Fake Emails from the IRS

Since they wrote it best, I actually copied all of this right off the IRS website.  Many people are getting "fake" emails supposedly from the IRS....please read below on what to do if you get one of these:

How to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites

The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail. The IRS does not request detailed personal information through e-mail. The IRS does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. Report suspicious e-mails and bogus IRS Web sites to phishing@irs.gov. Current fraud risk related to EFTPS. If you receive an e-mail from someone claiming to be the IRS or directing you to an IRS site, Do not reply. Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code that will infect your computer. Do not click on any links. If you clicked on links in a suspicious e-mail or phishing Web site and entered confidential information, visit our Identity Theft page. Use the following steps to report the e-mail or bogus Web site to the IRS. How to report phishing, e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sitesIf you receive an e-mail or find a Web site you think is pretending to be the IRS, Forward the e-mail or Web site URL to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. You can forward the message as received or provide the Internet header of the e-mail. The Internet header has additional information to help us locate the sender. After you forward the e-mail or header information to us, delete the message. How to identify phishing e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sites Sample of phishing e-mails First sample of an actual phishing e-mail - PDF Second sample of an actual phishing e-mail - PDF All IRS.gov Web page addresses begin with, http://www.irs.gov/. Is it a phishing Web site? - PDF Are you a victim of Identity Theft? Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) Visit the IRS Identity Theft resource page You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration toll-free at 1-800-366-4484. Additional resources OnGuardOnline.gov provides protection tips from the federal government and the technology industry. Press releases and more What is Phishing, Beware of Phishing Schemes IR-2006-49, IRS Establishes e-Mail Box for Taxpayers to Report Phony e-Mails. The 2010 'Dirty Dozen' Tax Scams You can also forward suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). Having trouble downloading a PDF

Where To Invest

Everyday someone asks me where to invest their money.  This would be a great topic to open up to everyone and see what suggestions others have.  We all know the stock market has been more than volatile the past few years with finally a great comeback in 2009 but tumbling up and down in 2010 again.  You can't even keep up with inflation if you have your money in CD's or money market accounts at your bank....but at least your funds are basically safe.  As many of you know, I invest in real estate but the market conditions are very tenuous right now and you must be so very careful in what you buy.  I am successfully flipping houses right now....but it is not for the faint of heart in this market.  So then, what should a person do who wants to make a reasonable return on their money?  My suggestion is find out what you love and try to figure out a way to make money doing that....find your passion and turn it into a business...

From Sunbiz.org website

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! The Division of Corporations no longer has authority to waive the $400 late fee for annual reports filed after May 1st. The provision for waiver in s. 607.193(2)(b),F.S. was repealed during the 2010 Legislative Session. All business entities except non-profit corporations must pay the late fee if the annual report is filed after May 1st.

CONSUMER ALERT! Please be aware that notices are being sent by two entities that are not associated with the Division of Corporations. Compliance Services is requesting "Annual Minutes" and a fee of $125.00. "Annual Minutes" are not required to be filed with any state agency. Florida Online Corporate Annual Report Filings is sending e-mail messages "inviting" businesses to file the annual report from their website. Do not be misled by these messages. Make sure you are on the Department of State, Division of Corporations official website (www.sunbiz.org) when you file the 2010 annual report.

Compliance Services or Similar company

There is no legal reason for you to pay Compliance Services, Inc. or any similar companies to prepare minutes for your corporation. Basically this company is just taking advantage of unsuspecting people by sending them what looks like a legal document from a governmental agency...but the whole idea is for you to write them a check for $150.00 or some other amount ... for something you do NOT need for them to do. If you have any questions regarding anything you receive in the mail asking for your personal or corporate information and then asking for a check, ask me first....DON'T JUST SEND IT.

Credits For Hiring New Positions In Your Company

IF your business hires a new employee after 2/3/2010 and before 1/1/2011, you can get a credit of 6.2% of their salary for a "qualified employee" defined as:

New employee must certify (form W-11 is perfect for this) that they have not been employed for more than 40 hours during the 60 day period prior to you hiring them.
The employee cannot be replacing another employee (in other words it must be a new position) unless the prior employee left voluntarily or for cause (which can include downsizing)....pretty wide open here.
The employee cannot be related to you.

That's it....if you want to take advantage of this credit, contact me and I will make sure you know what to do.

New 1099 Reporting Requirements-All Businesses Beware

This will be an accounting nightmare. Under current law, you only have to file a 1099 on an individual who provides you services that you pay $600.00 or more to per year. Under the new 1099 law that is scheduled to go into effect starting in the tax year 2012, the law expands 1099 coverage to tangible goods and services. Just to give you an idea on how disastrous that can be, imagine you are a freelancer who purchases a computer from Target. If the computer costs more than $600.00, you will have to send Target a 1099 at the end of the year. This will mean you will need the Federal ID number and address of Target and keep track of your purchases to send 1099's at the end of the year. I am sure you are getting what a logistical nightmare this can be. For the companies we currently do books for, we will be requiring you to get your vendors to sign a W-9 so we have the information necessary to complete all required 1099's.

Recycle Your Electronics

Here is a great website to recycle your old electronics:

Nextworth.com

They will give you a Target gift card or PayPal credit if you recycle something with value. IF it does not have value, they will provide you with free shipping and recycle the item for you so it is win-win!!!

I am open to other suggestions for recycling....Go Green!!