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As if there wasn't already enough going on, it's almost tax time again. In an effort to provide relief to Americans grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting economic fallout, in Marchthe IRS extended the standard April 15 tax deadline to July 15, 2020. That revised due date is one month from today.

Of course, if you already filed and paid your taxes for 2019, you don't need to take any additional action. But if you haven't yet filed, it's high time to start prepping. According to the IRS, estimated taxes must be paid by July 15 to avoid penalties and interest -- but you have until Oct. 15 to actually file your tax return. More on that below.

Read more: Coronavirus and Tax Day: Deadline extended, but you can file now for a refund

For tax year 2019, the IRS has tweakedindividual income tax brackets, adjusting them for inflation. And there are new regulations involving the standard deduction, 401(k) plans and health savings accounts that may impact how you prepare your taxes. The major changes include:

Last year, the IRS was closed due to a government shutdown. This year, many government agencies have closed their doors or are working at severely reduced capacity. Many taxpayers will need to rely on online resources to help them navigate the filing process. The IRS publisheda 12-page PDF covering the major changes that took effect last year, and there are answers to many questions onthe IRS website.

Now playing: Watch this: How to file a tax extension during the COVID-19 pandemic

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There are also plenty of companies that would love to help you prepare your taxes, for a fee of course. (Depending on your annual income, you may be eligible for free preparation support resources, though they're harder to find than they should be.) CNET's Personal Finance crew has prepared a wealth of tax resources to help you, including a series of articles covering the 2020 tax season from every angle:

Below, we present answers to common questions about when to pay, how to pay, who to pay, where to send your payment and, if you happen to be so fortunate, when to expect your refund.

For most people in the US, taxes for calendar year 2019 are officially due on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. That noted, the IRS usually allows taxpayers to file for an extension. This year, according to the instructions on Form 4868 ("Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File US Individual Income Tax Return"), taxpayers can apply for an extra six months to file, making Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 the due date.

The failure-to-file penalty is $300 in 2020. (TheTaxpayer First Act of 2019will increase this penaltyto $330 in 2021). To avoid paying it, you should plan to e-file or postmark your individual tax return by midnight on July 15 -- at the latest. Among the many advantages of filing early, preventing someone else from filing fraudulently on your behalf is reason enough to get your taxes done as soon as possible.

CNET has rounded up the best tax software for 2020 featuring vendors such as TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxSlayer. These companies can make the tax filing process -- from reporting your taxable income or self-employed income, setting up direct deposit and going through your itemized deductions -- much easier.

Read more: The best tax software for 2020

That noted, the IRS provides a list of free online tax prep softwareoffered by many of those same providers. The only catch: it's free only if you qualify to use a1040ez form. That means your tax situation needs to be relatively simple. You can use it if you make less than $100,000 annually, you don't itemize deductions and you don't own a business.

A number of online tax software providers will help you file for free.

Of course, if you want to itemize deductions or have a more complex financial situation -- you run a business, have investments or generate rental income -- you'll have to pay for a higher tier of service, which can run a couple hundred of dollars. Still, for most people, even the most deluxe online package is far less expensive than hiring an authorized tax pro. And if you prefer to keep it old-school, the IRS's online tax forms handle some but not all of the calculations for you and still allow you to e-file or print and mail.

Read:TurboTax is making you hunt for its free tax filing service, says ProPublica

This year, most states have extended their tax return deadlines to July 15, 2020. And a couple of states have pushed them out even further; Hawaii's state tax deadline is July 20 and Iowa's is July 31. Missouri's state tax deadline was May 15.

Many states have their own online tax platforms, which are usually free to use. TurboTax, H&R Block and other online tax tools can also help you file your state return and can import most of the information from a federal return they've already prepared, though they usually charge a fee. Check out CNET's comparison of tax software and services to see which is best for you.

