Municipal IDs, Pokemon Go, and The Addicts: Tuesday’s show (July 26, 2016)
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says he’s reviewing the possibility the city may create a municipal ID. Municipal IDs are identification cards issued by cities or municipalities, used for a variety of...
View ArticleTrump Proposes Major Changes To Tax Code
Republican nominee Donald Trump rolled out his economic platform during a speech in Detroit where he called for major changes to the U.S. Tax Code.
View ArticleHISD Recapture and Sunnyside: Tuesday’s Show (October 25, 2016)
Texas state lawmaker Jimmy Don Aycock recently bemoaned how “property value increases have triggered the ‘Robin Hood’ feature” of a school funding system which, in essence, requires HISD to send money...
View ArticleAnswers to Your Year-End Tax Questions
Between now and the end of the calendar year, you may have some decisions to make about your taxes — from tax-deductible charitable gifts, to transactions with tax implications, to financial transfers...
View ArticleCongressman Kevin Brady Discusses Obamacare and Taxes
Congressman Kevin Brady represents Texas’ 8th congressional district, which begins at The Woodlands and stretches north along Interstate 45 through portions of Montgomery and Walker Counties. The...
View ArticleTax Tips for 2016, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the News: Friday’s...
The federal income tax deadline is just a little under two months away (April 18, 2017), but being prepared well in advance is never a bad idea. Preparing your taxes, after all, can be complicated, so...
View ArticleHelpful Tips for Preparing Your 2016 Taxes
The federal income tax deadline is just over two months away (April 18, 2017), but being prepared well in advance is never a bad idea. Preparing your taxes, after all, can be complicated, so on this...
View ArticleTrump To Propose $54 Billion Defense Increase, Cuts To Domestic Programs
In the first look at his spending plan, the president is proposing boosts for the military and law enforcement — at the expense of other domestic spending. Congress will need to write the final plan.
View ArticleRainy Day Fund, and Texas Wildfires: Monday’s Show (March 27, 2017)
The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association recently released a report exploring the creation and original purpose of the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund, better known as the “rainy day fund.” The...
View ArticleWe Asked People What They Know About Taxes. See If You Know The Answers
Results of a new Ipsos poll conducted for NPR suggest Americans may be sending a garbled message when they voice their opinions on taxes.
View ArticleParty Politics, National Edition Ep. 17: Repeal, Replace, Re…Now What?
Where do we go from here?
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Pres. Trump’s Visits To Puerto Rico And Las Vegas
Houston Matters' political experts discuss the latest national, state, and local political stories with an eye for how they might affect Houston and Texas.
View ArticleFull Show: First Senate Hearing On Harvey, And Uncovering Texas Special Ed...
On Monday's edition of Houston Matters: We learn more about the first Texas Senate hearings on Harvey, which are taking place today in New Caney. And News 88.7’s Laura Isensee takes a behind-the-scenes...
View ArticleWould Pres. Trump’s Tax Plan Really Give Average Americans A $4,000 Pay Bump?
Pres. Trump says his proposed tax plan would give the average American household a $4,000 pay raise. Is that true? A Houston economist breaks down the numbers.
View ArticleHouse Passes $4T Budget In Step Forward For Trump Tax Plan
The Senate-approved resolution passed the House narrowly on Tuesday, 216-212, with 20 Republicans voting no and House Speaker Paul Ryan even having to cast a rare vote to help ensure its passage
View Article4 Big Stories To Watch This Week, From Taxes To The Russia Investigations To...
The GOP's tax overhaul effort faces a consequential week, more could be learned about Russia's role in trying to influence the election through social media and the ambush in Niger comes into focus
View ArticleCHART: How The Republican Tax Overhaul Would Affect You
If you itemize, a new, higher standard deduction might make doing your taxes easier. If you run a "pass through" business, your life might be about to get more complicated.
View ArticleTrump Barges Into Tax Debate, Seeks Deeper Cut For Wealthy
Democrats are solidly opposed to the GOP revamp, so the Republicans must find agreement among themselves
View ArticleWATCH: What The GOP Tax Plan Could Mean For Average Taxpayers
The House and Senate are getting to work on reconciling the differences between their tax plans. How will the provisions proposed by Congress affect middle- and lower-income taxpayers?
