Category Archives: Accounting

New Report Describes Poor Quality Tax Preparation In New Mexico

LONGMONT, Colorado (May 6, 2011) – Between February 1 and April 18, 2011, First Nations Development Institute conducted 12 “mystery shopper” tests of paid tax preparers in New Mexico. These mystery shopper tests were conducted in communities with a high Native American population and close to Indian reservations. First Nations visited tax preparer sites in Gallup, Grants, Bernalillo, Farmington, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The goal of the work was to assess the quality of tax preparation services and to test the hypothesis that the tax preparation firms are steering people toward expensive products, such as Refund Anticipation Loans or Refund Anticipation Checks.

This research uncovered several problems with inaccurate, unethical, or unprofessional behavior on the part of tax preparers. “In our small sample of mystery shoppers, it was shocking what we uncovered,” stated Shawn Spruce, a financial education consultant for First Nations. Spruce also shared,“Unfortunately, the companies that our mystery shoppers visited did a poor job preparing even basic tax returns and could have exposed them to serious tax liability. In general, we were startled by the low quality service and the fact that two of these companies automatically signed our shoppers up for expensive Refund Anticipation Checks, even though they could have directly deposited their tax returns into their own bank accounts.”

Michael E. Roberts, president of First Nations Development Institute, stressed the importance of conducting the mystery shopper tests and resulting research on tax preparers.

“This research reinforces what other studies have found,” stated Roberts. “There is a great need for better regulation of tax preparers so that low-income people can hold on to their hard earned tax refunds and avoid expensive and predatory products like Refund Anticipation Checks. It is unfortunate that tax time serves as an opportunity to exploit Native American taxpayers through high fees and unnecessary products that take money out of taxpayers’ pockets.”

On May 4, 2011, Spruce presented the findings in Tax Time Troubles, a First Nations Development Institute report that provides details about predatory, unprofessional, and inaccurate tax preparation firms serving often low income communities in New Mexico. Spruce was the evening keynote speaker at the Effective Asset Building Strategies in New Mexico conference being held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This conference was sponsored by Prosperity Works, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the impact of predatory lending and whose mission is to ensure that every New Mexican has the opportunity, knowledge and relationships to achieve economic prosperity.

For more information about the research report Tax Time Troubles, visit First Nations Development Institute’s website at www.firstnations.org.

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CONTACT:
Sarah Dewees, Senior Director of Research, Policy, and Asset-Building Programs
First Nations Development Institute
2217 Princess Anne Street, Suite 111-1
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Tel/540.371.5615
Fax/888.371.3686
sdewees@firstnations.org

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Choose a Reliable NJ CPA Firm

While many large companies have in-house teams of CPAs, most of the middle sized and small business cannot afford them and they may need the services of an outside CPA NJ company. Since the NJ CPA firms will be handling important accounting data and other related information, the business people need to select accountants in NJ who are not only trustworthy but also reliable. The selection of reliable firms will offer the clients a wide variety of benefits starting with the proper management of their accounting data.

When selecting a reliable CPA NJ, the clients are advised to take their time in searching for them. In order to make their search easier and simple, they are advised to establish their needs and what they are looking for in these accountants NJ before they start the search.

One of the main things they have to establish is the size of these firms. Since they will encounter a wide variety of sizes, ranging from individual accountants to very large accounting firms, they will have to consider the pros and cons of each in order to pick the best ones for their needs. Regardless of their choice, they should ensure that the NJ CPA firms they have selected have the capacity to handle the company’s current situation as well as that of the future. This is one of the most important aspects that Magone & Company considers in offering it services to the clients as it offers customized accounting services.

Once they have established this, they need to make sure that the NJ CPA firms are competent in their work. Failure to select competent accountants will put them in more difficult situations and this will have a negative impact not only on the accounts of the company but on the overall performance. For this reason, the clients should ask, from the CPA NJ, a list of references that they can contact. They are also advised to consider the firms that offer them references within the industry they are operating in. With the list they can find out the level of satisfaction of the firms clients. With Magone & Company, the clients will be provided with the list of clients from whom they can learn more about the operations of the company.

One important thing the clients need to keep in mind is that the accountants in NJ are not only bookkeepers but also consultants. This means that they should have an idea of the company’s operation and use the knowledge to help the company make the best out of their business when keeping the costs on the low. Magone & Company believe that it has the responsibility of offering their clients advice that will help them in this process, ensuring that they benefit greatly from the opportunities provided.

About Magone & Company

With their headquarters in Florham Park, Magone & Company is one of the most respected NJ CPA firms but what makes it unique is that it offers an all-round perspective on accounting and business consulting. It consists of a team of accountants in NJ who have proven business experience as well as commitment to deliver high quality and responsive service. This CPA NJ offers personalized services to their clients regardless of their industry and size.

