To maximize the lifespan of your laptop battery, it’s important to care for the battery properly. A laptop battery will typically last between 2 and 4 years depending on usage and care.

Charging

• When you get a new laptop, most manufacturers recommend a full charge before use. Charging time depends on the battery capacity and type, the charger type and usage during charging.
• After the initial charge it is best not to let the battery completely discharge and avoid charging to 100%, which may reduce the lifespan of the battery. Many manufacturers have software that allows you to adjust the upper limit to stop charging as well as a lower limit to start charging, on some laptops this can be adjusted in the BIOS.
• Some manufactures recommend calibrating the battery, you can check the manufacturers website to see the recommendations for your make and model.
• Don’t leave the laptop plugged in all the time, once the battery is charged disconnect the laptop from the power adapter and run it on the battery at least part of the time. A battery’s charging capacity shrinks when you don’t use it. Try to keep the battery charged between 20% and 80% for optimal performance. 
• Avoid charging the battery when you are using the laptop. Charging the battery raises the laptop’s temperature. When you are using the laptop the CPU, graphics card and the hard drive also heat up the laptop which can cause overheating.
• Replace the battery when it is no longer working properly. An outdated battery can swell up and cause damage to the laptop. Replace the battery with an OEM battery from the manufacturer. Failure to use the proper battery can cause serious damage to your laptop.

Extending Your Battery’s Lifespan

• Adjust the laptops power management settings to best fit your lifestyle. Power saving mode can put the laptop to sleep when not in use and reducing the screen brightness will conserve battery power.
• Use Airplane mode when you don’t need a connection. Airplane mode disables Wi-Fi, mobile broadband and Bluetooth which use a significant amount of battery power.
• Close applications when you are done using them, open programs use system resources including battery power.
• Shut the laptop off when you will not be using it for an extended period of time.
• Use the power adapter provided with your laptop to be sure it receives the correct voltage and current. Not all adapters are the same and they are not interchangeable. If you need a replacement, get an OEM adapter from the manufacturer.
• Avoid extremely hot or cold environments. Electronic devices and batteries can be damaged in extreme temperatures. Don’t leave your laptop in your car or in direct sunlight.
• Allow for proper ventilation, most laptop fans are located on the bottom. If the fans cannot properly cool the laptop, it can overheat and damage the internal parts including the battery.
• In Windows 11 use the Energy Recommendations setting which consolidates many of the energy saving features in one location. System > Power & battery > Energy recommendations.

Card skimming is a technique criminals use to collect data from your credit or debit cards magnetic strip when you use it to pay for a purchase. Point-of-purchase machines, such as gas pumps, ATMs, and store check outs are susceptible to skimming devices.

According to the data analytics firm FICO, skimming scams are on the rise. They found a 96% increase in these scams in 2023. According to the FBI, skimming scams cost consumers upwards of a billion dollars a year in the United States.

How Skimming Occurs

Criminals install skimming devices on payment platforms, the device can be inserted into the card reader, or overlayed on the payment device. Sometimes a small camera is installed that records your activity. The skimming devices record the debit or credit card information. Depending on the type of device installed it can transmit data wirelessly or the thief will come back later to retrieve the data.

How to Spot a Skimming Device

Card skimming devices can be difficult to spot. Before making a payment inspect the payment terminal, signs of tampering can include a loose, misaligned or damaged card reader.

Part of the machine may look different than the rest, or the keypad may have an overlay. If the numbers are hard to press or you cannot see the numbers clearly that can indicate an overlay.

Gas pumps should have an intact security seal near the card reader. If the seal is broken, the FTC says the label will read void. Check other gas pumps to see if they look the same. If something looks different that may be a sign that a skimming device has been installed.

How to Prevent Skimming

Inspect each card reader you use, if anything seems out of place don’t use it and inform the business.

Check for hidden cameras near payment terminals and if you need to enter a PIN number cover the keypad with your hand while you type it in.

Avoid using your debit card when making a payment, use a credit card instead. Credit cards offer more protection, and they are not tied directly to your bank account.

Use a contactless payment method “tap to pay,” by tapping your card at the POS terminal. Each tap generates a transaction-specific, one-time code that can help reduce fraud. This near-field communications (NFC) technology is more secure since it does not expose the card’s magnetic stripe.  

