No Penalty or Interest for Failure to Make Tax Payments on Unemployment Checks
There is good news for those who collected unemployment benefits in 2020: no penalty or interest related to underpaid estimated tax payments will be levied, effective immediately.
Taxpayers, even if unemployed, are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments if they expect to owe more than $500 in state taxes. Penalties for failure to do so are waived for 2020 unemployment benefits only.
State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said, “This is the right thing to do. COVID has disrupted our lives in numerous ways – and many Michiganders are depending on unemployment benefits to get them by during this extraordinary time. Having to pay penalties and interest on unemployment benefits is the last thing individuals should be worried about when they go to pay their taxes.”
No action is needed to get the waiver. It is automatically granted to unemployment beneficiaries. Unemployment money is taxable income and will need to be claimed on 2020 tax filings. Unemployment recipients should have received a 1099-G. Taxes are now being processed at both the federal and state levels.
More information about tax filing can be found at www.michigan.gov/incometax.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Career and Technical Education Month Highlights Skilled Trades
February is Career and Technical Education Month. There are over half a million job openings projected to be available annually for the next seven years. Students are encouraged to explore career pathways that can lead to these high-demand jobs during Career and Technical Education Month.
Career and Technical Education, or CTE programs, are offered in regional “tech centers”, community colleges, and some universities. High demand fields include information technology, health care, hospitality, and manufacturing.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice, said, “Expanding CTE programs in Michigan schools helps to ensure students have the real-world, hands-on experience they need to explore rewarding career opportunities. CTE helps meet one of Michigan’s strategic education plan’s goals to expand secondary learning opportunities for all students – helping to inspire and encourage every student to explore all options along their educational journey.”
There are over 3600 CTE programs in Michigan, with over 97,000 students currently involved. Interested students can explore professional trades careers by visiting Going-PRO.com/CTE.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Innovative New Playgrounds Coming to Lighthouse and Palmer Parks
Port Huron, MI — Being a kid in Port Huron is about to be even more fun. Both Lighthouse Park and Palmer Park are getting new playground equipment. Renderings of the proposed playgrounds show equipment that children may have only dreamed could be in their neighborhood parks.
The equipment shown for Palmer Park is large enough to accommodate up to 120 children. Palmer Park is the home of a popular summer childcare program and a hub for activity with sports courts, Sprout City, which is a child-size simulated city, and a large hillside slide. The new play structure will resemble a figure eight and be handicap accessible. There is only one other structure like it in the nation.
With the Port Huron Recreation Department seeking to make each park a separate destination and make recreation accessible to everyone, the outdated playground equipment at Lighthouse Park is also being replaced and will resemble a light house. New bathrooms are also under construction at Lighthouse Park.
The new equipment is being funded with a combination of grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, private donors, and city funds.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Local Contractors Rehabilitate Lincoln Street Home Slated for Demolition
Port Huron, MI — A Port Huron house that was slated for a date with a bulldozer due to years of neglect and serious code violations has been rehabbed and turned into a beautiful home waiting for a family to move in. Thanks to the hard work and vision of local residents and business partners, Scott Fleet and Steve Ainsworth, 1214 Lincoln Avenue has been transformed.
The house, not far from St. Clair County Community College, McLaren Hospital, and Downtown Port Huron, had potential that perhaps only Fleet and Ainsworth could see. Even the neighbors wanted it gone. Mr. Fleet and Mr. Ainsworth said they knew it would be expensive, but they had the construction resources to make it happen.
Scott Fleet said, “As we look back on this project we joke with each other that we might have gotten a little carried away, but this house had so much character to offer that we just couldn’t help ourselves.”
Fleet said his vision for the house “is to have the right family that can appreciate the architecture and beauty of this home. We would like to see this renovation help carry the positive momentum through this fantastic city.”
Port Huron City Manager James Freed referred to the renovation as “an absolutely breathtaking rehabilitation of the home”.
Scott Fleet and Steve Ainsworth wish to thank:
Scott’s Dad, their patient wives, Ainsworth Construction, TMA Electric, Spray Foam International, Northeast Plumbing, Ainsworth Door Company, Gates Roofing, Bob Anderson Painting, Luis Rivera Carpentry
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Rent Scams on the Rise
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a notice to raise awareness of a scheme that is targeting renters. The Michigan Office of the Attorney General is asking those who are having trouble paying their rent not to fall prey to identity thieves.
The tactics of the scammers include gathering a lot of personal and financial information and asking for an up-front fee while they resolve your rent problems. The Attorney General recommends that renters who are having a hard time paying rent first take up the problem with their landlord.
There are some local programs, such as through Blue Water Community Action or the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, that can help with emergencies and keep people from being evicted.
Kelly Rose, Michigan State Housing Development Authority chief housing solutions officer said, “Once the Legislature appropriates the emergency rental assistance funds, we are ready and will move swiftly to assist renters and landlords in need. Renters should avoid further financial risk by falling for scams. A legitimate program that can help is on the way.”
Avoid scammers offering to pay your rent | FTC Consumer Information
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland