COVID-19 fever

OPINION:

Who’s juggling your COVID-19 money balls?

Are you still out of work and collecting unemployment? Praying for another stimulus check?

Or are you on a first-name basis with Amazon, FedEx and UPS gals and guys because you’ve been feverishly shopping online and spending both your unemployment money and your stimulus money?

Well, a few words to the unwise: Slow your roll.

Unemployment benefits are taxable.

That’s right, if you are required to file local, state and/or federal income taxes in 2021, your unemployment benefits are pegged as i-n-c-o-m-e.

Don’t panic, though. It’s still early October, which means TurboTax, H&R Block and other tax preparers are expecting you as usual.

Still, keep away from the fly-by-night crews, those tax “experts” that pop up online and along strip malls. They’ve got COVID-19 fever, too, and can’t wait to get their hands on your Social Security number, bank account info, date of birth and other personal info.

And warn your parents and elders: Identity theft is the lifeline of hackers.

As for the good fortune, stimulus money, those money doled out via the IRS courtesy of the Congress and President Trump, likely won’t cost you a dime. However — and this is an important however — politicians love to change tax laws, and tax laws change with such irregularity. Online preparers, such as Turbo Tax, will tell you it’s “updating.”

There are other prying eyes to worry about. You know those computers and laptops that have been handed out to schoolchildren, the access to getting a library card, drivers license renewal and plugging into sites to get your unemployment money?

Well, ask: How secure are those systems?

Sure, the kids can’t video grams, upload a video to TikTok and visit a porn site — or can they?

We’re in our eight month of the COVID-19 fever, and politicians have focused on three things: How to lock us down; how to give us the illusion of freedom; and how to dole out money.

I’m not trying to channel Suze Orman or Jim “Mad Man” Cramer from CNBC. I’m just trying to give you a head’s-up about the COVID-19 fever for now and in the nearest of future.

Another stimulus package is in the works as you read this. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive, yet the media didn’t raise a single eyebrow about their son Barron.

Almost as bad is that some folks are wishing ill-will, that our president dies. Those folks have the fever, for sure, and are tossing distractions at every turn.

Don’t be distracted.

Don’t follow the bouncing balls.

Christmas will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to emerge from these feverish times questioning or regretting what you spent your unemployment benefits or stimulus money on on on what?

• Deborah Simmons can be contacted at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.