Use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. This form of payment is secure because your credit card information is tokenized.

Avoid outdoor terminals when possible, criminals are less likely to tamper with payment terminals located inside of a building.

Use a fuel pump located closest to the store, criminals often target fuel pumps that are not easily seen by store employees.

Avoid using non-bank ATMs. FICO reports that 60% of skimming occurs at privately-owned ATMs.

Regularly monitor your financial accounts so that you are quickly aware of any unusual charges or activity. Contact your financial institution immediately if you find a problem.

Sign up for account alerts at your bank, credit card company and other financial institutions. Alerts will notify you of any unusual or suspicious activity.

What To Do If Your Card Has Been Skimmed

If your debit or credit card has been compromised, contact your credit card company or bank immediately. Federal law limits your liability if a credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen but you must report the loss as soon as possible. You will not be held responsible for charges made without your permission if they happen after you report the loss.

After reporting the loss immediately follow up in writing, send a letter to the bank or credit card company detailing the event, include the date the incident occurred, the date you reported it, your name, address, phone number, and account number.

According to the Motley Fool, 1,135,291 cases of identity theft were reported in 2024, roughly 98,000 more than 2023. Credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft reported.

It is important to know what steps you can take to protect your credit, your identity and your finances.

Two common ways to safeguard your credit information are credit freezes and fraud alerts. Both protect your credit reports but in different ways.

Credit Freeze

A federal law called the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act that went into effect on September 21, 2018, mandates that all Americans can freeze their credit reports for free.

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports. When your credit reports are frozen creditors cannot access your reports, this prevents new lines of credit from being opened in your name. To allow lenders and creditors access to your reports you can lift the freeze temporarily. You can freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion online, by mail or by phone. Freezing your credit is one of the best ways to prevent identity theft.

You are entitled to a free credit report from all three agencies. Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action to request your copies. Check them regularly for errors.

Fraud Alert

A fraud alert does not block access to your credit reports like a credit freeze does, instead it notifies potential lenders to take additional verification steps to verify the applicant’s identity before issuing lines of credit, which may involve the creditor contacting the applicant by phone to verify their identity.

There are three types of fraud alerts. An initial fraud alert, also referred to as temporary fraud alerts because they expire after one year. Everyone has the right to add these to their credit reports, when in place a fraud alert asks creditors to take extra precautions to verify the identity of the person making a request for credit. An extended fraud alert is available if you have been a victim of credit fraud or identity theft. You may need to provide documentation that you have been the victim of identity theft when requesting an extended fraud alert. An extended fraud alert will last seven years. The extended fraud alert requires creditors to contact you before issuing credit in your name. An active-duty alert is available only to active-duty service members, they expire after a year and ask creditors to have a reasonable belief that they know the identity of the person making a request.

Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert

Most experts recommend everyone freeze their credit. After you take the initial steps to freeze your credit it remains frozen until you initiate a temporary or permanent unfreeze. It takes just a few minutes with each bureau to place the freeze and adds an additional layer of security to your credit and finances.

Fraud alerts don’t offer the same level of protection as a credit freeze but if you suspect your identity may be in jeopardy a fraud alert can act as a warning that a fraudster is trying to perform malicious activities in your name.

Setting up one or both takes just a little bit of time but can add to your peace of mind knowing that you have taken steps to protect your finances, identity and credit profile.

We have all seen the warnings about oversharing on social media, but often disregard them. Instead give serious consideration to the dangers of revealing too much about yourself. When traveling keep details about your trip private.

Posting pictures of your plane ticket, boarding pass, passport, Visa, hotel name and location, trip itinerary and other information is a huge security risk. This information contains the details a cybercriminal needs to carry out fraud, identity theft and burglary.

Criminals can use the information found on a boarding pass, including barcodes to alter your reservation and possibly gain access to your frequent flyer miles.

They can use the details found on your passport or Visa to replicate the documents and gather personal information which can lead to fraud and identity theft.

When you post trip details while you are away, this lets criminals know that you home is unoccupied which can lead to break-ins. A study published in TIME Magazine found that nearly 80% of burglars scour social media platforms to plan their next heist. When they find you are away it opens the door for theft (literally) and alerts criminals that your home, cars, and other belongings are unguarded. 

Don’t enable location services for social media sites, and don’t add location tags which is like broadcasting your location.

