2008 Payroll Changes                Planning your Estate                Simple IRA's                            SAFE HARBOR 401(k)   Ohio and Federal Articles     5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STOPPING JUNK MAIL   1.                  Get off the lists. Go to the Mail Preference Service registry of the Direct Marketing Association ( www.dmachoice.org ) and click on “Remove my name from those lists.” Online registration is free or ($1 through the mail) and is good for 3 years. This move alone should cut down on 80% of unsolicited mail within four months.   2.                  Don’t fill our registrations forms for new products (unless you want recall alerts), says Tom Watson of the National Waste Prevention Coalition. “They’re used for mailing lists,” he says, “and never sign up for contest and sweepstakes.   3.                  Squash pre-approved credit offers. Register at www.optoutprescreen.com or call the toll-free number 888-567-8688; both methods cover you for five years. You also can opt out permanently by phone or by mail using the form found on the website. “Not only will you nix the offers, but you’ll be reducing your chances of identifying theft,” says Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.   4.                  Remain anonymous. Supermarket loyalty cards can generate unsolicited mail, so sign up for cards using a pseudonym like Jane or Joe Shopper with no address, to preserve anonymity.   5.                  Stay vigilant. Buying online is the culprit for catalog overload, says Tim Sanchez of the consumer group New American Dream. Opt out at www.catalogchoice.org.        Ohio Department of Taxation News Release: Streamlined Sales Tax Effort Takes Step Forward  This notice is provided by the Ohio Department of Taxation to make all practitioners aware of a news release issued April 25 regarding the streamlined sales tax. The release, "Streamlined Sales Tax Effort Takes Step Forward," highlights legislation signed last week by Governor Ted Strickland that allows Ohio-based businesses that engage in delivery sales to return to the traditional method of calculating sales tax based on the origin of the sale. The legislation, House Bill 429, sponsored by Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville–allows businesses to make this switch as early as May 1, if they choose. But they also have the option of taking more time - merchants who had already begun charging sales tax on delivery sales based on the destination of the sale have, in total, until Jan. 1, 2010 to swtich back to the traditional origin method.http://tax.ohio.gov/divisions/communications/news_releases/news_release_042508.stm The new law is, in part, a response to small business owners who considered destination sourcing more complex than Ohio’s traditional "origin" method. The vast majority of Ohio merchants have always collected and remitted sales tax based on the location of their store. H.B. 429 also means no change for out-of-state retailers selling into Ohio; they continue to collect sales taxes based on the rate at the destination of the sale, as they do today. This transition was part of Ohio’s effort to become a full member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, a multi-state effort to harmonize sales tax rules across state lines and simplify compliance for multistate businesses. For years, the multistate group required states to move to destination sourcing in order to become full members. But in December 2007, the Governing Board of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project decided to allow "origin states" to become a full member of the organization starting in 2010 as long as at least four other "origin states" are also ready to become full members. Merchants who switched to the new destination sourcing system and who will now be switching back per H.B. 429 will eventually be eligible for compensation of up to $1,000 (for mandatory switches to destination sourcing) and $600 (for voluntary switches). The compensation won’t be available until July 1, 2009 at the earliest. Further details are contained in the news release, which has been posted to the department's Web site, tax.ohio.gov. It can be viewed in its entirety at the link below:  http://tax.ohio.gov/ohiotaxalert/isUserInfo.asp     FEED THE PIG™ Feed the Pig is a new national public service campaign from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and The Advertising Council. The campaign, Feed the Pig™, is a new component of the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy effort which aims to educate Americans about how financial issues affect their lives. If features a web site; www.369financialliteracy.org, offering free tools and resources to help Americans manage their finances through every stage of life. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the national professional association of CPAs, with approximately 330,000 members in business, industry, public practice, government, and education. The AICPA sets the ethical standards for the profession and the auditing standards for private companies, non-profit groups, and federal, state and local governments. The Advertising Council has produced thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day. The Ad Council aims to foster tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives.   Halt Pre-Approved Credit Tired of piles of "pre-approved" credit cards filling your mailbox? Chances are if you use a credit card, you’re included on credit bureaus’ mailing lists, which are sold to outside parties for pre-screened credit card offers, marketing purposed and insurance solicitations. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus must remove your from their lists is asked to do so. Simply request the deletion by calling 888-5-OPTOUT (888-567-8688), which eliminates you from the Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis lists.    Stop Theft The following suggestions can help you stop embezzlement before it starts. Conduct background checks on prospective personnel. Thoroughly check references and scrutinize all dates and time gaps in resumes. Have employees bonded if they have access to cash or work in financial functions. Send bank and credit card statements straight to the top.  The company's owner, manager, or a nonprofit audit committee member should be the first to review all bank account entries and canceled checks. Someone without authority to issue checks should reconcile bank statements and review them for forged or altered checks. Before paying credit card bills, support each charge with an original receipt. Review documentation for all check requests. Compare original vendor invoices, purchase orders and receiving reports for agreement on quantities, brands, product descriptions and services requested. All should be stamped "paid" and marked with the related check number. MORE  A Taxing Workload! Americans worked an average 116 days last year to pay their taxes...MORE  New Tool For Private Foundations Available The Internal Revenue Service launched a new Web-based information tool that will help private foundations comply with federal tax rules and requirements that occur throughout the life cycle of their organization. The Life Cycle of a Private Foundation provides a snapshot of five stages: starting the organization, applying for tax-exempt status, filing requirements, maintaining compliance and terminating the organization. The new tool is similar to the Life Cycle of a Public Charity that has proved popular since its introduction in 2004. The new site provides easy navigation through the life cycle of general topics.    Quick Facts About Medicare's New Coverage For Prescription Drugs---   EFTPS PASSWORD CHANGES https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/homeWhatsNew.do   IRS News Release More Information on Stimulus Payments Posted to IRS.gov;  New Details for Recipients of Social Security, Veterans Benefits