Small Business Liaisons
“We're acting to make it easier to do business in Washington"
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Last minute tax filing reminders & upcoming events for Small Business Week in May 4/14/2016 Announcements & Upcoming Events: IRS Webinars for Small Businesses https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/webinars-for-small-businesses Four free webinars for small businesses to celebrate National Small Business Week. Each webinar is one hour in length, and runs from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time. Tax Tips for Your New Business - May 2, 2016 Register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/445/14468 Topics include: · Is it a business or hobby · Select a business structure · Understand business taxes · Recordkeeping requirements · How to choose a tax preparer · Where to go for IRS help · Plus a live Q&A Staying Afloat: Planning for Emergencies Before they Happen - May 3, 2016 Register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/445/14492 Topics include: · Business continuity planning · How to create an emergency plan · Employee preparedness · Payroll continuity and supply chain protection · Protecting your records and data · What happens after a disaster is declared · IRS resources to help you plan · Plus a live Q&A Worker Classification: Employee or Independent Contractor - May 4, 2016 Register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/445/14546 Topics include: · Difference between an employee and an independent contractor · Common law rules · Form SS-8 · Employment tax obligations · Voluntary classification settlement program · Plus a live Q&A in Spanish Tip Reporting and Tips vs. Service Charges – May 5, 2016 Register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/445/14436 Topics include: Mark Your Calendar! SBA’s JumpStart Week is May 16-20 https://www.sba.gov/event/1499150 The Seattle SBA office will conduct a series of workshops designed to help startup and existing small business owners improve the bottom line. Four workshop tracks will be offered: Networking, How to Stay Out of Trouble, Finance, and Marketing/Social Media. Registration coming soon - check here for updates. Small Business Administration Workshops https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/wa/seattle SBA offers a variety of workshops, some online and others in person. Apr 14 - Aberdeen - Your Business - Start Smart Apr 19 - Bellevue - Your Business -- Finance Smart Seattle - Free Workshop Thursdays - April 14 Seattle - Free Workshop Thursdays - April 28 SCORE Workshops SCORE offers workshops designed to give you the skills necessary to start your own successful business. Seattle: http://seattle.score.org/localworkshops May 4, June 1 -- Starting a New Business Apr 26, May 4 – Understanding Financial Statements Spokane: http://scorespokane.org/workshops May 4 -- How to Start a New Business There are also a number of online workshops available: https://seattle.score.org/onlineworkshops/tab-a IRS Updates & News Releases: Did you know? One of the best ways to get information is by visiting the IRS Small Business Tax Center where you can learn everything from how to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online to how to best navigate an audit. IRS Releases Tax Time Guide: Use IRS.gov Tools for Quicker Answers https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-time-guide-use-irsgov-tools-for-quicker-answers Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers working on their 2015 tax returns to take advantage of the numerous online tools and resources available on IRS.gov, introducing a series of 10 IRS tips called the Tax Time Guide. These tips are designed to help taxpayers navigate common tax issues as this year’s April 18 deadline approaches. It will offer taxpayers tips on how to get help along with important options and issues to keep in mind as the tax deadline approaches. The guide contains some of the most common tax-related questions and the faster and easier ways to get answers: Tax Time Guide 2016 https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Tax-Time-Guide-2016 Tax Time Guide: Online Tools Help Taxpayers Choose a Qualified Tax Professional Tax Time Guide: Good Records Key to Claiming Gifts to Charity Tax Time Guide: Check Refund Status Online With Where’s My Refund? Tax Time Guide: Updated Tax Guide Helps People with Their 2015 Taxes IRS Warns of Continued Scams, Varied Tactics as the Tax Deadline Nears https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Continued-Scams-and-Varied-Tactics-as-the-Tax-Deadline-Nears IRS Offers New Cash Payment Option The IRS announced a new payment option for individual taxpayers who need to pay their taxes with cash. In partnership with ACI Worldwide’s OfficialPayments.com and the PayNearMe Company, individuals can now make a payment at over 7,000 7-Eleven stores nationwide. “Tax Design Challenge” Begins Soon The IRS announced the upcoming start of its first Tax Design Challenge crowdsourcing competition to encourage innovative ideas for the taxpayer experience of the future. The effort, being done in coordination with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), is a crowdsourcing competition open to the public. The competition will engage teams of designers, developers, and innovative thinkers across the U.S. to envision options for taxpayer interactions. The winning designs will be showcased in an online gallery and receive monetary prizes, funded exclusively by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Employees of the IRS and MBA are not eligible to participate in the contest. Submissions will be accepted starting April 17 through May 10, 2016. Participants must first register on the website https://taxdesignchallenge.github.io/2016-showcase/ IRS’s Top 10 Identity Theft Prosecutions: Criminal Investigation Continues Efforts to Halt Refund Fraud As part of the continued crackdown on refund fraud and identity theft, the IRS today released the Top 10 Identity Theft Prosecutions for Fiscal Year 2015. Written Testimony of Commissioner Koskinen before the Senate Finance Committee On Cybersecurity and Protecting Taxpayer Information https://www.irs.gov/uac/Written-Testimony-of-Commissioner-Koskinen-before-the-Senate-Finance-Committee-On-Cybersecurity-and-Protecting-Taxpayer-Information Commissioner Koskinen's Speech to the National Press Club, March 24, 2016 Commissioner Koskinen speaks to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel through May 16 The IRS today announced it seeks civic-minded volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies major taxpayer concerns, as well as making recommendations for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. IRS Releases FY 2015 Data Book https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Releases-FY-2015-Data-Book The Internal Revenue Service today released the 2015 IRS Data Book, a snapshot of agency activities for the fiscal year. The 2015 Data Book describes activities conducted by the IRS from Oct. 1, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2015 and includes information about returns filed, taxes collected, enforcement, taxpayer assistance and the IRS budget and workforce, among others. This edition also contains charts that show trends, such as the decline in the number of audits and the reduction in telephone and in-person tax assistance, but increases in the use of online resources and volunteer tax assistance. Tax Tips http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Tax-Tips Visit this page for the latest IRS tax tips. Here is a sample of the tips available: Last-Minute Tips for Filing Your Taxes Five Tax Tips on Estimated Tax Payments Must-Know Tips about the Home Office Deduction The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: Seven Tax Tips for Employers How the Taxpayer Advocate Service Can Help Health Care Tax Tips https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/health-care-tax-tips2 Check out the tax tips for your health care questions on this page. Employers: Have fewer than 50 Employees? Here’s how ACA Affects You Interactive Tools Help You Understand Health Care Law’s Effect on Your Taxes What to Do if You Get a Corrected or Voided Form 1095-A Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/ The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace helps small businesses provide health coverage to their employees. The SHOP Marketplace is open to employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). This includes non-profit organizations. You can enroll in SHOP any time of year - there’s no restricted enrollment period. For more information, visit HealthCare.gov. The Affordable Care Act and Employers
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