Starting a Business is More Than Just an Idea!!

About two months ago, I met a young man full of enthusiasm to start his own business providing lawn services. The momentum was lost after a few weeks and he abandoned the idea. You may think he gave up, however, it was the capital that dried up. He purchased a used trailer that ended up using all his financial resources in repairs.

Starting any business is more than an idea – it is a combination of the idea, the working capital, the resources, the business environment, and the government rules and regulations. By following the basic startup steps, you are not guaranteed success, however, the likelihood increases significantly when you follow these steps.

  1. Create a Business Plan
  2. Secure financing for your business
  3. Decide on the legal structure
  4. Register your Business
  5. Register for the federal and state taxes
  6. Get your business licenses and permits
  7. Understand your responsibilities as an Employer

 

Contact your BRP Business Development team today to help you with your business startup! (321) 236-2771.

310 Almond Street, Clermont FL 34711

 

Tax Season is over! Scams are Not!

We’ve provided information over this tax season about many different scams and tactics used to steal personal information from you. However, just because tax season has come to an end, this does not mean that scamming season has too.  We’ve received an article from USA.gov about caller scams and what you can do to protect yourself, here’s the main points to consider:

Did you know that caller IDs can be faked?
If you receive a call from Washington DC from someone who claims they are from the IRS, beware! The caller may even know part of your social security number, they will threaten to sue, arrest, or deport you if you do not pay. They may even give specific information about how to send a payment such as pre-paid cards or wire transfers. The IRS will never contact you via phone, there are very few authorized collection agents who may contact you by phone call, but this will only occur once you have received multiple letters from the IRS with information about who is assigned to you specifically.

Sign, Caution, Warning, Danger, Safety, Hazard, Risk


What can I do if I get one of these calls?

  • Do not make any kind of payment or share account information!

Once you do this, there is no way to get the money back because the scammers are using false information and will disappear right away. If you have any questions about payments on taxes, visit IRS.gov/payments. You can also call the IRS at (800) 829-1040.

  • Tell your friends and family!

The more people know about these scammers and their tactics, the less scam victims there will be. It is important to spread the word to everyone and stay updated on different methods used to obtain personal information.

Additional steps:

If you spot a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or go to this page.
For this, and more articles regarding scams, visit FTC Consumer Information.

Business Resource Partners has an Enrolled Agent on staff who will help you with your tax preparation needs. We offer more than just tax preparation and bookkeeping! Visit Our Services section to find out what BRP can do for your business!

I Received a Letter From the IRS, Now What?!

The IRS will send millions of correspondence for different reasons. We wanted to share some information we received about what you should do when you receive a letter from the IRS.

Here’s what to do:
  1. Don’t Panic! Responding will take care of any issues.
  1. Read Carefully:  There can be many reasons for receiving a letter from the IRS. Most deal with tax returns or accounts. The letter will provide specific instructions and details about what to do so it is important to read the letter carefully and more than once.
  1. Is the letter asking for something? It might be about changes to your account, taxes owed, or a payment request. Sometimes, they may ask for more information on the issue discussed.
  1. Is it about changes to a return? If the letter indicates a change or correction to your tax return, review the changes and compare it with your original return (You should always have your own copy).
  1. Is a reply necessary? There is no need for a reply unless instructed, or if you need to make a payment.
  1. Don’t agree with your notice? Respond! There is a contact stub at the bottom of each letter so you may respond and explain why you disagree. Be sure to include any supporting documents for the IRS and allow up to 30 days for a response. Always send this type of correspondence certified and keep copies of everything you send.
  1. No appointments necessary: If you need to call, use the phone number that is on the upper right hand corner of the notice. Have your tax return and notice in hand for reference.
  1. Keep Records! Always keep copies of any notices that you receive along with your tax records.
  1. Be aware of scams: The IRS will never send you an e-mail or contact your through social media and ask for financial information. They will never demand a specific form of payment such as a prepaid card. For information on payment options, click here.

