Jan
27

Buffalo Professional – Software makes doing your taxes easier

1327695087 43 Buffalo Professional   Software makes doing your taxes easier

| 23 January 2012

It’s never been easier to prepare your own tax return.

The software available for the 2012 tax season has been both beefed up and made easier to use. This will make the annual chore quicker, and lessen the chance of missing big deductions and important tax credits.

million taxpayers prepared their own returns online last year. That’s up 14 percent from 2010 and nearly 24 percent from 2009, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Still, more than 33 million returns were submitted on paper forms last year, meaning there’s still a large tar-get market for software providers. Whether you’re an old hand or trying e-filing for the first time, you’ll find an array of software choices.

But before you pay for software, you should determine if you qualify to file your federal return for free. Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less in 2011 may choose software from 15 different companies through the IRS Free File program. Approximately 3 million people used Free File last year, but the IRS said 70 percent of taxpayers, or about 100 million, are eligible.

One major tax software provider, TaxAct, offers free online federal tax preparation and e-filing for all taxpayers, regardless of income or age.

Other Free File software options include the most popular brands, TurboTax and H&R Block. Most of the participating companies also prepare state returns for free, however some charge an additional fee.

Taxpayers already can begin using Free File. Details and links to the available software can be found at freefile.irs.gov.

It’s also possible to file simple federal returns for free, mainly 1040EZ forms, using the websites of Intuit Inc.’s TurboTax, H&RBlock Inc., Tax- Act, Liberty Tax Service’s e-Smart Tax and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. All charge a fee for state returns, ranging from $19.95 with Liberty’s e- Smart software to $27.95 with H&R Block and TurboTax.

One boon to using at-home software is that users can start and stop the process. This is particularly helpful for those who want to file early but are still waiting for W-2 and 1099 forms. Taxpayers can enter the details as their paperwork arrives, then file when their return is complete.

All of the major software options allow customers to start preparing their returns for free, and only charge a fee when the return is filed. That makes it easier to compare different offerings to see which is the most comfortable to use.

Here’s a snapshot look at the most popular software offerings:

TurboTax

• Basic level starts at $19.95.

• Online and desktop versions available.

• Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

• Live help available via phone and online chat.

This market-leading program is user-friendly and easy to navigate. That’s a big plus for anyone who may be a little uncomfortable handling financial paperwork. It uses multiple graphics to depict various categories of deductions, such as a small house for mortgage, property taxes and related deductions and a graduation cap for education-related items.

It also asks simple questions that lead the user to various points on the return and to additional forms to possibly include, without making it obvious what’s happening.

Do-it-yourselfers who used Turbo- Tax in past years should be able to call up their information from prior years when they log in. TurboTax also can upload prior-year return information from your computer if you used another company’s software. The software compares results between years, which is another way to ensure users don’t miss any deductions or credits they may qualify for.

TurboTax has added free live advice from tax professionals, through which users can ask questions via online chat or by telephone. It also still has its popular “community” questions and answers link.

Along with the free version, TurboTax has pricing tiers depending on an individual’s needs. The basic level is $19.95 for a federal return, and prices rise up to the Home and Business version for $74.95. In addition to its online offerings, TurboTax software may also be purchased off the shelf at major office supply chains and other stores, starting at $29.99.

The company also is pushing its prepaid card as a way to receive your refund via direct deposit. If you choose to use it, you’ll be entered into a contest to double your refund. The card comes with a$5.95 per month fee unless you keep at least $50 balance. It offers just one free ATM withdrawal per month and carries several other potential fees.

H&R Block At Home

• Basic level starts at $19.95.

• Online and desktop versions available.

• Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

• Live help available via phone.

Still the nation’s largest tax pre-parer, H&RBlock made some gains on TurboTax last year with its online offerings. Its new software is easier to use than in the past, with simple guidelines and questions to help taxpayers navigate their returns.

Block’s presentation is more businesslike, with fewer graphics and icons. Like its rival, it has numerous spots where the user can choose to go it alone or rely on built-in guidance to ask questions about various deductions and credits.

The company this year also is introducing “Block Live,” online prep done by one of its tax professionals using video chat, and a hybrid version called “Best of Both” that allows individuals to complete their returns on their own time, then submit it to Block for a professional review. That extra level of service costs $79.95.

