PAGE 8 NEIGHBORS NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY 2010 NEIGHBORS NEWSPAPER PAGE 9
Happy New Year!!!! It’s Tax Time
Your Self-Employment Dream Team
By Lee McCollum you were unemployed during 2009, the
your company offers these plans, take full By Rick Schettino business, who has been in your area for That’s the easiest way to assure your fail-
make all the difference. Your coach’s job
Yes, it is tax time. A beautiful time of first $2,400 of unemployment compensa-
advantage to reduce your taxable income.
Many dream of the freedom of self- a long time, and who works with oth- ure. Bad strategies spell doom no matter
is essentially to assist you in developing
the year for those of us who love crunch- tion is excluded from your income.
If you have a large refund, don’t give
employment, of being the master of their ers who are also self-employed. Have how great the graphics.
and documenting your goals, to hold
ing the numbers, giving tax advice, and • The American Opportunity Credit
the Federal Government a tax free loan,
own destiny, the commander of their them set up your books, projections and Copy Writer
you accountable, and to be a sound-
of course preparing Tax Returns. There modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax
increase your allowances and take more
own ship. But, sadly, very few venture budgets. Make sure to look over your Every business needs a writer that
ing board for your ideas. You’ll progress
are plenty of reasons for you to be happy years 2009 and 2010 making the credit
money home each pay period. It’s your
into self-employment. The majority of numbers with them at least once each truly understands sales psychology - even
much, much faster with a good coach.
about tax season this year because the available to a broader range of taxpayers.
money! Why would you let the govern-
those who do attempt self-employment quarter.
government is offering several tax credits If you are a student, make sure to ask your
ment use your money all year and give
if just for simple things like sales letters.
Personal Assistant
and favorable tax changes to help ease our preparer for the maximum credit possible.
it back to you at tax time, interest free?
fail because of lack of experience and Business Lawyer If you are not a marketing expert you
Do the things you love best and del-
tax burden, but living in California is also • 2009 New Car Tax Credit for cars
Use more of your refund dollars toward
knowledge. They end up going back to If you’re a one-person show, you should not be writing your own market-
egate as much as possible, especially
a reason to be not so happy. purchased between February 17, 2009
your retirement plans and children’s col-
spending 1/2 of their waking lives in a don’t need a big law firm. You need a ing material. Writing can make or break
the little things that any intelligent person
and December 31, 2009. The credit is lege education savings. The right mix
cubicle or sitting in traffic. rogue who has been working with local you. Insist on evidence of recent success!
can do like mailing and banking. Find
Happiness is the tax changes that may limited to the taxes on vehicles with a
may reduce your taxable income, increase
You can increase your odds of suc- business owners in the area for a long Technical Support
someone young and energetic who is
benefit you, such as: purchase price up to $49,500.You will be
your retirement savings, and still give you cess dramatically by surrounding yourself time. Have her set up your business entity Find someone you can call for help
career focused and inexpensive, and
• The Homebuyer’s Credit has been able to take this credit whether you use
about the same “take home” pay each pay
with experienced professionals who can and, if you are a consultant or practitio- when you have computer issues, website
keep her busy!
extended and now includes current hom- itemized deductions or standard deduc-
period.
help you navigate the unfamiliar waters ner of some kind, have her draw up a cli- issues, email issues, mobile communica-
Good help isn’t hard to find. Start by
eowners. First time homebuyers can re- tions. This credit will begin to phase out
of self-employment. ent agreement. In the future, when other tions problems, etc. A younger person
simply asking other local business own-
ceive up to $8,000 and Move-up/Repeat at $125,000 of income for individuals and
Happy Tax Season to all, and to
In my 25 years of experience, here legal matters come up, it’s comforting to might be okay because technology ad-
ers who have been around for a while.
Lee McCollum homebuyers can receive up to $6,500. $250,000 for joint filers. all many Happy Refunds.
are a few of what I have found to be the have someone familiar to call. vances so fast. But if the person you’re
And keep your eyes and ears open.
• Unemployment Compensation: If • Residential Energy Efficiency cred-
its are available if you improved your *Lee McCollum is a Registered Tax Pre-
using isn’t an obvious computer guru, if
Good luck and may all your self-
home with windows, doors, water heat- parer in Temecula, CA. You may contact
they seem to be stumbling around, keep
employment dreams come true!
ers, roofs, heating and air conditioning, him at (951) 719-3840 or email him at
looking.
