Janna Herron and Susan Tompor USA TODAY Published 9:48 AM EST Jan 25, 2019 Sitting down to do your taxes in the next few weeks — or talking with your tax preparer — will involve tackling the most sweeping changes in the federal income tax rules in more than 30 years. You'll need to keep in mind that more than 600 rule changes took place under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was passed by Congress in late 2017. All those changes even drove some industry experts to raise concern early on about possible delays to the typical, late January start of the tax season — and that was long before the federal government shutdown hit on Dec. 22. Even so, the Internal Revenue Service promises to kick off tax season as of Jan. 28, the earliest date you can file your returns. Will things end up being simpler? Maybe — if you’re able to tap into a substantially expanded standard deduction and you no longer must string together all sorts of … [Read more...] about Taxes: New tax laws for 2019 filing
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GoFundMe refunds more than $400,000 to donors as New Jersey couple and homeless vet face grand jury
GoFundMe says it has refunded more than $400,000 back to 14,000 donors who opened their wallets to help a homeless veteran in what prosecutors now say was a fake "good Samaritan" scam. The online fundraising campaign was started by New Jersey couple Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico to raise money for Johnny Bobbitt, who supposedly gave McClure his last $20 when her car ran out of gas. But prosecutors say the three actually made up the story and conspired to split the proceeds. All of the money raised has now been refunded, including processing and administration fees, GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne, said in an email to CBS News on Monday.After a chance encounter at a local casino, the trio allegedly devised a story that prosecutors later called "too good to be true." McClure and D'Amico set up a GoFundMe campaign, "Paying it Forward," to reward Bobbitt for his generosity around the holiday season last year. The story caught the attention of people around the … [Read more...] about GoFundMe refunds more than $400,000 to donors as New Jersey couple and homeless vet face grand jury
New Jersey couple killed in crash on the way to their wedding
Amanda Oglesby Asbury Park Press Published 6:15 PM EST Nov 18, 2018 A New Jersey woman and her fiance were killed while driving to their wedding in Berks County, Pennsylvania, according to reports. Bride Kathryn M. Schurtz, daughter of former Fanwood Councilwoman Karen Schurtz, and Kathryn's fiance Joseph D. Kearney, died in a crash Wednesday while driving to their wedding in Pittsburgh, according to the Facebook page for the municipal government of Fanwood, Union County. More: Coast Guard member conducts water rescue on wedding day More: New Jersey police rescue bride from flooded car on her wedding day Kathryn Schurtz, 35, of Jersey City grew up in Fanwood and loved reading, cooking and having new adventures with her fiance, according to the post. She graduated from Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, Union County, and received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University, according to her obituary. She also earned her Masters of Business … [Read more...] about New Jersey couple killed in crash on the way to their wedding
Homeless veteran and New Jersey couple arrested in GoFundMe scam
Last Updated Nov 15, 2018 7:35 PM EST A New Jersey couple and homeless veteran who captured international attention and praise for their heartwarming "good Samaritan" tale have been arrested for fraud, an unexpected twist in a yearlong story of good deeds gone wrong. The Burlington County prosecutor's office announced the charges Thursday.The woman, Katelyn McClure, and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, started a GoFundMe campaign for Johnny Bobbitt last year after sharing a story of how he supposedly offered his last $20 to help McClure when her car ran out of gas.The "Paying it Forward" fundraiser was immensely popular, collecting over $400,000 from over 14,000 donors around the world. But the feel-good story quickly started to unravel into a dispute over money. And now prosecutors say it was all a scam from the beginning."It might seem too good to be true and unfortunately it was," prosecutor Scott Coffina said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. "The entire campaign was … [Read more...] about Homeless veteran and New Jersey couple arrested in GoFundMe scam
Indictment likely for couple accused of taking donations from homeless man, lawyer says
TRENTON, N.J. -- A New Jersey couple under investigation after a good Samaritan accused them of dipping into some of the $400,000 in online donations they raised for him is likely to be indicted, their attorney said Monday. Ernest Badway represents Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure in a civil case against Johnny Bobbitt, who is a homeless veteran. The attorney said in a letter dated Thursday that one or both could be indicted by the Burlington County prosecutor and that he and his firm would no longer represent the couple in the lawsuit involving Bobbitt. Badway petitioned Superior Court Judge Paula Dow to pause the civil case in a letter Thursday, the same day authorities raided the couple's home . The letter came to light Monday when Dow granted the stay in the civil case until December. "(Since) it is expected that one or both of the defendants will likely be indicted, my firm and I will no longer be able to continue our representation of them in this matter," Badway wrote. He … [Read more...] about Indictment likely for couple accused of taking donations from homeless man, lawyer says