Oregon Tax Incentives Offered to Businesses

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The state of Oregon openly courts businesses to relocate to Oregon by offering highly competitive tax incentives. Oregon hopes to attract new business to the state while boosting the prosperity of existing businesses.

Oregon is renowned for being an extremely “green” state. Businesses that invest in recycling, energy conservation, lower pollution transport fuels and renewable energy related manufacturing can receive Oregon’s Department of Energy Business Energy Tax Credit. Going green means lower taxes for some businesses in Oregon.

Another great tax incentive is the Oregon Investment Advantage, an income tax exemption program. Businesses that relocate or start in the majority of Oregon’s counties receive a 10 year income/excise tax waiver related to their operations. This incentive can potentially eliminate any state business tax liability for that period; a very attractive incentive indeed.

Oregon has established three zones as a part of their incentive programs, the Standard Enterprise, Electronic Commerce and Long-Term Enterprise Zones. Qualifying businesses (usually non-retail) that expand or locate in a Standard Enterprise Zone are exempted for three to five years from property taxes on equipment and new facilities. Electronic Commercial and Long-Term Enterprise Zones are beneficial to those businesses that can qualify for the particular categories.

Another popular incentive is the Strategic Investment Program. This is a niche incentive for “traded sector” businesses which are defined by Oregon law as “industries in which member firms sell their goods or services into markets for which national or international competition exists.” These businesses are most commonly in the manufacturing industry. The net result of this incentive is that a segment of large capital investments may be exempted from property taxes. With incentives like these, it is easy to see why Oregon is a popular place to operate a business.

2009 Oregon Corporate Tax Law Changes

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New legislation

Below is a list of corporate tax House bills (HB) and Senate bills (SB) that the 2009 Oregon Legislature passed.

Measure 67 (HB 3405)—Marginal corporate tax rate and minimum tax increase

Ballot measure 67 has passed and taxes will increase retroactively for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. The 2009 Oregon Legislature passed HB 3405 effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. It increases the corporate tax rate from 6.6 percent to a new marginal tax rate. It also increases the corporate minimum tax from $10 to $150 – $100,000, depending on the taxpayer’s amount of Oregon sales.
 
The corporate minimum tax and tax rate will change as follows:

  • S corporations and partnerships doing business in Oregon will pay a $150 minimum tax.
  • S corporations doing business in Oregon and subject to federal income tax will pay tax based on the greater of (a) or (b) in the table below.
  • C corporations doing business in Oregon must pay the greater of (b) or (c) in the table below.

Note: Corporations and partnerships that are not doing business in Oregon are not subject to the minimum tax.

Also, exempt organizations under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Sections 501(c) through (f), 501(j), 501(n), 521, or 529, that do not have taxable unrelated business income are exempt from Oregon corporation taxes including the minimum tax imposed under ORS 317.090.

The minimum tax is based on taxable Oregon sales. For exempt organizations with taxable unrelated business income, only the taxable unrelated business income apportioned or allocated to Oregon is considered Oregon sales when determining the minimum tax. The tax exempt Oregon income is not included.
 

New Tax Rates

TABLE a
   Minimum tax
 S Corporations, partnerships, LLCs, LLPs (regardless of sales level)  $150

TABLE b
 Oregon taxable income  Tax rate
 $250,000 or less  6.6%
 $250,001 or more  $16,500 plus 7.9% of the amount over $250,000

TABLE c  (C corporations only)
 Oregon sales of filing group
(see definitions below)		  Minimum tax
 under $500,000  $150
 $500,000 to $999,999  500
 $1,000,000 to $1,999,999  1,000
 $2,000,000 to $2,999,999  1,500
 $3,000,000 to $4,999,999  2,000
 $5,000,000 to $6,999,999  4,000
 $7,000,000 to $9,999,999  7,500
 $10,000,000 to $24,999,999  15,000
 $25,000,000 to $49,999,999  30,000
 $50,000,000 to $74,999,999  50,000
 $75,000,000 to $99,999,999  75,000
 $100,000,000 and above  100,000

 
The minimum tax for C corporations doing business in Oregon is based on Oregon sales.

  • For consolidated returns, the minimum tax is based on Oregon sales of the affiliated group of corporations filing an Oregon return.
  • For consolidated filers, the increased minimum tax is applicable to the affiliated group filing the consolidated return, not to each individual affiliate that is included in the consolidated return and that is also doing business in Oregon as it was for tax year 2008.
  • The minimum tax is not apportionable for a short tax year (except a change of accounting period).
  • The minimum tax is payable in full for any part of the year during which a taxpayer is subject to tax.
  • Oregon follows the federal entity classification regulations. If an entity is classified or taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, it will be treated as a corporation for Oregon tax purposes.

