NEW YORK (AP) — Workers across different industries are increasingly receiving some or all of their income via apps. They include tutors, graphic designers, hair stylists, and all kinds of independent and self-employed workers, along with merchants who sell products online through Etsy, eBay, Amazon and other sites. But tax law is still catching up when it comes to how best to report this income.

If you’re a freelancer or gig worker who receives payments via apps like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or PayPal, your tax reporting requirements will change for the 2024 tax year. The law will not affect the amount of taxes owed, but it will change how you report income with 1099-K forms.

The changes were supposed to take effect for the 2023 tax year, but they have been delayed. The tax filing deadline is April 15.

For the current tax year, freelancers and small business owners still only need to use 1099-K forms to report third-party app payments totaling $20,000, and any number of payments above 200. But beginning next year, that threshold will be just $5,000, which will eventually be lowered to $600. The changes were supposed to take effect for the 2023 tax year, but they have been delayed.

Some in the space say the new law will benefit both freelancers and the IRS by improving information gathering, especially for people who are self-employed and merchants who sell online.

Freelancers, gig workers and online sellers owe taxes on their income regardless of whether they meet the reporting threshold to use 1099-K forms, but it can be difficult to keep track of every payment, especially across sites and apps. This can lead to confusion and underpayment, experts say.

The eventual change will affect platforms, businesses, and individuals, and it’s good to begin preparing now. Here’s what you need to know:

What should I do to get ready for the new 1099-K reporting threshold?

If you’re already keeping accurate track of your income from freelancing as paid via Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, and other sites, you’re in good shape. The main difference will be that these platforms will issue you additional forms for every transaction. This should make correct reporting to the IRS even easier, though there will be more paperwork.

Currently, if someone paying a freelancer via Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp sends a form to the IRS reporting that pay, but the freelancer doesn’t report the income with the same form, that creates a “matching error” for the agency. The change will ensure both that taxpayers receive proper refunds and that the IRS receives proper payment.

What if I mistakenly receive a 1099-K form?

In some cases, in part due to the changing guidance, platforms may send taxpayers 1099-K Forms in error this year — such as for transactions between family and friends or for expense sharing between roommates, according to the IRS.

The first thing to do is try to get an updated form by contacting the company that issued the form incorrectly. If you can’t get one in a timely manner, the IRS says to zero out the income on your tax return with the description “Form 1099-K Received in Error.” The line appears on Form 1040 – Additional Income and Adjustments to Income. There, you should write, as follows: “Part I – Line 8z – Other Income – Form 1099-K Received in Error.”

Why did the IRS delay implementing the change for a second year in a row?

The change, which had been set to take effect this year, was delayed again in November. The IRS decided to give taxpayers another year to adjust to the new reporting requirements.

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“Taking this phased-in approach is the right thing to do for the purposes of tax administration, and it prevents unnecessary confusion,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in November. “It’s clear that an additional delay for tax year 2023 will avoid problems for taxpayers, tax professionals and others in this area.”

What advice and guidance does the IRS have for freelancers?

The IRS has an online Gig Economy Tax Center that focuses specifically on the tax questions and needs of freelancers and other workers in the informal economy. The site addresses common concerns and pitfalls.

What if I make a mistake reporting income on 1099-K forms?

The IRS will be in touch if they see discrepancies between income reported on 1099-K forms by taxpayers and companies issuing the forms, both this year and next. It’s important to keep in mind that income from all platforms, including things like YouTube ads and Patreon subscriptions, must be reported in this way.

One way to make sure all income is accurately captured is to be sure to transfer all payments from your PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App accounts to a traditional bank account, rather than keeping it on third-party platforms.

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Brazilian sensation Anitta is set to make waves once again as she proudly announces the release of her eagerly awaited new album, “Funk Generation,” slated to hit the airwaves on April 26, 2024. The GRAMMY® Award-nominated international superstar is gearing up to introduce the world to the irresistible beats of Brazilian funk with her latest offering.

Inspired by the vibrant rhythms of funk carioca, “Funk Generation” promises to deliver a fusion of Spanish, Portuguese, and English lyrics, underscored by an infectious dancefloor-ready vibe. Collaborating with fellow artists Brray and Bad Gyal, and backed by the production prowess of Botlok, Anitta aims to captivate listeners with raw, seductive lyrics and an unshakable hook that will have fans grooving to the rhythm.

The accompanying music video, directed by Sam Hayes, is set to match the sultry energy of the track, featuring jaw-dropping choreography against the backdrop of an open-air baile funk atmosphere, showcasing Anitta’s unparalleled stage presence and magnetic charisma.

For Anitta, “Funk Generation” is more than just an album; it’s a celebration of her roots and a testament to the power of Rio’s funk scene. Drawing from her childhood experiences in Brazil’s favelas, Anitta infuses each track with the spirit of classic Brazilian funk while adding her modern twist, perfectly tailored for a new generation of music lovers.

In a statement about the album, Anitta expressed her pride in championing a genre that has often been stigmatized in Brazil but is now gaining recognition on the global stage. With “Funk Generation,” she aims to shed light on the rich cultural heritage and artistic expression inherent in Brazilian funk, bringing it to the forefront of the international music scene.

