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When the IRS Snitches, We Get Louder!

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RQZA MEDIA
April 11, 2025

Welcome to the newest edition of Riqueza Weekly, a newsletter created for the people by the people, or what we like to say pa la gente. RQZA Weekly, is your go-to source for the latest in money, power, and cultura. As we welcome our newest arm Riqueza Media, we wanted to have a place to chismear pero con educación. Our people need the education to understand what is going on around the U.S. y en todo Latino América. Lo que pasa acá, nos afecta allá y viceversa. Expect to read content on business, finances, economics, higher-ed, policy and everything in between.

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This week, we’re talking about:

  • đź”’ Why taking care of your own finances isn’t selfish—it’s a legacy move, especially for the sandwich generation juggling care across three generations.

  • đź’¸ How NYC women are flipping the script on generational wealth and proving that financial literacy is survival, not a luxury.

  • 🧾 What IRS budget cuts really mean for BIPOC communities—and why the audit gap isn’t just unfair, it’s strategic.

  • 🧊 ICE detentions, white allyship, and what real solidarity looks like when a community says not on our watch.

  • đź“š The students and grassroots programs bringing financial education where institutions have failed—because the next wave of money wisdom is already here.

  • 🎧 From tariff chaos to TikTok truths—this week’s Rulebreaker’s Playlist is full of receipts, resistance, and real talk about wealth, policy, and power.

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The Rundown: Business, Economics & Finances

Financial Planning for the Sandwich Generation

Most of us are part of a sandwich generation. We are taking care of ourselves, our kids, and our parents — emotionally, physically, and financially. That’s why we have to remember that taking care of ourselves — especially our finances, isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.

Here are a few things you can do take care of yourself and those you love.

  1. Secure your safety first: Build a 3-6 month emergency fund and continue to fund it. Consider increasing that amount if you're supporting multiple generations — unexpected medical or caregiving costs can come up quickly.

  2. Invest for your future: Start saving and investing as early as possible so that your money has enough time to grow.

  3. Have the money conversations: Have transparent and clear conversations with parents and kids about financial expectations, healthcare wishes, long-term plans and college costs.

Remember: You are building legacy with your knowledge, financial security and systems for generations.

NYC Women Take the Lead in Financial Power Moves

Say goodbye to financial passivity—Making Money Movers NYC is here to show women in New York City how to break free from financial struggles and create wealth for generations. Led by Haizel McIntyre and supported by the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC), the program teaches women the practical skills they need to rewrite their financial stories.

In a powerful “Hay Dinero” interview, McIntyre shares why financial literacy isn’t just a luxury—it’s a survival tool. When women gain control of their finances, they transform entire communities.

From living paycheck-to-paycheck to building investment portfolios, Making Money Movers equips women with essential financial knowledge—while affirming that their experiences and challenges matter. This program is proof: educate women about money, and you change everything.

The Receipts: Policy & Immigration

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Less Audits, More Questions: What the IRS Shrinkage Means for BIPOC Communities

Here’s the tea: the IRS—the folks in charge of making sure everyone is paying what they owe—has been running on fumes. Thanks to years of budget cuts, especially under the Trump admin, audit rates are at record lows. In 2010, about 1 in 100 tax returns got checked. In 2023? Try 1 in 300. That’s a big drop.

And it matters. High-income folks are the ones who typically owe the most when audited—but those audits are time-consuming, and the IRS doesn’t have the workforce. Over 20% of staff have been cut since 2010. Now, with even more cuts on the table (like 18,000 workers out the door), the government could lose almost $7B in tax revenue next year alone.

So, who pays the price when the rich get a pass? Usually, us. Everyday taxpayers—especially BIPOC communities already navigating economic gaps—end up holding the bag. Fewer audits on the wealthy mean fewer resources for programs our communities rely on.

Also shady: the IRS is reportedly sharing info about undocumented taxpayers with ICE. That’s not just a privacy red flag—it could discourage people from filing taxes at all, which further pushes marginalized communities into financial instability.

