There will soon be major promotions by online companies for the upcoming holiday shopping season. The holiday season is a prime opportunity for identity thieves to target consumers. With the growth of online shopping, millions of individuals are potentially exposed to online fraudsters. The first line of defense against online attacks is strong passwords.

The IRS cautions taxpayers to take a few simple steps to protect your passwords, which can in turn protect sensitive financial information from identity thieves. Protecting personal information makes it more difficult for an identity thief to file a fraudulent tax return on a taxpayer’s behalf.

Cybersecurity experts have changed their strategies for passwords. Previously, they suggested complex passwords that were different for every online account. Because most individuals have accounts for financial services, social media, online shopping and other purposes, the number of complex passwords was too great. 

As a result, many security experts now recommend longer phrases such as “SomethingYouCanRemember@30.” The IRS offers nine tips to help you protect your online accounts. 

• Password Length – Create a password with eight or more characters.

• Combination – Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols in your password.

• Personal Information – Do not use your city, street, or other personal information in a password. This information is widely available to identity thieves.

• Default Password – Do not use “password” for your password. Change all default passwords.

• Reuse of Passwords – Do not use the same or similar passwords for multiple accounts. For example, avoid “Begood!17, Begood!18 and Begood!19” as your passwords.

• Email Address – Do not use your email address in a password. This email address is easily known by fraudsters.

• Security – If you have a written list of passwords, store them in a safe or locked file cabinet.

• Disclosure – Never give out passwords over the internet. Be on guard if an email sender claims to be from your bank, the IRS or your employer.

• Password Manager – Consider using a password manager program. Do a search to find password programs for multiple devices. The best password programs typically have 256-bit encryption.

Can you provide information on which vaccines are recommended for older adults this fall?

The recommendations for fall vaccinations for older adults from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remain similar to last year’s recommendations. You should always check with your healthcare professional to determine what is correct for your personal circumstances and medical history. However, there are a few updates to be aware of. Here is what you should know.

Flu Shots

The CDC recommends a seasonal flu shot for everyone six months of age and older. For older adults, it is especially important as they are at greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications compared to younger adults.

While you only need one, individuals 65 and older have three different FDA-approved flu vaccines that are recommended over traditional flu shots. These are the Fluzone High-Dose inactivated flu vaccine, the Flublok recombinant (egg free) flu vaccine and the Fluad adjuvanted inactivated flu vaccine.

The flu vaccines for seniors are formulated to create a more robust immune response, helping the body produce more antibodies, which is more effective in preventing the flu. All flu vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge more than what Medicare pays.

RSV Shots

In addition to the flu shot, the CDC recommends a single-dose of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine for all adults age 75 and older, as well as for high-risk adults between ages 50 and 74. For those 65 and older, RSV causes between 6,000 to 10,000 deaths and up to 120,000 hospitalizations across the U.S. each year. High-risk adults include those who have chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, diabetes with complications, severe obesity or those residing in long-term care facilities.

The three RSV vaccines approved and available in the U.S. – Arexvy, Abrysvo and mResvia – are all covered under Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. The RSV vaccine is given as a single dose, with no annual or booster scheduled at this time.

COVID Booster

If you have not recently had a COVID booster shot, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, which has been updated to target the dominant strain.

Previously, this vaccine was recommended for all individuals six months and older. However, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently announced that they are no longer recommending universal COVID shots. Instead, they recommend that adults age 65 and those who are immunocompromised to discuss vaccination with a healthcare professional. The COVID virus causes around 400,000 hospitalizations and approximately 47,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. COVID vaccines are covered under Medicare Part B.

Pneumonia Vaccines

If you have not been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should consider getting the pneumococcal vaccine this fall. This vaccine is now recommended by the CDC to adults age 50 and older.

Pneumonia causes 1.2 million people to visit emergency departments in the U.S. each year and over 40,000 deaths. If you have never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the PCV15, PCV20 or PCV21 vaccines are the top choices. Medicare Part B covers pneumococcal vaccines, and you only need to get it once.

Side-Effects and Safety

Any vaccine can cause mild side effects like pain or tenderness at the injection site, muscle aches, headache, fever or fatigue. Also note that it is safe to receive these vaccines at the same time. It may be best, however, to spread out vaccines because multiple vaccinations on the same day may cause increased side effects. As always, talk with your healthcare professional to determine a personalized course of action.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

My spouse loves to cook but has experienced several kitchen-related accidents over the past year. We would like to modify the space to make it safer and more practical. What can you recommend to improve safety and ease of use in the kitchen?

There are several easy modifications and inexpensive additions that can transform your kitchen into a safer environment. Depending on your spouse’s needs, here are some suggestions for each aspect of the kitchen.

Floors: Replace kitchen throw rugs with non-skid floor mats or gel mats to reduce tripping or slipping. Gel mats are cushiony and comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.

Lights: Replace dim overhead lighting with bright new ceiling lights and add under-cabinet task lighting to brighten up kitchen countertops.