This latest release follows Anitta’s successful introduction of Brazilian funk to the world with her previous album, “Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story,” which featured hit tracks like “Funk Rave,” “Used To Be,” and “Casi Casi.” With chart-topping singles like “BELLAKEO” and “Joga Pra Lua,” Anitta has solidified her position as a trailblazer in the genre, earning accolades from fans and critics alike.

Fresh off her Carnaval da Anitta Tour, where she played to a combined audience of 2 million fans in Brazil, Anitta is poised to continue her global domination with “Funk Generation.” With its irresistible beats and infectious energy, this album is set to solidify Anitta’s status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of music.

“Funk Generation” has arrived, and Anitta is ready to take the world by storm once again.

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Kansas may be taking a page out of Alabama’s book after it shamefully became the latest state to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. On Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that forbids those programs in public colleges and offices.

The bill, SB 129, mandates that DEI offices and initiatives that are funded by public colleges or government agencies be dramatically changed or removed altogether. In addition, it aims to stifle academic lessons that center gender, race, or identity (the bill refers to them as “divisive concepts”).

Kansas is aiming to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on university campuses across the country. However, state lawmakers drafted their proposals to avoid having to agree on how to define DEI.

In a statement, Gov. Ivey said that her administration does appreciate diversity—but only on their terms. She explained:

“My Administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity, however, I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses – or wherever else for that matter – to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe. We have already taken action to prevent this in our K-12 classrooms, and I am pleased to sign SB129 to protect our college campuses. Supporting academic freedom, embracing diversity of cultures and backgrounds and treating people fairly are all key components of what we believe in Alabama, and I am more than confident that will continue.”

Furthermore, these forbidden “concepts” are categorized as teachings that administer “fault, blame or bias” and imply that certain groups of people are “inherently responsible for actions committed in the past.” The bill also bans transgender people from using public bathrooms that align with their gender identities.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said SB 129 will have “a chilling effect on discourse regarding race, class, sexuality, and national origin, and seeks to characterize these discussions and accurate teachings, assignments, and trainings that also supplement them as ‘divisive.’”

Alabama joins states like Florida and Texas in enacting such harmful legislation. The law goes into effect on October 1.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court declined on Friday to revive a challenge to the decision by Asheville city leaders to remove in 2021 a downtown monument honoring a Civil War-era governor.

The state Supreme Court agreed unanimously that it had been appropriate to dismiss legal claims filed by an historic preservation group that had helped raise money to restore the 75-foot (23-meter) tall Zebulon Vance obelisk in the 2010s.

In the months after the start of 2020 demonstrations over racial justice and the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the Asheville City Council voted to dismantle the downtown monument out of public safety concerns.

The monument, with its cornerstore laid in 1897, had been vandalized, and the city had received threats that people would topple it, according to the opinion.

The Society for the Historical Preservation of the 26th North Carolina Troops opposed the removal and sued, but a trial judge dismissed the lawsuit. The obelisk was dismantled before the Court of Appeals told the city and Buncombe County to stop the demolition while appeals were heard. But the monument base has stayed in place. Friday’s decision is likely to allow the base to be removed.

In 2022, the intermediate-level Court of Appeals upheld Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg’s dismissal. The three-judge panel agreed unanimously that while the society had entered an agreement with the city for the restoration project and had raised over $138,000, the contract didn’t require the city to maintain the obelisk in perpetuity.

Associate Justice Phil Berger Jr., writing Friday’s opinion, did take issue with the Court of Appeals ruling that the society’s breach of contract claim should be dismissed because the group lacked legal standing to initiate it. But because the society failed to argue the merits of its contract claim to the justices, the issue was considered abandoned, Berger added.

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“Therefore, plaintiff has failed to assert any ground for which it has standing to contest removal of the monument,” Berger wrote while affirming Thornburg’s dismissal of the society’s remaining claims.

Vance, who was born in Buncombe County, served as governor from 1862 to 1865 and 1877 to 1879. He was also a Confederate military officer and U.S. senator. The city has said the monument was located on a site where enslaved people are believed to have been sold.

The monument was one of many Confederate statues and memorials removed across the South in recent years, including one in Winston-Salem. Litigation over that monument’s removal by a Civil War-history group also reached the state Supreme Court and was featured in legal briefs in the Asheville case.

Separately, a Court of Appeals panel this week affirmed the decision by Alamance County commissioners not to take down a Confederate monument outside the historic local courthouse there.

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Tyla, a Grammy award-winning Amapiano pop-R&B sensation, has officially left her mark on the music world with a record-breaking finish in 2023 and firmly moving into prominence in 2024. Today, the South African diva released her highly awaited self-titled debut album, “TYLA.”

The 15-track album boasts a slew of star-studded collaborations, featuring cameos from industry heavyweights like Travis Scott, Tems, Gunna, Becky G, Skillibeng, and Kelvin Momo. “Art,” one of the album’s highlight tracks, is accompanied by a stunning music video made by NABIL that has already captivated audiences across the world.