Reading Between the (Tax) Lines

Understanding how these systems work helps us protect ourselves. Know your rights. Learn the tax basics. Empower your people. When fewer guardrails exist at the top, communities at the margins need tools to stay safe, solvent, and seen.

Because real power isn’t just about making money—it’s about knowing how the system handles it.

Kamala Harris on BIPOC in Politics, Tariffs, and Financial Literacy

In a recent statement, Former Vice President Kamala Harris declared, "I'm not going anywhere," reinforcing her commitment to driving change in U.S. politics. As the first woman of color to hold such a high office, her continued presence is significant for BIPOC, especially in areas like trade policies, tariffs, and financial literacy.

Impact of Tariffs on BIPOC Entrepreneurs

Harris has long criticized the harmful effects of tariffs, particularly how they disproportionately affect small businesses, including those owned by BIPOC. During her time in office, she called tariffs a “Trump sales tax” that raised costs and limited market access for marginalized entrepreneurs.

As she remains politically active, Harris could push for policies that ease these economic burdens, creating a more supportive environment for BIPOC-led businesses to thrive.

Financial Literacy for BIPOC Women

Harris also has a track record of championing financial literacy as a vital tool for empowerment. By advocating for policies that ensure financial education reaches underserved communities, including BIPOC women, she’s working to break cycles of economic inequality and provide women with the tools to achieve financial independence.

Higher- Ed, Higher Stakes: Academia & Education

Intuit Launches Financial Literacy Challenge for Students

In honor of Financial Literacy Month, Intuit (the company behind TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks) is launching the Hour of Finance Challenge—a nationwide effort to help middle and high school students learn how to navigate real-world money decisions.

Through a simulation called Prosperity Quest, students get to practice budgeting, saving, and managing everyday financial situations—all in under an hour. Schools across the country are encouraged to participate, and students even have a chance to win prizes for their efforts.

Why it matters: Financial literacy is still not widely taught in schools—and that gap hits first-gen and low-income students the hardest. Programs like this offer a starting point for young people to learn what they don’t know yet about money, credit, and financial independence.

Financial Literacy Initiatives Empowering Women

Meet Alexandra Mihailopol, a Mount Holyoke College student ('26), who just secured a Projects for Peace grant for her groundbreaking initiative, EmpowHER: Financial Education for a Safer Future. Her goal? To bring real, actionable financial literacy workshops to women in rural Romania—an area where these resources are hard to come by.

This isn’t just about learning how to balance a budget. It’s about empowering women to take control, build lasting wealth, and understand their financial value. Mihailopol’s work shows that education is the first step toward economic empowerment—and that the next generation of financial trailblazers is already here, making moves.

Pa’ Que Sepas: Noticias

Wealthy Beyond Money: Community y Cultura

When They Detain Us, We Defend Us: Community Power in Action

In upstate New York, a mother and her three children were detained by ICE—and they spent two weeks in detention before being released. Their crime? Existing in a system designed to target and disappear immigrants of color.

But they weren’t alone. A predominantly white community mobilized immediately—rallying, organizing, and demanding their freedom. Their privilege, proximity to power, and refusal to stay silent helped push the system to release the family.

This is what solidarity can look like: white allies using their voices, visibility, and institutional access to interrupt injustice. Not to lead, but to show up. Not to save, but to stand between harm and the people most vulnerable to it.

Let’s be clear: the damage of detention doesn’t get undone. Two weeks is too long for any child to spend locked away. But in a time when the IRS is reportedly feeding immigrant data to ICE, this moment is a call to action. Allyship can’t be neutral. It must be loud, consistent, and rooted in love and accountability.

Rulebreakers: Voices of Resistance & Change

Knowledge is power—share it ✊🏽,

This is Riqueza Weekly âś¨đź’¸
Pa’ la gente, by la gente.

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