How quickly you can expect to see your refund depends on how you file, when you file and which payment method you choose. Filing online and filing earlier usually results in faster processing. In a normal year, the typical turnaround ranges from one to three weeks but given the extreme abnormality of 2020, all bets are off.

Selecting direct deposit as the payment method so the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your bank account usually makes for the fastest turnaround. An e-Collect direct deposit, where your tax preparer's fee is deducted from your refund, may add a few more days to your wait. A paper check may take several weeks to arrive.

If you file online, there's nothing to print out or mail but we recommend you save an electronic copy. Otherwise, you'll need to mail your return to the IRS. The specific mailing address depends on which tax form you use and which state you live in. The IRS has published the complete list here.

It's vital that you send your return to the right IRS office. Getting it wrong can have dire consequences and may result in a penalty or fine.

If you're mailing your tax payment, you can elect to have the funds withdrawn directly from your bank account or include a personal check or money order. If you choose the latter, make it payable to "US Treasury" and include your name, address, phone number, social security number or ITIN (Individual Tax ID Number). Under no circumstances should you mail cash to the IRS.

The IRS website featuresa handy web-based tool that lets you check the status of your refund, and there's also a mobile app, IRS2Go. You can usually access your refund status about 24 hours after e-filing or four weeks after mailing in a return. To check your status, you'll need to provide your social security number or ITIN, filing status and the exact amount of your refund. If your status is "received," the IRS has your return and is processing it. "Approved" means that your refund is on its way.

There arenumerous ways to contact the IRS. The agency seems to have suspended its live chat for the time being, but you can still submit questions through its online form. If you prefer to talk to a person, the IRS maintains a number of dedicated phone lines that are open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Individuals can call 800-829-1040 and businesses can call 800-829-4933.

And there's always theInteractive Tax Assistant-- an online tool that provides answers to a number of tax law questions. It can determine if a type of income is taxable, if you're eligible to claim certain credits and whether you can deduct expenses on your tax return. It also provides answers for general questions, such as determining your filing status, whether you can claim dependents, if you even have to file a tax return, etc.

There are plenty of online applications and services, and you can check out CNET's comparison of them.

The IRS usually offers free tax prep help through a number of programs. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistanceprogram, for example, typically helps people who make less than $54,000, have disabilities or have limited facility with English. And the Tax Counseling for the Elderlyprogram specializes in tax issues that impact people who are 60 or older. Due to COVID-19, however, many VITA sites -- and all TCE sites -- have been closed. For now, the IRS's International Taxpayer Service Call Centerremains available at 267-941-1000, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

How to deduct your home office without an audit: Self employed? You need to read this.

How to handle cryptocurrency on your taxes: Your epic Bitcoin gains are not exempt from tax, sorry.

The rest is here:
Taxes 2020: When they're due, how to file online and more - CNET

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the e-pedigree software market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.25 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 15% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Request for Technavios latest reports on directly and indirectly impacted markets. Market estimates include pre- and post-COVID-19 impact on the e-pedigree Software Market Download free sample report

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Altair Engineering Inc., Axway Inc., International Business Machines Corp., JDA Software Group Inc., Merit Solutions Inc., Oracle Corp., rfxcel Corp., SAP SE, Siemens AG, and TraceLink Inc. are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

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The use of serialization to tackle counterfeiting has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Technavios custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct & indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations. https://www.technavio.com/report/report/e-pedigree-software-market-industry-analysis

e-pedigree Software Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

e-pedigree Software Market is segmented as below:

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41063

e-pedigree Software Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our e-pedigree software market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the growing adoption of high-tech developments to smarten the pharma supply chain as one of the prime reasons driving the e-pedigree software market growth during the next few years.

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e-pedigree Software Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Deployment

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Analysis- E-pedigree Software Market 2020-2024 | Use of Serialization to Tackle Counterfeiting to Boost Growth |...

FANUC UK is offering its ROBOGUIDE and CNC GUIDE simulation software programs asfree trials until the end of September 2020, as part of an initiative to get production back up and running.