Nonapportioned returns
C corporations doing business only within Oregon will calculate Oregon sales by adding:

  • Gross receipts from sales of inventory (less returns and allowances), equipment, and other assets;
  • Gross rent and lease payments received;
  • Gross receipts from the performance of services;
  • Gross receipts from the sale, exchange, redemption, or holding of intangible assets derived from the taxpayer’s primary business activity and included in the taxpayer’s business income; and
  • Net gain from the sale, exchange, or redemption of intangible assets not derived from the taxpayer’s primary business activity but included in the taxpayer’s business income.

Generally, for purposes of determining minimum tax, the calculation for Oregon sales includes business income amounts from federal Form 1120, lines 1c, and 5 through 10. Include positive numbers only.
 
Apportioned returns
C corporations and insurance companies doing business in more than one state that apportion business income for Oregon tax purposes, use the Oregon sales amount from Line 21(a) on Schedule AP.
 
Domestic insurance companies
Domestic insurance companies doing business only within Oregon can calculate Oregon sales by adding the following:

  • Direct premiums
  • Annuity considerations
  • Finance and service charge

Note:

  • 2009 corporate forms are available on our website.
  • Charges for interest on the underpayment of estimated tax (UND) based on these changes will be eligible for waiver for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2010.
  • For tax years 2010 and forward, there is no waiver for the UND charges based on the increased corporate tax, including the corporate minimum tax. Corporations expecting to owe tax (including the corporate minimum tax) of $500 or more are required to make estimated payments.

 

HB 2157, HB 2078—Tie to federal tax law
 
Oregon is currently tied to the federal definition of taxable income as of May 1, 2009, with the following exceptions:
 
Any additional deduction allowed as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) with regard to the following provisions of the Internal Revenue Code:
 
Tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 (calendar and fiscal year filers):

  • Bonus depreciation-Section 168(k) additional 50 percent first-year depreciation is not available for Oregon purposes for "qualified property" placed in service during calendar year 2009. This creates a modification for Oregon purposes.
  • Discharge of indebtedness-The election to include Section 108 cancellation of debt income over a 5-year period is not available for Oregon taxpayers. This creates a modification for Oregon purposes.
  • Section 179 expense-For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, the Section 179 expense is limited to $133,000 for Oregon purposes, and the phase-out amount is $530,000. This creates a modification for Oregon purposes.

 
Tax years beginning in 2008 (calendar and fiscal year filers):  

  • Bonus depreciation-Section 168(k) provides an additional 50-percent first-year depreciation for Oregon purposes for tax year 2008. There is no modification to federal taxable income on the Oregon return for "qualified property" acquired and placed in service after December 31, 2007 and before January 1, 2009. For fiscal year filers, any additional federal deduction allowed for "qualified property" acquired and placed in service after December 31, 2008 must be added back on the Oregon return.
  • Discharge of indebtedness-The election to include Section 108 cancellation of debt income over a 5-year period is available for Oregon taxpayers. There is no modification to federal taxable income on the Oregon return.
  • Section 179 expense-For 2008 tax returns, the Section 179 expense is limited to $250,000 for Oregon purposes. The phase-out amount will be $800,000. The limits apply for calendar and fiscal year filers with tax years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2009. There is no modification to federal taxable income on the Oregon return.

Note: Use the Oregon Depreciation Schedule (150-101-025) to determine your modifications for Oregon purposes. Amounts added to federal taxable income for Oregon tax purposes due to the above provisions may be subtracted from federal taxable income for Oregon tax purposes in later years.  The subtraction will equal the difference between what would have been allowed had Congress not passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 less the deduction actually allowed on the federal income tax return for the year in question.
 
Prior exceptions to reconnect
In prior legislative sessions the Oregon Legislature had disconnected from two other federal provisions:

  • The deduction for income from domestic production activities (QPAI).
  • The exclusion of certain subsidy payments made by the federal government related to Part D of the Medicare Prescription Drug Insurance program.

SB 182—Financial institution definition
SB 182 changes Oregon’s definition of financial institution to the definition recommended by the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) model regulation for financial institution apportionment.
 

HB 2472—Business energy tax credit
Governor Kulongoski vetoed HB 2472 on August 7, 2009.
 

