Our experts answer readers' tax questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess tax products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
Charles Horonzy, Sheneya Wilson, Lisa Niser
From choosing tax-filing software to maximizing deductions to tracking your refund, Personal Finance Insider is here to guide you through tax season.
We've put together a tax review board for 2024. These experts review our tax stories to make sure you're getting the most helpful and accurate information.
You can read more about them below.
Lisa Niser
Lisa Niser has been a tax and financial advisor and educator for 25 years. She spent the first 5 years of her career at Ernst & Young and PwC where she worked with corporate executives and high net worth individuals on their taxes and financial planning and saw the value individualized, judgment-free support in these areas offered.
Lisa brought that value focused approach to her own practice which she started in 2003. Instead of being a volume tax preparer, Lisa takes on a limited client load so she can be available throughout the year to answer questions, do planning and help her clients become comfortable and confident about taxes and money.
Lisa works with individuals of all income levels and organizations of all sizes and loves being their "advisor on speed dial" so they can get the information they need to feel prepared and empowered to make decisions that work for where they want to go.
Lisa has reviewed the following articles:
- 5 steps to report bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies on your IRS tax return
- Is exchanging one cryptocurrency for another taxable?
- Standard deduction: 2022 and 2023 amounts, how to claim on IRS tax return
- changes to know before filing your 2022 IRS return
- 5 IRS scams to watch out for during tax season
- How to buy bonds as a gift
- Giving stocks as gifts has benefits for both the giver and receiver. Here's what you need to know about it
- Tax credit vs. tax deduction: What's the difference?
- Why do I owe taxes this year? 6 reasons you may not get a refund
- Are moving expenses tax deductible? Only for active duty military and their families
- Here's why your bonus is taxed so high
- Your side hustle income is taxable. Here's what to know before filing
- Earnings from high-yield savings accounts or CDs are subject to income tax. Here's how that works
- Earnings from high-yield savings accounts or CDs are subject to income tax. Here's how that works
- Should you file taxes jointly if you're married, or separately? In most cases, file jointly
- Short and long-term capital gains are taxed differently. Here's how it works
- How the saver's credit can reduce your tax bill by up to $1,000 if you saved for retirement
- Tax-loss harvesting can turn your investment losses into tax breaks. Here's how it works
- What to know about the IRS rules for bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies for tax season 2023
- Military members can file their taxes for free. Here's how
- How long you should keep IRS records depends on how complicated your tax return is
- Your tax liability is the amount you owe to the IRS
- FICA is the federal tax withheld from paychecks to pay for Social Security and Medicare
- I received Form 1095-C in the mail. What am I supposed to do with it?
- Tax returns: How they work and important things to remember when preparing them
- Estate taxes are levied at rates as high as 40% on some assets after death
- WFH tax deductions explained: who qualifies and how to claim them
- OASDI tax: The income-replacement program that helps employees save up for retirement and disability
- Your homeowners insurance may be tax deductible if you're self-employed and work from home
- Marginal vs. effective tax rate: Two ways to measure what you're paying the IRS
- The earned income tax credit (EITC) gives a tax break to workers in the middle and lower-end of the income scale
- Knowing how to calculate property tax is crucial when owning or buying a home. Here's how you do it
- State income taxes rates: How they work, where they're collected, and how much you'll pay
- How and when to file an amended tax return
- 10 of the most common self-employment tax deductions for 2022
- A tax credit is a way for low earners, parents, homeowners, and students to reduce their taxes
- How to fill out a W-4 form when you switch employers or your life circumstances change
- Do I have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits for 2022?
- There are 9 US states with no income tax, but 2 still taxed investment earnings in 2022
- An employer identification number (EIN) is a requirement for most businesses. Getting one is free and easy
- Why do we pay taxes? Federal income tax is the biggest source of government funding
- Federal income tax: What it is, how it works, and what you'll pay for 2022
- How to find your federal tax bracket and use it to estimate what you'll owe for 2022 and 2023
- What is a Schedule C tax form?
- How to find the best tax preparer near you
- Inheritance tax: What it is, who has to pay, and how to avoid it
Sheneya Wilson, MS, MBA
The People's CPA, Sheneya Wilson, MS, MBA, is a serial social entrepreneur, investor, and wealth educator. She is the founder and CEO of Fola Financial LLC, a financial services firm dedicated to empowering others through the use of financial education and economic enrichment, the Tax Essential Learning Program (T.E.L.P), an IRS-certified tax education program, and a private fintech company.
As a CPA for the people, she prides herself in educating and providing exceptional financial services to creative entrepreneurs, small business owners, investors, and affluent professionals, all while training and developing the next generation of elite accounting advisors and tax professionals.
She has been a featured tax expert in The New York Times, Forbes, Pix11, CNBC's Squawk Box, and currently serves on Business Insider's Tax Review Board. To her, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela.
Sheneya has reviewed the following articles:
- When are quarterly taxes due in 2023?
- When to file your taxes this year to avoid late fees and get your refund as fast as possible
- Should I do my own taxes or hire a pro? Here's how to decide.
- How to calculate whether your Social Security benefits are taxable
- Where's my tax refund? Here's how to check the status of your IRS or state return
- How much do you have to make to file taxes? Here are the benchmarks for the 2022 tax year
- How to tell if you need to file a tax return — and what happens if you neglect to file
- Medical expense tax deduction: Who can use it and how it works
- Are home improvements tax deductible? Only under limited circumstances
- How to make quarterly tax payments if you're a freelancer or business owner
- Is college tuition tax deductible? Yes, it can be
- Excise taxes: The tax levied on certain goods, services, and activities
- What is Form 1099? Who files them, who gets them, and how they work
- What is my filing status? It's a key determiner of how much income tax you pay
- Form 1040: What it is, how it works, and the different types to know about
- You may be able to deduct renters insurance on your tax return if you're self-employed and work from home
- 4 ways to prepare and file your tax returns for free
- Need more time to file taxes? Here's how to file an extension
- How to pay your tax bill on time to avoid late charges and interest
- 5 steps to filing your taxes no matter how simple or complicated your return might be
Charles Hornozy
Charlie is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). He started his career in public accounting and then worked in corporate accounting. Charlie realized that his work wasn't fulfilling his desire to give back to his community. After much deliberation and prayer, he decided to take a leave from the workforce and dedicated a year to service work. This was a momentous experience for Charlie. After this year he knew he wanted to use his financial knowledge and CPA to help people. He joined a fee only financial planning firm and merged his desire to help with his background. Charlie spent time helping his clients will all aspects of comprehensive financial advising. Being a CPA, he also served a unique position of understanding individual taxes and how it relates to the comprehensive financial picture.
In 2018 Charlie opened up his own firm, Focused Up Financial, LLC. Charlie mainly serves individuals and families at transition points in their life with a focus on assisting pre-retirees and retirees prepare and live out one of the biggest transitions of their life. Charlie is confident he found his calling in helping people complete the puzzles of their financial picture, especially as it relates to their taxes, while developing deep relationships along the way.
In Charlie's free time he enjoys biking and spending time going on various outings around the Chicago Suburbs with his wife and three daughters.