NY. A study indicating that reusable water bottles contain 40,000 times more bacteria than the toilet seathas caused enormous surprise, especially in NYC, where many New Yorkers have turned to buying them, after an executive order was signed in 2020, banning the sale of plastic bottles water on City property.
According to researchers from waterfilteruguru.com, the results of their investigations are worrying, because after analyzing multiple reusable water bottles, they detected two different types of bacteria: Gram-negative bacilli, which can cause viral infections and are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, and bacilli, which can cause gastrointestinal problems.
The researchers say they got the results f rotating different parts of the bottles: the lid of the spout, the lid of the straw and the closing lid, three times each… And that they found bacteria everywhere in the bottles.
Why is this a problem in NYC?
Dr. Belinda Velásquez, infectious disease specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in NY, told Univision 41 that these findings do not surprise him. “Those bottles we take to the gym, put them on the floor, use them and use them again,” he says.
“And between all those uses we never wash them”, adds the doctor.
“If you walk in the city you see many people placing them on the floor, in the subway seats, at tables in parks, where homeless people sometimes sit… Then they take them home and don’t wash them”.
“This can cause viral infections, gastrointestinal, of many kinds,” adds the galena. “ But the problem is not in the water bottles… but in us who don’t wash them”.
She advises making a daily routine of washing water bottles, and being more careful where they are placed. “Have you seen how dirty the city is? Some people relieve themselves on public roads… And yet, I I have seen people place their water bottles there. Or on the gym floor, where everyone sweats”.
Tax credits are deductions that directly subtract the amount of tax you owe. A tax credit of $500, for example, reduces your taxes by that amount. And since some are refundable, if you owe $250 in tax and qualify for a $500 credit, you’ll receive a check for the difference.
Credit: Ulrich Baumgarten/U. Baumgarten via Getty Images
3/18
Yuri Martínez, economics and finance engineer and co-founder of the company QintiDocum, has identified the five most popular tax credits among New Yorkers. According to her, these are…
Credit: Getty Images/ Yuri Martínez
Click here to continue with the gallery
4/18
1. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) “This is a credit of up to $2,000 for each child you claim on your 2022 tax return. Qualifying children are under 16 years old,” says the expert.
Credit: DjelicS/Getty Images
The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im
5/18
“What makes this credit popular,” adds Yuri Martínez, “is that families who apply for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) may be eligible even if they did not earn income or owe no taxes. Also: the credit does not count as income and does not affect eligibility for public benefits.”
Credit: The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im
6/18
2. Empire State credit for children. This is another credit that saves New Yorkers a lot of money. “It is available to those who lived in New York State for all of 2022, who have at least one qualifying child, and meet the established income limits,” Martinez says.
Credit: Getty Images
Click here to continue with the gallery
IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images
7/18
The Empire State provides eligible taxpayers with a credit equal to 33% of the federal child tax credit. In the 2017 federal tax reform, the federal child tax credit was doubled for most families—up to $2,000 per child ($1,400 of which is fully refundable)—and expanded to include more families with higher incomes.
Credit: IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images
Karen Hatch/flickr Editorial/Getty Images
8/18
3. The Noncustodial Parent Earned Income Credit (NCP EIC). “It is among the 5 most popular credits in New York, because it saves money for parents who do not have custody of their children but contribute to their support,” explains Yuri Martínez.
Credit: Karen Hatch/flickr Editorial/Getty Images
Desislava Panteva/flickr Editorial/Getty Images
9/18
This credit can be claimed by eligible taxpayers instead of the regular New York State EIC, as long as they meet the conditions established by the IRS such as, for example, that you have resided in New York in that year.
4. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Although most eligible New Yorkers receive an EITC credit of $2,400, this tax credit can go up to $11,000 for eligible families, noncustodial parents, and those who work full or part-time or are self-employed.
Please note that if you claim this credit, your refund may be delayed. By law, the IRS must wait until mid-February to issue refunds to taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
5. Child and dependent care credit. This credit is directed to individuals or families who have spent part of their income in the care of a minor or a qualified person. Applicant must have gross income of $30,000 or less and must have resided in NY for all or part of the year.
Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Getty Images
Click here to continue with the gallery
Peter Dazeley/Getty Images
13/18
The child and dependent care credit can be up to 75% of the New York State credit.
Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images
Elizabeth Fernandez/Moment Editorial/Getty Images
14/18
Yuri Martínez, who specializes in advising executives and companies on their finances, says that unfortunately many New Yorkers do not benefit from these 5 popular tax credits, due to lack of knowledge.
Credit: Elizabeth Fernandez/Moment Editorial/Getty Images
Education Images/Education Images/Universal Image
15/18
“Not knowing or not being informed of the frequent changes and adjustments that collection institutions such as the IRS or state make regarding these credits means that some New Yorkers do not claim them,” says Martínez.
She recommends that it is best to seek the advice of a professional in the tax area “this is always the best tool to avoid any type of error and omission.”
Credit: duckycards/Getty Images
Monika Graff/Getty Images
17/18
The deadline to file taxes is April 18. For more details on these 5 popular credits in New York, visit the page of the state of NY for the crontirbuyors: And for free advisors, click here.
Credit: Monika Graff/Getty Images
18/18
Because some of these credits have just been defined for the tax period, not many New Yorkers are taking advantage of them. Do you know them?