Both of the programs are designed to enhance productivity by providing users with the ability to run offline simulations from standard PC equipment.

The company believes with the manufacturing industry looking to ramp up production, efficiency-boosting software such as FANUCs ROBOGUIDE and CNC GUIDE will play a critical role as we emerge from the lockdown.

ROBOGUIDE simulates the motion of FANUC robots, as well as the overall production process, and can be used for offline programming and creating a 3D simulation environment to design and optimise applications efficiently. This can then be transferred to robot controllers in the production via Ethernet connection, thus minimising machine downtime.

It features an integrated CAD database that gives users access to all FANUC robots, machines, and simple tools, which means even complex applications with multiple robots can be simulated and tested.

CNC GUIDE emulates the FANUC CNC exactly, allowing users to write, simulate and test part programs on their computer. Machine tool builders can use it to support their customers remotely, simulating machine programs and providing advice in case of programming errors.

CNC GUIDE is also useful for educational institutions that offer training for CNC programming. Since it shows the keyboard of a real FANUC CNC, the operation of FANUC controllers can also be trained in the form of distance learning on a PC without the need for a real machine tool.

Andy Armstrong, Sales and Marketing Manager at FANUC UK, said: The past few months have been challenging for the manufacturing industry, with many factories operating at very limited capacity. The road ahead will be difficult, but one thing is for certain: businesses that combine efficiency and flexibly of production, with the expertise of their employees, will be best positioned to bounce back.

Our ROBOGUIDE and CNC GUIDE software allows users to get the most out of their equipment, boosting efficiency to the highest level possible. We want to support customers in their recovery, which is why anyone who registers through our online portal by 30thJune will have access to the free trial, and a 25% discount on the full product when the trial ends.

Andy concludes: As we embark on life after lockdown, it is likely that manufacturers will become more aware of the potential benefits of automation. Offering free trials of ROBOGUIDE and CNC GUIDE will facilitate a greater understanding of how automation can increase productivity, and ultimately benefit the industry as a whole.

Originally posted here:
FANUC UK offers free trial of simulation software programs - British Plastics and Rubber

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California on Monday, June 4, 2018.

Josh Edelson | AFP | Getty Images

When Apple's annual World Wide Developers Conference kicks off later this month, it will look markedly different than its previous 30 iterations. Instead of a in-person conference held in San Jose, California with parties, sushi dinners, and hands-on workshops, WWDC will be held online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For the public, the draw is Apple's so-called "keynote" on the first day of the conference where CEO Tim Cook and other executives reveal the latest version of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac software, which will come out in the fall. Like in earlier years, the keynote presentation will be streamed online around the world.

But for developers who have nicknamed the gathering "Dub Dub," a significant draw is the opportunity to receive detailed technical help with their current projects after the keynote ends. This year, instead of one-on-one time with Apple employees, they'll be watching recorded videos, applying for limited videoconferencing spots and asking questions on Apple's developer forums.

"WWDC is when developers around the world fly into a high production-quality event, to learn things, ask questions at labs, get the idea and so forth. So if you want to launch a big idea, like moving to SwiftUI, you have to get developers together, to ask questions, and get things solved and move on," Paul Hudson, author of Hacking With Swift, and a four-time WWDC attendee, said.

Apple is not the only big tech company to move its developer conference to an online, video-first format this year -- Google and Microsoft did the same, and Facebook canceled its entirely. But WWDC is a critical event for Apple as well as its only public-facing conference, and the success of its new format will partially determine how many apps optimized for the new operating systems will launch alongside the new software this fall. Apple said in its most recent annual filing that its future financial performance depends in part on support from third-party software developers.

Not all developers go to WWDC last year, most tickets were distributed through a lottery, so some people who wanted to go couldn't.