If your social media profile includes details like your hometown, birthdate, workplace, current city and other personal details cybercriminals can harvest that information and piece it together with other information they gather from data breaches and other online resources to create a detailed profile on you which can be used for fraud and identity theft.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) one in four people who reported losing money to fraud said the scheme started on social media. In a 2-year period losses from fraud reached $2.7 billion.

When you snap a photo with your phone it may automatically contain geotags with your exact GPS coordinates. That means if you take a picture with your phone and post it online you are essentially broadcasting your location to the world. Turn location tags off in your phone settings to protect your privacy.

You should also avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi during a trip. These networks are dangerous and an easy target for hackers who can intercept and steal the data that is transmitted over the network. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN), which adds an extra layer of protection when you go online. And don’t visit any websites where you are required to login such as your email, bank or credit card company.

Oversharing in general should be avoided. Keep the details of your trip private.

If online security is not something you think about often it should be, we not only spend a great deal of time online, but we manage much of our life online as well. Our online activities can include banking and managing our financial accounts, paying bills, accessing our medical records, shopping and more.

Here are some suggestions for staying safe online.

Passwords and MFA

Use the strongest security settings that are available for all of your online accounts. Most sites now offer MFA (Multifactor Authentication) This adds an additional layer of security to your accounts, instead of needing just a password to login you will need a second and possibly third method of authentication before you can access your account.

Choose a strong password for every site and never use the same password twice. Use a password manager to protect your login information. Most password managers come with a password generator that will create a strong password for you. A password should contain a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters and should be as long as possible. Change your passwords several times a year and anytime there is a security breach, or you believe someone may have access to your account.

Assign a strong password to log into your computer and protect your mobile phone and other devices with a secure login method.

Watch Where You Shop

Online stores are everywhere and almost every website you visit contains ad’s and popups to online shopping sites, but be careful where you shop and what you click on. Never shop at a site you are not sure of or one that seems questionable, the web address should show a padlock symbol and begin with “https” to indicate it is secure.

Only shop on well-known and familiar websites. Clicking a random link or ad can lead you to a malicious site which may look completely genuine but is run by criminals.

You can check a site at The Better Business Bureau and use their Scam Tracker to report and lookup scams.

Limit the information you provide to online shopping sites. There is no reason an online store needs to know your birthday, middle name, or any other personal details. You should only need to provide your payment information, name and address.  

Never shop when connected to public Wi-Fi where your information can easily be intercepted and stolen.

Always use a credit card, never a debit card to make online purchases. Credit cards offer better protection and are not directly linked to your bank account. You might consider getting a credit card with a lower credit limit strictly for online shopping, keeping it separate from your other credit card accounts.

Don’t save your payment information online. If a website is compromised any information saved in your account can be stolen.

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi & Public Computers

Public Wi-Fi is everywhere, stores, coffee shops, the airport, hotels and more, but public Wi-Fi is not secure, and it is an easy target for hackers. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi never visit any sites that require you to login like email, banking and other financial sites.  And use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to prevent criminals from accessing your private data.

Avoid using public computers. These computers are often loaded with keystroke loggers and other malware so anything you do on the computer can be seen and stolen.

Avoid Suspicious Links & Attachments

Don’t click on any links or attachments in email or text messages you are unsure of. These can direct you to malicious websites designed to steal your information and infect your devices with malware.

Don’t Share Personal Information

Social media is dangerous. Users often share far too much information about themselves, and the information can be used to steal your money and your identity. It can put your personal safety at risk and can lead to home robberies and other malicious activities. Anything you post or share resides on the social media sites server and can be copied and shared by other users. Even if you delete something you post it is still out there forever. Criminals scan social media sites and harvest information, they can pair that information with other data they have gathered about you from security breaches and other online sources and build a detailed profile on you which can be used for identity theft and other criminal activity. The less you share the better.

Keep Your Computer & Other Devices Up to Date

Install operating system and app updates as soon as they are available. These updates keep you safe by patching security holes and vulnerabilities. They also improve performance and install new features.

Be Careful What You Download

Be careful when installing new programs and apps. Make sure you are getting the software from a reputable source. Malware is often hidden in software downloads.

Be Careful Meeting People Online

Many times, people you meet online are not who they claim to be. Fake profiles on social media, dating apps and other sites are a way for scammers to make a connection and trick you into providing personal and financial information which can lead to financial and identity theft and even physical harm.

