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Tax Refunds Are a Critical Financial Boost for Most Americans, TaxSlayer Finds

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AUGUSTA, Ga., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new survey of 2,000 U.S. taxpayers, commissioned by TaxSlayer and conducted by Talker Research, illustrates the mixed emotions and financial realities surrounding this tax season. Notably, 79% of those surveyed believe they’ll be getting a refund this year, and one-third say they plan out how they’ll spend their tax refund roughly six months in advance.

79% of taxpayers are expecting a refund in 2025, and one-third will plan their spending months in advance.

According to the data, most Americans rely on their tax refunds to cover necessities, with only 8% planning to spend on luxuries like new clothes, entertainment, or phones. Instead, most prioritize essential expenses such as rent, groceries, and credit card debt—particularly holiday-related balances, which over half of respondents aim to pay down.

“Tax refunds are a financial lifeline for many Americans, so it’s our mission to empower them to file their taxes with confidence,” said TaxSlayer’s Head of Consumer Product, Seth Babb. “Knowing that their tax return is backed by TaxSlayer’s 100% accuracy and maximum refund guarantees gives our customers the assurance that they’re getting back every dollar they deserve.”

Common factors that significantly impact a person’s refund amount from one year to the next include new tax laws, a change in employment or marital status, starting a family, or adjusting withholdings. 

When asked if they expect to see an increase or decrease in their refund in 2025, one-fifth (22%) of the study’s participants said they believe they’ll end up with more money this year than last. Many in this group said they had withheld more money on their W-2, earned more money in the past year, or added a dependent. The 26% who expect a smaller refund believe it could be due to the loss of a job, owing back taxes, children aging into adulthood, and increased tax rates. 

The study found that the average American is hoping to receive roughly $1,700 in tax refund money this year, with half (51%) of the participants saying they expect to receive about the same amount as last year. 

It’s worth noting that the past several tax seasons have been marked by major tax law changes, and taxpayers likely saw that reflected in their tax refunds in some way. This year, though, Americans won’t need to brace for significant changes to the tax code.

“After many consecutive tax seasons defined by law changes, our focus this year has been on delivering on our core mission,” says TaxSlayer’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sean McGinty. “TaxSlayer is committed to being a value leader in tax software, meaning that our products are reliable and accessible for the average person, and at a price point that’s significantly less than our competitors’. Anyone, no matter their tax situation, can file a federal tax return with TaxSlayer Classic for $22.95 and still get their maximum refund, guaranteed. That’s something we’re really proud of.”

About TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer is an easy-to-use online tax filing platform with unlimited support at a fraction of the cost of the competition. Trusted for 60 years, the Augusta-based tech company successfully completed more than 11 million federal and state e-filed tax returns in 2024 and processed over $22 billion in refunds. With over 27,000 reviews on consumer review site Trustpilot, 83% of customers rate TaxSlayer Great or Excellent. On top of ensuring 100% accuracy, TaxSlayer has a maximum refund guarantee and is committed to providing the right tools at the right price. For more information, visit www.taxslayer.com. Or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.

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SOURCE TaxSlayer

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Kontron Launches Two New KBox F-Series Industrial Computers To Bring Greater Flexibility and Scalability to Industrial Edge Computing

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TAIPEI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), expands its KBox F-Series with the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, two compact industrial computers designed to address diverse requirements in intelligent Industry 4.0, edge computing and industrial IoT applications.

Both systems are powered by 12th, 13th or 14th Gen Intel® Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 S-Series socket-type processors with a TDP of up to 65 W and support up to 96 GB DDR5 memory, providing a scalable computing foundation for demanding industrial applications requiring flexible performance configuration and long-term deployment.

The KBox F-203-RPS offers two LAN configurations with either two or four GbE ports, allowing customers to select the connectivity level that best fits their applications. The dual-LAN configuration provides an efficient solution for general industrial computing, equipment control and edge applications, while the four-LAN configuration offers additional network connectivity for applications involving multiple devices or network segments, such as machine vision, industrial automation and IoT gateways.

For applications requiring greater system expandability, the KBox F-204-RPS provides one PCIe x16 or two PCIe x8 expansion slots, offering the flexibility to integrate graphics, networking, AI acceleration or other add-on cards according to specific application requirements. With support for up to four 2.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs, it also provides extensive storage scalability for data-intensive workloads. These capabilities make the KBox F-204-RPS particularly suitable for industrial edge computing, machine vision, video processing and applications requiring additional functionality or large local data storage.

