AUTISM AWARENESS

As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness month. On Monday, April 2, 2012, Autism Speaks, along with people across our great country and around the world, will come together for the 3rd year, in a global initiative to “shine a light on Autism awareness” called “Light It Up Blue”. Prominent buildings, such as the Empire State Building, will turn their lights blue in support of all families affected by Autism. I hope that we can join them…

We are asking that you send your child to school on Monday, April 2nd, wearing the color blue. When you go to work in the morning, or run errands around town…please wear the color blue. We have many children in our very own community that have been diagnosed with Autism. Let’s show them that we support them and that we are ONE…

On behalf of our own families, as well as every other family out there that has a child, family member or friend with Autism…Thank You

With So Much Gratitude,

Alonna Rubin                                   

Co-President, SWR SEPTA

Mike Sanchez
Vice President, SWR SEPTA

Steven Visco, Ph.D, AAI, President
Denise A. Visco, Vice President
of C.H. Edwards, Inc.
and parents of a child with Autism


Health Insurance Tax Breaks for the Self-Employed

Guest blogger, Michael A Visco, EA, ATA - Accounting professional for over 30 years located in Phoenix, Arizona specializing in Personal and Corporation Accounting, Taxes, Estate Planning, Setting up of new Business, Bookkeeping, Finance, Management Advisory Services, and IRS Representation. Currently servicing clients in the following states, NY,NJ,CT,FL,CA,CO,FL and AZ

If you're self-employed and paying for medical, dental or long-term care insurance, the IRS wants to remind you about a special tax deduction for some insurance premiums paid for you, your spouse, and your dependents.

Starting in tax year 2011, this deduction is no longer allowed on Schedule SE (Form 1040), but you can still take it on Form 1040, line 29.

Think Twice Before Co-Signing A Friend's Loan

You should be willing to do most anything  to help a friend, except co-sign a loan. Here’s why co-signing is a financial land  mine:

You may be on the hook. Someone needs a co-signer because a lender isn’t completely comfortable with that person’s  finances. If your friend gets sick, dies, loses  a job or is otherwise unable to pay back  the loan, the lender may look to you to pay up. That can get nasty, and it can include filing a collection suit against you.

It may hurt your credit. Late payments, repossessions or collections can show up on your credit report in addition to your friend’s. Those black marks can stay on your report for as long as seven years.

It can hurt down the line. “Even if the debt is being paid on time, it would be included in the co-signer’s debt-to-income numbers if he or she is applying for a loan or refinance,” says attorney Clarke Balcom of Portland, Ore.

4 Ways to Help Kids Make Cents of Finances

Contributed by our guest blogger, Joanne Soyack -  Director of First Impressions at C.H. Edwards, Inc.

Financial literacy is as important as learning the ABC's. By teaching financial and entrepreneurial practices at a young age, children will be better prepared for their financial futures.

The first step is to get started, so start with these educational activities:

Tax Credits Available for Certain Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

Guest blogger, Michael A Visco, EA, ATA - Accounting professional for over 30 years located in Phoenix, Arizona specializing in Personal and Corporation Accounting, Taxes, Estate Planning, Setting up of new Business, Bookkeeping, Finance, Management Advisory Services, and IRS Representation. Currently servicing clients in the following states, NY,NJ,CT,FL,CA,CO,FL and AZ

Here is some information that you could use to get some credit for qualified home energy improvements this year. Perhaps you installed solar equipment or recently insulated your home? Here are two tax credits that may be available to you:

Verify That Your Dwelling Limits Are Adequate

One of the painful aftermaths of fires and tornadoes that decimate homes may be the crushing realization that the home is dramatically underinsured. According to one of the largest residential building cost data companies, Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, 64 percent of U.S. homes are undervalued by an average of 19 percent. If this figure is applied to a home with a replacement cost of $400,000, it might be insured for only $324,000, a shortfall of $76,000.

International Women’s Day: A Look Back

Contributed by our guest blogger, Andrea Pacheco - Personal Lines CSR at C.H. Edwards, Inc.

Introduction

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

10 Tax Tips for Individual Who Are Moving This Summer

Guest blogger, Michael A Visco, EA, ATA - Accounting professional for over 30 years located in Phoenix, Arizona specializing in Personal and Corporation Accounting, Taxes, Estate Planning, Setting up of new Business, Bookkeeping, Finance, Management Advisory Services, and IRS Representation. Currently servicing clients in the following states, NY,NJ,CT,FL,CA,CO,FL and AZ

Summertime is a popular time for people with children to move since school is out. Moving can be expensive, but the IRS offers 10 tax tips on deducting some of those expenses if your move is related to starting a new job or a new job location.

Is Insurance Cheaper On Brick Home Versus Frame Home?

It depends on your location.

Yes, Home insurance New York is cheaper if you have a brick home as compared to if you had a wood frame home if you are living in an area prone to high winds. This is because a home that is made of strong materials such as brick or cement. Of course, this kind of house will be more able to withstand catastrophic events such as a windstorm or a fire. On the other hand, a wood frame home located in the same area is more expensive to insure since it is more prone to fire and is easily destroyed by high winds.

I.R.S SPAM E-Mail Warning!

Guest blogger, Michael A Visco, EA, ATA - Accounting professional for over 30 years located in Phoenix, Arizona specializing in Personal and Corporation Accounting, Taxes, Estate Planning, Setting up of new Business, Bookkeeping, Finance, Management Advisory Services, and IRS Representation. Currently servicing clients in the following states, NY,NJ,CT,FL,CA,CO,FL and AZ

There is a Spam e-mail that is being sent out indicating that it is from the IRS regarding “Your Federal Tax Payment” DO NOT OPEN OR REPLY just delete it from your e-mail and computer.

Remember the IRS does not use e-mail to correspond to any tax payer.