Debt.com’s writers are journalists, personal finance experts, and certified credit counselors. Their advice about money – how to make it, how to save it, and how to spend it – is based on, collectively, a century of personal finance experience. They’ve been featured in media outlets ranging from The New York Times to USA Today, from Forbes to FOX News, and from MSN to CBS.
Even if you’re not struggling to stay afloat, you’re still missing out.
If you need to enroll in bankruptcy counseling in order to fulfill the requirement for filing, we can connect you with approved counseling providers who can also provide resources to help you file and to recover quickly once your filing is complete.
When you take individual perspectives and blend them into a single money management strategy, it can be tricky. Here are 4 key questions to ask when budgeting for couples.
When you cosign a debt, you take on the obligation to repay if the main debtors can’t. But what happens if the borrower files for bankruptcy?
Both IRS and state tax debt can be discharged during bankruptcy, but the amount you end up paying depends on your financial situation and the chapter you file.
We help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of filing for bankruptcy so you can decide if it’s the right choice for your situation.
You may be hoping for a quick and easy exit, but completing your bankruptcy filing could take up to five years if you go through Chapter 13.
By law, you don’t need a lawyer to file for bankruptcy – either personal or business – but there are some key points to note before you go pro se.
Debt collectors have a right to contact your employer, but not to shame you about your debt – it’s only allowed to verify your identity.
There’s nothing to prevent a collector from showing up on your doorstep, but there are restrictions on what they can do and it’s rare to actually happen.
You have a right to fight back for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Learn when you can sue a collector for harassment.
Debtor’s prison might’ve been a concern in the 1800’s, but these days you usually don’t have to worry about going to jail over unpaid debt.
When you owe money to a debt collector, there’s a chance they can sue you and get a court order for garnishment that could affect your accounts.
When a collector crosses the line, you have a right to protect yourself by filing a complaint with the FTC or CFPB. Learn what to do to fight back.
Debt buyers are a big part of the collection industry these days, so learn what happens if debt is sold to a buyer and what it means for you.
Your rights and how you deal with past-due debt are largely determined by the length of the delinquency and whether that debt has passed to a collector.
While total tax debt forgiveness is a bit of a myth, there ARE relief options you can use to reduce or eliminate your liability on unpaid tax debt.
At a certain point collectors cross the line from taking action to collect, to abusing and harassing consumers into paying. Learn where that line is.
If you’ve filed for bankruptcy in the past and need to file again, learn how much time needs to pass before your debts can be discharged by the courts again.
Find up-to-date statistics about how personal bankruptcy affects consumers in the U.S. We also provide some business bankruptcy statistics, too.
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act sets the process when consumers file for personal bankruptcy. Learn more about your rights.
No matter how old you are or where you are in life, as a woman you need a personalized financial strategy that helps you avoid issues and reach your goals.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming – especially if you avoid these budget don’ts so you can focus on what you need to do.
A personal financial management (PFM) platform is a money management tool you can use to make budgeting, saving and debt elimination fast and hassle-free.
From marriage to kids to downsizing in your golden years, we’ll show you what you need to know to make sure your family is financially successful.
One out of every ten Americans came out of the 2009 financial crisis with one or more debts in collections according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Still, as 30 million Americans — struggle to pay down their debt; they’re being bombarded with calls, letters and even threats from debt collectors to pay- up. […]
Find the answers you need if you’re facing harassing debt collectors. Debt collection isn’t one of those things you learn about in school. It’s probably not a topic your parents covered when you were a kid, because they didn’t want to think you’d end up struggling. But delinquent debt happens, and whether you’re in trouble […]
When you file for bankruptcy, the last thing you want to have in uncertainty about what’s going to happen. That’s why it’s so important to be informed and find the answers you need to answer your most pressing questions about bankruptcy. That way, you’re not faced with so much fear of the unknown that often […]
If you’re married filing jointly and your spouse doesn’t pay the IRS, then you could find yourself on the hook for that tax debt unless you take these steps.
Avoid the placement of a tax lien by seeking resolution.
“Audit” may be the scariest 5-letter word in the English language, but we’re here to break it down to remove the mystery and give you some peace of mind.
Even if you don’t file a tax return, the IRS can still find you from data they collect from third-party bank and credit info.
Learn how IRS penalties and interest work and how you can use penalty abatement to reduce the total tax debt you owe, so it’s easier to pay off back taxes.
Levies allow the IRS to take money directly out of your bank accounts to cover unpaid tax debt. Learn how to protect your cash flow from levies.
This page provides answers to the most common tax questions we receive. All answers are provided by Debt.com’s resident tax expert, Jacob Dayan. If you still have questions, head over to our Ask the Expert section to get the answer you need. Please note: If you’re having trouble with your taxes, almost every situation is […]
We help you explore different options available for tax debt relief so you can find the right solution for your unique financial situation.
We help you get on top of your student loan debt payments by answering the top questions about student loan debt, consolidation and forgiveness. Get answers to the most common questions about student loans.
If you know how tax debt is incurred, you can avoid it.
If you’re facing collections from the IRS, we’ll explain how the process works so you can either avoid collection or find a way to handle it smartly.
If you’re struggling to cover basic living expenses, qualifying for CNC status can help you avoid being hounded by the IRS to collect unpaid tax debt.
You can pay off your tax debt with monthly payments, like most other bills. You may even be able to pay less than you owe with an installment agreement.
You might need more time to pay your taxes, but make no mistake: Even an extension probably won’t protect you from paying more.
The deadline for your 2019 filing is right around the corner. Here’s why you need to file even if you can foot the bill to the IRS.
Whether you owe the IRS or you got a huge refund, you may have a problem with your tax withholding. Get it right by changing how much you withhold.
We give you five tips for how to repair your credit effectively after you go through personal bankruptcy to get you on the road to better credit.
Filing for Chapter 7 allows you to hit the financial reset button by liquidating your assets to erase your outstanding debts. Here’s how it works.
How far can a collector go when it comes to hunting you down for past-due debt. When you have a past-due debt, there’s nothing illegal about dodging a collector. You can screen phone calls, hide and take steps to avoid speaking with the collector. Of course, the collector has a right to take steps to […]
Learn when and why a debt collector can contact you at your job or even contact your employer if they’re trying to verify your identity.
We investigate the debt collection process so you can have an idea of what to expect if one or more of your debts gets sent to a collector.
When a collector crosses the line, you have a right to protect yourself by filing a complaint with the FTC or CFPB. Learn what to do to fight back.