Returning customers may have their personal information loaded from past returns, and the software is capable of extracting information from other software, if it is stored on the users’ computer.

Like TurboTax, Block has a pre-paid card for customers who don’t have bank accounts and want to receive their refunds via direct deposit. Through Feb. 4, the company will allow its Emerald Card users to deduct the cost of their federal tax prep from their refunds at no charge.

Emerald Cards do not carry a monthly usage fee, but charge $2.50 for each ATM withdrawal and $1 for balance inquiries or denied withdrawals.

TaxAct

• Wide variety of free forms; deluxe level starts at $9.95.

• Online and desktop versions available.

• Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

• Live help available via phone. The third most popular software

also is simple and easy, and has the added appeal of showing users images of actual tax forms at certain stages in the process. For taxpayers who are used to preparing their returns on paper forms, being able to see a 1040 or a Schedule A may help ease the transition to electronic filing.

The software can transfer key data from last year’s return even if it was prepared on another program.

TaxAct offers help answering questions via email and free phone help for those who buy the product. Free Edition users can email questions or purchase unlimited phone assistance for $7.95. Unlike some of the other free offerings, TaxAct offers forms for more complex returns in its free federal edition as well.

Like the others, a prepaid card is available. It can be loaded with the refund, minus the cost of the software. The card comes with a hefty $16.95 startup fee and charges $1.95 per ATM withdrawal.

Read more: buffalonews.com/business/moneysmart/article715297.ece

Jan
27

Quantum Corporation Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results

1327693869 49 Quantum Corporation Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results

SAN JOSE, CA, Jan 25, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Quantum Corp. /quotes/zigman/209763/quotes/nls/qtm QTM +2.67%

— Total revenue of $173 million, with ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in Quantum branded sales — Record disk systems and software revenue of $36 million, up 18% year-over-year — Strong traction from new midrange and SMB DXi deduplication appliances, vmPRO virtual data protection solutions and StorNext big data management appliances

Quantum Corp. /quotes/zigman/209763/quotes/nls/qtm QTM +2.67% , a proven global expert in data protectionand big data management, today reported results for the third quarterof fiscal 2012 (FQ3’12), ended Dec. 31, 2011. Revenue for the quartertotaled $173 million, down 2 percent from the third quarter of fiscal2011 (FQ3’11) primarily due to expected reductions in OEM and royaltyrevenue. On a sequential basis, third quarter revenue was up $8million. In addition, FQ3’12 was the ninth consecutive quarter ofyear-over-year growth in branded revenue, which increased 3 percentand represented 81 percent of total non-royalty revenue. Quantum alsogenerated record revenue of $36 million from disk system and softwaresales (including related maintenance), which increased 18 percentfrom the same quarter last year.

GAAP net income for FQ3’12 was $4 million, or 2 cents per dilutedshare, compared to GAAP net income of $6 million, or 3 cents perdiluted share, in FQ3’11. Non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $12million, or 5 cents per diluted share, down from $16 million, or 7cents per diluted share, in the comparable quarter last year. Theyear-over-year decline in GAAP and non-GAAP net income was primarilydue to lower tape-related service and media royalty revenue.

“We are pleased with the continued momentum we saw across key areasin the December quarter,” said Jon Gacek, president and CEO ofQuantum. “Quantum branded revenue, which now makes up more than 80percent of total product and service revenue, grew year-over-year forthe ninth consecutive quarter. We also achieved a new high for diskand software revenue, with a strong contribution from new productsales, and generated our highest level of branded tape automationrevenue in eight quarters.

“Sales of our DXi6701/02 and DXi4601 disk backup and deduplicationproducts were particularly strong, and customers also responded verypositively to our new vmPRO(TM) virtual data protection solutions,all of which speaks to the unique value we offer customers inprotecting both physical and virtual machine data. We also sawsignificant traction with our new StorNext(R) appliances, as morecustomers are turning to Quantum for big data management solutionsthat enable them to maximize revenue and accelerate time-to-market byfully leveraging their digital assets.”

