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	<title>Better Business Blog</title>
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	<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog</link>
	<description>Our Business is Your Business</description>
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		<title>IRS Warns of EFTPS Phishing Scam</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/irs-warns-of-eftps-phishing-scam/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/irs-warns-of-eftps-phishing-scam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:46:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Scams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eftps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EFTPS phishing email]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phishing scam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=261</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The IRS has issued a warning about a fraudulent scheme targeting Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) users. The scheme uses an e-mail claiming that the user&#8217;s tax payment was rejected and directs the user to a website for additional information. The website contains malware that will attempt to infect the user&#8217;s computer.
Here is the [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Flipping Homes – A Reviving Trend in Real Estate</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/flipping-homes-%e2%80%93-a-reviving-trend-in-real-estate/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/flipping-homes-%e2%80%93-a-reviving-trend-in-real-estate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:18:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flipping homes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=237</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prior to the recent economic downturn, flipping real estate was popular.  With mortgage interest rates low and home prices at historical lows, flipping appears to be on the rise again.   House flipping is, essentially, purchasing a house or property, improving it, and then selling it (presumably for a profit) in a short period of time.  [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>IRS Phasing Out 8109 Coupons for Tax Payments</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/irs-phasing-out-8109-coupons-for-tax-payments/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/irs-phasing-out-8109-coupons-for-tax-payments/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Payroll]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax legislation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eftps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[electronic payment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper coupons]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=248</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The IRS has issued proposed regulations that would eliminate paper coupons for deposits of employment taxes, corporate income and estimated taxes, and many other taxes (REG-153340-09).  The paper 8109 coupon payment system will be shut down at the end of 2010.  Taxpayers currently still using the paper coupons to make federal payroll and corporate tax [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://smt-associates.com/blog/irs-phasing-out-8109-coupons-for-tax-payments/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Illinois Tax Amnesty to Begin October 1</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/illinois-tax-amnesty-to-begin-october-1/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/illinois-tax-amnesty-to-begin-october-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:50:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax legislation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[illinois tax amnesty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax amnesty]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=243</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Monday, August 16th, Governor Quinn approved the bill to establish a tax amnesty program for all taxpayers for taxes due for any taxable period ending after June 30, 2002 and prior to July 1, 2009.  The amnesty period will run from October 1, 2010 through November 8, 2010.
The amnesty program will afford taxpayers a small [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Regulations Provide More Insight to Health Care Reform</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/new-regulations-provide-more-insight-to-health-care-reform/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/new-regulations-provide-more-insight-to-health-care-reform/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:00:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services  recently issued regulations to implement a new Patient&#8217;s Bill of Rights  as part of the Health Care Reform Act.  The major initial provisions  include the following:
INSURANCE FOR UNINSURED AMERICANS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
Beginning  July 1, 2010, a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Maximizing Medical Deductions Before 2013</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/maximizing-medical-deductions-before-2013/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/maximizing-medical-deductions-before-2013/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medical deductions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=229</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Medical expenses are deductible if you itemize your deductions.   However, there is a limit on how much of those medical expenses can be  deducted based upon your income for the year.  Currently, only medical  costs that exceed 7.5% (10% if you are subject to the alternative  minimum tax) of your adjusted [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do You Qualify for an Offer in Compromise?</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/do-you-qualify-for-an-offer-in-compromise/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/do-you-qualify-for-an-offer-in-compromise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Back Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irs settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[offer in compromise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax relief]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=225</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The objective of the IRS’ Offer in Compromise (OIC) program  is to accept an offer for less than the amount of tax that’s owed when it is in the best interest of both the taxpayer and the government and promotes voluntary compliance with all future payment and filing requirements.
If you are unable to pay [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://smt-associates.com/blog/do-you-qualify-for-an-offer-in-compromise/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Details on the Illinois Small Business Tax Credit</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/details-on-the-illinois-small-business-tax-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/details-on-the-illinois-small-business-tax-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:02:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois Small Business Tax Credit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Earlier I posted the press release dated August 12, 2010 on the new Illinois Small Business Tax Credit. That post can be found here.  Here are a number of important details you need to know in order to claim this credit.
1.  The most important detail is that you, as the employer, must register your new [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Illinois Adds New Small Business Hiring Tax Credit</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/illinois-adds-new-small-business-hiring-tax-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/illinois-adds-new-small-business-hiring-tax-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:29:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois Small Business Hiring Credit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From a press release on the Illinois.gov website:
CHICAGO – August 12, 2010.  Small businesses that create new jobs between July 1, 2010 and June  30, 2011 may be able to take advantage of a $2,500 tax credit for new  hires. The Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit, proposed and  signed into [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://smt-associates.com/blog/illinois-adds-new-small-business-hiring-tax-credit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Misclassifying Workers Can Be Costly!</title>
		<link>http://smt-associates.com/blog/misclassifying-workers-can-be-costly/</link>
		<comments>http://smt-associates.com/blog/misclassifying-workers-can-be-costly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:10:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Payroll]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independent contractor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worker misclassification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://smt-associates.com/blog/?p=211</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the current economy, and not always knowing what lies ahead, most  business owners and executives tend to be financially conservative and  preserve the cash of the business.  This conservative approach  frequently carries over to hiring activities, with many employers  choosing to hire independent contractors/freelancers as opposed to  full-time employees.  [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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