Sunday, April 20, 2008

Don t Forget About These Frequently Overlooked Tax Deductions

When an individual files their tax returns each year they are able to claim a number of tax deductions. Many times a tax deduction can reduce the amount of money that is owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or it can create a larger tax refund. The most commonly used tax deduction is the standard tax deduction; however, there are number of other tax deductions that many individuals fail to claim or even consider. Frequently overlooked tax deductions can prevent a taxpayer from getting additional money that they deserve.
Claiming a number of tax deductions often requires receipts or other documentation. For this reason there are many individuals who may be unable to claim some of these frequently overlooked tax deductions on this years tax return. To prevent yourself from losing even more money next year taxpayers are encouraged to spend the whole year preparing for tax season and tax deductions.
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One of the most frequently overlooked tax deductions is that of medical expenses. To claim a medical expense deduction the medical expenses must be at least seven and half percent of a taxpayers income. While this may seem like a large amount of money there are some individuals who will definitely qualify for this tax deduction. Families with a large number of children often qualify for this deduction because the total cost of healthcare for multiple children is often high. Taxpayers who recently had a child or were diagnosed with a life threatening illness are likely to meet the deduction requirements due to do multiple checkups and hospital visits.
There are a number of taxpayers who carefully keep track of the amount of money or items that they donate to charities; however, the majority of taxpayers do not which makes charitable donations another frequently overlooked tax deduction. Individuals who donated money, clothing, or household items are able to claim a tax deduction as long as the charity is approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The majority of most well known charities are approved; however, individuals can obtain a full list by visiting the website of the Internal Revue Service (IRS) which can be found at http://www.irs.gov.
Unfortunately there are a number of taxpayers who will qualify for a natural disaster tax deduction. With the recently active 2005 hurricane season and the dreadful predictions of more to come it is likely that a large number of individuals will qualify for a natural disaster tax deduction. This deduction is used to make up for the amount of property damage that was not covered by homeowners insurance. To qualify for a natural disaster tax deduction the property loss must be at least ten percent of an taxpayers income. It is sad to say, but with the majority of tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods is it not uncommon for a home to be completely destroyed which would allow the tax deduction to be claimed.
With many businesses declaring bankruptcy or laying off their workers there is an increased number of individuals looking for a job. Another one of the most frequently overlooked tax deductions is that of expenses related to a job search. Many job seeker know how expensive looking for a new job can be. It is possible for job seekers to claim tax deductions on their phone expenses that are related to a job search. These phone expenses may include long distance telephone calls to set up an interview or even over the phone interviews. In addition to phone expenses job seekers can also claim the mileage of going to and from a job interview. Other job search deductions may include the cost of having a resume professionally prepared and the costs of mailing or faxing out that resume.
Additional frequently overlooked tax deductions include the amount of money spent on sales tax, tax preparation, gambling losses, property taxes, and more. The best way to become aware about the most frequently overlooked tax deductions is by using a tax software program to prepare your taxes or hiring the services of a professional tax preparer. These are great ways to become aware of commonly overlooked tax deductions and to determine if you qualify for them.



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Chapter 7 Relief

You can file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7, if circumstances are such that you are unable to pay off your debts and the persistent visits of the creditors are making you a nervous wreck. Seventy percent of the consumers get fast relief from chapter 7 without spending years fighting their cases. It may, however, be noted that chapter 7 will not provide you any substantial relief if you have a regular source of income and can even partially pay off your debts. Chapter 7 is for those who have no option other than getting their non-exempt property liquidated to discharge their debts.Once your petition is admitted and you have paid the filing and the administrative fees, the court issues notices to your creditors, and this automatically means a stay on their efforts to pressurize you to pay them their loans. This means that the creditors cannot contact you directly. Also, they are no longer in a position to initiate court proceedings against you. The stay means that any contact between the creditors and the debtors has to take place through the court. Stated simply, the creditors are restrained from making phone calls, filing lawsuits against you, or seizing your property.If you file for bankruptcy under chapter 7, you will not be able to get a stay on your secured debts, such as loans attached to a house and car. Also, the chapter 7 law does not provide you relief from secured debts like student loans, alimony, child support, taxes to IRS or payment on mortgages etc.Yet you do get relief from the rent or eviction demands from your landlord, or the consumer companies who are threatening to take you to court. Most of your credit card debts are discharged. You won t have to pay for such utilities as electricity bills or your cable TV charges. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy provides detailed information on Chapter 7, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Trustee, Filing Chapter 13 and more. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is affiliated with Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Forms.