77.5% of respondents to an iOS developer survey conducted in December and January said that they believe it's important to follow along with Apple's videos and news remotely, and only 10% said it was important to attend if they had a ticket.

But for the 6,000 people who would have attended an in-person WWDC this year, the remote format eliminates two of the biggest draws for the conference: face time with Apple engineers who built the software and networking with similar-minded people and friends.

Apple said earlier this week that it will upload over 100 videos featuring Apple engineers during WWDC week. A batch of videos will be uploaded each morning at 10am, and can be viewed on the web or in Apple apps. These are a replacement for class-like "sessions" on topics like Apple's App Store review process or the specific peculiarities of under-the-hood software that were traditionally held at the conference center.

"Dub Dub, one of the best things about it is that all the talks are done by the engineers that who made the stuff. They're not done by marketing or product managers," Hudson said. "The folks on stage, they're saying 'I coded this feature pretty much,' and you're getting it straight from the horse's mouth."

In addition to sessions, Apple holds "labs" which gives attendees the chance to get in-person help from an Apple engineer on a specific topic. This year, to replace the labs, Apple is turning to videoconferencing. Anyone who has a registered Apple developer account will be able to request a lab appointment, and availability is limited, Apple said.

Apple will also redesign developer forums on its website to make it easier for people to ask questions of Apple engineers remotely. The new design will launch on June 18.

The remote format will also limit the social aspects of the conference. In previous years, attendees have gone to events including morning runs, sushi dinners, and even trips to Costco during WWDC week. Attendees have played games like collecting a full set of free enamel pins that Apple gave out. This year, all of that is cancelled.

Many developers are responding by trying to create community online by creating Slack groups, wrangling developer blogs, and scheduling online Zoom meetups. On Kickstarter, Apple fans have paid over $15,000 for unofficial WWDC enamel pins.

Adrian Eves, an iOS developer based in Alabama, said he plans to take all of WWDC week off work so he can follow along with the videos and announcements. He's created a Slack group called WWDC Lobbyto discuss the announcements in real-time with other fans, including Apple employees.

"Since everything's remote, we need a way to adapt ourselves to this experience. I've been to different conferences, and the best thing is, besides the subject matter, the networking," Eves said.

On the plus side, developers will save a lot of money by not traveling to San Jose. Hotels are frequently fully booked during WWDC week, and in past years, a ticket to the conference cost $1,599 per person.

For independent developers and companies that send several people, the savings could be substantial.

"WWDC moving online is terrific for smaller developers, particularly those based abroad. Even for us, WWDC being online will save us upwards of $100,000 on event sponsorships, travel, and accommodation, since most of our team is based in Europe," saidOleksandr Kosovan, CEO of MacPaw, a software developer focused on Apple products.

Because there won't be 6,000 people pumping money into the restaurants, hotels, and bars near the San Jose convention center, Apple said in March that it planned to give $1 million to local San Jose organizations to offset revenue loss. An Apple representative declined to give further information on the donation.

Even with the high cost of attending and potential safety risks associated with the ongoing pandemic, there is significant demand from developers if WWDC goes back to a in-person event next year. Eves said he would "absolutely" go next year.

See the rest here:
Apple's annual conference is going remote here's what attendees will miss most - CNBC

Coding looks intimidating, but you can learn it like any other skill. Just start with the basics.

My husband is a tech guy through and through -- tinkering in code to build simple apps and websites just for fun. I'm not. I knew my way around MySpace HTML back in the day (enough to change my background at least) and could navigate WordPress for my college newspaper, but those skills are quite rusty now.

Learning to code is a valuable skill for almost anyone working in our digital world. And though unemployment levels are high due to the coronavirus pandemic, tech companies like Apple and Amazon are still hiring. Picking up some coding skills could help you get a foot in the door.

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Read more:Want to become a successful YouTuber? Start here

Before you get started, it's important to know that the language you'll want to learn -- Python, Javascript, C#, or one of hundreds of others -- hinges on what you want to do with it, like build a website, an app or a game. For example, if you're interested in learning coding to working in a professional setting, you might want to explore Python, Java or C#, which are all in-demand by many companies.

