Virginia advocates and lawmakers want Gov. Glenn Youngkin to allow a direct income tax filing option.

The Internal Revenue Service's Direct File program is a free online tool, which uses interview-style questions to help guarantee people claim all the tax breaks for which they are eligible. Backers of the pilot program want Gov. Youngkin to opt in.

Jay Speer, CEO of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, said other online options cost too much for some people.

"A lot of low-income people in Virginia go to tax preparers who are often located in low-income neighborhoods, pay a whole lot of money to fill out the tax forms for them," Speer observed. "They don't have extra money to pay for tax preparation."

He noted the companies are supposed to offer a free filing option, but it is often hidden or disguised. More than half of taxpayers nationwide can file at no cost, but fewer than 3% have done so. Studies showed Direct File can save Virginians more than $208 million a year in filing fees, and cut around 78 hours off their tax-filing time. Gov. Youngkin has indicated he is following the program and looking into the implications it might have.

A University of Chicago-Harris/AP-NORC poll found two-thirds of Americans believe they pay too much in taxes with too little benefit. Research shows there is truth to it, as some companies hire unenrolled tax preparers who lack qualifications and expertise in tax rules and policy. Speer pointed out people sometimes need their tax refund badly enough to use one of the services.

"They go to these places because they want to get it quickly. They don't think they can do it themselves, which they probably could," Speer contended. "There are these online programs but you know, you may not have good bandwidth where you live, and it may be hard for you to use the programs."

Studies have shown low-income people with children spend up to 22% of their refund at local tax preparation outlets. The cost to file a single return could be more than $500.

Florida Power & Light's request for a nearly $9 billion rate hike, possibly the largest in state history, has sparked concern about the potential burden on people already struggling with high energy costs.

The Florida Public Service Commission is reviewing the proposal, which the utility said is needed for grid resilience, population growth and storm recovery. If approved, the hike would raise the average residential bill by at least $200 a year by 2027, in addition to a $150 "storm recovery fee" already on bills this year.

Maria Claudia Schubert-Fontes, climate justice program manager for the advocacy group Catalyst Miami, warned the effects on low-income households could be devastating.

"Energy burden is the percentage of income that's spent on home energy bills and also is considered 'energy burdened' if it's at 6%," Schubert-Fontes explained. "So, 12% is way above that threshold and folks are spending a large portion of their income just to keep the lights on every month."

Florida Power & Light, which serves about 12 million people, has said the increase is necessary to continue providing reliable service as Florida grows. In 2024, it reported more than $4.5 billion in earnings, while its parent company NextEra Energy posted nearly $7 billion in profit.

Schubert-Fontes argued customers are already being squeezed and pointed out the proposal includes a return on equity far exceeding industry norms.

"Part of FPL's proposal is that there's an 11.9% return on equity, which is far higher than the industry standard, which sits around, like, 9%," Schubert-Fontes noted. "This is money that goes directly into the pockets of shareholders."

The Public Service Commission has completed a series of in-person hearings. Local groups urged regulators to prioritize consumers, particularly vulnerable households and fixed-income seniors. A final decision is expected later this year.


get more stories like this via email

Optimism is falling and pessimism is rising among businesses getting a read on the U.S. economy, according to a new national survey.

The findings are from the Center for Audit Quality, which gathered feedback from the nation's leading public company audit firms. The firms serve clients in a wide range of industries, from retail to mining. The spring survey showed pessimism about the U.S. economy surged to 44%, compared to just 10% last fall. Meanwhile, optimism fell to 15%.

Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the center, said there are a handful of key factors behind the sentiments.

"Concern about a recession, ongoing geopolitical instability, and tariff uncertainty," Lindsay outlined. "Those are the top three areas where audit partners are seeing companies concerned over the next 12 months."

The Trump administration said it remains undeterred in applying broad-based tariffs in pursuit of fair trade. Financial analysts said the approach creates less predictability for businesses with the potential for layoffs, adding some of the tariff polices have resulted in legal setbacks. White House officials hope tariffs lead to more domestic manufacturing but experts cautioned it could take years.

Among respondents, 54% said companies in their sectors are reducing employee headcounts in the current economic landscape but nearly half also are making an effort to boost the skills of existing staff. Lindsay added artificial intelligence has major appeal right now.

"The companies in the industries that they audit are mainly pursuing the use of AI to enhance customer experiences, services and support, as well as automate some work processes," Lindsay explained.

Despite the Trump administration's interest in cryptocurrency, survey results show American companies feel the situation is not right yet to jump into those markets. Of those surveyed, 96% said their clients are not having talks right now about such investments.


get more stories like this via email

As eastern Kentucky communities attempt to bounce back from a string of natural disasters, more small businesses are struggling to get back on their feet.

An upcoming series of workshops led by the nonprofit Mountain Association and AppalReD Legal Aid this month aims to help small businesses in the region better prepare for emergencies.

Jessica Epperson, Mountain Association disaster recovery coordinator, said if businesses can get up and running as quickly as possible after catastrophe, communities benefit.

"They're going to cover the topics such as the death of a business owner, legal considerations, by-sale arrangements, key-person insurance, estate planning, just to help businesses really prepare for the other side of a disaster," Epperson outlined.

Workshop participants can sign up for free one-on-one meetings with an attorney. Workshops will be held in Hazard on Wednesday, London on Thursday, Ashland on June 17 and Prestonsburg on June 18.

Epperson pointed out while many businesses receive immediate funds in the aftermath of disaster, many are unable to navigate long-term challenges.

"We're hoping that businesses will be able to learn from each other, as well as find opportunities to improve disaster recovery," Epperson explained.

Epperson stressed Appalachian Kentucky's economic stability depends on local business owners.

"By having small businesses, it's ensuring the livelihood of our communities," Epperson added. "It's a dual way of being able to support both the people and the businesses within a certain area."

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, between March 2022 and March 2023, more than 16,000 small businesses opened in Kentucky, and around 9,500 shut their doors. As of 2024, more than 380,000 small businesses operated across the Commonwealth, employing more than 685,000 people.