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"The marriage penalty tax is not a myth." If you're agonizing over your choices, don't let that money just sit there while you make up your mind, experts say.

"Park your money in a 30-day or 90-day certificate of deposit," Lan said.

"Don't rush into anything." Visa USA offers free tips on a variety of personal finance topics, including taxes, at http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com.

Contact Janis Mara at jmara@angnewspapers.com or (510) 208-6468.

But for now, if you're trying to decide what to do with this year's refund, here are some good ideas, according to experts.

Pon said the two best ways to make the most of your refund are to put it in a tax-advantaged plan such as an IRA or use it to pay off your credit cards.

"Most people can guarantee themselves a saving of more than $100 a month simply by paying off their credit cards," Pon said.

"If you owe $1,000 and your interest rate is 10 percent to 14 percent, which is not unusual, every month you are paying between $100 and $140 for absolutely nothing," Pon said.

"Pay off the credit card and you're putting that money back in your own pocket." Putting the money into a retirement fund can help provide for your old age and also get you a tax break, Pon said.

"The maximum amount you can put in an IRA account this year...

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