A Brief Overview of Oregon Small Business Tax Law

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Anyone interested in starting a small business is bound to have questions pertaining to tax laws. Oregon small business tax laws are very similar to those of other states; proprietors must obtain a license to conduct business and they must ascertain what taxes apply to their business. There is no state sales tax in Oregon but there are some municipalities that do charge sales tax. If a business operates within a city that does have a sales tax the responsibility to tabulate, collect, report and pay the city falls to the business’ operator.

In Oregon any business that hires employees must complete Oregon’s combined employer’s registration form. Employers are required to deduct such payroll taxes as Worker’s Benefit Fund, Withholding, Lane Transit and TriMet tax and Unemployment Insurance. Oregon businesses must report their payroll taxes quarterly using SETRON (Secure Employer Tax Reporting System), OTTER or an Oregon quarterly form. They must also file a yearly report to the state using form WR.

To incorporate or not to incorporate; that is a good question! Word has it that incorporating is a good way to save money with tax breaks. In Oregon (just like everywhere else) incorporating is reasonable only if there is a large cash flow. Generally there is not enough cash flow in small businesses for the first couple of years of operation to make incorporation advantageous. It can be costly to incorporate since it involves many fees; state, legal and accounting fees can add up quickly. Unless a business is rather profitable there is no real advantage to incorporating in the state of Oregon.

File an Offer in Compromise to Relieve IRS Debt

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Ok, so we all hate tax time. If you are one of the many people that dread the April 15th day of doom, why is that? Do you fear for some reason will have to pay because of cashing out an investment or did you gain and inheritance or have you not paid your back taxes in some time? Sometimes things happen and we will at some point have to deal with them. In some cases we are shocked at out income tax outcome. Knowing you have been hit with a hefty tax debt there are a few things you can do to help pay that debt off.

One way is to file an “Offer in Compromise”. When you file an “offer in compromise” you agree to pay less than what you owe in your tax debt back to the IRS. The IRS has the ability to accept or decline your offer. You do have to pay to submit an offer in compromise, $150. There is a fee of $150 to process, if you live below the poverty level the IRS can waive that fee but you do have to request it on a 656-A form. To file you have to fill out the 656 form and a 433-A form.

What the offer in compromise will do is tell the IRS that you will pay the offer amount stated in the offer of compromise. You will file your tax returns on time and pay any taxes you are responsible for the next five years. You will agree that the IRS can keep any refunds or credits you would receive until your compromise is met. If you do not follow through the IRS has the right to void the offer and you will be responsible for the full amount again.

The offer in compromise can take up to a year or two to complete. In the mean time you are to continue to pay your debts as is and file your taxes on time. You want a clean record for the IRS to see.

Learn the Ropes of Tax Preparation

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Learning how to do your taxes is an essential right of adulthood. All of those numbers and forms and exceptions truly feel like a new language when you are not used to it. Because of this, many companies offer tax services for those who do not want to learn or those who simple do not have the time they need to do an adequate job. There are a few different tiers of tax services and depending on how much you make and how complicated your employment history has been for the past year. We’ve reviewed the few choice options and outlined why one might be better than the other for differing reasons.

Doing your taxes online through a tax service is the least expensive and easiest option. These websites will allow you to input data about your work history. They will also ask questions about your personal life. With all of the things you do, you are bound to be due for a few tax exceptions. These can be exceptions for going to college, driving distances for work, purchasing equipment for work, or even traveling to certain foreign countries. Most students and young adults can just use this option and save the most money.

The next option is to hire an actual tax guy to do your taxes. The price difference between these type of services and an online website is usually more than ten fold. However, if you are a professional adult you may be able to claim enough tax deductions to make this price increase worth the services rendered. You will spend more money to save more money. It is up to you to decide if it is worth it.

Last Minute Tax Tips

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At this time of year there is one thing that is on people’s minds above most anything else…taxes! This process can be stressful, confusing, and at times quite overwhelming. Whether you complete your taxes yourself or if you hire someone else to do it, there is still a lot that you are going to want to remember.

First of all, one of the most important parts of preparing for your tax filing is to take good care to properly save and organize your information throughout the year as needed. If you receive a statement that has important tax information, then you need to find a safe place to keep it until it is time for tax filing. As yearend statements begin to come in, then you will add these to your already safely stored items so that when it is time to prepare your taxes you will have no problem pulling together all important documents.

Once you have all documents gathered, then you will begin making sure that you have met all of the requirements as set forth by the IRS. Whether you are completing your taxes yourself or hiring someone else, you will want to be sure that you have included all necessary information. Areas that are often overlooked are tuition expenses, deductions for things like childcare, and all charitable contributions. Look over the federal guidelines and be sure that you haven’t missed any important changes or updates from previous years.