Contact
Author: Nick Magone
Company Name: Magone & Company
Website: http://magonecpas.com
Address: 30 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 101, Florham Park, NJ
Zip Code: 07932
Phone: (973) 301-2300
email: info@MagoneCPAs.com

Brian Lee, bankruptcy and foreclosure lawyer serving clients in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Millions of Americans count on their tax refunds each year to pay down debts, get caught up on bills, or simply to make ends meet. With an estimated 1.5 million personal bankruptcies to be filed in 2011, bankruptcy lawyers around the country are being asked the same question: “What will happen to my tax refund if I declare bankruptcy?”

Income tax refunds are basically interest-free loans to the government, and are therefore considered assets of debtors who declare bankruptcy. The trustee assigned to your case may be able to seize your income tax refund, depending upon two main factors: first, what type of bankruptcy you file, and second, whether your refund is fully exempted.

The two main types of personal bankruptcy cases are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. In a Chapter 7 case, debtors are essentially allowed to walk away from their debts.

In a Chapter 13 case, debtors must repay their unsecured debts over 3 to 5 years.

Most Chapter 7 cases are considered “no asset” cases, and for those assets that the debtor does possess, there are federal and state exemption laws, which prevent the bankruptcy trustee from seizing and selling the debtor’s property.

Just like the debtor’s household goods, clothing and automobile, in most Chapter 7 cases the debtor’s tax refund can be fully exempted, which means the bankruptcy trustee cannot even consider seizing the refund. However it is very important to use the full and correct exemptions to protect the refund.

Chapter 13 cases can be a bit more complicated. If you have a confirmed Chapter 13 Plan that requires repayment of only a percentage of your debt, your trustee will likely seize your refund every year over the course of your bankruptcy, using the proceeds to increase the payout to unsecured creditors. Income tax refunds in Chapter 13 are considered “property of the estate,” so your trustee will want to apply this money toward payment of your Plan.

In 100% repayment cases, however, the trustee has no interest in seizing your tax refund. If your income is demonstrably sufficient to satisfy your confirmed Plan, the trustee will allow you to keep your tax refund. You may want to adjust your withholdings before filing a Chapter 13 appropriate.

The bankruptcy trustee will in most cases require the debtor to file a tax return to determine whether the debtor’s refund can be seized and used to repay creditors. Unlike a home or car with equity, which must first be auctioned to produce distributable funds, tax refunds are a quick cash windfall to the creditors.

Tax refunds are the assets most frequently captured by bankruptcy trustees. An experienced bankruptcy attorney can assist you in finding the maximum exemption strategy to protect your tax refund.

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Brian Lee is a bankruptcy and foreclosure lawyer serving clients in Virginia and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://www.lee-legal.com or call (202) 448-5136.

Contact Details:

BRIAN V. LEE
(202) 448-5136
fax (202) 640-2097
1050 Connecticut Avenue NW
Tenth Floor
Washington, DC 20036
WWW.LEE-LEGAL.COM

Magonecpas.com: Certified public accountants & business consultants

Florham Park, NJ (February, 2011) – Magonecpas.com without doubt brings a truly inimitable 360° perspective to the practice of accounting and business consulting. This website has brought together like-minded individuals with proven business experience and a commitment to deliver responsive service and measurable resolutions. From conducting a yellow book audit, helping out a foreign organization establish a U.S. presence, streamlining business processes for a growing company to assessing next year’s corporate or personal tax liability; this website can handle all while keeping the big picture in view. No wonder it is so recommended.

Magonecpas.com definitely knows in and out of accounting and business consulting after all it is regarded as the best NJ CPA firm. Nick Magone avows “Magone & Company reaffirms a core value — to provide our clients with an intimate level of professional service, paired with the high degree of technical competence generally found in much larger firms.” Its goal is not only to help out its clients in getting their financials in order but to keep them on track in meeting up the most ambitious revenue and growth goals as well. Brilliant client service provided by Magonecpas.com is one of the main reasons why it has a vast client base. Each and every CPA NJ at this website brings a wealth of hands-on business experience and broad-based industry knowledge to the practice of accounting. Whether you are looking out to complement your company’s internal capabilities or want to completely outsource the accounting and tax functions; it can help you out in developing a customized plan for success. This website stays ahead of regulatory changes and industry values so that you can focus on what you do best; its professional experience will definitely help you out in growing as a better company by helping you out in maintaining and utilizing up-to-the minute financial information. This website can help you out in audit & attestation, tax consulting & compliance and wealth management as well.

Testimonials featured at Magonecpas.com clearly depict that it can work wonders. From entrepreneurial & family-owned businesses, hedge funds, non-profit organizations, real estate to professional services firms; this website provides services to all industries. Magonecpas.com offers full-service accountants in NJ with practical and hands-on experience. Now that’s really amazing!!

