There are few things I can think of that have grown in popularity as quickly as Cyber Monday. Well, there was the rise of internet culture … hmm, maybe there’s a connection there or something. It may be no coincidence then that this week is also National Tax Security Week and Thursday, November 30 is Computer Security Day.

Contrary to how this may sound, I am not coming in this week with tales of doom and gloom as I try to push you away from joining the virtual world or shopping online. After all, it takes zero argument to convince me that taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals makes much more sense, and is much less maddening, than waiting in lines before the sun rises on Black Friday. I’m clearly not alone in this, as this past Monday set a record mark for online shopping.

I do, however, think that there are certain easy, common-sense acts that we can all take to help ensure that we stay safe while enjoying the conveniences this new technological world has brought us. This is an arena where we can talk about one of those things that the IRS does well, and that is stay on top of security issues and pass along good advice when it comes to the subject. They do, after all, handle a rather large amount of critical information.

So if this is something that interests you, visit their tax tips web page this week as they, er, celebrate Tax Security Week.

For those who don’t care that much, or remain too weighed down by Thanksgiving leftovers to put that much effort into extra clicks, I wanted to highlight a few of the tips that are on the simpler side, but that some may not know, and everyone could benefit from a reminder.

So when it comes to online shopping, pay attention to where you are shopping. Use retailers that you trust, or do a quick Google search to research one if using it for the first time. And even when using a retailer that you do trust, give an extra look at your browser. Many sites exist to look like the popular sites you enjoy, but exist solely to gather information from you. An extra peek at the URL bar ensures that the website address is the site that you believe you are on. Also give an extra look to the beginning of the address. Sites that start with an “https” are usually secure. Any sites that do not carry that “s” at the end are ones you want to avoid when it comes to transactions.

And finally, be careful about info into a site if you are using an unprotected Wi-Fi network. If you can access a public hotspot, that means anyone else can also use that hotspot and that makes it much easier for those who want to track what is happening through those connections. Chances are waiting until you get somewhere more secure is going to be easier to deal with than what you will have to do if someone nabs your personal info.

So don’t so fearful as to keep yourself from enjoying what technology brings us, but a little vigilance is always worth the effort.

There are moments when I still cannot quite believe it is already November. We are rapidly moving toward the holiday season, and soon thereafter we can start to celebrate the tax season.

Granted, no one else really celebrates that, and I don’t fault anyone who completely hides from it. Heck, even those who expect a refund enjoy the endpoint, but are not huge fans of the paperwork and reporting before that money hits the bank. And clearly, those who will have to pay to satisfy their tax obligation look toward it even less.

The fact that no one looks forward to it means that many do not think about taxes until they have to.  Unfortunately, this avoidance of the subject could mean that the eventual tax hit is worse than it needs to be. A little more mindfulness, and a little more planning, helps one keep a tax bill as low as possible. At this point, though, there are less than two months left in the year, meaning one’s options are getting more limited, but it’s not too late to still make a difference.

So to start, if you are worried about how things may look come next year, please don’t hesitate to contact us and make an appointment for planning purposes. We can look at some numbers, make some estimates, and do what we can to prepare you for filing season.

For those who aren’t worried, though, and just want to start putting the picture together, the IRS has some tools you can use to do that. A good place to start for all is Form 1040-ES, which you can use to figure out what you should be making in estimated tax payments, and then carry through and pay some, as well. This could be an especially important piece for self-employed individuals, who not only have to pay their income tax, but the self-employment tax.

For those who receive a regular paycheck, though, you may want to visit the IRS’s withholding calculator There you can find out if you’re withholding enough from your paychecks to have your tax bill taken care of.  And if it’s not (or if you find out you’re getting much more taken out of your check than you need), you can fill out a new Form W-4, submit it to the appropriate payroll people at your job and have the proper adjustments made.

Such actions may be (or I suppose, should be) more prevalent than in past years, for as more people start to participate in the sharing economy, there will be more people receiving income that is not being taxed. It could serve you well to start addressing that before actually filling out a tax return.

Overall, if you were happy with how things turned out when you filed taxes last year and nothing significant has happened to change your personal or financial pictures, you can let these things go and all should remain pretty similar when the calendar turns and it is time to file again. I know there are some of you, however, who were not happy, absorbed the blow, and then forgot about it. So why not make things a little easier on yourself this time while you still can?

When Donald Trump was elected almost a year ago now, there were immediate questions about how that could affect the upcoming tax season. That turned out to be all for naught, as we learned that nothing happens that quickly. Then the questions turned to how his handling of health insurance would affect taxes. And well, we’re still not sure about all those answers. And now we are even more focused on what a more extensive tax reform package could mean, but we have hit November without a clear picture there, too.

And now with guilty pleas and indictments affecting associates of the president, who knows where anything is going to end up.

I can’t remember a time when so many things in so many different areas felt so much in flux.  So often in this space I like to write and offer some direction, or at least some tips to point you in possible directions about difficult issues. This time, though, I feel like all I can do is shrug.

This doesn’t mean that all is bad, though. Many economic indicators are good, consumer spending is growing, and the stock market is strong. Even if we don’t know all the answers on where things are going, we do not appear to be on the verge of any collapse.

Sometimes, though, it feels like we may be perched on a precipice, but I think that comes from the divide between sides where middle ground no longer seems tenable. This dynamic has been happening for nearly two decades, and now that we have probably the most polarizing president in history, it has only been exacerbated.

So yes, I am mostly shrugging this week about any specific issue, but I wanted to take the chance to speak up about the political divide.

First, it doesn’t matter what side of any debate you are on. It does, however, matter that you have thought out your position. Don’t blindly follow anyone. These debates are over important issues and chances are really good that their outcome will affect you. So look into them, make your choices, take your stand, but do it with knowledge.

Second, once you have done that, don’t be afraid to speak up. It is okay to share what you believe and it is a good thing (at a base level) that social media has given so many people a voice who did not have one before. But remember to do it with tact and to do it with respect. These are beliefs and outlooks we are talking about, so there is no one final answer.

So finally, have these debates with respect and an open mind. You don’t have to change everyone’s mind, and you won’t, but that does not make them evil. In turn, they also don’t have to change your mind. We should, however, always be open to having our minds changed. Granted, in some cases it may take a lot to accomplish it, but be open enough to listen to others and allow it as possibility.

For only then can we ever rediscover compromise.