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Tax Time: Extension offers tips for filing, saving

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Tax Time: Extension offers tips for filing, saving

By Tracy Courage U of A System Division of Agriculture

With Tax Day just a few weeks away, the countdown is on to prepare and submit tax returns for 2024.

Tax filing season officially began Jan. 27 when the IRS began accepting paper and electronic tax returns. The agency said it expects more than 140 million individual tax returns to be filed by April 15.

Laura Hendrix, associate professor and extension personal finance expert for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, offers some tips and resources for filers looking to save money and make good use of their tax refunds.

Get organized

Tax filers need several documents, such as reports of income received in 2024, and information for tax credits, deductions and itemization.

“Keep the documents and tax forms you need to file your taxes in one place,” Hendrix said. “This way, you can prepare an accurate return, claim deductions or credits, and avoid errors that could delay your refund.”

Lists of items and forms required can be found on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov

File electronically to get a faster refund.

Use direct deposit — Have your refund deposited directly into your bank account by using IRS Form 8888.

File for free

The IRS expects more than half of tax returns be filed this year with the help of tax professionals, but many people may save money by using one of several free tax preparation options:

· IRS Free File — The IRS partners with several tax preparation companies for Free File. It’s available to anyone with an adjustable gross income of $84,000 or less. Adjusted gross income (AGI) is total income minus deductions. To learn more and see the list of tax prep companies, visit the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

· MyFreeTaxes helps people file their taxes for free full tax preparation for income $67,000 or less and free self-filing service for income of $84,000 or less. United Way provides MyFreeTaxes in partnership with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, known as VITA, to help filers prepare their tax returns on their own or have their return prepared for them for free. https://myfreetaxes.com/

· Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly sites do free tax preparation for people who qualify. For locations, visit https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/

· AARP Tax Aid provides free assistance at several in-person locations in Arkansas and online for filers with adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less. https://secure.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action

· MilTAx — Service members and their families, including retired and National Guard can file for free with MilTAx. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services

Get tax credits

· Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) — This is a refundable credit (money sent to you after taxes). If you worked or were self-employed and earned less than $66,819, you can receive the Earned Income Tax Credit by filing a tax return.

· Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) – These tax credits are for filers with qualifying dependents. The Child Tax Credit is applied to the tax bill; the Additional Child Tax Credit is refundable. Children must be under age 17 and must have lived with you for more than half the year. The Child Tax Credit is worth a maximum of $2,000 per qualifying child. Up to $1,700 is refundable.

If you have income below the standard deduction threshold, which is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for those married filing jointly, you may not be required to file a return. However, you may want to file anyway so you can receive refundable tax credits.

IRS Tax Assistant is an online tool and calculator that can help filers determine qualifications and estimate amounts. https://www.irs.gov/help/ita

Take deductions

A deduction is an amount you subtract from your income when you file so you don’t pay tax on it. Tax filers either take the standard deduction or they itemize deductions.

“Most people take the standard deduction, which lets you subtract a set amount from your income based on your filing status,” Hendrix said. “If your deductible expenses and losses are more than the standard deduction, you can save money by itemizing, or deducting them one-by-one from your income. Tax software can walk you through your expenses and losses to show the option that gives you the lowest tax.”

The standard deductions for 2024 are $14,600 for single or married filing separately; $29,200 for married couples filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse; and $21,900 for head of household.

“If you’re married filing separately, you can’t take the standard deduction if your spouse itemizes,” Hendrix said. “You must both choose the same method.”

Save money

After taxes are filed, Hendrix urges people to think ahead of how they can best use tax refund money.

“This windfall money comes around only once a year, so take time to think about how you can make the most of your tax refund,” Hendrix said. She recommends putting at least part of the refund into savings because “it’s easier to save money you’ve never seen or had in your hands.”

She recommends these options:

· Build an emergency fund. “You should aim to have at least $1,000 in an emergency fund, and a tax refund is a great way to start.”

· Pay off debt — “Paying off debt is as important as saving,” Hendrix said. “Use your refund to pay off some or all credit card debt, or use the extra to pay down a car, home, or other loan. Paying additional to the principal of a loan can take months off your loan and save money in interest.”

· Boost your retirement funds.

· Save for a child’s education.

· Save for big items.

For more information on personal finance, visit uaex.uada.edu/money. To learn more about extension programs, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Obituary: Loren Eray Dickens (1966-2025)

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Obituary: Loren Eray Dickens (1966-2025)

Loren Eray Dickens, 58, of Waldron, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2025, with his mother and two daughters at his side. He was born on July 24, 1966.

Loren was a loving father, son, brother, and Papa. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, collecting Dale Earnhardt memorabilia, stamps, and spending time with family. He also liked to sit in his rocking chair, laughing at cartoon shows.

Loren is survived by his mother, Christine Lees of Waldron, Arkansas, his two daughters, Cindel Young and fiancé Drew Abbott, and Brandy Roseberry and husband Josh; two siblings; one brother, Jarod Dickens, and one sister, Crystal Hall; three grandchildren, Juliona Young, Haynen Young, and Layla Roseberry; and one uncle, Doyle Dickens.

Loren is preceded in death by his father, Adell Dickens, his son Allen Pollard, stepdad Ray Lees, his maw, Elgin Dickens, and two uncles, Allen Dickens and Dean Dickens.

Family will receive friends on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Martin Funeral & Cremation Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. Loren’s life celebration will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Martin Funeral & Cremation Chapel at 11 a.m. with Brother Ricky Hunt officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Martin Funeral & Cremation – Waldron.