The company generated $16 million in cash from operating activitiesand ended the quarter with $69 million of senior debt, $135million of convertible debt and $63 million in cash and cashequivalents.

Outlook For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, Quantumexpects:

— Revenue of $160 million to $170 million. — GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP gross margin rates slightly below those in FQ3’12. — GAAP operating expenses of $68 million to $70 million and non-GAAP operating expenses of $62 million to $64 million. — Interest expense of approximately $3 million and taxes of $1 million.

Business Highlights Key business highlights for the December quarterinclude the following:

— Further enhancing its portfolio of DXi(R) backup and deduplication appliances, Quantum began shipping the DXi4601for small data center or remote office environments and the DXi8500 with DXi 2.1 software for enterprise customers. The DXi4601 provides the industry’s first capacity-on-demand capability in a deduplication appliance and achieves twice the performance of competitors in its class at half the price. The new DXi8500 offers 60 percent greater capacity, nearly a 40 percent increase in performance, industry-leading price-performance and unique hybrid deduplication. — Quantum introduced two new vmPRO virtual data protection offerings. The vmPRO 4601 appliance is a turnkey virtual machine (VM) backup solution for small and medium-sized businesses and remote offices that includes capacity-on-demand scalability. Quantum’s vmPRO software incorporates advanced utilities designed to dramatically improve and simplify VM data protection in midrange and larger data centers. In conjunction with the company’s DXi deduplication appliances, it delivers the most effective deduplication rates and the fastest VM recovery in the industry. Demonstrating Quantum’s growing leadership in VM data protection, its vmPRO 4000 was named “Storage Virtualization Product of the Year” at the 2011 Storage, Virtualization and Cloud Computing (SVC) Awards. — The company announced it had sold more than 60,000 StorNext licenses to date, a significant milestone and testament to its leadership in helping customers manage big data and extract the full value from their digital assets. Quantum also began shipping new StorNext disk and archive offerings as part of its expanded StorNext appliance family. These appliances leverage high-performance StorNext software and market-leading hardware in purpose-built configurations that are highly scalable, cost-effective and easy to deploy. — Quantum began shipping its Scalar i6000 enterprise tape libraries with dual robotics for high availability. The enhanced libraries also feature Active Vault, which expands managed capacity within the library while reducing application licensing costs. Further reinforcing Quantum’s position as the worldwide leader in open systems tape automation, Storage magazine announced that the company had captured the top spot overall and in all five rating categories for both enterprise and midrange libraries in its annual tape library quality awards. — The company announced two new low-cost data deduplication and disaster recovery solutions for small businesses. The NDX-8 NAS appliance includes built-in backup software and deduplication technology, enabling customers to reduce storage requirements and network traffic by up to 90 percent. The RDX 8000 removable disk library combines the advantages of disk with the removability of tape and is available with Quantum Datastor Shield deduplication software, which can cut cartridge use by nearly two-thirds.

Conference Call and Audio Webcast Notification Quantum will hold aconference call today, Jan. 25, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. PST, to discussits fiscal third quarter results. Press and industry analysts areinvited to attend in listen-only mode. Dial-in number: (480) 629-9645(U.S. & International). Quantum will provide a live audio webcast ofthe conference call beginning today, Jan. 25, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. PST.Site for the webcast and related information: quantum.com/investors .

About Quantum Quantum Corp. /quotes/zigman/209763/quotes/nls/qtm QTM +2.67% is a proven global expert indata protection and big data management that provides a uniquecombination of intelligent storage solutions and unmatched value fortraditional, virtual and cloud environments. From small businesses tomultinational enterprises, more than 50,000 customers trust Quantumto help cost effectively manage data growth and extract the fullvalue from their digital assets. Quantum’s offerings include:DXi(R)-Series disk-based deduplication and replication systems forfast backup and restore, vmPRO(TM) solutions for protecting virtualmachine data, Scalar(R) tape automation products for disasterrecovery and long-term data retention, and StorNext(R) big datamanagement software and appliances for high-performance file sharingand archiving. Quantum Corp., 1650 Technology Drive, Suite 800, SanJose, CA 95110, (408) 944-4000, quantum.com .

