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Broadcom has patched three actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion, discovered by Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center. The flaws, which were being leveraged in real-world attacks at the time of discovery, could allow attackers with administrator or root access to a virtual machine to breach the underlying hypervisor, potentially exposing all connected VMs and sensitive data. How do these vulnerabilities work? If a threat actor gains administrative access to a virtual machine’s guest OS, they can escalate privileges and break into the hypervisor. Once inside, they could manipulate or access other virtual machines running on the same hypervisor, posing a significant security risk. The three vulnerabilities are: CVE-2025-22224: A Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerability in VMware ESXi and Workstation which can lead to an out-of-bounds write condition if an attacker already has admin privileges. CVE-2025-22225: An arbitrary write vulnerability in VMware ESXi. CVE-2025-22226: An information disclosure vulnerability in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion that could be used to leak memory. To remediate the vulnerabilities, customers should apply the patches found in Broadcom’s notification. All versions of VMware ESX, VMware vSphere, VMware Cloud Foundation, or VMware Telco Cloud Platform are affected, except those with the newest update. SEE: Google Chrome’s switch to Manifest V3 continues to break ad blockers such as uBlock Origin. Must-read security coverage Which products are affected? The following products are affected by all three CVEs (via Rapid7): Broadcom VMware ESXi 7.0 and 8.0. Broadcom VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.x and 5.x. Broadcom VMware Telco Cloud Platform 5.x, 4.x, 3.x, and 2.x. Broadcom VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure 3.x and 2.x. The following product is vulnerable to CVE-2025-22224 and CVE-2025-22226 specifically: Broadcom VMware Workstation 17.x. The following product is vulnerable to CVE-2025-22226 specifically: Broadcom VMware Fusion 13.x. VMware’s Live Patch feature will not apply the patches automatically in this case. VMware Cloud Foundation Operations, Automation, Aria Suite, and VMware NSX are not affected. Last year, VMware ESXi servers were hit by a double-extortion ransomware variant, with the threat actors impersonating a real organization. source

Gender diversity in cybersecurity is slowly improving but inequities continue—a new report finds that the field has 5% more women than in 2023, but that they’re more exposed to other workplace challenges than male counterparts. About 32% of women respondents said their organizations experienced security layoffs over the last year compared to just 23% of male respondents. For Women’s History Month this March, ISC2 delved deeper into data collected for its 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. The certification and training organization surveyed 15,852 individuals responsible for cybersecurity at workplaces worldwide, of which 14% were women. In 2024, women accounted for 22% of global security teams on average, compared to 17% in 2023, with the U.S. slightly below average on representation at 19.2%. But 16% of respondents said their company’s security team contains no women at all, and only 5% claim to have an even split of men and women. Women employed in cybersecurity roles do tend to hold seniority, as 55% of female respondents said they are in managerial or higher positions and 53% are able to make hiring decisions. Only 7% are in C-Suite positions like CTO and CISO, but there are fewer of these roles available. SEE: Women in Tech: Steps Leaders Can Take to Improve Retention and Career Opportunities Must-read security coverage Women disproportionately exposed to workplace challenges The report found that 67% of women in cybersecurity are satisfied with their job, compared to 66% of men. While this figure is high for both sexes, it marks an ongoing declining trend. In 2022, 82% of women and 73% of men reported job satisfaction, and 76% and 70% respectively in 2023. The analysts put this trend down to growing “economic and workload pressures.” There are well-documented talent shortages in the industry leading to overworked staff, but the ISC2 data suggests that women are being more exposed to other workplace challenges than their male counterparts. In addition to the disparity between women and men who experienced security layoffs over the last year, 40% of women respondents experienced cybersecurity budget cuts and 42% experienced hiring freezes, compared to 36% and 37% of men, respectively. Only 31% of men in cybersecurity noted that their teams had frozen promotions and pay rises compared to 36% of women. “The data shows that the organizations where female participants work have experienced cybersecurity cutbacks at higher rates than male participants,” ISC2 analysts said. source

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Sam Bankman-Fried flips the script, blaming Democrats for his downfall. Now, he’s eyeing a Trump pardon — while sharing a cell block with Diddy. source

Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic New leaks about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup have surfaced, revealing groundbreaking design changes, camera upgrades, and screen specifications. Tipsters also predict what could be Apple’s slimmest iPhone yet. Tipster 1: iPhone 17 Air the slimmest in Apple history According to a March 7 post by leaker Ice Universe on X, the iPhone 17 Air will be just 5.5 mm thick, making it the thinnest iPhone in history. The post also revealed that the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be the same dimensions as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Length: 163 mm Width: 77.6 mm Screen Size: 6.9 inches Must-read Apple coverage Tipster 2: Dummy models reveal varying thickness and major camera island redesign While the iPhone 17 Air is reportedly set to become Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, other models in the lineup are expected to be thicker due to design changes and hardware upgrades. Tipster Majin Bu, citing “internal documents,” shared dummy models of iPhone 17 lineup with YouTuber iDeviceHelp, who revealed several design tweaks in a recent video. The iPhone 17 lineup will have varying thickness levels. iPhone 17: Would be about 7.6 mm. iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: Would be about 8.6 mm. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models are expected to be thicker to accommodate a larger battery and an upgraded camera system. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 air will be remarkably thin with buttons and the USB-C port almost as thick as the device itself. SEE: Apple’s Rumored 1st Foldable iPhone: Price, Features & Release Date Revamped camera island for iPhone 17 Air and Pro models Another major change involves the rear camera setup. While the iPhone 17’s camera module will resemble that of the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 Air’s camera design reportedly resembles that of Google Pixel. The single rear camera lens is mounted on a raised circular island that extends lengthwise across the entire back of the device. The cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which share the same design but with the Pro Max being larger, are also mounted on an island. However, due to the triple-lens setup, the island is thicker lengthwise than that of the iPhone 17 Air. The flash bulb, microphone, and LiDAR sensor are on the right-hand side of the island, stacked vertically. The island may help stabilise the device on a flat surface, unlike the iPhone 16 Pro models, which wobbled due to their camera setup. Tipster 3: iPhone 17 screen dimensions, camera resolutions, and storage The leaked video showed that the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have similar screen dimensions, which is corroborated by other leaks from OreXda on X. On March 8, the tipster claimed that their screen sizes will be 6.7-inch and 6.9-inch respectively, with resolutions of 2796 x 1290 pixels and 2868 x 1320 pixels. OreXda also showed that the rear camera and selfie camera resolution for both devices will be 48 MP and 12 MP respectively, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max has two additional lenses on the rear. Storage options for the iPhone 17 Air will start at 128GB, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max will start at 256 GB. Tipster 4: iPhone Air expected to replace Plus model Back in August, renowned Apple insider Mark Gurman said that the first iPhone Air model would be released with the iPhone 17 lineup. Apple’s Air products are typically lighter, more affordable, and less powerful than their standard counterparts, and the iPhone Air is rumored to replace the Plus model. Apple is expected to confirm details in September, the month when the company traditionally unveils its latest iPhone lineup. source

Best overall free personal CRM tool: HubSpot Best for visualizing personal timelines: Pipedrive Best personal CRM for task and time tracking: monday CRM Best for designing personal project databases: Notion Best customizable personal CRM: ClickUp Personal customer relationship management (CRM) software helps individual users organize, manage, and track their contacts, schedules, and communications. These platforms possess features like a centralized contact database, calendar integrations, cadence reminders, and meeting scheduling. The best personal CRM offers these features for free or at an affordable price. Platforms like HubSpot, Notion, and ClickUp have free options with robust CRM, contact management, and customization features. Pipedrive and monday CRM, on the other hand, work best for individuals seeking a more basic solution. 