The South African artist’s sudden climb to popularity was spurred by her chart-topping track, “Water,” which received an incredible 766 million streams worldwide in 2023 alone. Epic Records Chairwoman/CEO Sylvia Rhone attributed “Water”‘s breakthrough success to Tyla’s exceptional skill and unwavering work ethic, applauding her for bringing African culture to the forefront of the international music scene.

Tyla’s debut album takes listeners on an Amapiano-driven voyage that flawlessly combines elements of hip hop, pop, and R&B. Tracks like “Safer,” “Truth Or Dare,” and “On My Body,” featuring Becky G, evoke the infectious energy of “Water” while demonstrating Tyla’s flexibility as an artist. Collaborations with Gunna and Skillibeng give a dynamic element to the album, while “Butterflies” is a soulful R&B ballad that demonstrates Tyla’s emotional depth.

She highlighted her delight for the album’s release, reflecting on her musical progress and expressing pleasure in its depiction of her culture and traditions. “When I listen to the album, I’m so proud of it,” she told Rolling Stone. “I just see our sound going so far: the culture, the words, the slang. Even just Joburg — the thought of people now singing about Joburg.”Tyla’s rise to superstardom was cemented in 2023, when “Water” peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making her the highest-charting female soloist in African history. The enormous feat was accompanied by an RIAA Platinum certification and her maiden Grammy nomination, culminating in a historic victory for “Best African Music Performance” at the renowned awards ceremony.

Ezekiel Lewis, President of Epic Records, lauded Tyla’s remarkable journey, emphasizing her role in championing African music on the global stage. “Her young star is on the rise, and this project marks one more step towards the achievement of a global music fan base rooted in the touch and feel of Amapiano, R&B, and Pop,” he remarked.

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Black Americans have long struggled to obtain equitable and efficient access to health care, and a new study published in JAMA Network Open indicates that the issue extends to patient portals.

According to CBS News, researchers analyzed patient portal message responses from over 39,000 patients at Boston Medical Center in 2021, including the types of health care experts who responded and how quickly they replied to medical advice requests.

“When patients who belong to minoritized racial and ethnic groups sent these messages, the likelihood of receiving any care team response was similar,” the authors noted in their findings, “but the types of health care professionals that responded differed.”

Black patients noted a response rate from attending physicians almost 4 percentage points lower and a response rate from registered nurses about 3 percentage points higher. The authors observed comparable but more minor differences for Asian and Hispanic patients.

The study suggests several explanations for the phenomenon, including message content, implicit bias, and physician time constraints.

Researchers expressed concern that messages from minority patients are “less likely to be prioritized for physician response,” as triaging nurses usually view patients’ emails before anyone else.

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According to the authors, patient “health literacy” — which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as the extent to which people can “find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others” — may also play a role.

Technology developments in health care, including artificial intelligence (AI), have the potential to enhance care. Still, some experts are concerned that new systems may amplify the racial bias that has long persisted in the medical field.

“Our system in America is not built to serve everyone equally,” Dr. Leigh-Ann Webb, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia, previously told CBS, “and the health care system is not immune to that.”

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Today marks the release of the long-awaited joint album, “WE DON’T TRUST YOU,” from rap titans Future and Metro Boomin. The album, a culmination of their historic partnership, is now available for streaming and purchase worldwide.

“WE DON’T TRUST YOU” arrives as a testament to the unparalleled synergy between Future and Metro Boomin. Packed with their trademark lyricism and groundbreaking production, the album features a lineup of esteemed collaborators, promising an unforgettable listening experience for fans.

The duo recently took the stage at Rolling Loud California, delivering an electrifying performance that showcased their extensive catalog of hits and left audiences buzzing with excitement.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Future and Metro Boomin have announced plans to release a second collaborative project on April 12, 2024, further solidifying their status as rap royalty. With two LPs’ worth of Metro’s innovative beats and Future’s unmatched artistry, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s to come.

Since their initial meeting when Metro was just 17 years old, Future and Metro Boomin have dominated the music scene with their infectious sound and undeniable chemistry. From Metro’s acclaimed 2022 album, “Heroes & Villains,” to Future’s platinum-certified solo projects, the duo has consistently pushed the boundaries of hip-hop and redefined the genre.

Their latest collaboration, “WE DON’T TRUST YOU,” is poised to leave a lasting impact on the rap landscape, showcasing the evolution of their partnership and cementing their place in music history. As they continue to push the envelope and break new ground, Future and Metro Boomin are set to leave an indelible mark on the world of hip-hop for years to come.

Official WE DON’T TRUST YOU Track List:
1. We Don’t Trust You
2. Young Metro
3. Ice Attack
4. Type Shit ft. Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
5. Claustrophobic
6. Like That ft. Kendrick Lamar
7. Slimed In
8. Magic Don Juan (Princess Diana)
9. Cinderella ft. Travis Scott
10. Runnin Outta Time
11. Fried (She a Vibe)
12. Ain’t No Love
13. Everyday Hustle ft. Rick Ross
14. GTA
15. Seen it All
16. WTFYM
17. Where My Twin @ (Bonus)

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