Ellen Chang

Contributor

About

Ellen Chang is a freelance journalist who is based in Houston and writes articles for U.S. News & World Report. Chang previously covered investing, retirement and personal finance for TheStreet. She focuses her articles on stocks, personal finance, energy and cybersecurity. Her byline has appeared in national business publications, including USA Today, CBS News, Yahoo Finance MSN Money, Bankrate, Kiplinger and Fox Business. She is a proud graduate of Purdue University and a lover of random acts of kindness, volunteering and cats and dogs. Follow her on Twitter at @ellenychang and Instagram at @ellenyinchang.

1 year ago

How To Find The Best Tax Preparer or CPA

If you have complicated taxes (say, you’re self-employed, or you have rental properties) or even if you simply hate doing your own taxes, finding a good tax preparer can be a huge help and relieve a lot of stress. A...
2 years ago

How To File An Amended Tax Return

It’s not uncommon to make a mistake on your federal tax return or leave out important information such as a tax deduction or credit that you’re entitled to. When that happens, the IRS has a process that gives you a...
2 years ago

What Is The First-Time Homebuyer Credit And Why Doesn’t It Exist Anymore?

A tax credit for first-time homebuyers was launched in 2008 after the Great Recession caused the housing market to crash. Unfortunately, the credit isn’t available any more. It expired a decade ago under the terms of the legislation that created...
1 year ago

15 Common Tax Write-Offs You Can Claim On Your Next Return

Taxpayers can take advantage of numerous deductions and credits on their taxes each year that can help them pay a lower amount of taxes—or receive a refund from the IRS. You may be able to claim the following 15 common...
3 years ago

Trademark Vs. Copyright Vs. Patent: What’s The Difference?

Entrepreneurs who own a trademark, copyright or patent for a product or technology have an advantage over their competitors. But the process for obtaining these intellectual property protections can be long and complicated. Before you start the process, it is...
1 year ago

How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?

If you’re like many Americans, you may have tax returns from a decade ago languishing in a filing cabinet. But you don’t need to hold on to tax documents for as long as you might think. In almost all cases,...