1 monday CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Calendar, Collaboration Tools, Contact Management, and more 2 Pipedrive CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Calendar, Collaboration Tools, Contact Management, and more 3 HubSpot CRM Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large Top personal CRM software comparison The top personal CRMs allow you to group contacts, sync the system with your calendar, and set cadence reminders for tasks and appointments. As a result, you can easily maintain personal relationships, remember important events, and reconnect with your contacts at the right time. Features Contact management: Manage your personal contacts, link related records, and attach notes to each contact record. Meeting scheduler: Automatically book meetings with your personal contacts and sync appointment schedules with your Google or Office 365 calendar. Multichannel communications: HubSpot CRM allows you to reach out to your contacts via email, Facebook Messenger, Slack, and phone. HubSpot meeting scheduling page. Image: HubSpot Pros and cons Pros Cons Robust free plan with meeting scheduler and document storage Contact limit of up to 15 million Simple and intuitive interface Huge price gap between lower and higher tiers Calendar sync is available only in paid plans Contact relationship linking is gated in higher tiers Pipedrive: Best for visualizing personal timelines Overall rating: 4.67/5  Pricing: 4.38/5 General features: 4.72/5 Ease of use: 5/5 Support: 4.38/5 Expert score: 4.19/5 Image: Pipedrive Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM that individuals can leverage to organize and grow their personal networks. It allows you to sync your address book, email, and calendar so you can easily keep track of meeting cadences. In addition to its robust contact management features, it includes systematized to-do lists, collated note-taking features, and appointment reminders. SEE: 10 Best CRM Software for 2025 Why I chose Pipedrive Pipedrive’s basic CRM features and simple interface make contact organization and activity tracking a breeze. Its drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy for users to customize visual contact timelines. Plus, it allows you to automate follow-up emails and recurring reminders for appointments, daily tasks, and personal regimes. However, to access its document and project management tools, you must pay add-on fees or subscribe to higher tiers. Pipedrive is a great option if you’re looking for a simple personal CRM, but some advanced tools are more expensive than those offered by other providers. If you want more affordable appointment scheduling, calendar sync, and document management tools, try HubSpot CRM. For more, head over to my detailed Pipedrive review. Pricing Essential: $14/user/month, billed annually, or $24 when billed monthly. This includes customizable visual pipelines and dashboards, contact management, file attachments, and activity reminder notifications. Advanced: $39/user/month, billed annually, or $49 when billed monthly. This includes everything in the Essential plan, plus two-way email sync, customizable email templates, email scheduling, and automation. Professional: $49/user/month, billed annually, or $69 when billed monthly. This includes everything in the Advanced plan, plus multiple email accounts sync, document management, and unlimited scheduling links. Power: $64/user/month, billed annually, or $79 when billed monthly. This includes everything in the Professional plan, plus project management and phone support.Enterprise: $99/user/month, billed annually, or $129 when billed monthly. This includes everything in the Power plan, plus security settings and the highest feature limits. Features Visual contacts timeline: Pipedrive lets you drag and drop reminders, events, meetings, and goals into a visual contacts timeline for easier task organization. Meeting scheduler: Use Pipedrive’s scheduling tool to sync your calendars, share your availability, and schedule emails, video calls, and appointments. Smart Docs: Centralize your document management process, send trackable files, auto-fill documents with data from Pipedrive records, and sign documents electronically. Pipedrive contacts timeline. Image: Pipedrive trial account Pros and cons Pros Cons Simple interface with Kanban-style drag-and-drop interface Offers tools for tracking and planning contact activities Centralized note-taking and to-do lists No free plan Entry-level plan has no meeting scheduling and automation capabilities Document and project management tools are locked in with higher tiers monday CRM: Best personal CRM for task and time tracking Overall rating: 4.46/5  Pricing: 3.88/5 General features: 4.61/5 Ease of use: 4.5/5 Support: 4.69/5 Expert score: 4.25/5 Image: monday.com monday CRM is a highly customizable platform that enables users to manage personal contacts and tasks from a visual pipeline. It also offers features for logging notes and ideas, such as digital whiteboards and embedded files. Its intuitive interface and no-code automation make it easy for anyone to learn, navigate, and use. Why I chose monday CRM monday CRM offers over 200 templates you can customize for your personal use, including those for contact, task, or project management. You can use its dashboards as a pipeline for personal tasks, goals, and appointments. It also has a unique column for logging the time to complete each task. Moreover, you can receive automated reminders for each item in your pipeline to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. While monday CRM is an intuitive tool for managing tasks, it comes with a three-user minimum requirement that could make it more

