A housing watchdog group is suing 20 Boston-area landlords and real estate brokers for discrimination against low-income tenants, after conducting an investigation with “testers” who identified themselves as prospective tenants looking for housing. The complaint was...
Renee Lazar
IRS Tax Tip: 16 Types of Income the IRS Does Not Tax
Turns out the adage that only death and taxes are certain isn’t 100% true — in a good way. As you’re painfully aware, the federal government takes a piece of the income pie to help pay for public projects and the infrastructure we use. So do the vast majority of most...
IRS Tax Tip: 5 Ways the IRS Can Fine You
How could you end up owing the IRS a penalty? There are more reasons than you might realize. It’s bad enough that you have to fork over a chunk of your income to the IRS each year. If you make a mistake while doing so, you could get hit by a penalty that might add...
The Legal Age to Marry in Massachusetts Has Changed
What should the minimum age be for someone to marry legally in Massachusetts? The recent enactment of a state law settled that debate once and for all. Until recently, a person under 18 could be married, provided they obtained parental consent. Massachusetts law (MGL...
5 Things Parents Should Know About Social Media’s Impact on Massachusetts Teens’ Mental Health
Slightly more than half of U.S. teens spend at least four hours a day on social media and on average, all teens spend close to five, according to a recent Gallup survey , whose findings underscore the growing alarm over social media’s role in the youth mental health...
Massachusetts Police Officer Receives 2.4M Settlement in Discrimination Case
The city of Boston has reached a $2.4 million settlement with a high-ranking female police officer who sued the department over what she described as a “pattern” of gender discrimination and retaliation within the department. Beth Donovan, the first woman to reach the...
The Percentage of Massachusetts Women in the Workforce is Declining
The percentage of Boston metro area-women who recently gave birth and remain in the workforce has been slowly shrinking since 2019 but remains well above the national average, per new census data. Why it matters: Motherhood often knocks women out of the labor force,...
Massachusetts Has Healthiest Children in United States
For the fifth consecutive year, a national report is highlighting key data that shows infants and toddlers face increasing challenges related to income inequality, housing, child care, physical health and mental health depending on where they live in the United...
6 Most Overlooked Itemized Tax Deductions for Massachusetts Residents
If you qualify for a few of the six itemized deductions below, you might consider going this route on your 2023 taxes. Out-of-pocket medical expenses You're allowed to deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income in 2023. For...
IRS Tip: Tax Information For Massachusetts Military Spouses
Many Massachusetts military spouses run businesses or do gig work, and whether it’s a side hustle or a major operation, the IRS has tax resources, tools and information to help them keep things running smoothly. Tax resources on IRS.gov • Small Business and...