Install Antivirus Software & Keep it Updated

Antivirus software protects you against viruses and malware. It cannot protect you against every online threat, but it can detect and remove most malicious software.

Adjust Security Settings

Marketers and hackers use security vulnerabilities in your browser to target you with ad’s, install malware and steal your information. Web browsers and mobile operating systems have security settings designed to protect you online. Websites also have their own security settings to enhance your privacy and keep your data safe. Enable the most restrictive security settings in your browser and on the websites you use to keep your data protected.

Backup Your Data

Protect your computer, mobile phone and other devices by having a backup plan in place so that your data is regularly and automatically backed up. Ideally you want three or more copies of your important data. The main copy and at least two other copies in completely separate physical locations such as an external hard drive or file server. When data loss happens, you want to be able to quickly and easily restore it.

Freeze Your Credit & Check Your Credit Reports

Freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian and check your credit reports often. Freezing your credit is one of the best ways to protect yourself against identity theft. When your reports are frozen no one can pull your reports or open lines of credit in your name. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit reports with all three agencies. Look at your reports to ensure they are accurate and don’t contain any errors or false information which could indicate identity theft. Go to Annual Credit Report to get your free reports.

Review Your Financial Accounts

Review your bank, credit card and other financial account statements monthly so that you spot any errors or unusual charges or other activity. Setup alerts on all of your accounts so that you are aware of any activity that takes place like withdrawals, password changes or other events. Sign up for digital delivery so that your statements, invoices and other correspondence is sent digitally instead of through the Post Office. Mail theft is a major problem, mail is stolen from personal mailboxes and the USPS collection boxes.

Shred Documents Containing Financial and Personal Information

Don’t throw documents containing personal information in the trash before shredding them. Anything that contains your full name, phone number, address, Social Security number, bank account information or other private data should be shredded. Examples are ATM receipts, bank and credit card statements, bills and invoices, pay stubs, credit card offers and old credit and debit cards.

Learning how to recognize phishing, vishing and smishing attempts will help protect you against fraud and identity theft. As technology advances, cybercriminals use more sophisticated tactics to try to trick you into providing personal and financial information to commit fraud.

How to Recognize a Phishing Scam

Phishing is when a criminal uses bait to catch a “fish” the fish being the victim of their attack. They attempt to steal private information such as usernames and passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account information and other data that is then used for malicious purposes, often financial and identity theft.

Phishing is carried out through email, social media or malicious websites.  Scammers can impersonate legitimate financial institutions, businesses and government agencies.

Warning Signs of Phishing

• Any type of contact through email, social media or other websites that ask for personal information should be a huge red flag.
• The messages are often designed to create a sense of urgency, making you feel like you must act right away to avoid negative consequences. The messages may look very legitimate like they are coming from your bank, credit card company, business or government agency, they may contain company logos and branding that make them look real.
• The messages may contain attachments or links that when clicked prompt you to provide personal details.
• The messages often contain poor grammar and spelling errors.
• The message may begin with a general greeting, rather than your name.
• They may contain a demand for payment or invoice you don’t recognize.
• If the message offers a prize, free tickets or money, limited time deals, contest winnings or other offers it is almost certainly a scam.

How to Recognize a Vishing Scam

Vishing is a term that combines “voice” and “phishing” to describe a scam that is carried out through a phone call. The goal of the criminal is to steal financial and personal information. The scammer may send a text message instructing you to call a number.

The caller impersonates a government agency, business, tech support agency or financial institution. The number they are calling from can look legitimate because they can spoof caller ID. They often convey a sense of urgency implying that your account is in jeopardy, and you must act quickly to protect yourself.

Warning Signs of Vishing

• Red flags that should alert you to a vishing scam are urgency and fear tactics and requests for financial and personal information.
• Calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
• Poor grammar, unusual background sounds, voice glitches and poor call quality.
• Robocalls with automated messages.

How to Recognize a Smishing Scam

Smishing scams are similar to phishing scams, the difference is that the scammers use SMS or messaging apps to conduct their cybercrimes rather than emails or phone calls. The term is a combination of “SMS” and “phishing.” The criminal creates a fake scenario, or “pretext”, to manipulate the victim with the goal of getting them to provide personal, confidential and financial information that leads to fraud.