For more information on the IRS Collection Process, see Publication 594, or to make a payment, visit IRS.gov/payments.

Business Resource Partners has been happy to serve you this tax season and we look forward to 2017! We have our Enrolled Agent on staff who will directly represent you to the IRS and assist in tax planning for you and your business. We offer more than just bookkeeping and taxes for your business! For a complete list of our services, please visit our Services page.
Our sister company, Almond Street Business Center offers a variety of services for your company as well. You may also click any of the links below for more information.

“NEW” IRS Collection Tactic

The IRS has sent us an interesting article that will affect many tax payers, we wanted to share this with you before the end of tax season.

Starting this month, the IRS will be using four private-sector collection agencies (PCA) to collect unpaid tax debts on the government’s behalf. This is authorized under a federal law that was enacted by congress in December of 2015. These are tax debts that are not currently being worked on and were assessed years ago. If a tax payer is being assigned to a private firm, there would have been multiple attempts to contact by the IRS in the past years.

  • How is this going to work?

The IRS will send an official letter to the tax payer and his or her tax representative informing them that they will be assigned to a PCA and will be given the name and contact information for the PCA. This mailing will also include a copy of Publication 4518 of what to expect.

Once your letter is sent, the designated private firm will send a letter to the tax payer with information that will assure that the transfer and all future collection calls are legitimate.

Important: The PCA are authorized to discuss payment options and payment agreements. However, all payments must be made directly to the IRS via check, or electronically. Never make a payment to a private firm or anyone besides the IRS or U.S Treasury. For more info on payment options, click here.

For a list of the agencies selected, visit this page.

  • Prepare for phone scams!

There will be scammers who jump at this opportunity to pose as PCA employees. It is important to know that these agencies will only be assigned if you owe money from previous tax years. You will be made aware about these PCAs before you hear from them.

The IRS or PCA will never:

  1. Call to demand immediate payment using a specific method such as prepaid card or wire transfer
  2. Threaten to call local police or other law-enforcement groups
  3. Demand payment without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed
  4. Ask for any credit or debit card numbers over the phone

You don’t need to wait for a call or letter from the IRS! It is important to always come forward and pay what you owe, or set up a payment plan. For a list of ways to take advantage of this, visit IRS.gov.Tax filing deadline is approaching soon! Business Resource Partners has an Enrolled Agent on staff who will directly represent you to the IRS if ever needed. We would be happy to prepare and file your business and personal taxes! Give us a call to set up an appointment (321) 236-2771 or visit us at 310 Almond Street Clermont, FL 3711.

Need More Time to Pay Your Taxes?

Your taxes should always be filed on time regardless of whether or not you can pay what you owe. This prevents you from having to pay a penalty.
If you cannot pay your taxes in full by the April 18th deadline, here are four things you should know according to the IRS.
  1. File on time & pay as much as possible:

You have the option of paying online, by phone, or with the IRS2Go App. Visit this page for electronic payment options.

  1. Get Loan or use a credit card to pay the tax:

The interest and penalties by the IRS for failure to pay are higher than the interest rates of a bank or credit card company. For your credit card options, click here.

  1. Use Online Payment Agreement Tool:

Get ahead! Plan for your payments using the IRS Online Payment Agreement Tool. You may also file Form 9465 which is the Installment Agreement Request with your tax return. This allows you to set up a direct debit agreement and not have to worry about sending a check each month.

  1. Don’t Ignore a Tax Bill:

The IRS may take collection action when you ignore a tax bill. The best option is to call the number on the bill and talk about payment options.

Beginning in 2017, all taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from their prior year’s tax return to verify identity. To learn how to verify identity and electronically signing your return, visit this page.

For all your present and future tax needs, Business Resource Partners is more than happy to provide you with tax preparation and filing.  Our Enrolled Agent will directly represent you to the IRS if ever needed. Our office also offers Payroll Services, HR, Virtual office space, and more! Call us to set up your appointment at (321) 236-2771, or visit us at 310 Almond Street Clermont FL 34711.