Read more:Learn guitar online: 5 lessons you can take from home right now

We've pulled together five beginner online classes that explore the foundational concepts of coding. Some touch on specific languages, and some stay more general. But all can help you get your start learning a programming language.

The Coding for Beginners course describes itself as a foundational level course for complete beginners that introduces students to common coding concepts like bugs, pseudo code and how code runs. The concepts can then be applied to whichever programming language you go on to learn. Over 30 lectures will help you build the skillset to build a simple app in both coding languages Scratch and Python, the final project of the course.

What it costs: Some online classes on Skillshare are free when you create an account, but most require a premium membership, which costs $99 annually or $19 a month. You can sign up for 14 free days of unlimited classes. The premium membership is also ad-free and lets you download classes to your mobile device and watch offline.

Read more: Learn how to draw: 5 classes to take online

Digital agency founder Evan Kimbrell's pre-programming course also starts with foundational concepts, like how the computer itself, the internet and operating systems fit into programming. This might sound too basic, but if you're just starting on your learning journey, it's helpful context.

Eventually, the lessons focus in on the core concepts of coding, different programming languages, front-end and back-end frameworks, application programming interfaces (APIs), content management systems (CMS) and other more advanced concepts.

What it costs: Udemy's course prices are set by the individual instructors from a price tier, unless they choose to offer them for free. The course cost $14 during a special sale.

Read more: 5 MasterClass classes to become a filmmaker: Learn from Martin Scorsese, Jodie Foster and more

Software engineer Cas Van Gool's course focuses on the basics of programming found in any software language. The class tackles topics like variables, strings, integers, if-statements, while-statements, for-statements and for each-statements. Van Gool provides step-by-step exercises and build projects with C#, from shopping lists to minigames. You'll also need to download the free Visual Studio Code source code editor program from Microsoft for this course.

This course would be useful if you're interested in coding for games or getting started on a professional level.

What it costs: Some online classes on Skillshare are free when you create an account, but most require a premium membership, which costs $99 annually or $19 a month. You can sign up for 14 free days of unlimited classes. The premium membership is also ad-free and lets you download classes to your mobile device and watch offline.

The Programming Foundations with Javascript, HTML and CSS course, offered through Duke University, explores skills like HTML, JavaScript, Java programming and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). You'll learn how to write programs, solve complex problems, design algorithms, and test and debug your programs.

The programming foundations course is part of the five-course Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization. You can enroll in a single course to get started and earn a certificate, or audit the class and review the materials for free. The Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization is considered a beginner specialization, and if you subscribe to one course, you'll be included in the whole specialization.

The course requires a laptop or desktop computer for Java programming and that you make a free account on CodePen.io. If you choose to continue with the other courses, you'll need to install Bluej, free software for Java development.

This course would be most useful if you're interested in coding for websites.

What it costs: In comparison with Skillshare or Udemy, Coursera operates more like a traditional online college course with enrollment windows. Sometimes the certificates you earn can apply as a credit at an institution, but it has to be stated. When you sign up for Coursera, you get a seven-day free trial and then it costs $49 a month. You can also choose to audit the class for free, which lets you read and view the course content only.

Again, what you ultimately want to do with your programming skills will determine what coding language you'll want to learn. What I liked about the Coding for Beginners course on Udemy is that it touches on the basics of five different programming languages -- Javascript, Python, Ruby, HTML and CSS. You'll get to dabble in each language and build applications like calculators, digital clocks, music players and blog pages. This helps give you a taste of how each operates while also giving you some hands-on experience and projects.

What it costs: Udemy's course prices are set by the individual instructors from a price tier, unless they choose to offer them for free. This course costs $14 during a special sale.

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Learn how to code with these five online classes - CNET