Small Business Liaisons
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Upcoming events & IRS news releases, outreach campaigns 2/15/2017 Announcements & Upcoming Events: IRS Webinar: Understanding the Sharing Economy https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/webinars-for-small-businesses-1#ready The presentation will focus on defining the Sharing Economy, tax implications for individuals performing services, determining employee/independent contractor, rules for home rentals, business expenses, and employer/payer employment tax obligations. The webinar will be presented twice on February 16: 8:00 a.m. (Pacific) – register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18972 11:00 a.m. (Pacific) – register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18986 (closed captioning available for 11:00 am session only) IRS Webinar: Understanding Payment Options The presentation will provide an overview of payment options, including direct pay, online payment agreements, cash payments, offers in compromise, and other options. The webinar will be presented twice on March 16: 8:00 a.m. (Pacific) – register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18987 11:00 a.m. (Pacific) – register here: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/18988 (closed captioning available for 11:00 am session only) Post Disaster Recovery Forum https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message?id=30589 What happens to my business if there is a major earthquake or volcanic eruption in the Puget Sound area? What roads are open? Is my building safe to work in? Can my trucks roll and can I get supplies? Please join us as we hear from some of those who will be involved in making decisions that can answer those questions. Seating is limited so please register using the link above. Cost is complimentary. Tuesday March 7 -- 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Dacca Barn - 2820 54th Ave E, Fife, WA 98424 Presented by the Pierce County Economic Development Department · Red Tagging: How do I get back in my building? · Power/Water Outage: How are priorities set for repairs? · Road Closures: How are priorities set for what re-opens and when? · The role of FEMA and Washington State Emergency Management Division https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/wa/seattle SBA offers a variety of workshops, some online and others in person. Check the Events Calendar for a complete list. Seattle - Business Resource Open House Thursday, February 16 - 5:00pm PST Seattle Public Library - Central Branch 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 Auburn - Free Tools for Starting a Business Tuesday, February 21 - 2:00pm PST Washington State Worksource Center in Auburn Seattle - Business Lunch Series-"Knowing The Rules: Office of Labor ... Women's Business Center Thursday, February 23 - 11:30am PST Business Impact NW, 1437 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98144 Happening Thursday, February 23 at the SBA Education & Training Center in Seattle: Seattle - Meet the Lenders: How to Finance Your Small Business February 23 - 9:00am PST Seattle - Your Business Plan: Do the Financials Add Up? February 23 - 11:00am PST Seattle - Best Financial Practices for Your Business February 23 - 1:00pm PST SCORE Workshops SCORE offers workshops designed to give you the skills necessary to start your own successful business. Seattle: http://seattle.score.org/localworkshops Mar 1, Apr 5 -- Starting a New Business Feb 24, Mar 17 – Taxes on Small Business Feb 16, Mar 16, Apr 20 -- Understanding Financial Statements Spokane: http://scorespokane.org/workshops Mar 1 -- Starting 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. Dirty Dozen https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/dirty-dozen The Dirty Dozen represents the worst of the worst tax scams. Compiled annually, the “Dirty Dozen” lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire someone to help with their taxes. Don’t fall prey. The IRS will update this page regularly with the 2017 list of Dirty Dozen Tax Scams. Here is the list, with each topic linked to an article: Excessive Claims for Business Credits Falsely Inflating Refund Claims Return Preparer Fraud; Choose Reputable Return Preparers Information is also available in Spanish: Reclamos excesivos de créditos por negocio llegan a la “Docena Sucia” de estafas tributarias del IRS Avoid the Rush: Be Prepared to Validate Identity if Calling the IRS https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/avoid-the-rush-be-prepared-to-validate-identity-if-calling-the-irs The Internal Revenue Service said mid-February marks the agency’s busiest time of the year for telephone calls. The IRS is reminding taxpayers who have questions about their tax accounts to be prepared to validate their identity when speaking with an IRS assistor. This will help avoid the need for a repeat call. The IRS recognizes the importance of protecting taxpayers’ identities. That’s why IRS call center assistors take great care to make certain that they only discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone authorized to speak on the taxpayer’s behalf. To better serve taxpayers around the President’s Day holiday, the peak time of the year for telephone calls to the IRS, the IRS toll-free lines will be open Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (callers’ local time) and Monday, Feb. 20, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (callers’ local time). This tip is part of the IRS Avoid the Rush news release series designed to provide taxpayers with the information they need, when they need it. More details on this series, including information on additional online resources, are available on IRS.gov. IRS Announces Two New Members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee The Internal Revenue Service announced the selection of two new members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC). Established in 1998, ETAAC provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax administration issues, including the prevention of identity theft and refund fraud, in support of the overriding goal that paperless filing should be the preferred and most convenient method of filing tax and information returns. ETAAC members work closely with the Security Summit, a joint effort of the IRS, state tax administrators and tax software providers to fight electronic fraud. Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC): IRS Names Seven New Information Reporting Advisory Members The Internal Revenue Service announced the selection of seven new members for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC), which provides a forum for IRS officials and members of the public to address information reporting issues. The committee presents an annual report to the IRS Commissioner. Committee members represent the taxpaying public, tax professionals, small and large businesses, the financial industry and payroll providers. IRS Selects New Advisory Council Members https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-selects-new-advisory-council-members-2017 The Internal Revenue Service announced the selection of five new members to the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) and the 2017 IRSAC Chair. IRSAC provides an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss key tax administration issues. The IRSAC, established in 1953, selects members to represent the taxpaying public, tax professionals, small and large businesses, academia and the payroll community. The council provides the IRS Commissioner and division leadership with important feedback, observations and suggestions. IRS Releases Updated Form 990-EZ; New Options to Help Exempt Organizations Avoid Errors, File a More Accurate Return The IRS announced today the release of an updated Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, that will help tax-exempt organizations avoid common mistakes when filing their annual return. The updated Form 990-EZ includes 29 “help” icons describing key information needed to complete many of the fields within the form. The icons also provide links to additional helpful information available on IRS.gov. These “pop-up” boxes share information to help small and mid-size exempt organizations avoid common mistakes when filling out the form and filing their return. On the new form, the help icons are marked in boxes with a blue question mark. The icons and underlying links work on any device with Adobe Acrobat Reader and Internet access. Once completed, filers can print Form 990-EZ and mail it to the IRS. Although many large exempt organizations are required to file Form 990-series information returns electronically, the IRS encourages all exempt organizations to consider filing electronically. "Taxes. Security. Together." Tax Tip Series https://www.irs.gov/uac/taxes-security-together-tax-tip-series How the IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights Works Tax Tips https://www.irs.gov/uac/irs-tax-tips Six Tax Tips for the Self-Employed IRS Guide to Community-Based Free Tax Preparation Don’t Fall for Scam Calls and Emails Posing as IRS Health Care Tax Tips https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/health-care-tax-tips2 Affordable Care Act: What Employers with Fewer than 50 Employees Need to Know If/Then Chart Explains How the Health Care Law Affects You 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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