Warning Signs of Smishing

The warning signs of smishing are similar to those of vishing.

• Text messages from numbers you don’t recognize.
• Requests for personal and financial information.
• Prompts to click a link or call a phone number.
• Poor spelling and grammar.
• The messages try to create a sense of urgency or feel threatening.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never respond to any message you are unsure of. If you receive a message that looks like it is coming from a legitimate source contact that source directly at a number you know to be true.
• Never give any personal or confidential information to anyone through an email message, text message, phone call or online.
• Mouse over any links or email addresses to see if they appear fraudulent.
• Use a complex, unique password for every website and use MFA (Multifactor Authentication) on every website that offers it.
• Keep the operating system, apps and programs on your computer and phone up to date.
• Use antivirus software.
• Don’t post your phone number online or give it out to people or businesses you don’t know.
• Don’t answer calls from number you don’t know.
• Delete all suspicious texts.
• Join the National Do Not Call Registry through the Federal Trade Commission. Adding your number to the list can reduce the amount of telemarketing calls you receive. https://www.donotcall.gov/
• Automated vishing calls rely on a response from the victim. Don’t press buttons or respond to prompts.
• Never allow remote access to your computer, phone or other devices.
• Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right it’s probably not.
• Freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian and check your credit reports often.
• Back up your computer and other devices to avoid data loss.
• Review your bank and other financial account statements regularly so you are aware of any problems.

If you are receiving a tax refund you may be anxious to know when to expect it. You can track your refund once you have filed your taxes using Where’s My Refund or through the IRS2Go App.

If you file your taxes electronically you can start checking your refund status 24 hours after filing. If you submit a paper return your refund status will not be available for 4 weeks.

Most e-filed returns are issued a refund within 21 days. Paper returns can take up to 6-8 weeks after the IRS has received the return.

To check the status of your refund online, go to https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund

Or use the IRS2Go App, you can find the app in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Search for “IRS2Go”

You will need

• Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
• Your filing status
• The exact refund amount on your return

The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight.

The Where’s My Refund tool will display the status of your refund.

• Return received
• Refund approved
• Refund sent

The deadline for filing your Federal Tax Return is April 15^th. The IRS begins accepting electronic tax return transmissions and processing refunds in late January. Here are some tips to help you prepare for tax time.

Organize Tax Records

Gather all the documents you need to file your tax return as they become available, save a hard copy and a digital copy on your computer.

Each person will receive different tax documents but typically you should receive all tax documents by the end of January. Some documents you may receive are.

• W-2 for employment earnings
• 1099-DIV for dividends
• 1099-INT for interest received
• 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation
• 1099-K for electronic business payments received (more below)
• 1099-R for distributions from 401(k), IRA or pension plans
• Schedule K-1 for income, losses, tax deductions and credits from a trust, partnership or S corporation
• Form 1098 for mortgage interest paid
• Form 5498 for IRA, SEP-IRA and SIMPLE contributions
• Form 5498-SA for health savings account contributions

The IRS publishes a list of the documents you will need to file your return. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-filing-step-1-gather-all-year-end-income-documents

Check Your Withholdings

Checking your tax withholding amounts can ensure that you aren’t paying too much or too little in federal income tax. Use the Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine the right amount of tax to have withheld from your paycheck.

File Early

You can file your taxes as soon as you have all of the documents needed to file and the IRS starts accepting returns. When you file early if you are receiving a refund, you will get it sooner and if there is a problem with your return you will have more time to correct it. According to the IRS. When you choose to E-file your tax return you should receive a refund within 21 days of the filing date, if you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives your return. You can check your refund status soon after you file using the Where’s My Refund tool https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund or by calling 800-829-1954.

Filing early can also protect you against identity theft. With the numerous data breaches that have occurred your Social Security number may have been compromised, and a thief could use it to try to file a return in your name. Once you have submitted your return it is on record with the IRS and if someone else tries to file a return using your name and Social Security number the Taxpayer Protection Program will identify it as a suspicious tax return and send you a letter to let you know. The letter will ask you to verify your identity and tax return information. Taxpayer Protection Program.