Quantum, the Quantum logo, DXi, Scalar, StorNext and vmPRO are eitherregistered trademarks or trademarks of Quantum Corporation and itsaffiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All othertrademarks are the property of their respective owners.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the U.S. Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995: This press release contains “forward-looking”statements within the meaning of the Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995. Specifically, without limitation, all of ourstatements under the “Outlook” section are forward-looking statementswithin the meaning of the Safe Harbor. All forward-looking statementsin this press release are based on information available to Quantumon the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks,uncertainties and other factors that may cause Quantum’s actualresults to differ materially from those implied by theforward-looking statement. More detailed information about these riskfactors, and additional risk factors, are set forth in Quantum’speriodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listedin the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in Quantum’s AnnualReport on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissionon June 14, 2011 and Quantum’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filedwith the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2011.Quantum expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter itsforward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Quantum believes that the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed aboveprovide useful and supplemental information to investors regardingits quarterly financial performance. Quantum management uses thesenon-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage, andevaluate the company’s business results and make operating decisions.For instance, Quantum management often makes decisions regardingstaffing, future management priorities and how the company willdirect future operating expenses on the basis of non-GAAP financialmeasures. In addition, compensation of our employees is based in parton the performance of our business based on non-GAAP operatingincome.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release excludethe impact of amortization of intangibles, share-based compensationexpense, senior debt amendment fees and loss on debt extinguishmentfor the following reasons:

Amortization of Intangible Assets This includes acquired intangiblessuch as purchased technology and customer relationships in connectionwith prior acquisitions. These expenses are not factored intomanagement’s evaluation of potential acquisitions or Quantum’sperformance after completion of the acquisitions because they are notrelated to Quantum’s core operating performance. In addition, thefrequency and amount of such charges can vary significantly based onthe size and timing of acquisitions and the maturities of thebusinesses being acquired. Excluding acquisition-related charges fromnon-GAAP measures provides investors with a basis to compare Quantumagainst the performance of other companies without the variabilitycaused by purchase accounting.

Share-Based Compensation Expense Share-based compensation expenserelates primarily to equity awards such as stock options andrestricted stock units. Share-based compensation is a non-cashexpense that varies in amount from period to period and is dependenton market forces that are often beyond Quantum’s control. As aresult, management excludes this item from Quantum’s internaloperating forecasts and models. Management believes that non-GAAPmeasures adjusted for share-based compensation provide investors witha basis to measure Quantum’s core performance against the performanceof other companies without the variability created by share-basedcompensation as a result of the variety of equity awards used byother companies and the varying methodologies and assumptions used.

Senior Debt Amendment Fees The senior debt amendment fees relate toa specific amendment fee and are not part of Quantum’s future coreoperations.

Loss on Debt Extinguishment The loss on extinguishment of debtrelates to a specific debt refinancing action and is not part ofQuantum’s future core operations.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitutefor, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared inaccordance with GAAP. They are limited in value because they excludecharges that have a material impact on the company’s reportedfinancial results and, therefore, should not be relied upon as thesole financial measures to evaluate the company. The non-GAAPfinancial measures are meant to supplement, and be viewed inconjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Investors are encouragedto review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures totheir most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as provided inthe tables accompanying this press release.

