As crunch time to tax day closes in, tax scams heat up. Don’t wait until the last minute to work on your taxes because rushing can lead to sloppy returns and a greater risk of falling victim to a scam. Tax scams take several shapes, ranging from promises of large tax refunds to identity theft. Here are three important guidelines to keep in mind:

Spring has officially arrived! To celebrate the warmer weather and add some money to your pocketbook, here are a few tips to help you save some cash this spring:

Although typically one month from today, the deadline to file your taxes this year has been extended three days to Monday, April 18. The bonus days come thanks to Emancipation Day, a Washington, D.C., holiday that falls on Saturday, April 16, but is observed on April 15—thus prompting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to extend the tax filing deadline to April 18.

 Even with the three-day extension, tax day is just around the corner. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) and the IRS offer the following tips to help the process go smoothly.

There aren’t too many things worse than the panicked feeling of a missing wallet or purse —especially when you’re not sure if it’s just misplaced or if it could be in the hands of a criminal. Follow these tips to help minimize the damage of a lost or stolen wallet and to give you peace of mind.

Nine out of 10 Americans have a cell phone and, according to research by The Nielsen Company, more than half of them will be using a smart phone by the end of 2011. A smart phone is a hand-held computer that enables users to access the Internet, run applications and make phone calls. And, for a steadily increasing number of consumers, smart phones and other mobile devices can be used for banking.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reports that most common way customers make use of mobile banking is by accessing their bank’s website using the browser on their smart phone or mobile device.  This is very similar to what you would do on your home or office computer. Some banks have even developed special web pages formatted for mobile screens.