TaxMamas TaxQuips

Dear Family,

Well, I’m baaaaack!

It’s always really nice to take some time off and totally disconnect from phones and computers, isn’t it? We’ve been to Paradise and back. Along the way we saw a 9-foot pizza being designed; strawberry pizzas being hawked; pizza-shaped hats; a ratapult tossing stuffed rats; an array of medieval garments and souvenirs, all made in China; a Ghiradelli ice cream and chocolate shop; and lots more stuff.

One of the most intersting discoveries we made is that people operating gasoline stations just a block or two away from their town’s festival – didn’t know the festival was taking place. Literally. We asked the young lady at the Mobil station in Leemore where to find the pizza festival. She shrugged – huh? Here? No, there’s no pizza festival. (I walked out to the car and noticed an arch, visible above the building across the street, that said D O W N T O W N L E E M O R E. Walked out to the curb – and could see the Pizza Festival banner.) In Paradise, the sweet young thing at the Chevron station told us, aw, you should have come next week for Gold Nugget Days! Uh…the town was celebrating Gold Nugget Days all week. Only the parade was the following weekend.

One of the reasons I found it so odd, other than the fact that people can be remarkably unobservant about their environment…is that the towns themselves did nothing to strongly alert people to their celebrations. There were no banners or signs when you got of the freeways, or entered their towns. There were no flyers in gas stations or convenience stores. And when you finally did find their festivals, they were sparsely attended. It seems a no-brainer to me that if you want to increase attendance, pump up enthusiasm and perhaps even generate more income for the town and the vendors – you would need to do at least SOME promotion. Oh well, at least they managed to get their event on the California event calendar.

Do you have something like that for your state or area? Check the search engines to see. There are lots of fun things to do around your area. Get out of your rut and have a new experience. Many of the events and festivals have no entrance fees – and are just fun places to walk around and people watch – or to make new friends.

Oh, speaking of fun for not a lot of money. I discovered this service many years ago. On the House operates out of Santa Monica, CA and gives away free tickets for two to plays, concerts and other fun experiences. You pay a flat fee to join – and can get a pair of tickets to shows every single day of the week. Sometimes, several shows a day (on weekends); and sometimes, more than one pair of tickets.
On the House.

Granted, Tracy Gore’s service only offers venues in Southern California. But perhaps you have a service like this in your area? Look around. If not, consider starting such a service. (You can start a business like this in your area with VERY little investment.) It’s a boon to the theaters, since they fill seats that would otherwise not be sold. It’s a blessing to the actors since they get more exposure – and don’t play to an empty house (how discouraging that is!). And it’s a bargain for you since you can get at least one pair of tickets a week for the price of a couple of shows.

OK, press releases will go out next week (now that I’m back!). We’re going to launch We Found A Solution and let people know they can get help or get back on their feet, regardless of their current circumstances.
We Found A Solution

Oh yes, don’t forget to download your own TaxMama Tax Calendar from the iphone shop. (no charge) You don’t even have to look for it. You can find iTaxMama at
www.TaxMama.com .

Remember, please join me at a CSEA DigiTAX courses on May 13th and August 5th. And consider taking some of the other excellent courses being offered.

• May 13, 09 – 11:00 am – CSEA – Audio Tax – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the EA Exam
  Instead of answering the same questions over and over again all day, let me answer your questions all at once!

• Aug 5, 09 – 11:00 am – CSEA – Audio Tax – Hobby Loss Rules and how to Overcome Them
  This class is for folks with small businesses who are struggling, as well as for the tax professionals who represent you. I am getting lots of questions from people who are concerned about being audited…or are in the process of being audited.

For folks dealing with sales taxes in your business, Vertex Inc. is offering some complimentary webinars. You’ll find details in their resource center about upcoming webinars – and be able to download previous sessions.
Vertex Inc.

Speaking of complexity. I got an invitation to a webinar from Lynn Freer at Spidell. She says there are 1000 pages of differences between California law and federal tax law. And she states that she can explain this all in just one hour! This I’ve got to see. Are you coming? Thursday, May 7th at noon Pacific time.

This week’s TaxWatch column for MarketWatch makes a valiant effort to explain the various energy credits available to individuals like us. IRS released lots of information about how to go green – just in time for Earth Day this week.
http://snurl.com/energycredits

In IRS News this week, we learn how much President Obama and Vice President Biden paid in taxes for 2008. And we get the new Listed Property Limits for 2009, courtesy of David and Mary Mellem, EAs.
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=IRSNews

Today’s Money Funny is all about cross-cultural advertising. (Shhh…don’t tell anyone. But there are two more funnies hidden below today’s bit of humor!)
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=MoneyFunnies

In TaxQuips this week, we learned…well…nothing. We took the week off. Did you?
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=TaxQuips

As always, we love your feedback, opinions and ideas.
You are what makes all this fun – and interesting!

Please use the Comments link online.
http://taxquips.com/index.php?id=1204

TaxNerd gear makes a bold statement during tax season.
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Hugs from your favorite TaxNerd,

Eva Rosenberg, EA

Your TaxMama is watching…out for you.

www.TaxMama.com
www.TaxQuips.com
www.IRSExam.com
www.taxnerd.net
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TAX CALENDAR 2009
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04.30.2009 1st Quarterly Payroll Returns and Pay Taxes Due

04.30.2009 1st Quarterly Sales Tax Returns and Pay Taxes Due

05.15.2009 Employers Make monthly Payroll tax deposit

06.15.2009 2nd 2009 Estimated Payment – all entities Due

06.15.2009 Employers Make monthly Payroll tax deposit

06.15.2009 Personal Tax Returns Due for US Taxpayers overseas Form 1040

06.15.2009 or File extensions for US Taxpayers overseas Form 4868

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GIFT IDEAS
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Ask TaxMama

Where taxes are fun and answers are free

www.TaxQuips.com

The number ONE free tax podcast online

Money Funnies & Inspiration

Cross-Cultural Advertising

IRS News

Presidental Tax Return - Listed Property Limits for 2009

Prepare your own tax return

$19.95 includes IRS, State, e-filing and tech support

The 100% Home-Based Business Tax Solution

The evolving e-book and Tax MiniMiser