Resident Press (Lavaca, Charleston, Paris edition) 2/19/25 Vol. 4 No. 8

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Butterfly effect? NALC webinar will discuss impacts of listing monarch butterfly under Endangered Species Act

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Butterfly effect? NALC webinar will discuss impacts of listing monarch butterfly under Endangered Species Act

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

When a species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, it receives various protections — what impact could those protections have on agriculture?

That’s the question following the December 2024 proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or FWS, to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the ESA. Among other factors in its declining numbers, agricultural production and land use impact the butterfly by reducing milkweed habitat through land conversion and pesticide use, which disrupts their breeding and migration.

“This process began at least as far back as 2014 when various environmental groups submitted a petition to FWS to list the monarch butterfly,” said Brigit Rollins, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC. “A decade later, FWS agreed, proposing to list it as a ‘threatened’ species.”

Rollins will discuss what the designation of “threatened” means, as well as other components of the proposed listing and which aspects of the proposal would especially impact agriculture during the NALC’s Feb. 19 webinar. The presentation, “Monarch Butterfly: Exploring the Proposed ESA Listing,” begins at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern and is free to attend. Registration is available online.

“When a species is listed, it can impact how agricultural producers are able to operate,” Rollins said. “In the case of the monarch butterfly, the proposed listing from FWS provides exemptions for agriculture and citizen conservation efforts. Other areas, such as pesticide restrictions, are unaddressed. It’s possible that details about pesticide use would be included in the final listing decision or in a separate rule.”

The listing is only a proposal for now and is open for public comment through March 12.

“The agency has requested feedback from commentors on a variety of topics, including possible economic impacts of the proposed decision and how to address pesticide uses,” Rollins said. “Stakeholders can provide comments online.”

Along with examining the proposed decision to list the monarch, Rollins will also address how the new presidential administration could impact a final rule.

“The administration has not addressed the monarch decision specifically, so it is not clear how it plans to proceed,” Rollins said. “However, the webinar will discuss possible outcomes or administrative pathways that are available.”

More information from Rollins on the proposed listing of the monarch butterfly is available online on the NALC website. For background on the ESA, visit the NALC’s Endangered Species Act Manual, authored by Rollins, and the ESA Reading Room.

For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the National Agricultural Law Center

Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.

The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! It sure is cold on this Valentine’s Day 2025. That wind is harsh. Spring is on the way, I hope. Last Friday night we decided to go to The Barn. We have a family text, so we put it on there and whoever can go, will go. We had two tables full of people. I ride with my brother Larry, the crazy nephew Michael and Ivy Jane. On the way over there I said, “Did everyone remember to bring cash or a check?” Michael is in the front seat, and he pulls a folded check out of his pocket and shakes it in the air. Me and his dad say, “What are you going to do if you mess that ‘one’ check up?” He said, “Surely I won’t mess it up.” He was very confident. Keep in mind he had no cash, just this one check. I said, “You will mess that check up!” We all ate catfish and all the trimmings and had the best time, laughing and talking–just had a big time. We go to check out and Michael is in line a little ways in front of Jake, Rheding, Sutton and me. I am watching him when he gets up to the counter and I tell Jake and Rheding he has messed that check up, I repeat, he has messed that check up. Yes, folks, he messed the check up! On the line that says pay to the order of, he writes the amount. He has the whole line backed up trying to fix this check. In his words, by the time he got that checked marked up, he said it looked like a complicated flow chart with arrows and markings all over it. Believe it or not the check cleared, and he can rest easy he doesn’t owe the barn any money.

I am telling y’all when you go somewhere with this crazy family of mine, there is going to be something happening. If any of y’all want to tag along on one of our outings, just for kicks and giggles, I promise you will have a good time. Until next week, hug your loved ones and remind them how much you love and appreciate them.

SWISS CHICKEN CASSEROLE
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup of milk
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
6 slices Swiss cheese
1 package herb seasoned stove top stuffing
1/4 cup melted butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 dish with non-stick spray. Whisk the soup and milk together in a bowl until combined. Arrange the chicken in the prepared dish. Put your chicken in the dish and lay a piece of Swiss cheese on the top then spoon the soup mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the stuffing mix and drizzle with butter. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for around 50 minutes. Make sure the chicken is done on the inside. My boss makes this, and he cuts the chicken in pieces and lays the cheese on top. He likes it better that way. I guess this recipe has been around for years, but I have never made it. He also said he puts two cans of cream of chicken in it will give you extra gravy if you want to eat it on egg noodles or mashed potatoes. Have a blessed week and I hope you had a great Valentines Day. If you still have your spouse around never fail to tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you.

March 17 is a great day for donating to 4-H

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March 17 is a great day for donating to 4-H

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Even for a program symbolized by a four-leaf clover, “It takes more than luck to succeed,” says John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation.

To give luck a bit of a boost, the Arkansas 4-H program uses March 17 — a day filled with green and clovers — as an invitation to support its youth development mission through donations.

“People see our youth wearing their green 4-H clovers, they know good things follow. Our 4-H’ers have a tremendous track record of community service,” Thomas said. “Each year, we see St. Patrick’s Day as a way to remind people to help Arkansas 4-H.”

This will be the fifth annual giving day. Thomas said this year’s goal is $45,000.

“Since we started this giving day in 2021, it has become the day that more and more people rally around to support the Arkansas youth we serve through the 4-H program. We’ve raised over $100,000 since we started and it all goes directly to the youth we serve.”

Each year, Arkansas 4-H distributes more than $150,000 in college and activity scholarships to its members.

“Your donation goes to a good cause,” he said, “We hope you will support us.”

Thomas said donations can be made online, or donors may text AR4H to 44321. He notes that when texting, donors will be asked to give a $44 default gift or donate a custom amount.

Arkansas 4-H members can attest to the personal growth opportunities the organization offers. There are more than 130,000 youth involved with 4-H in Arkansas.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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