Sign Up for an ID.ME Account

The IRS now offers a sign-in option with ID.me, which offers access to IRS online services with a secure account that protects your privacy. ID.me is an account created, maintained, and secured by a technology provider. With an ID.me account, you can access other government partners who also use this sign-in option. https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals

Get an Identity Protection PIN

The IRS offers a free security tool, the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) this is a six-digit number that is known only to you and the IRS. It adds a layer of security to your account. The PIN is used to verify your identity with the IRS.

Identity theft is ubiquitous, in 2022 there were 5.7 million reports of fraud and identity theft in the United States.  About 1 out of 3 Americans have been victims of identity fraud.

The IRS identified $5.7 billion in tax fraud in 2022, and there were nearly 8 million reports of suspicious tax-season activities.

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee called the IP PIN, “The number one security tool currently available to taxpayers from the IRS.”

When you file your taxes either electronically or by mail if you have been assigned an IP PIN, you will use that to prove your identity when filing. This prevents fraud by ensuring that someone else does not file a tax return in your name.

How to Request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

To request an IP PIN you must create an account with the IRS, IRS Create a New Account

Once you have created your account you can use the online IP PIN tool to request your IP PIN. If you are unable to successfully validate your identity through the get an IP PIN tool, you can file an application, although you must meet certain requirements to file. This is how you do it per the IRS.

“If your adjusted gross income on your last filed return is below $73,000 for Individuals or $146,000 for Married Filing Joint and you can’t use the online tool, you have the option to use Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification NumberPDF. You must have:

• A valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• An adjusted gross income on your last filed return is below $73,000 for Individuals or $146,000 for Married Filing Joint.
• Access to a telephone

We will use the telephone number provided on the Form 15227 to call you and validate your identity. Once we verify your identity, you will receive your IP PIN via the U.S. Postal Service usually within four to six weeks. You will then receive your IP PIN annually through the mail.

If you’re unable to verify your identity online or with the Form 15227 process or you are ineligible to file Form 15227, you may make an appointment for an in-person meeting at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center. Please bring one current government-issued picture identification document and another identification document to prove your identity. Once we verify your identity, you will receive your IP PIN via the U.S. Postal Service usually within three weeks. You will then receive your IP PIN annually through the mail”

What to Know About IP Pins

The IP PIN is good for one year, a new IP PIN will be assigned to you each year.

Once an IP PIN has been assigned you will be required to use it when filing your tax returns.

Keep your IP PIN in a safe location and don’t share it with anyone except a trusted tax professional and the IRS. The IRS will never ask for your IP PIN by phone, email or text, if you receive this type of request, it is a scam. Do not respond.

Once you have been assigned an IP PIN it must be provided when you file your tax return. If you file electronically and don’t provide your IP PIN your return will be rejected, if you file by mail and don’t include your IP PIN the IRS will require additional screening to validate your identity.

How to Use Your IP PIN When Filing

If you file using tax software enter the IP PIN when processing your return, if a tax professional files for you provide them with the IP PIN. The IP PIN will be used only on Forms 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-PR, 1040-SR, and 1040-SS.

The IP PIN must be entered on electronic and paper tax returns.

If You Forget Your IP PIN

If you cannot remember your IP PIN, log back in to the get an IP PIN tool to see your current IP PIN.

If you have trouble viewing your IP PIN online, contact the IRS at 800-908-4490 to have your IP PIN reissued. You will be required to verify your identity. A new IP PIN will be mailed to you within 21 days.

Setting up an IP PIN number with the IRS helps to protect you against fraud and identity theft. It is just one more tool to use to protect yourself.

PowerPoint is Microsoft’s slide show presentation program. It comes bundled with Word, Excel, and other office productivity programs. The program uses slides to convey information using text, graphics, animation, transitions and other features. The term slide refers to the old slide projector, which PowerPoint effectively replaces.

Here are some useful tips for creating professional looking presentations.

Generally, a presentation will contain a title slide, an agenda or table of contents slide, the main content slides and a summary or conclusion slide. If applicable add a reference or works cited slide.

Keep PowerPoint Presentations Clean & Polished

Ideally you want your PowerPoint presentation to highlight your main talking points.

Your slides should contain the key parts of your story. Don’t fill your slides with too much text which can distract from your speech. You don’t want the audience spending all of their time reading. Use brief bullet points to summarize what you are saying.

You can use the 6×6 rule, the 6×6 rule is a widely known principle in presentation design. The rule limits each slide to six bullet points, with each point containing no more than six words. The slides will not overwhelm with too much reading while still covering key points.