Magonecpas.com will provide you with the best accounting and business consulting. Magonecpas.com can help you out in taking a big leap towards success.

About Magonecpas.com
This website brought in by Magone & Company, P.C. has a proven track record of attainment when it comes to accounting and business consulting. If you are looking out for an exemplary CPA NJ then visit this website right away. I am certain you will like their work. For more information please contact them at
Address: 30 Columbia Turnpike #101,
Florham Park, NJ 07932
Zip Code: 07932
Phone: (973) 301-2300
E-mail: info@MagoneCPAs.com

Courses Direct Announces Exciting New Accounting Courses

Courses Direct, a leading vocational educational provider that operates across the globe, is announcing a new set of accounting courses. Given the rapid changes in our current economic climate, Courses Direct is predicting a higher-than-usual demand for people trained and ready to provide accounting services in countries all over the world. They’re pleased to announced Multiple Nation Training.

“We believe that with every problem, we’re presented with an opportunity,” says Shane Ross Collison, a spokesperson for Courses Direct. “Some people look at the chaos all around us and throw up their hands in despair. We look at it, and we say, ‘So every country is going through a fiscal crunch right now. Great. That means someone who understands accounting in multiple countries is going to be especially valuable at this time.”

In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s a cinch that accountants need to make themselves especially valuable. “Courses Direct operates in lots of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the UK,” says Shane Ross Collison. “All of these countries are part of the Commonwealth of Nations, and they share a common economic history. But things are changing rapidly. For example, England is part of the European Union, but they still hold onto the British pound. Australia and New Zealand have their own currencies and laws, but they’re part of a special relationship with each other. The rules are constantly changing, and it is especially valuable if an accountant is versed in many different systems.”

The Multiple Nation Training from Courses Direct is aimed at training students to handle the economic differences and demands of different nations. Students will learn to understand and apply currency fluctuations, exchange rates, sovereign debt issues, and a host of complicated material. “By the time the student finishes this course, they will be uniquely empowered to meet the challenges of our increasingly complex, interconnected economies,” says Shane Ross Collison.

Courses Direct allows students the flexibility to learn anywhere, at any time. So the company believes that this new Multiple Nation Training will be especially useful for busy professionals who are already working. It takes out the stress associated with finding time to study late at night or on weekends. The courses are open now, and students are free to matriculate when they have time. “We’re not tied down to a particular set of classes or to a study year,” says Shane Ross Collison. “The plan of this new course it to give busy, working professionals the set of tools they need to survive in our cutthroat world, without eating up valuable time.”

Courses Direct expects to see many professional accountants who are eager to take part in the Multiple Nation Training Course. They have prepared to receive a large amount of students into the courses as soon as they want to sign up. “We’re open and ready to start making a difference with our Multiple Nation Training Course.” The company wants to add value to the students’ resume, and help them to become more valuable.

If you have a steady job, you might be shocked to know that you could be making the same mistakes that are destroying one of the major Internet companies. That’s right, of dialup Internet and free e-mail fame. According to experts in the field of job hunting, many people who are out looking for work right now are stuck in the unemployment lines because they followed the same destructive path as this company.

This international company just launched their new e-mail upgrades. The new features are nice, with smart ideas like supporting text messages, maps, and even photos inside e-mails. So what’s the problem? Well, for them, these nice developments come about five years too late. Everybody else already has that. After years of ignoring changes in the e-mail industry, the company is bleeding clients to companies like Google and Facebook. According to experts in the industry, this company has lost 23% of their subscribers this year alone. That’s several million people.

“The company didn’t move in any significant direction for years,” says Rob Gundersen, a motivational life coach and job search expert. “This company pioneered much of what we’ve come to expect from the Internet experience. But when other companies came along with a better idea, this company didn’t take the steps they needed to stay ahead of the game.” Mr. Gundersen notes that the time to prepare for significant change is before the change. “If you have a steady job right now, it’s the time to brush up on your education. To learn the latest in your field. Otherwise when the change happens, you’ll be working from a panic situation.”

“People need to forget the entire idea of job security,” argues Jennifer Landreu, who runs her own résumé polishing business from her home. “I can’t tell you how many clients I have coming to me who say, ‘I never saw this coming. I thought my job was safe.’ In this economy, it strikes me as foolish for anyone to assume that they will be able to keep their job indefinitely.” Jennifer says that the people who keep up with the changes in their industry are more likely to find new work – and faster – if they lose their old jobs. “For example, earlier this year I was working with a client who had been working in the banking industry for the last two decades. Unlike his peers, he had been reading up on all the new legislation that the U.S. and other countries were passing after the meltdown in 2009. Wouldn’t you know it, within less than a month, he found a new job with a U.S. firm – in his hometown. And he’s making better money than before.” She pauses before continuing. “None of his coworkers who got the axe are so lucky right now.”