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Friday, April 18, 2008

Know When to Seek a Lawyer

When someone is convicted of driving while intoxicated in New York, they expect to have a long, drawn out process that follows. They will not have much choice in the certain decisions, but one they will need to make right off the bat is if a DWI attorney will represent their DWI case. Sometimes it seems like common sense that someone convicted of a crime (driving while intoxicated) should hire a lawyer, but some people just can t afford a DWI attorney, or for some other reason, don t feel the need for one. Keep in mind that people hire lawyers for advice and expertise all of the time, in all kinds of situations. While some people might be able to go through a DUI case without hiring a New York DWI defense lawyer, it might be to their benefit to at least consult an expert DWI attorney to assess the particular DUI case.
One of the first things to consider when deciding whether or not to consult a New York DWI attorney is knowing what is at stake. When DWI offenses put one s finances or liberties in serious jeopardy, the obvious answer is to get help from a New York DWI lawyer. In most cases, the person with the DWI offenses will be paying a large amount of money, such as ticket costs, damage fees, any impoundment fees, etc. The costs of a DUI can be astounding, but a New York DWI attorney could help reduce those costs as much as possible.
Whether the particular DUI case is a minor offense or a serious one, it would always help someone to hire a New York DWI attorney if for no other reason than to help explain and clarify the process a little bit better. The DWI attorney will help their client assess the DUI case, as well as represent and plan out the defense and just what options the DWI offenses leave the person with. With good legal advice, clients are better prepared to comply with and navigate through the complex mazes of governmental rules and regulations.
It never hurts to talk to a New York DWI lawyer, and it may be the best thing someone can do if they have the slightest inkling that they can t resolve the DWI case him or herself. If someone is persistent, they can probably arrange a free consultation with a New York DWI lawyer who will talk with them on the matter.
If someone isn t sure what their legal rights are, it might be worth their time and expense to retain a New York DWI lawyer to evaluate the situation and get advice on alternative courses of action. Even if the person ends up having to pay a few hundred dollars to consult with a DWI attorney, it could be a very wise investment that ultimately saves time and money.
For more resources about DWI Attorneys in Suffolk County New York or even about DWI & Traffic Defense Matters and especially about DWI Attorneys in Nassau County New York please review this website.



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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Equipment Leasing

A lease is basically a contract that transfers the right to possession. Equipment leasing companies provide customers with the privilege to use their equipment for a limited time frame with a monthly payment. Leasing equipment for official purposes, as opposed to purchasing equipment, offers any business flexibility in financing. Equipment leasing is used for vehicles, agricultural equipment, medical equipment, restaurant equipment, construction and technology equipment. A typical equipment leasing company will require a few monthly payments up front, compared to a conventional financer who will usually ask for about 10 to 20 percent up front. Some advantages to equipment leasing include: your monthly payments can be viewed as operating costs, and offer good tax benefits in the process. It is therefore important to consult your tax advisor to ascertain whether equipment leasing is the most beneficial alternative for your company.Many companies offer specialized equipment leasing programs to both customers and vendors, and aim to provide equipment leasing services that are both easy to understand and extremely tax-efficient. Currently, 80 percent of US businesses lease at least one piece of equipment.Stated simply, the benefits of leasing equipment are almost limitless. Leasing has become the preferred equipment acquirement method for US businesses. In addition, leasing offers real advantages, including better value, reduced cash flow strain, and greater control. Today, there are many types of leases available, and each one can be customized to help you get the equipment at the price that fits your company s budget.The process is actually quite simple; most applications receive bids within two business days. This means you can obtain equipment right away, without having to consider loans or other more time-consuming financing vehicles. In addition, leasing enables you to tailor a solution that meets your company s requirements. The flexibility of leasing is unprecedented - the length and amount of your payments can also be customized to fit your situation.Equipment Leasing provides detailed information on Leasing, Equipment Leasing, Commercial Leasing, Furniture Leasing and more. Equipment Leasing is affiliated with Equipment Leasing Companies.



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