Cabinets and Drawers: To reduce unnecessary bending or reaching, organize your kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items you most frequently use are within comfortable reach. In addition, you can make your cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or turntables. Finally, install D-shaped pull-handles on the cabinets and drawers as they are more comfortable for arthritic hands than knobs.

Faucet: If you have a twist-handle kitchen faucet, replace it with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant single handle faucet. Single handle faucets are more user-friendly, particularly for those suffering from arthritis or reduced hand strength. There are also kitchen faucets that turn on and off by simply touching the base or moving your hand over a motion sensor. For safety purposes, set your hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent possible water burns.

Microwave and Stove: If your microwave is mounted above the stove, consider moving it to a countertop. This makes it safer and easier to reach. If you are concerned about your spouse remembering to turn the stove off, automatic shut-off burners are designed to automatically shut off the stove if no motion is detected after a certain amount of time. 

Refrigerator and Freezer: Side-by-side refrigerator doors are ideal for seniors because they allow frequently used items to be stored at a comfortable mid-shelf height for easy access. Adding pull-out, adjustable-height shelves help customize storage to fit individual needs, while a water and ice dispenser on the outside of the door offers convenient access without having to open the refrigerator door.

Stove or Cooktop: Use a stove or range with controls in the front so your spouse will not have to reach over hot burners to turn it off. It is also safer to have burner controls with indicator lights to avoid accidentally leaving it on. Flat surface electric or induction burners, or continuous grates on gas stoves are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next

Oven: Self-cleaning ovens are a great option. A side-swing door model can make access easier since you do not have to lean over a hot drop-down door. Also consider a wall-mounted oven, installed at your spouse’s preferred height to eliminate bending.

Dishwasher: A dishwasher drawer that slides in and out and is installed on a 6 to 10-inch raised platform can make loading and unloading dishes easier by reducing the need to bend.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

In a September 24 article published by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), there is an explanation of the "no tax on tips" provision. This deduction was passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The NTUF article suggests this tax deduction will benefit a substantial number of individuals who receive voluntary tips. However, the deduction applies to individual income tax and not to the payroll tax. In addition, it will be important for all employees who receive tips to keep accurate records.

1. Income Tax Deduction — The new deduction exempts tip income up to $25,000 per year for single individuals and $50,000 per year for joint filers. The deduction is phased out for single individuals with incomes over $150,000 or a married couple with modified adjusted gross income over $300,000. It is applicable from 2025 until 2028. For example, a single individual with income of $45,000 in 2025 pays tax at 10% on the amount under $11,600 and 12% on the taxable income over that threshold. He or she can claim a standard deduction which will reduce taxable income by $15,000. Some individuals also may qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). These tax credits can potentially reduce the tax to zero. In 2022, an estimated 51 million taxpayers paid no federal income tax.
2. Payroll Taxes — While the new deduction is welcome, it applies to income tax and not to payroll tax. Payroll tax includes 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. The 7.65% payroll tax is paid by both the employer and employee. The employer will need to record the tip amounts so that the correct payment is made for the employer tax. In addition, employers will need to withhold the 7.65% payroll tax for the reported tip income of employees. A high percentage of workers with income under $100,000 pay payroll tax. Approximately 70% of those taxpayers were paying payroll tax, but only 40% of them were subject to federal income tax. Because a substantial portion of tip income is self-reported, workers who receive this income need to ensure the amounts are reported to employers. With the correct amount reported to the employer, both the employer and employee 7.65% payroll tax will be paid.
3. Tip Income Reporting — The OBBBA "No Tax on Tips" law is a significant change for some taxpayers. However, it will require additional efforts to report the correct amounts. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has initiated the Tip Reporting Alternative Commitment (TRAC) and other systems to try to track tips. Because there are billions of dollars of tip income not reported, there will be continued efforts to increase the reporting of tips. A new initiative by the IRS is the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement (SITCA). This is still in the process of being implemented. With the new deduction, both employers and employees will want to be more accurate in tip reporting.

When employees who receive tips file tax returns, they will need guidance from the IRS. The IRS was required by OBBBA to specify the occupations that qualify for the tip deduction. The IRS has also issued a proposed Schedule 1-A that helps employees determine whether they qualify for the full tip deduction. If the wages for a single person are less than $176,100 on their W-2, then they can use the Schedule 1-A form to learn if they are qualified.

Employees also need to know whether their specific occupation qualifies. The IRS has published nearly 70 qualifying occupations under the Treasury Tipped Occupation Code (TTOC). The IRS also notes this deduction applies to voluntary cash tips. Cash can include tips paid with credit cards, debit cards, casino tips or gift cards. Some restaurants with a mandatory service charge may change policies to allow a voluntary tip that qualifies for the new deduction.

The Yale Budget Lab estimated in 2022 that approximately 37% of tipped workers paid no federal income tax. These individuals will not be affected by the new deduction. However, individuals in higher tax brackets who receive tips will significantly benefit from the “no tax on tips” deduction.