By closely following all Internal Revenue Service Guidelines, you are going to be preventing yourself from a lot of trouble and lost time in the future. Although it may take a little more time initially, it will be worth it!

Why Can All States Be Like Oregon?

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Oregon is considered to be a very business friendly state; it has many corporate incentives to lure business into locating within its borders. Oregon is a beautiful state characterized by gorgeous scenery and fertile fields. It has long been considered a “green” state due to very environmental friendly policies and procedures. It has large cities and desolate spaces.

Oregon has a state income tax which is levied on all individuals and businesses earning income in the state. In 2009 the Oregon Department of Revenue proposed a tax amnesty bill and then Governor Kulongoski signed the bill into law on 7/15/2009.

The Tax Amnesty law was designed to give those individuals/corporations deriving income under the ODR radar a chance to come forward and pay any tax deficiencies that would result from undeclared income, unfiled or underpaid tax returns. Basically the Tax Amnesty law provided incentive to taxpayers with outstanding debt or delinquencies to resolve their tax obligations and go forward from there. The window of opportunity was brief, Oct 1-Nov 19, 2009.

The incentive provided to pay up on taxed owed was that applicable penalties, even criminal penalties, were to be waived and the taxpayer would only pay half the accrued interest. For many taxpayers this incentive would save thousands of dollars.

Amnesty was only for those taxpayers who self reported underpayments. ODR estimated that 40,000 individuals and corporations were eligible to take advantage of the amnesty plan. Those who chose to participate were rewarded for their honesty by a much reduced tax bill.

Oregon has always been an innovative state so it should come as no surprise to see them come up with a win-win type plan for collecting delinquent and underpaid income taxes.

An Oregon Woman Stops Pain the Natural Way

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Many people have no idea about the life they are missing out on. They go from doctor to doctor and miss being healthy and strong. I was once in that position. I never felt well. I was tired a lot and my body ached constantly. After visiting nearly every doctor in Oregon, I was later diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It is a disease that affects your body in many ways, but primarily by dishing out crippling pain.

The more I tried to exercise and stay active the worse I felt. Doctors told me I was depressed or that I just needed to go on some sleeping pills so I could rest. I was sure there had to be something else out there to give me the peace I needed in my body. I began to look up natural pain relievers and found out that if I could spend time each day in hot water with jets that pulsate along my body, I would feel ten times better.

Finally, I had an answer that made more sense than just medicine that would also give me side effects of another nature. I began to investigate the various swim spas and wholesale bathtubs. I desperately wanted to find one of the Atlantis whirlpool spas that I could put on my deck and have for anytime I needed pain relief. It turned out that hot tubs and spas are very expensive!

With a little work, I finally learned that you can buy whirlpool tubs online and that’s how I ended up finding the perfect tub at a price I could afford. As soon as I got my new hot tub put in I knew I was going to have better days and feel healthier right away. The minute I slipped down into the warm, bubbly water, I felt instant relief. Each jet was set in a place that my body needed the massaging. I was so excited to know I could slip away and find relief and calmness just on my back deck anytime I needed it.

I could not have made a better decision as how to manage the pain I was in. I wanted to find something that did not require medication and constantly going in and out of doctor’s offices. Having this hot tub has truly changed my life. Hot tubs were first made for therapeutic reasons and I believe that now more than ever. It has definitely been therapeutic for me and even healing.

While hot tubs come in all shapes and sizes, they all offer great benefits for people suffering with chronic pain. Whichever hot tub you choose, you will find the pain relief you have been hoping for without popping pills or going through any strange treatments. I am so glad that I can live again and feel like my old self. No more pain and no more side effects.

Helping Older Clients Save Money on Pharmaceuticals

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I have been an Oregon account for nearly three decades. Most of my clients are older individuals, many of them retired. Every year they have me help them with their yearly taxes, and every year I am shocked by just how much of their already limited income goes to paying for their prescription drugs. In some cases, the individuals barely have enough money left over to pay their bills and some are being forced to eat several meals a week at the local soup kitchen It is a really sad situation. For years I’ve always wished there was something that I could do to help them out.

Last year when one of my dogs had to be given both Tramadol and tetracycline, I wasn’t very happy. Like I said, I knew how much the prescription medications cost and my dog didn’t have any health insurance. I was going to have to foot the entire bill on this one. I was stunned when the veterinarian handed me the prescription and also gave me some advice. He said that instead of going to my local pharmacy to get the prescription filled, I should go online. He gave me the name of an online pharmacy that he liked to use. He promised that in addition to really reasonable prices, that the pharmacy was really good about getting the prescriptions shipped right away.