Rick Schettino is a marketing and advertising consultant
and insulations just to name a few. McCollumL@hdvest.net. He is accepting
Business Coach
and self-employment coach who has worked with scores
• Making Work Pay Credit for indi- new clients.
Finding a great business coach can
of small business owners over the past 25 years. He can
viduals up to $400.00 and for working
be reached via his website at http://rickschettino.com.
married couples, up to $800.00.
• The definition of a Qualifying Child
has been expanded so that more people
will qualify for dependent exemptions
Integrity
and credits. PUBLIC INVITED
• The Additional Child Tax Credit
TO OPEN
Affordability
income thresholds have been lowered to
qualify for additional child tax credits.
REHEARSAL
Guaranteed Results
• Earned Income Credit will now
qualify up to three children in 2009.
Saturday, February 6
make the right move
Now, the bad news. Happiness is not 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MVPs of the successfully self-employed
Marketing Strategist
person’s dream team, along with some
Most entrepreneurs need someone
living as residents of California this year.
The state of California has reduced the
Have you ever wondered how profes-
basic criteria for hiring them:
to help with the creation of their market-
dependent exemption from $309 per de-
sional musicians put together a concert?
Accountant
ing campaigns from logos to signs to
pendent in 2008, to $98 (Ouch!!!) per de-
What’s the role of a conductor in shaping
Business is a competition. You have
sales tools. A big mistake people make
pendent in 2009. Be prepared to receive
the performance? How do musicians col- to keep score to know how you’re doing.
when just starting out is to hire an inex-
Solutions for Small Business
a smaller refund or pay taxes to our great
laborate to create great music? How do Find someone stable who runs their own
pensive “graphic artist” to create them.
state this year.
music, lighting, sound, and staging come
Make sure you are getting the maxi-
together?
C R E AT I V E S O L U T I O N S T O C O M P L E X P R O B L E M S
mum refund this year by taking advantage
To answer these questions, the Gold-
CANYON LEGAL CENTER
en Valley music society presents an open
Did you know the U.S.Department of Labor defines small business as
of ALL tax credits and tax law changes
rehearsal of the California Chamber Or-
“500 or less employees”? Whether you’re a big small or a little small,
available to you. If your tax person does
chestra on Saturday afternoon, February
30 Years Experience
making the right move is critical.
not discuss these tax benefits with you,
ask them or find another tax person who
6 at 2:30. The orchestra will be rehearsing
Spickler & Associates has worked with Fortune 500 companies
will make sure you get the maximum re-
for that evening’s concert. Attendees will
BANKRUPTCY
to very small businesses.
fund or lowest tax bill. Tax software pro-
have the opportunity to watch and listen
$
grams are designed to help you get maxi-
as Artistic Director Warren Gref rehearses
50.00 Starts
• Business Startup and Formation • Capital Buying and Decision Models
mum refunds. If you are using a program
the orchestra, soloists, and singers. In ad-
Payment Plans Available
• Business Planning • Strategic Planing
such as Turbo Tax and you are unsure if
dition to the California Chamber Orches-
We Also Do:
• Brand and Market Development • E-Commerce/Ebay you qualify for a credit, give them a call
tra, the program features the Temecula
• Evictions
• Human Resources • Retail Optimization or talk with a local preparer* who may be
Valley Master Chorale and the Murrieta
• Wills & Living Trusts
able to help you.
Valley High School Women’s Chorus.
If you have a large tax bill, ask your
The program is free and includes
• Probate
SPICKLER &
preparer to help you reduce your federal
the Faure Requiem, and Four Songs for
• Divorce
and state allowances so that more taxes
Women’s Chorus, 2 Horns, and Harp by
• Contract & Debt Disputes
ASSOCIATES
are taken out of your paycheck. You may
Brahms. Tickets for the evening concert
• Criminal Expungements and
need to consider other tax strategies to
are available at the box office, by calling
Reduction of Felonies to Misdemeanors
C O N S U L T I N G
help reduce your taxable income. In-
866-653-0696, or at www.temeculathe- • Early Probation Termination
creasing contributions to your 401-K or
ater.org. The concert begins at 7:30 in the
Evening & Weekend Appointments
Geoffrey S. Spickler
similar retirement plan can reduce tax-
Old Town Temecula Community Theater,
951.816.9628 • Gspickler@gmail.com
able income as well as using a Flexible
42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA.
31630 Railroad Canyon Drive • Suite 17 • Canyon Lake, CA 92587
Contact us today to learn more about our services 951.816.9628
Spending or Dependent Care account. If
951.244.5200 • email: fdornay@yahoo.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56