
Early IRS data shows the average 2026 tax refund has risen to $2,290, an 11 % increase over the previous year. The surge is linked to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which introduced retroactive tax cuts and seven new deductions while withholding tables remained unchanged. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent estimates the growth could be as high as 22 % once all returns are processed. The larger refunds reflect over‑withholding rather than higher take‑home pay, prompting calls for taxpayers to adjust their W‑4.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a $127 billion preliminary budget that includes a 9.5% property‑tax increase to address a projected $5.4 billion shortfall. The hike would affect over 3 million residential units and more than 100 000 commercial buildings and can be...

A Senate‑staff report estimates that the Trump administration’s scaling back of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cost U.S. consumers roughly $19 billion in lost relief. The agency’s enforcement slowdown, abandoned overdraft‑fee caps and a blocked credit‑card‑late‑fee rule account for the bulk...