I checked with my local pharmacy and asked just how much it would cost to fill my dog’s prescription. I could not believe the difference in the amount that they were going to charge me and the amount that the online pharmacy was going to charge me. Added to the actual saving on the medication itself, when I followed my vet’s advice and ordered online, I wasn’t going to have to use fuel to drive to and from the pharmacy, nor was I going to have to stand in line for fifteen minutes, the savings really were quite remarkable.

I was curious so I did a bit of research and found out that the tetracycline wasn’t the only thing that the online pharmacy sold. It turns out that they are also an excellent place to buy Ultracet, Fioricet, Flexeril, and ramadol. All of these are drugs that many of my clients have to take on a regular basis. Now that I know about the online pharmacies, I feel that I have an obligation to tell my clients that they can save money by ordering the drugs they need to help them feel good from an online pharmacy. Some have taken my advice, and some haven’t. The ones who have managed to get their orders filled by the online pharmacy have been very pleased with results, and thank me over and over again when it is time for me to do their taxes again.

Taking Responsibility as a Parent

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My twelve year old is smart.  I’m not talking about your typical straight “A” student kind of intelligence either.  He is just sharp!  Nothing seems to get past him and he has more common sense than I probably ever had or ever will.  I should’ve known the time would come when he would discover my secret, but I had hoped it wouldn’t be quite so soon.  Unfortunately, he had it all figured out years ago and I didn’t even know it.

I have been smoking a cigarette or two each night for the past decade.  It started when Jake was a toddler.  He went through this horrible phase where he was throwing tantrums left and right, whining constantly, and always tearing something up.  By the end of the day, I seriously needed a cigarette just to cope with the day!  I didn’t want to expose him to the second hand smoke and I really didn’t want to set a bad example, so I started sneaking out to the garage for a cigarette after he was in bed at night.

This nightly ritual of lighting up in the garage has continued ever since.  Then last night, right as I was exhaling a big ring of smoke, Jake walked into the garage and calmly sat down across from me on a spare box.  He didn’t look shocked at all, but he did have a really serious expression on his face.  I was mortified!  What kind of parent lets their kid bust them for smoking?

I felt like I was the twelve year old and he was the dad when he handed me a stack of papers.  “Mom, I have known for years so don’t look so embarrassed.  I just want you to think about switching to electronic cigarettes instead.”  I was dumbfounded.  First of all, I had never even heard of an e-cig and my son had already done the research to help me understand everything.

The paperwork he gave me included electronic cigarette reviews and a ton of information on how the electronic cigarettes worked.  I was really impressed (and still a little embarrassed!) as I read the research he had put together.  I knew it was time to take responsibility as a parent.  My son was concerned about my health and the e-cigs were a good solution.  I could get the nicotine I needed to relax at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t be filling my lungs with toxic smoke so it was a healthier option. He suggested The Safe Cig at first.

Jake had even included ecig coupons for a couple of the most highly reviewed companies. I debated between V2 Cigs and the ever popular Premium E Cigarettes as well as Blu Cigs.  In the end, I ordered a starter kit from Blu Cigs and I’ve never looked back.  Since I switched to electronic cigarettes, I’m happy and my son is happy.  I no longer have to smoke in the garage since there is no actual smoke or odor.  Now I enjoy my end of the day ritual from a bubble bath, without worrying that my son is going to find out about my habit.

A Web Design Project that Changed my Life

Posted on by L. Zeier-Graves

As a web designer, I’m used to doing a variety of projects.  I’ve worked on sites for every kind of company imaginable from elementary schools to large marketing firms to non-profit groups.  I thought I had seen it all until I got a recent order from one of my oldest clients.  This guy is a professional affiliate marketer and he had branched out into a new niche.  He wanted my help to design his site for something I had never heard of.  He was going to market electronic cigarettes.

I agreed to the project but secretly thought he had completely lost his mind.  Even the best web designer probably couldn’t make something desirable out of a crazy concept like electronic cigarettes, right?  Oh no – wrong.  I took the research he gave me and soon realized that the market for these electronic cigarettes was huge.  In fact, people all over the world were switching from regular smokes to these new modernized smoking tools.