Plus some honorable mentions you may also want to consider: Finding the best credit card readers is a critical step in the business process. After all, if you want to accept card payments, you need a way to take card payments. But it may not be immediately apparent which ones will best fit your business needs. So, as you review the table and comparisons below, keep in mind some of the key attributes, such as price, mobility, payment methods, and peripheral options. Top credit card readers compared Our rating (out of 5) Hardware price In-person transaction fees Monthly subscription fees starting at Device type Square Terminal 4.79 $299 2.6% + $0.15 $0 Dedicated mobile (+ printer) Square Register 4.76 $799 2.6% + $0.15 $0 Stationary register Stripe Reader M2 4.47 $59 2.7% + $0.05 $0 Card reader peripheral Toast Go 2 4.42 Call for quote Call for quote $0 Dedicated mobile Clover Go 4.36 $199 As low as 2.6% + $0.10 $0 for payments-only Card reader peripheral SumUp Plus 4.15 $54 2.6% + $0.10 $0 Card reader peripheral Square Terminal: Best overall card reader/smart terminal Image: Square Logo Our rating: 4.79 out of 5 Starting strong with the only mobile card reader on this list with a printer built-in, the Square Terminal is quite the piece of hardware. It can be used as a standalone mobile POS or paired with other hardware to provide mobile card reading functionality. Either way, you will benefit from all-day battery life, Square’s competitive in-person transaction fees, and offline mode functionality. Why I chose Square Terminal I chose Square Terminal because of the flexibility that it provides users, both from the device itself and from Square’s software/processing services. The device can cover a range of POS needs all on its own, and using Square can be as cheap as $0 per month plus processing fees. Or, you can upgrade and maximize your ability to leverage other features like online transactions and digital storefronts. It’s not the most inexpensive option on this list, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an alternative that provides the same level of freedom and choice in how you run your business. Pricing Device price: $299 (or $23/month for 12 months) In-person processing: 2.6% + $0.15 Monthly plans: Free: Pay only processing fees Plus: From $29, plus processing fees Premium: From $89+, plus processing fees Features All-in-one mobile POS with all-day battery life Offline mode, continue accepting payments even without internet connection Upgrade your hardware as needed, and upgrade your subscription anytime, with no contracts Square Terminal (Source: Square) Pros and cons Pros Cons Portable, capable, and easy to use Connect via wifi, Bluetooth ethernet, or nothing at all (for 24 hours, at least) Affordable, with lots of use case flexibility Choose from a host of available add-ons if you need to increase functionality It can take a long time to charge Device is generally more expensive than mobile credit card readers Lacks specialized features available in some competitors You’ll have to use Square as your processor Limited phone support hours Square Register: Best countertop register Image: Square Logo Our rating: 4.76 out of 5 The Square Register provides many of the same advantages as its mobile counterpart, as well as a dual-screen setup for a better customer experience. More peripheral options are available, making it easier to match a variety of register function needs. You can also use the Register and the Terminal in concert. Obviously, the Square Register won’t be necessary or even preferable for teams that don’t take payments at a static location. And while the Register-Terminal combo is a formidable pairing, smaller businesses may get enough benefits to justify the added price. But growing and mid-sized establishments that have one or more dedicated checkout counters (or equivalent places for transactions), the Register is basically a must. Why I chose Square Register With the Square Register, you’re getting most of the benefits provided by the Square Terminal without most of the drawbacks. Plus, you can grab add-on peripherals like cash drawers to further customize your setup to properly meet your needs. It’s a pricey piece of hardware, but it’s not as costly as other popular countertop POS options (such as those available through Clover). And, with Square, the subscription costs are the same no matter the device you’re using. Pricing Device costs: $799 (or $34/month for 24 months) In-person processing (same as above): 2.6% + $0.15 Monthly plans: Free: Pay only processing fees Plus: From $29, plus processing fees Premium: From $89, plus processing fees Features Fully integrated dual-screen stationary POS hardware App marketplace facilitates a host of integrations and more specialized functions Accept all payment types, and let your customers see what they’re paying while they do it Square