QUANTUM CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ———————- ———————- December December December December 31, 2011 31, 2010 31, 2011 31, 2010 ———- ———- ———- ———- Revenue: Product $ 124,081 $ 123,218 $ 341,475 $ 344,001 Service 35,362 37,365 107,956 113,730 Royalty 14,049 15,643 42,635 49,442 ———- ———- ———- ———- Total revenue 173,492 176,226 492,066 507,173 Cost of revenue: Product 77,238 77,456 218,044 221,158 Service 22,537 23,200 65,732 71,595 Restructuring benefit related to cost of revenue — – (300) — ———- ———- ———- ———- Total cost of revenue 99,775 100,656 283,476 292,753 ———- ———- ———- ———- Gross margin 73,717 75,570 208,590 214,420 Operating expenses: Research and development 17,629 18,240 55,212 54,490 Sales and marketing 33,350 31,776 94,990 90,973 General and administrative 15,759 14,176 46,991 44,600 Restructuring charges — – 699 11 ———- ———- ———- ———- Total operating expenses 66,738 64,192 197,892 190,074 Gain on sale of patents — – 1,500 — ———- ———- ———- ———- Income from operations 6,979 11,378 12,198 24,346 Interest income and other, net (142) (250) (422) 24 Interest expense (2,450) (4,761) (8,111) (16,877) Loss on debt extinguishment — (1,186) — (1,186) ———- ———- ———- ———- Income before income taxes 4,387 5,181 3,665 6,307 Income tax provision (benefit) 473 (683) 1,416 114 ———- ———- ———- ———- Net income $ 3,914 $ 5,864 $ 2,249 $ 6,193 ========== ========== ========== ========== Basic and diluted net income per share: $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.01 $ 0.03 Weighted average common and common equivalent shares: Basic 233,812 222,801 231,661 219,052 Diluted 239,912 235,099 239,261 228,154 —————————————————————————- Included in the above Statements of Operations: Amortization of intangibles: Cost of revenue $ 1,472 $ 2,574 $ 6,148 $ 12,087 Research and development — – — 200 Sales and marketing 3,256 3,332 9,872 10,088 General and administrative — 25 32 75 ———- ———- ———- ———- 4,728 5,931 16,052 22,450 Share-based compensation: Cost of revenue 495 459 1,518 1,363 Research and development 795 603 2,466 1,933 Sales and marketing 1,127 786 3,059 2,391 General and administrative 1,007 686 3,203 2,363 ———- ———- ———- ———- 3,424 2,534 10,246 8,050 Acquisition expenses — – 325 — —————————————————————————- QUANTUM CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) December 31, March 31, 2011 2011* ———— ———— Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 59,250 $ 76,010 Restricted cash 3,987 1,863 Accounts receivable, net 115,106 114,969 Manufacturing inventories 58,879 48,131 Service parts inventories 41,036 45,036 Deferred income taxes 6,384 6,271 Other current assets 10,358 11,274 ———— ———— Total current assets 295,000 303,554 Long-term assets: Property and equipment, net 24,818 24,980 Intangible assets and goodwill 86,416 91,481 Other long-term assets 8,962 10,950 ———— ———— Total long-term assets 120,196 127,411 ———— ———— $ 415,196 $ 430,965 ============ ============ Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 59,238 $ 52,203 Accrued warranty 7,080 7,034 Deferred revenue, current 84,537 87,488 Current portion of long-term debt 708 1,067 Accrued restructuring charges 689 4,028 Accrued compensation 33,072 31,249 Income taxes payable 1,542 1,172 Other accrued liabilities 19,277 21,418 ———— ———— Total current liabilities 206,143 205,659 Long-term liabilities: Deferred revenue, long-term 34,533 34,281 Deferred income taxes 6,129 6,820 Long-term debt 67,929 103,267 Convertible subordinated debt 135,000 135,000 Other long-term liabilities 7,199 7,049 ———— ———— Total long-term liabilities 250,790 286,417 Stockholders’ deficit (41,737) (61,111) ———— ———— $ 415,196 $ 430,965 ============ ============ * Derived from the March 31, 2011 audited Consolidated Financial Statements. QUANTUM CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended ————————– December 31, December 31, 2011 2010 ———— ———— Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 2,249 $ 6,193 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 8,776 8,780 Amortization 17,785 23,728 Service parts lower of cost or market adjustment 7,564 10,957 Loss on debt extinguishment — 1,186 Deferred income taxes (785) (417) Share-based compensation 10,246 8,050 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition: Accounts receivable (131) (15,350) Manufacturing inventories (17,463) (5,861) Service parts inventories 3,150 1,524 Accounts payable 7,052 2,000 Accrued warranty 46 626 Deferred revenue (2,727) (9,312) Accrued restructuring charges (3,347) (2,856) Accrued compensation 1,975 (1,068) Income taxes payable 438 (1,159) Other assets and liabilities (1,735) 1,900 ———— ———— Net cash provided by operating activities 33,093 28,921 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (8,538) (9,348) (Increase) decrease