HomeBizNotes.com 
We’ve been discussing, here at the Business Channel, after Jennifer Hofmann at MyOrganizedBiz initiated a tax rebate daydream meme, how we’d spend ours.  Most have been assuming $600, but is appears in some cases it may only be $300. 
Supposedly it’s all for free.  However, somewhere, somehow, and by someone, the money will have to be paid.  Does this mean higher taxes eventually? 
Anyway, I should be sensible with mine and apply it toward the higher fuel bill that accumulated over the long, cold, snowy winter in New Hampshire. 
If I splurged, I’d get one of the laptops I’ve been looking at to replace …read more

HomeBizNotes.com
With this talk about tax rebates to stimulate the economy in the United States, do you wonder how it will affect your home business?
If the rebates do go through, who will pay for them? There’s no free lunch, much as some people think there is. Someone has to pay.
So will our taxes eventually go up to do it, both business and personal?
Is this handout being considered because it’s Presidential Election Year? Is this just another way for candidates to “buy” the votes? Will those who advocate the largest handout/rebate get the most votes? Then who will figure out whom to …read more

HomeBizNotes.com 
Tax time is approaching so you’ll want to get all your facts and figures together.  Kelly Erb at Taxgirl is sponsoring a contest, Win Free Tax Software on Taxgirl, with the prize being software from TaxAct for five lucky winners.
All you need to do is post your tax horror story in the comments section of Kelly’s blog.
So what are you waiting for? Tell us your story – what’s the worst thing that ever happened to you while filing – or the thing you hate most about filing taxes?
What’s your story?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

2007…..2007…..BEST AT THE BUSINESS CHANNEL….2007…..2007
Bloggers at b5media’s Business Channel compiled their top business stories for 2007, coming up with a great round-up at Taxgirl, 123+ Top Business Stories of 2007.
Among them was our selection of posts by Yvonne Russell and Mary Emma Allen:
Home Biz Notes rounds out the year with five popular posts including Mary Emma’s winning country grocer entry and mistakes for the home business owner to avoid.
Check out these b5media Business Channel stories and the others at the above Taxgirl link for great reading, information, and encouragment in your business world!
(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen

HomeBizNotes.com 
With the end of the year in sight, our minds will be turning to taxes…at least for individuals and business owners in the United States.  What can we still deduct, purchase, invest?
Kelly Phillips Erb at Taxgirl has some answers to tax questions in Ask the Taxgirl: Blogging Reviews .  As blogging reviewers, product testers, book reviewers, and such…what are one’s tax obligations and deductions?  What do you have to claim as income and what is a business expense?  What if you purchase something to review?  Can you deduct it if you do use it?
These and other similar questions may come to mind as …read more

Where do you stand taxwise in your home business?  Have you been keeping up to date on taxes, insurances, and other planning? 
Now is a good time to take the “tax temperature” of your business and determine whether there is anything you can do in the remaining days of the year.  It’s also time to look where you are and see whether you need to make changes for 2008.
Kelly Phillips Erb has a great article at Taxgirl about this, Nothing Stays the Same: Your Year-End Checkup and relates how she handles some of these issues in her own business…how she make …read more

The end of 2007 is approaching faster than most of us would like to think about…and that means we must consider wrapping things up taxwise.
Kelly, at Taxgirl, will be answering year end tax questions about charitable donations, individual tax planning or reporting.  For submitting your question, Ask the Taxgirl.

Kelly, at Taxgirl, gives us something to think about today on her Fix the Tax Code Friday question.  She extends the discussion about deductions that she initiated on her Problogger guest post.
Should there be a separate Standard Deduction alternative for self-employed persons?
She also has another very good post on deductions for home businesses here….  Some of this deals with the home office, a facet of taxes that home business owners definitely encounter.

“What can businesses deduct?” Kelly Phillips Erb, from Taxgirl, says is one of the most frequent inquiries she receives.
Kelly has answered this in a guest post at Problogger, 46 Tax Deductions that Bloggers Often Overlook.  Even though this post is directed at bloggers (one type of home business), most of the deductions are applicable for any home business…whether you’re operating solely on the Internet, utilizing a walk-in shop, or combining the two.
Your business may have added deductions…or may not be able to use all of these.  However, take a look and begin thinking about those that could apply to you.  Kelly also offers …read more

Coming in September the b5media Business Channel will sponsor a “Jump Start Your Business” contest.  Keep tuned for details as everything becomes finalized.  There will be numerous prizes and business advice offered.
Kelly at Taxgirl has some details, with more forthcoming there and at the other Business Channel blogs shortly.