As a smoker, I cringed at the thought.  There was no way any of the US electronic cigarette brands could offer me a better experience than my Camels that I had smoked for over a decade.  But as I continued adding content to the site and reading the electronic cigarettes reviews that the client wanted posted, I started to think maybe I was wrong.  It seemed like every review was overall positive.  People had better health after they switched and they shook the smoker’s cough within weeks.  The Green Smoke electronic cigarette along with other varieties use a water based mist instead of the poisonous smoke of traditional cigarettes.  That fact alone made me consider whether I should buy e cigarettes.  My wife had been on me to quit smoking for years after my dad died from lung cancer.

Quitting has never been an option for me.  My job is stressful and I work long hours with the web design projects.  I couldn’t even comprehend trying to get through a work day without nicotine, but suddenly I realized that maybe a Green Smoke electronic cigarette could change that.  By the time I finished designing the web site, I called up the client with the news.  “Your site is done!” I told him.  Then I added another bit of information, “You’ve also made your first affiliate sale.”  He sat quietly for a moment and then said, “How is that possible?  The site isn’t even live yet!”

I grinned as I shared my decision.  “I know, but I just placed an order to get my own electronic cigarettes.”  He started laughing and celebrating. “If I can sell these things to a hardnosed guy like you, then this is going to be my best project ever!”  We laughed at the irony of it all.

If you are a smoker, here are the links I got from the web design project.  You can check them out for yourself and see if e-cigs are the right choice for you.

Find Tax Relief with Free Legal Advice

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It happens every single year. You start to fill out your federal tax returns and suddenly wonder how just existing can possibly cost so much. If you dread April 15 every year, it is time to stop doing your taxes on your own. It is far better to get legal advice and tax assistance from a person who is certified in tax preparation.

The biggest advantage to having a professional help you with your tax papers is that they know exactly what types of expenses you can deduct on your return. There are several discounts available that the average person doesn’t know about. Most people know that they can get some tax relief if they have a home mortgage, however it is not as widely known that there might also be some tax breaks available if the person has a second home. They might be able to get a small break on their 2nd home insurance by filing those expenses. Motor trade insurance is another place where some tax relief might be available.

There are lots of people who are more than willing to provide you with legal advice about how you can get some tax relief. Finding these people is fairly easy; all you have to do is go online and do an electoral roll search which will provide you with the names and locations of several companies that help with tax planning and preparation. It is very important that you make sure the company you choose is qualified to handle tax preparation. If the IRS decides to run an audit and finds discrepancies, it will be you, not the tax preparer who will be held responsible.

When you meet with the person who is going to help you prepare your taxes, you need to make sure that you have all of your financial records and that they are all organized. The more organized you are, the easier it is going to be for the tax preparer to find the items that can be deducted from your taxes. This is not something that you want to put off until the last minute. Schedule an appointment to meet with a professional in early January; this will give you plenty of time to make sure that everything is in order and to get your tax papers into the mail before April 15 rolls around.

Free Bingo is Best

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In today’s economy, we are all struggling to make it.  With job loss and increasing food and gasoline costs, it can be hard to find money for social activities.  Sadly, going out to eat and to the movies have become a thing of the past for many families.  So what activities can you do when you are broke?  There is an option that will provide you with the entertainment that you desire without breaking your budget: bingo!

Free UK bingo sites can offer you hours of entertainment and a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.  Sites like City bingo or Fluffy Favourites offer you games to play for absolutely free.  No deposit bingo is just what it sounds like.  You can sign up and play any of the free games that they have available for no cost.

The best part about free internet bingo sites is the fact that they still offer real prizes and money.  You can choose the room and the website that fits you the best.  Games are offered literally around the clock so you can play when it fits your schedule.  What is not to love about that?

Just because your bank account isn’t as full as you would like, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy entertainment and social interaction.  The chat rooms available at online bingo sites give you priceless opportunity to talk with and get to know your fellow players.  Even better, you can choose not to speak to a particularly obnoxious player if you don’t want to.  Online bingo gives you the opportunity to play your favorite game at a price that everyone can afford.  So, if you haven’t signed up yet at a bingo site that offers free bingo money online you should now before it is too late!

Are Online Pharmacies Safe?

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Buying things online is all the rage lately.  It makes life easier and many times is cheaper on the pocketbook as well.  What isn’t to love?  With a few clicks of your mouse and a handy credit card number you can finish all your Christmas shopping in a matter of hours with no crowds, no lines and typically cheaper prices than you would have found at the mall.  It is a new way of shopping that people around the world are embracing whole heartedly!

