Rocky Mengle
As Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023, Rocky spent most of his time writing and editing federal and state tax content for Kiplinger.com. He also contributed to Kiplinger's Retirement Report and The Kiplinger Tax Letter.
Rocky has more than 20 years of experience covering tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, he was a Senior Writer/Analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, where he concentrated on state and local taxes. In that role, he managed a portfolio of print and digital state income tax research products, led the development of various new print and online products, authored white papers and other special publications, coordinated with authors of a state tax treatise, and acted as media contact for the state income tax group (where he was quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets). Before that, Rocky was an Executive Editor at Kleinrock Publishing, which provided tax research products to tax professionals. At Kleinrock, he directed the development, maintenance, and enhancement of all state tax and payroll law publications, including electronic research products, monthly newsletters, and handbooks.
Rocky holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md.
Latest articles by Rocky Mengle
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Stimulus Check Smackdown: HEALS Act vs. HEROES Act
taxes Which stimulus check plan will come out on top: The lean and mean HEALS Act version, or the beefy HEROES Act challenger?
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Second Stimulus Check Update: HEALS Act vs. CARES Act
taxes When compared to first-round payments, the new Republican stimulus check proposal expands and protects payments for some people, but it shuts the door on payments for others.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Second Stimulus Check Update: Republican Plan to Include Next-Round Payments for Dependents
taxes If the HEALS Act is passed, some people would get a second-round stimulus check that is larger than the first check they received under the CARES Act.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Second Stimulus Check Update: Your Next Stimulus Check Could Be Just Like the Last One
taxes It appears as if Republican Senators and White House negotiators are leaning toward a second round of stimulus checks that would mirror the first round of payments.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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11 Reasons to File a Tax Return Even If You Don't Have To
tax filing Although you might not be required to file a tax return, it might be wise to file one anyway. Here are a few reasons why.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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IRS Is Not Extending the Tax Deadline Again
Coronavirus and Your Money Tax Day 2020 was already pushed back from April 15 to July 15, but it won't be delayed further.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Sales Tax Holidays in 2022
Tax Breaks Seventeen states are having sales tax holidays this year. If you plan your shopping around these tax-free periods, you can save big on back-to-school clothes, energy-efficient appliances, and more.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Travel Tax Credit: Will Uncle Sam Pay You to Take a Vacation?
Tax Breaks There's a proposal in Congress to give you an "Explore America" tax credit of $4,000 or more to cover travel expenses. But don't pack your bags quite yet.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Retirees Get Another Break with Expansion of RMD Waiver
Making Your Money Last The CARES Act cancelled "required minimum distributions" for 2020...and the IRS just expanded that relief to help more seniors and give more time to undo previous withdrawals.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Property Tax Breaks for Retirees
Tax Breaks Planning to buy a home in a different state? Property taxes should be examined closely, because they can be quite a bit higher than income taxes in many places.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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RMD Waiver + Stimulus Check = Tax Credit
retirement For seniors who got a stimulus check of less than $1,200, not having to take a required minimum distribution from their retirement accounts this year could mean they'll get a tax credit next year.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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IRS Allows Mid-Year Changes to Health Plans, Expands FSAs and More
taxes The added flexibility should help workers deal with unexpected medical and dependent care expenses from the coronavirus outbreak. But not every employee will benefit from the new IRS rules.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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The IRS is Now Taking Phone Calls About Stimulus Checks (But Service is Limited)
Tax Breaks You can finally talk to an IRS representative on the phone if you have stimulus check questions.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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5 HEROES Act Provisions with a Good Chance of Becoming Law
Politics The massive federal stimulus bill just passed by the House of Representatives is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. But a few proposals in the bill have enough bipartisan support to eventually become law.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Don't Miss Today's Stimulus Check Direct Deposit Deadline (Hint: You Have Until Noon)
Tax Breaks The IRS set a deadline for getting stimulus check payments by direct deposit. If you don't act by noon today, you'll receive a paper check (which takes longer to arrive).
By Rocky Mengle Published
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When is the Mississippi State Tax Return Deadline in 2020?
tax deadline At one point the due date for filing your Mississippi income tax return was May 15, but it has been pushed back to a later date.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Do People in Jail Get a Stimulus Check?
Tax Breaks The IRS released guidance on what people incarcerated in jail or prison should do if they receive a stimulus check.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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What to Do If You Get a Stimulus Check for a Deceased Person
Tax Breaks The IRS sent more than 1 million stimulus checks to dead people. If you received one for a family member who passed away, there are certain steps you must take right away.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Economic Aid for Millennials: Stimulus Checks, Student Loan Relief and More
savings The coronavirus pandemic is killing our economy, and millennials are being hit particularly hard.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Where's My Paper Stimulus Check? Some People May Have to Wait Until September
Tax Breaks The IRS is reportedly sending out 5 million paper checks per week. At that pace, some checks might not arrive for months.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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SSI Recipients with Children Can Get a Larger Stimulus Check (But Quick Action is Required)
Tax Breaks An extra $500 per child will be added to stimulus checks for disabled, blind, or elderly Supplemental Security Income recipients who didn't file a 2018 or 2019 tax return…if they beat an upcoming deadline.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Some Veterans Can Get a Bigger Stimulus Check (If They Act Now)
Tax Breaks If you receive VA benefits and have dependent children, you might be able to boost your stimulus check by $500 or more. But you have to act by May 5.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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IRS Fixes Stimulus Check Portal (We Hope)
Tax Breaks After three nights of maintenance outages, the IRS says its "Get My Payment" tool is now working better than ever.
By Rocky Mengle Published
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Social Security Recipients Will Start Getting Stimulus Checks This Week
Tax Breaks The IRS is using information from the Social Security Administration to process stimulus payments for people who didn't file a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
By Rocky Mengle Published
Tax Breaks