View ArticleFull Show: Hockey In Houston, And Year-End Tax Advice (Dec. 7, 2017)
On Thursday's Houston Matters: The City of Houston is about to tell some Harvey victims what repairs they need to make to their property. Author Reza Aslan talks about the decision to recognize...
View ArticleYour Year-End Tax Questions Answered
Houston-area CPA Craig Shenkman answers your year-end tax questions.
View ArticleWill The Tax Overhaul Actually Stimulate The Economy?
Ed Hirs, an economics lecturer at the University of Houston, discusses the new tax legislation, and our local experts discuss the political implications.
View ArticleWhy Some Homeowners Are Scrambling To Prepay Their 2018 Property Taxes
The tax overhaul President Trump signed into law last week limits the amount of state and local taxes deducted on people's federal returns next year
View ArticleHow Does Texas’ Budget Use Taxes From Oil And Natural Gas Production?
In the 2017 budget year, the oil production tax gave the state more than $2 billion in revenue, while the natural gas production tax brought in a little less than $1 billion. But where does this money go?
View ArticleAnalysis: There’s A Reason Texas Governors Keep Failing To Lower Property Taxes
Anguish over property taxes is at or near the top of the list of what politicians hear most often from Texans. This is not a complicated part of the civic compact: Voters are peeved. Politicians aim to...
View ArticleUPDATE: Trump Offers Spending Blueprint, But Congress Already Wrote The Check
President Donald Trump unveiled a long-awaited infrastructure plan on Monday, February 12, that asks the U.S. Congress to authorize $200 billion over 10 years
View ArticleStill Need To File Your Taxes? Our Expert Answers Your Questions
CPA Craig Shenkman joins Houston Matters to answer listener questions about filing their 2017 federal income taxes.
View ArticleAs Tax Day Approaches, Watch Out For Phone Scammers
The IRS estimates that more than $65 million has been lost to phone tax scammers in the past five years. The calls are most common during tax season in March and April.
View ArticleIt’s Tax Day And The IRS’ Online Payment Service Is Down
The Internal Revenue Service's online payment tool is "currently unavailable," as a note on the site informs users ahead of the midnight filing deadline. The IRS acknowledges "technical difficulties."
View ArticleAir BnB Doubled Taxes Paid To Texas In The Past Year
The company reported one-and-a-half million guests for the last 12 months
View ArticleHow Should The Sharing Economy Be Taxed?
The economy created by the Ubers and Airbnbs of this world poses a challenge for taxing authorities.
View ArticleFull Show: Beto’s Presidential Run, Tax Prep Advice, And Steve Earle (March...
On Thursday's Houston Matters: Beto's run for president, studying the farthest objects in the solar system, advice for filing your income taxes, and musician Steve Earle performs.
View ArticleLegislation Underway In Texas House Would Give Property Owners Some Tax...
The constitutional amendment would make taxing entities reappraise damaged properties.
View ArticleSurvey Reveals Texans’ Opinions On How To Fund Public Schools, As Legislative...
Views tend to differ between demographics.
View ArticleMonday’s Show: Uninsured In An Outbreak, And Tax Prep Advice (March 16, 2020)
On Monday's Houston Matters: The challenges faced by those without health insurance amid the coronavirus situation, advice for filing your federal income taxes, and how Houston sports teams have been...
View ArticleThe return property taxpayers get for their money (Jan. 31, 2022)
On Monday's show: A massive sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico last year has been invalidated, and a new study examines whether taxpayers in the city may be paying for more than they...
View ArticleOfficers in Nicolas Chavez shooting reinstated, the week in politics, and tax...
On Wednesday's show: Four HPD officers dismissed in 2020 after shooting and killing Nicolas Chavez have been reinstated, the week in politics, and advice on preparing and filing your taxes.
View ArticleManchin, Schumer surprise with deal on climate change, healthcare
The measure would spend $369 billion on energy and climate change initiatives. These include consumer tax credits and rebates for buying clean-energy vehicles and encouraging home energy efficiency.
View ArticleFour-day school weeks (Feb. 28, 2023)
On Tuesday's show: With a number of Texas school districts considering or choosing to implement four-day school weeks, we discuss how'd they work and the pros and cons. And a local CPA answers listener...
View ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Filing Your Taxes
Our experts answer questions and give advice so you can write off filing taxes from your to-do list.
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