The question then becomes is it really safe to buy drugs like Tramadol 180 tabs online?  Choosing to buy generic Ultram or Tramadol online seems like a great way to save some serious cash.  Since it is a prescription for chronic pain, it is a pain medication that you take every day.  This can get expensive, especially if you don’t have adequate prescription coverage or none at all.  Being afflicted with a chronic illness is expensive enough with doctor visits and time off of work…paying for your medications doesn’t have to add to it.

But the safety factor is a concern for many people that have never used an online pharmacy.  First of all, you need to do your research before you choose an online pharmacy to use.  There are hundreds of online sites that offer to sell Tramadol cheap, but there are scammers out there as well. Being aware of this fact is the first step.  Find a site that a friend or family member recommends. Word of mouth is the best advertisement for any business. If a company, online or otherwise has provided quality products with good customer service then you need to find out about it and can be more comfortable using them.

Remember that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.  By checking prices at a variety of sites you will be able to spot a fake website by their incredibly low prices. Although the internet is the best place to buy tramadol from US pharmacy online, the prices are typically competitive with the online pharmacies.

Make sure that the pharmacy that you are using requires a valid prescription. The best pharmacies online are going to make sure that you are only receiving the medication for which you are prescribed, regardless if you buy fioricet or another prescription drug.  In doing otherwise you are risking serious side effects and a high potential for addiction to pain medication like Tramadol/APAP.  By following your doctor’s orders you can stay safe and save money.  Legitimate online pharmacies are going to have a procedure in place for securing the information for your prescription.

So the answer is yes; online pharmacies are safe….as long as you know how to do your research. By educating yourself before you buy you are preventing yourself from being taken advantage of or being harmed by a medication that isn’t what your physician ordered. Be informed and stay safe when shopping online.

The Cost of Doing Business in Oregon

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Oregon is an incredible state in which to operate a business. Whether starting from scratch or relocating from another state, Oregon welcomes business with open arms. In 2008 Ernst and Young reported that Oregon has one of the lowest tax rate structures for business in the whole United States.

Any corporation that does business in the state of Oregon must pay excise tax. If a corporation has income from an Oregon source, even though the corporation does not conduct business in Oregon, the corporation must pay state income tax. The corporate tax rate for the first $10 million of taxable income is 6.6%; income in excess of $10 million is taxed at the rate of 7.6%. The minimum excise tax is for both S-Corporations and C-Corporations.

All new Oregon employers must pay a fixed rate of 3.1% of taxable wage base in Unemployment Insurance Tax. The tax rate for existing employers varies from 1.8% to 5.4% of taxable wage base. For 2010 this tax is paid on the first $32,100 earned by individual employees.

Motor carriers, both for-hire and private, must pay transportation tax. They pay weight-mile taxes or Gas Use and Jet Fuel Taxes. Generally vehicles are only subject to one, not both of these taxes. All trucks weighing in excess of 26,000 pay weight-mile tax; they are exempted from paying Oregon state diesel fuel tax.

Oregon imposes a variety of industry specific taxes such as timber tax, 1% transient lodging tax (providers of overnight lodging), petroleum load fees, hazardous substance fees, 911/Emergency Communications tax, dry cleaning fee, cigarette/tobacco tax, alcoholic beverage manufacture and import tax and amusement device taxes (for instance, video poker games).

There is no state sales tax in Oregon. Oregon has made a strong effort to remain business friendly.

Skip the Casino

Posted on by Ted Eves

If you like to play games, and who doesn’t from time to time, or if you just enjoy gambling every now and then, did you know that you don’t have to leave the house to have fun?  There are many opportunities online to play games such as bingo. Some online bingo games even allow you to play with real money for a chance to win cash.

Many people enjoy getting out of the house and spending a night out with friends at the local casino. But sometimes it isn’t always possible to go out for the night and enjoy yourself the way you would like. Sometimes we are limited by finances, mobility or any of the other countless reasons we can’t get out of the house. For those nights, online bingo games like cheeky bingo are a great alternative to gambling in a casino.

If you aren’t sure these games live up to the fun of actually going out with friends, check out online bingo reviews to find out if games like foxybingo or moonbingo are the right kind of games for you.  You should try searching for sites like jackpotjoy to see what kinds of games are available to play.  If you like the idea of playing games, but aren’t quite sure you want to play games with real money, there are also plenty of games you can play without spending a dime.

Something else you might want to look for in the online bingo reviews of games is which ones can get you the top jackpot or whatever other specific prize you are trying to find.  Maybe you only have a small amount of money to play with, so you would want to search for a game that will allow you to play more games for a smaller minimum per game. If you want to play these games to make money, certain games are probably going to be better options for you than others.  Other benefits to playing bingo or other games online are that you can remain anonymous if you want and you can play from the comfort of your own home.