Register (Source: Square) Pros and cons Pros Cons Full-fledged register with a sleek aesthetic and plenty of peripheral options No need to worry about battery life Get all the benefits of using Square as your payment processor It’s not the cheapest option, but still affordable Not a mobile device Will require a POS plan upgrade for multiple users or access levels You’ll have to use Square as your processor Limited phone support hours Stripe Reader M2: Best mobile card reader Image: Stripe Logo Our rating: 4.47 out of 5 While Square made its name by catering to in-person sellers first before moving laterally to online transactions, Stripe is an example of the opposite. Known best for its online platforms and solutions, Stripe has since branched out to offer products to facilitate card-present transactions. In fact, though its hardware selection is limited, what it does have stands up well against the comparable products in Square’s arsenal. The Stripe Reader M2 is the company’s answer to Square’s flagship freebie, and for businesses that do a lot of online selling, it’s probably the better option. Why I chose Stripe Reader M2 I included this product both because of the device itself and because of the advantages Stripe offers as an overall

Image: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD is bringing a major performance boost to professionals and gamers with the launch of the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, which deliver 20% to 40% more power than the previous generation. These GPUs, set to arrive on March 6, were first showcased at CES in January. Both models are equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, enhanced gaming, creative workflows, and AI-driven applications. New graphics cards compete with NVIDIA RTX 570 The RX 9000 Series runs on RDNA4 graphics architecture, offering third-generation raytracing for ultra-realistic gaming. AI accelerators with up to 8x INT8 throughput per AI core optimize generative AI applications. For content creators, the AMD Radiance Display Engine & Enhanced Media Engine deliver exceptional display quality. With support for DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b, the GPUs enable 8K resolution at 144Hz with 12-bit HDR, making them an ideal choice for streamers, video editors, and high-performance computing users. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has a suggested retail price of $599, while the suggested price of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 is $549, putting them in direct competition with NVIDIA’s RTX 570 and RTX 570 Ti. SEE: Intel delayed construction on two Ohio chip factories, citing financial responsibility. AMD said the Radeon RX 9070 delivers 20% more performance on average than its own previous-generation RX 7900 GRE, while the Radeon RX 9070 boasts 40% increase. Both variants have 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit memory interface. The Radeon RX 9070 has 56 compute units, while the RX 9070 XT boasts 64 increases that to 64 compute units. What’s hot at TechRepublic AMD joins Open Telecom AI Platform at MWC On March 3, AMD announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that it has joined Cisco, Nokia, and India-based Jio Platforms Limited to form the Open Telecom AI Platform. This initiative aims to provide AI-powered infrastructure for telecom operators, integrating agentic AI, large and small language models, and non-generative machine learning techniques. The project is positioned as “a new central intelligence layer for telecom and digital services,” according to the press release. “By leveraging our broad portfolio of high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and adaptive computing solutions, service providers will be able to create more secure, efficient, and scalable networks,” said Lisa Su, AMD’s chair and chief executive officer. Jio Platforms will be the first company to implement Open Telecom AI Platform, further solidifying AMD’s role in AI-powered networking and telecom innovation. source

Over 6,000 IRS employees have been let go as part of a comprehensive effort to shrink the size of the federal government. While employees have been let go from IRS offices nationwide, the Washington, DC, office was substantially impacted. The downsizing of that office carries special significance as it is a hub of support and enforcement for small businesses and tax-exempt entities. Industry reactions Impacted employees stated that they anticipated a hiring freeze, but the mass firings were unexpected. Former IRS commissioners have indicated that this reduction in staff will likely result in increased tax evasion efforts, leaving government funding to be supported by an honest minority. They also noted that these layoffs have thwarted IRS efforts to streamline processes and communication with the general public. “Americans deserve a fully functioning agency that can be respected by taxpayers and their preparers, thereby allowing them to comply with their tax obligations,” said the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) president. This recent move to reduce staff will