Paying Off Debt the Smart Way

August 9th, 2010

Being in debt isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. Between mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and student loans – most people are in debt. Being debt-free is a great goal, but you should focus on the management of debt, not just getting rid of it. It’s likely to be there for most of your life – and, handled wisely, it won’t be an albatross around your neck. Read the rest of this entry »

Credit Reports: What You Should Know

August 6th, 2010

How do lenders determine who is approved for a credit card, mortgage, or car loan? Why are some individuals flooded with credit card offers while others get turned down routinely? Because creditors keep their evaluation standards secret, it is difficult to know just how to improve your credit rating. It is important, however, to understand the factors and to review your credit report periodically for any irregularities, omissions, or errors. Reviewing your credit report annually can help you protect your credit rating from fraud and ensure its accuracy.

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What to Do If You Haven’t Filed Your 2009 Return

August 4th, 2010

The failure to file a federal tax return can be costly – whether you end up owing more or missing out on a refund.

There are several reasons taxpayers don’t file their taxes. Perhaps they didn’t know they were required to file. Maybe they just kept putting it off and simply forgot.

Whatever the reason, it’s best to file the return as soon as possible. If you need help, even with a late return, we are ready to assist you.

Here are some things to consider:

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Seven Tax Tips for Students with a Summer Job

August 3rd, 2010

Are you a student with a summer job? Here are seven things you should know about the income you earn during the summer months.   Read the rest of this entry »

Planning Retirement Withdrawals

August 3rd, 2010

Are you thinking of retiring soon, or changing jobs? You may face a major financial decision: what to do about the funds in your retirement plan. This article will discuss partial withdrawals and full withdrawals.

Note: As you will see, the rules on retirement withdrawals are quite complex. They are offered here only for your general understanding. Please call us before taking withdrawals or making other major changes in your retirement plan.

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Cash Flow: The Pulse of Your Business

August 3rd, 2010

Unfortunately, many small business owners do not fully understand their cash flow statement. This is shocking, given that all businesses essentially run on cash, and cash flow is the lifeblood of your business.

Some business experts even say that a healthy cash flow is more important than your business’s ability to deliver its goods and services! That’s hard to swallow, but consider this: if you fail to satisfy a customer and lose that customer’s business, you can always work harder to please the next customer. But if you fail to have enough cash to pay your suppliers, creditors, or employees, you’re out of business! Read the rest of this entry »

Financial Tips for August 2010

August 3rd, 2010

Prepare a Post-Mortem Letter
Review or prepare a post-mortem letter to your spouse spelling out the location of your assets and property (assets of a deceased are often lost because a spouse may not be aware of them or know their location), the names of all your advisors, and any other information your spouse should know to minimize his or her burden in the stressful period after your death.

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Federal Tax Due Dates for August 2010

August 3rd, 2010

August 2

Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the second quarter of 2010. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until August 10 to file the return.

Employers – Federal unemployment tax. Deposit the tax owed through June if more than $500.

Employers – If you maintain an employee benefit plan, such as a pension, profit sharing, or stock bonus plan, file Form 5500 or 5500-EZ for calendar year 2009. If you use a fiscal year as your plan year, file the form by the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends.

Certain Small Employers – Deposit any undeposited tax if your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2010 but less than $2,500 for the second quarter.

August 10

Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the second quarter of 2010. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time.

Employees Who Work for Tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during July, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.

August 16

Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in July.

Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in July.

State Making Efforts to Enforce Sales Tax Compliance

July 20th, 2010

A recent lecture by the Bar Association of Erie County (BAEC) Headquarters educated local attorneys, CPA’s and high level government officials about widespread under reporting of sales tax by business and the efforts New York State is making to enforce payment of these taxes legally owed by the businesses.

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Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions

July 19th, 2010

The Affordable Care Act was enacted on March 23, 2010. It contains some tax provisions that take effect this year and more that will be implemented during the next several years. The following is a list of provisions now in effect; more provisions are expected.

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