Together, the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS enable customers to select the configuration that best matches their requirements, from a slimmer, network-focused industrial computer to a highly expandable edge computing platform.

To learn more about KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, refer to https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-203-rps/p301099 and https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-204-rps/p311867.

About Kontron

At Kontron, we champion IoT and Industry 4.0, by creating secure, state-of-the-art solutions that span hardware, software and services. Our approach speeds market entry, reduces the cost of ownership, and offers longevity, ensuring our role as your trusted partner in the integration of smart technologies. For more information, please visit www.kontron.com, dial +886-2-2799-2789 or email SalesAsia@kontron.com.

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SOURCE Kontron

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Mouser Electronics Brings Smart Sensing Solutions to PSECE 2026

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MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, announces its participation in the 21st Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE 2026) from October 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines. This event underscores Mouser’s commitment to supporting the region’s growing electronics design community with immediate access to cutting-edge technologies.

Visitors are invited to meet the Mouser team at Booth #110-111 to explore new products and practical design resources. The booth features a live demonstration of Würth Elektronik’s smart sensing and visual indication solutions, integrating environmental and motion sensing with programmable visual feedback and wireless connectivity. This interactive display illustrates how modern devices can detect physical conditions and translate them into clear, immediate visual data, addressing the critical need for reliable intelligence in connected systems.

“As we advance into an era of interconnected intelligence, Mouser remains committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge components and real-world application,” said Daphne Tien, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Mouser APAC. “Our presence at PSECE 2026 underscores our dedication to empowering engineers with the tools they need to innovate. We look forward to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology translates into tangible progress for the Philippines and beyond.”

Mouser’s participation highlights its strategic objective to strengthen ties with local partners and accelerate the adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies. By providing a platform for knowledge exchange, the company aims to help design communities turn promising prototypes into practical applications.

Attendees will have the opportunity to gather invaluable insights, learn industry best practices, and connect with professionals from across the region. The booth also features interactive activities where visitors can win premium gadgets and engineering tools, making innovative technology more approachable for everyone.

To learn more about Mouser’s presence at PSECE 2026, visit https://www.mouser.ph/psece-seipi/. 

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

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SOURCE Mouser Electronics

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Workato Launches Self-Serve Platform in Singapore, Opening Enterprise AI to a Broader Community of Builders

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New offering gives developers, students, and customers access to the full power of Workato’s enterprise-grade engine to build AI agents and MCP servers

SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Workato®, the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI, today announced the launch of a new self-service offering that gives customers, developers, and students across Asia access to the Workato platform to govern and scale their AI initiatives, including building and productionizing AI agents and MCP servers.

Making AI accessible has been at the heart of Workato’s mission the past several years. Through the AI Institute Alliance, unveiled in September 2025, Workato partnered with leading institutes of higher learning across Singapore, including Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the National University of Singapore. The initiative equipped students and educators with automation and AI skills.

The AI Lab, which opened a year later, extended that commitment further into the public sector through its partnership with EDB, and into inclusive hiring through SG Enable.

The newly launched self-serve platform will provide users access to:

A free account to start building immediately, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan, no contract required, as projects growThe ability to build recipes, Agents/Genies, and MCP servers directly on the platformThe same governed, enterprise-grade engine that powers Workato’s largest deploymentsA path built for independent developers, students, and small teams, as well as large enterprises

Since launching in 2026 in North America, Workato has seen rapid growth in the builder community. The platform is enterprise grade, but free to get started. As builders solve problems for their business, they can grow by upgrading to a paid plan. With this launch in Singapore, Workato is making an investment in the local builder community.

“The next era of AI won’t be defined by who has access to intelligence, but by who can turn it into action. We’re putting the same enterprise-grade power trusted by the world’s largest companies into the hands of every builder. We want everyone to be able to transform how their business operates,” said Rishi Mallik, Chief Growth Officer, Workato. 

Workato showcased its self-serve platform and broader community initiatives at World of Workato (WOW) 2026 in Singapore.

Builders can sign up now at https://app.trial.workato.com/users/sign_up_trial?utm_content=sg_wow2026.

About Workato

Workato is the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI — the neutral platform enterprises trust to put AI to work across their business. Workato unifies data, applications, and processes into a single platform so AI can reliably orchestrate business processes in production at enterprise scale. Built on more than a decade of running mission-critical processes for over half the Fortune 500 — including Nasdaq, Cisco, Vodafone, Atlassian, and Lucid Motors — Workato turns over 17,000 enterprise systems AI needs to act on into one governed execution layer. For more information, visit workato.com.

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SOURCE Workato

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