are some answers.
Q: I worked for a company as an independent contractor. Am I eligible for unemployment benefits?
A look at recent tax changes
If you're feeling dazed and confused about your finances these days, join the club.
A look at recent tax changes
If you're feeling dazed and confused about your finances these days, join the club.
A look at recent tax changes
If you're feeling dazed and confused about your finances these days, join the club.
What does bank nationalization really mean?
Nationalization. Nobody is sure exactly what the word means, but its mere mention sends shivers up the spine.
"Nationalization is a loaded term for a lot of people. It's seen as the kind of thing that European or more socialist governments do," says Douglas Elliott, a fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Net Worth: Questions, answers on taxes
More tax-related questions today:
Q: We own 150 shares of Washington Mutual now worth about 3 cents per share. Since JPMorgan Chase bought most of the company last year, I'm wondering if we can write it off as a capital loss for 2008, or do we have to sell the stock?
Net Worth: Will stimulus really create millions of jobs?
The White House says the nearly $800 billion stimulus bill will save or create about 3 million to 4 million jobs. But if you look through the bill itself, it's hard to see where they are coming from.
Net Worth: A more caring, flexible IRS?
The Internal Revenue Service has announced it will be more understanding and flexible toward people who can't pay their taxes because of a layoff or other hardship.
Networth: What the massive layoffs mean for you
Earnings season has turned into layoff season.
Over the past two weeks, as public companies have been reporting their often-dismal fourth-quarter results, many have announced an alarming number of staff reductions, sometimes reaching into the tens of thousands.
Beware of tax surprises, if you lose your job
If you lose your job, you could be in for some tax surprises -- some nice, some nasty.
If you receive unemployment benefits or severance pay, cash in a retirement account or have a big change in income, your tax bill could be much more -- or less -- than you expect. To avoid surprises, here are some tips:
