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Take the easy road and make the switch to OHCFCU! You'll find much lower fees, competitive rates, and all the convenience services you could ask for.
And making the switch couldn't be easier. Visit one of our offices or call us at 866-254-4791 and let us know you want to switch to OHCFCU! Our member service representatives will assist you with switching your direct deposit and automatic withdrawals. Plus, through our online banking system you can transfer money from your other financial institution directly into your OHCFCU checking account just with the click of a button. How easy is that?
Our online switch kit can also assist you making the transition to OHCFCU. You'll find it under our "convenience" tab on our website, www.ohcfcu.com.
So, make the switch today and enjoy free ATMs across the country and more than 4,000 branches nationwide.
Paying bills can be such a hassle - but it doesn't have to be. And because we value your time, we'll treat you to a $10 gift card just for paying your bills online with Ohio HealthCare Federal Credit Union's improved PayBills@Home.
Here's how it works:
If you're not currently a PayBills@Home user , signing up is a snap! Log on to CU@Home and click on the PayBills@Home link. Between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010, when you sign up for Ohio HealthCare Federal Credit Union's PayBills@Home and make at least five (5) transactions in the same month, you'll receive a $10 gift card redeemable at a variety of your favorite online merchants. It's our way of saying 'Thanks' for using PayBills@Home.
If you're already paying some of your bills using PayBills@Home, earning a reward is easy! Between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010, increase the total number of payments made in a single month by at least five (5) transactions over your previous month's total. You'll receive a $10 gift card redeemable at a variety of your favorite online merchants!
Learn more about PayBills@Home at www.ohcfcu.com.
You asked and you will now receive! We've made an enhancement to our online banking platform to now include transactions that have been authorized through your account but not yet posted.
For example, you visit the grocery store today and spend $50. That $50 does not immediately get withdrawn from your account; however, the transaction authorization immediately places a hold on it. Now that $50 transaction shows as a "pending" transaction in the history of your account - both on CU@Home and OHCFCU Mobile.
 Do you already enjoy the benefits of Facebook? Well, now you can become a fan of Ohio HealthCare Federal Credit Union and be the first to hear about special news, financial tips, and other items of interest. Simply visit www.facebook.com and search for Ohio HealthCare Federal Credit Union under the "pages" section. Or, visit our website at www.ohcfcu.com and link to our Facebook page from there.
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A key feature in last year's economic stimulus bill was the federal income tax credit designed to help first-time homebuyers. Now, as part of legislation signed by President Obama in November 2009, that tax credit has been extended - as well as expanded to include a credit for current homebuyers looking to buy a new primary residence.
Here's how it works:
The deadline for the first-time homebuyer credit was extended to include purchases where a binding contract is signed by April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30, 2010. A few rules:
- "First-time homebuyers" are those who have not owned a home during the previous three years.
- The credit is worth 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a credit limit of $8,000 on homes costing $800,000 or less; homes priced above that are ineligible.
- Qualifying income thresholds have been raised to $125,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for individuals and $225,000 for married couples filing jointly, from the previous $75,000 and $150,000, respectively. (MAGI is usually found on line 38 of your federal income tax return).
- The credit phases out for individuals with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000 and $225,000 to $245,000 for joint filers.
- If you are married, both you and your spouse must qualify as first-time homebuyers to receive the credit; also, each of you must be at least 18 years old at closing and neither can be claimed as another taxpayer's dependent.
- Purchase transactions between immediate family members are not eligible.
- You must attach a copy of the purchase settlement agreement to your tax return.
- You must repay the credit if, within three years of purchase, the home is no longer your primary residence. (Certain exceptions will be made for military personnel and when one of the homeowners dies.)
- Qualified housing includes newly constructed or existing single-family houses, condominiums, manufactured or mobile homes - even boats that function as your principal residence.
- You can claim the tax credit for a 2010 purchase on either your 2009 (via an amended return, if necessary) or 2010 taxes.
The good news in this bill for current homeowners is that they too may qualify for a tax credit if they want to move to a new primary residence, whether because of a job transfer, downsizing at retirement or moving to a larger home or a new community. Although the same income thresholds, purchase cost limit and closing deadlines apply, there are a few unique features:
- Instead of $8,000, the maximum credit amount is $6,500.
- You must have lived in your current home for five consecutive years out of the last eight.
- The newly purchased home must become your primary residence and not a second home or investment property.
- You are not required to sell your current residence; thus, you could rent it out or turn it into a second home.
To learn more, visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com . Because of the complexity of tax law governing these transactions, consult your tax advisor before finalizing a purchase or deciding which year to claim the credit.
Search for your perfect home on our website, www.ohcfcu.com, by clicking the "Find A Home" link on the left side of the page. Source: http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com
Tax-filing season brings out tax-preparation frauds. The latest scheme involves tax refunds transmitted as a direct deposit or automated clearing house (ACH) credit. Consumers are being drawn in to fraud schemes by individuals claiming to be tax preparers ( The Daily Exchange Feb. 17).
In this type of fraud, the victims unwittingly provide the bogus tax preparers with personal information such as their name, Social Security number, bank account numbers, investment information and more so the preparers can complete the tax forms. The tax preparer inflates the information with fraudulent information to obtain a larger refund. Some victims have found their tax preparers have claimed children they don't have, day care expenses and so on.
The tax refunds are transmitted as a direct deposit (ACH credit) to a newly created account or to an existing account with an impersonator added as a joint owner. These accounts are established by an impersonator or a recruiter. Once the tax refund is deposited into the account, the impersonator or recruiter withdraws the tax preparation fee. The remainder of the ACH credit goes to the refund recipient.
Last year the IRS prosecuted more than 200 people as phony tax preparersn said Seattle-based ( Public News Service Feb. 17). The IRS is already busy checking up on new tax scams, ranging from filing false returns to convincing clients they don't need to pay income taxes,
Be extra careful when a preparer bases the fee on a percentage of promised refund. Also, avoid preparers who claim to know something special or that they can get more money than anyone else. Plan to sit with the preparers as they fill out the tax forms. Never just sign a blank form and trust them to file it.
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