Less is more, all content, animations, images, transitions and other content should serve a purpose. Review your presentation when it is complete and eliminate anything that is not necessary.

Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation

Spell and grammar check your presentation when you are finished and correct any errors. Limit punctuation, overdoing exclamation points and other punctuation can appear unprofessional.

Using Templates

PowerPoint has many templates to choose from, but some contain distracting backgrounds and poor color combinations. If you do choose a template select one that is professional looking with pleasing backgrounds and color choices, you can design your own presentation to create a unique look.

Be Consistent

PowerPoint offers many fonts, colors, designs and templates to choose from. When creating a presentation aim for consistency. All slides should contain a similar design and look. Choose a few simple, easy to read fonts, you might use one font for the headers, one for the sub-headers and one for the body. The font size should be easy to read from a distance but not too large that it takes up the entire slide. Slide content should be informative but not overloaded with T.M.I.

Choose Quality Images

When choosing images for your presentation select high quality images. Don’t use low-resolution images which can appear blurry and distorted. Images should emphasize and complement your presentation, don’t just use them as space-fillers. Often you can easily convey your message using an image with no or very little text on a slide. Avoid using ClipArt if possible, which can appear unprofessional and dated. Test your presentation to make sure the images retain their quality when projected on a big screen. 

Using Tables, Graphs & Charts

These visuals can present data in an organized manner. Don’t use unnecessary colors, borders and outlines which can distract from the content. Keep these visuals clean and minimalistic.

Using Animations

Animations, slide transitions, text fly-ins, sounds and other special effects should be used for emphasis and to support your narrative, too many can be distracting and make your presentation look unprofessional.

Using White Space

Use some white space around text, images and other elements. This keeps the look clean and organized and will draw attention to specific areas of your presentation.

Number of Slides

Consider the time allocated for your presentation and number your slides accordingly. Rushing through a presentation fails to get your point across and too many slides can bore the audience.

PowerPoint is Microsoft’s slide show presentation program. It comes bundled with Word, Excel, and other office productivity programs. The program uses slides to convey information using text, graphics, animation, transitions and other features. The term slide refers to the old slide projector, which PowerPoint effectively replaces.

Create a Presentation

1. Open PowerPoint, click the File menu > New.
2. You can choose to create a blank presentation or choose a template from the menu.
3. Click the File menu > Save As, name your file and save it in the desired location.

Inserting a New Slide

To insert a new slide, click the Home tab on the Office Ribbon and choose New Slide. You can choose to inset a blank slide or select from one of the themed slides. You can also right click a slide in the left menu and select New Slide from the right click menu.

Generally, a presentation will contain a title slide, an agenda or table of contents slide, the main content slides and a summary or conclusion slide. If applicable add a reference or works cited slide.

Inserting Duplicate Slides

If you have already inserted slides into your presentation, you can insert duplicate slides easily, from the left menu right click the slide you want to duplicate and choose Duplicate from the right click menu or click New Slide on the Office Ribbon and select Duplicate Selected Slides.

Deleting Slides

To remove a slide, right click the slide in the left menu and choose Delete Slide. Or select the slide and press the delete key on your keyboard.

Add Images to Slides

Select the slide you would like to add the image to, depending on the slide layout you may have the option on the slide to insert an image, or click the Insert menu on the Office Ribbon and choose Picture. You can select a stock image or an image from your computer or online. You can also copy and paste an image from your computer or online.

Add Animations

Animations allow you to time your presentation with clicks.

1. Click the Animations tab on the Office Ribbon.
2. Select the part of your slide you want to animate (image, bullet point, text, etc.)
3. On the toolbar select the animation style.
4. On the Timing area of the Office Ribbon, you can choose the timing you want to apply to each animation. Once an animation has been added, a number will appear next to it. This indicates its order or the number of clicks it will take for that element to appear on the slide.

Adding Transitions

Slide transitions are animation effects that happen between slides. You can control the speed of each slide transition and add sound.

1. Click the Transitions tab.
2. Select the transition style and the timing.
3. Click Apply to All to apply the transitions to the entire presentation.

Save As You Go

As you are working on your presentation save it along the way to update the changes you are making. When finished save the final copy. Then run through your presentation to ensure it is setup properly.