Education is power. Both of these experts caution that people should never assume that they’ve learned enough when they get their diploma. “You can never know too much,” says Mr. Gundersen. “It’s never too late for a person to make a better life for themselves by gaining more education.”

Corporate Banking Courses and Conferences

The Financial Veritas PR desk is pleased to inform the professionals of the financial industry that a new line of Corporate Banking courses is available on the www.financialveritas.com website.  The topics of seminars include

These Corporate Banking training can be delivered as inhouse tailor made courses or as OTC product. The courses can be delivered in Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East.

For more information on the training courses that are available now please feel free to contact the clients relations team at

Clients@financialveritas.com

http://financialveritas.com

Payroll Outsourcing Services Save Small-Business Owners Time And Money

Small-business owners often have to wear multiple hats: boss, human resources representative and payroll administrator, just to name a few. Thanks to National PEO, small-business owners can remove that last hat by outsourcing their company’s payroll administration. National PEO leads the payroll outsourcing services industry, offering payroll administration, tax payment and filing, online payroll entry, and EVerify, among other payroll-related tasks. The Scottsdale, Arizona, company helps small-business owners across the country save both time and money, as payroll administration is neither revenue-producing or an effective use of their time.

August 2010 – National PEO allows small-business owners to do what they do best: Run their companies. It does this by taking over all payroll services, including the important task of verifying work eligibility of employees. To determine whether or not a small business will benefit from payroll outsourcing services, including EVerify, National PEO does the following:

Performs a detailed analysis of the small business’ payroll operations and delivers an action plan showing the potential savings of time and money.

Outlines the many payroll outsourcing services National PEO provides, including:

Input Options – National PEO clients can decide how they want to upload payroll information. They can opt for WebPay, an online payroll entry solution, or they can fax, call, email or drop off their payroll information to be input.

Reports – National PEO’s powerful accounting software eliminates the task of compiling payroll reports.

Direct Deposit – Among National PEO’s payroll outsourcing services, is this versatile option: Small-business owners can give their employees the option of direct deposit, whether into one account or multiple, or via a pay card.

Deductions and Garnishments – National PEO handles health-care benefit deductions, child-support orders, levies and other deductions and garnishments.

PTO Tracking – Perhaps one of the most important of National PEO’s payroll outsourcing services, this system accurately tracks employee sick, vacation and personal time based on the policies of the small business.

In its action plan, National PEO also stresses the importance of employee verification. Not complying with state and federal law in this area can result in suspension and/or loss of a small business’ license. As part of its payroll outsourcing services, National PEO offers EVerify, which processes all new hires and consults with employees if they have questions. It also audits a small business’ I-9 forms and its employee filing system, and it follows up on discrepancies to comply with federal guidelines. EVerify also keeps small business owners informed of changes to federal and state laws regarding immigration.

National PEO also uses case studies to show small-business owners how they can save time and money through payroll outsourcing services, EVerify in particular. One case study focuses on a construction company that used National PEO to determine whether or not it was compliant with immigration rules and regulations. Through its audit, National PEO found potential violations that would have resulted in legal and financial consequences for the company had they been uncovered during an audit by a federal agency. Thanks to National PEO, the construction company was compliant within days and has since earned perfect scores on EVerify follow-up audits.

About National PEO: When it comes to payroll outsourcing services, National PEO leads the industry thanks to its successful leadership and innovative practices. To schedule an interview with a member of the National PEO team, call John Rico at 480-429-8098. To get more information about the payroll outsourcing services the company provides, including Everify, go to nationalpeo.com or call (480) 429-8098 or toll free (888) 221-0945.

Contact Details: National PEO
John Rico
hr@nationalpeo.com

Real Time Press Release Distribution

In today’s Internet the real time information is already playing a significant role in how businesses and people access and consume the information online. Technologies online have emerged up to the point where 2 minutes may sometimes be the difference between having tens of thousands of people not only seen your PR announcement, but creating a long tail of reactions across the vast real time online space adding up to your overall online presence/reputation and your message being buried down among millions of other identical pieces of information.

Considering how crucial the real time information for the average business and web user appears to be, one can only imagine how great the impact of the real time information flow over the public relations business online can be.

That’s why we think it is about time for RealTimePressRelease.com — real time press release distribution online.

In a nutshell RealTimePressRelease.com is a do-it-yourself publishing platform for real time press release distribution. It’s free and you can instantly have your press release published on RealTimePressRelease.com as well as released via the Web, the Blogosphere and the Twitter. Having spent almost 2 decades within the PR industry, and currently engaged with EPR Network, one of the largest press release distribution networks online, it’s been just a matter of time for us to realize how vital a real time press release distribution service online is.