likely hinder those efforts. Why you should care about the IRS layoffs Most people care about their relationship with the IRS because they don’t want to be audited. While the general likelihood of being audited by the IRS is less than 1%, your odds of a personal tax return audit increase when income exceeds $500,000. At an income of $10 million or more, your odds of an audit increase substantially — as much as 10% by some estimates. Included in those numbers is the chance of your number coming up in the IRS’s random audit generator. With that in mind, there are several reasons why you should care about the IRS layoffs, many of which are listed below. The potential benefits of this new dynamic should be viewed with cautious optimism, and the drawbacks as relatively probable outcomes. Possible benefits Fewer potential audits: Nearly 70% of the displaced IRS employees were responsible for collection and enforcement. As a result, the IRS’s ability to administer audits may diminish, leading to temporary relief for taxpayers. Delayed collection activity: The reduction in enforcement personnel could result in slower initiation of collection activities for outstanding tax liabilities. Taxpayers with existing debts might experience delays in collection notices or actions, providing them additional time to address their tax obligations. Likely drawbacks Processing delays: The layoffs are expected to cause unprecedented delays in processing tax returns, issuing refunds, and responding to taxpayer inquiries. A reduced audit workforce may result in longer and more suspenseful waiting periods for taxpayers waiting for audits to play out. Slow-moving audits can translate to higher costs to taxpayers as aging tax balances continue to accrue interest. Taxpayers should expect delays in many categories of IRS dealings, including the processing of federal tax refunds, penalty relief, advocate assistance, and appeals. Decline in customer service: Fewer staff members mean longer wait times for assistance, making it more challenging for taxpayers to receive timely help with tax-related issues. In 2022, increased IRS staffing and funding led to a 90% decrease in wait times. We can expect that progress to be reversed in tandem with the rescinded funding and hiring opportunities. Reduced adherence to tax rules: A decrease in enforcement activities could subvert voluntary compliance, potentially creating funding issues for government obligations. Increased number of deficiency notices: With fewer staff in the IRS Appeal’s office, more notices may be issued that leave taxpayers with limited options outside the US Tax Court. A notice of deficiency This is also known as a 90-day letter. is a specific letter issued by the IRS indicating that an examination has been conducted and the IRS concluded that you owe additional money. Disputing these notices is generally done in legal court, which can be a long, elaborate, and expensive process. Increased difficulty in verification processes: If you need the IRS to provide a verification letter, you may find yourself facing a delay due to the staffing shortage. For example, if you need proof that you made an S-corp election for your business, obtaining CP261 Notice (S Corporation Approval Letter) or Letter 385C (S Corporation Verification Letter) may prove to be an uphill challenge. What are your next steps? Now that you have a better feel for the landscape, here are your next steps. File your tax return as soon as you can. Not only is this a good practice to prevent identity theft content here , but filing early will also help you beat the crowd of taxpayers that will keep expanding the IRS backlog as deadlines approach. Also, in situations where refunds have been substantially delayed, the IRS may credit a refund to a future year due to the timing of issuance instead of providing the refund directly to the taxpayer as requested. While this may not be standard practice, it has been known to happen. Even before the layoffs began, there were certain situations where taxpayers waited several months (and in some cases years) for a response and support from the IRS. This issue will likely persist and possibly worsen with a staff decrease. Filing early will allow you to identify issues early and start the clock on IRS filing and assistance. Don’t spend your refund before you have it. Even though some who filed early in tax season may already have received their 2024 refunds, the next round of refunds may be delayed, especially if there are any inconsistencies with the returns. Getting someone to explain the holdup to you might be difficult. You may have previously heard hold messages from businesses indicating that the organization is experiencing unusually high call volume. Well, when these guys say it, they mean it. Since it may be a while before your refund makes it to you, it might be best not to make any short-term plans for those funds. Use authorized parties for correspondence. If you would like a trusted party such as a CPA or lawyer to deal with the IRS on your behalf, consider filing a Form 2848 to

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