Don’t Lose Money Online

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Nothing is worse than losing all your hard earned cash when you download William Hill Casino or another popular gaming site online.  While I love playing casino games and have even written some online poker reviews on forums for new players, I have learned the hard way that you have to be careful.  You can lose a lot of money in a single instant if you don’t keep your head on straight when you play EuroGrand Casino or other sites offering huge jackpots.

Just check out any of the online casino reviews sites and you will see that today’s jackpots are bigger and better than ever before.  If you aren’t careful, you will find yourself investing a lot of cash to play at the top ten casinos online. There is nothing wrong with playing frequently and visiting all of the top ten online casinos, but you need to have a strategy to keep your wallet in check.  Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t lose money while playing online casinos.

First, take the time to download Virgin Casino, which is a great place to start playing and learn the games. When you use this site, you can actually play blackjack online until you get the hang of the game.  You can also play bingo online without investing any money at first.  Once you have a better understanding of how to play the games online you can move towards the pay to play games.

Next, make sure you are playing at trustworthy websites.  Choose the sites that have a reputation for good customer service and frequent winners.  Some sites appoint a winner every minute while others elect only one winner per week.  You should choose the sites that award frequent jackpots and follow through on their promises.  This will help you avoid being scammed on jackpots that don’t even exist.

Finally, take advantage of promotions that allow you to play for free during trial periods.  You will be amazed at how many sites will allow you to have a week or even a month worth of free games when you sign up.

Use these tips and keep updated on UK casino reviews and you can avoid losing money while playing online casino games.  Remember to play wisely and you will enjoy your winnings even more!

Local Level Business Taxes in Oregon

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In Oregon there is no state imposed Sales Tax. However, local governmental entities may choose to impose this and other taxes that directly effect businesses.

A prime example is one Oregon city’s local government taxes: The City of Portland imposes a “privilege tax” or Business License fee. The city taxes overnight lodging (hotel/motel), imposes fees for special events, etc. and requires special licenses to conduct many types of businesses (Real Estate, for instance). The Revenue Bureau, a sub-department of the City of Portland’s Management & Finance Department, administers all taxes and fees for the City.

Not only municipalities but counties in Oregon have enacted taxes that apply to businesses. Multnomah County is the county in which Portland is situated. In 2007 the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners enacted numerous changes to MCBIT (Multnomah County Business Income Tax); included in this ordinance were the enactment of a $100 minimum tax, an increase in the Gross Receipts Exemption amount and the Compensation Allowance Deduction.

TriMet and Lane Transit District Self-Employment taxes generate revenue to maintain and expand transit service in the region. This is not a state tax; it is a TriMet District tax. The rate is currently .6818% for 2010 with an exemption of $400. It only applies to self-employment income of individuals providing services or conducting business not subject to regular payroll taxes. The state legislature allows TriMet an annual rate increase of 1/100%.

These are just a few examples of local level taxes that have an impact on businesses in Oregon.  As you can see, Oregon has unique tax laws that can directly affect business owners.

Oregon is Skilled at Attracting Businesses

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The State of Oregon has many innovative business incentives designed to offset or at the very least, provide relief from income taxes imposed on business. There are Workforce Incentives, Property Tax Incentives, Business Financing Incentives and numerous others.

To encourage businesses to re-locate or start operations in the state of Oregon a taxable income exemption in the form of a 10 year waiver is available in qualifying county locations; potentially this incentive can result in a company enjoying no state tax liability for the entire period. In order to qualify for the Oregon Investment Advantage the business is required to generate a minimum of  five new year-round, full-time positions; plus the operation must be the first of its type in Oregon (for the business) and not be in competition with the local economy.

E-Commerce zones have been designated to promote electronic commerce investment. E-commerce has been defined as “engaging predominantly in transactions via the internet or an internet-based computer platform.”  Transactions such as taking orders, providing customer service or any type of activities that accomplish the businesses purpose (including retail) are all considered e-commerce. E-Commerce firms are the beneficiary of a tax credit to offset their yearly state income tax or corporate excise tax. The credit is based on the company’s investment in capital assets linked to e-commerce. Redmond is an example of one E-Commerce qualified city.

Oregon is very liberal in rewarding businesses that choose to operate within its borders. Currently there are extremely generous incentives offered to companies that are energy conscious, renewable resource minded, clean operating and green thinking. If you are thinking of starting a business or looking for a business friendly location to relocate your company, Oregon is a fantastic place to live, work and operate a business.