in restricted cash (2,317) 222 Return of principal from other investments 97 95 Payment for business acquisition, net of cash acquired (8,152) — ———— ———— Net cash used in investing activities (18,910) (9,031) Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of long-term debt (35,698) (163,079) Borrowings of convertible subordinated debt, net — 130,022 Repayments of convertible subordinated debt — (22,099) Payment of taxes due upon vesting of restricted stock (2,638) (2,165) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 7,506 13,635 ———— ———— Net cash used in financing activities (30,830) (43,686) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (113) 47 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (16,760) (23,749) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 76,010 114,947 ———— ———— Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 59,250 $ 91,198 ============ ============ QUANTUM CORPORATION GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, 2011 ——————————————— Per Per Share Share Gross Net Net Gross Margin Net Income, Income, Margin Rate Income Basic Diluted ——– —— ——- ——– ——– GAAP $ 73,717 42.5% $ 3,914 $ 0.02 $ 0.02 Non-GAAP Reconciling Items: Amortization of intangibles 1,472 4,728 Share-based compensation 495 3,424 ——– ——- Non-GAAP $ 75,684 43.6% $12,066 $ 0.05 $ 0.05 Computation of basic and diluted net income per share: GAAP Non-GAAP ——– ——– Net income $ 3,914 $ 12,066 Interest on dilutive convertible notes — 1,191 ——– ——– Income for purposes of computing income per diluted share $ 3,914 $ 13,257 ======== ======== Weighted average shares: Basic 233,812 233,812 Dilutive shares from stock plans 6,100 6,100 Dilutive shares from convertible notes — 31,158 ——– ——– Diluted 239,912 271,070 ======== ======== Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 ——————————————— Per Per Share Share Gross Net Net Gross Margin Net Income, Income, Margin Rate Income Basic Diluted ——– —— ——- ——– ——– GAAP $ 75,570 42.9% $ 5,864 $ 0.03 $ 0.03 Non-GAAP Reconciling Items: Amortization of intangibles 2,574 5,931 Share-based compensation 459 2,534 Loss on debt extinguishment 1,186 Senior debt amendment fees 861 ——– ——- Non-GAAP $ 78,603 44.6% $16,376 $ 0.08 $ 0.07 Computation of basic and diluted net income per share: GAAP Non-GAAP ——– ——– Net income $ 5,864 $ 16,376 Interest on dilutive convertible notes — 595 ——– ——– Income for purposes of computing income per diluted share $ 5,864 $ 16,971 ======== ======== Weighted average shares: Basic 222,801 222,801 Dilutive shares from stock plans 12,298 12,298 Dilutive shares from convertible notes — 15,579 ——– ——– Diluted 235,099 250,678 ======== ======== The non-GAAP financial information set forth in this table is not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from non-GAAP financial information used by other companies. QUANTUM CORPORATION FORECAST FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 2012 GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Dollars in millions) ————- Dollars ————- Forecast operating expense on a GAAP basis $68.4 – $70.4 Forecast amortization of intangibles 3.3 Forecast share-based compensation 3.1 ————- Forecast operating expense on a non-GAAP basis $62.0 – $64.0 ============= Estimates based on current (January 25, 2012) projections. The projected GAAP and non-GAAP financial information set forth in this table represent forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For risk factors that could impact these projections, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on June 14, 2011. We disclaim any obligation to update information in any forward-looking statement. The non-GAAP financial information set forth in this table is not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from non-GAAP financial information used by other companies. Contact: Brad Cohen Public Relations Quantum Corp. (408) 944-4044 Email Contact Christi Lee Investor Relations Quantum Corp. (408) 944-4450 Email Contact

SOURCE: Quantum Corporation

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Jan
27

CONSUMER FINANCE: Tax Preparers Relying On Mobile Apps, More Data Importing

1327692668 29 CONSUMER FINANCE: Tax Preparers Relying On Mobile Apps, More Data Importing

–Tax preparers relying more on mobile apps, expansion of data importing and lots of free answers and advice.

–All services allow users to import PDF versions of major competitors’ tax returns, plus data from W-2 Express and several payroll services.

–All the sites provide free tech support for their products via chat or email

What’s the big news in the world of tax preparation this year? The prevalence of mobile apps, the expansion of data importing — and lots of free answers and advice.

But, while there’s a lot of tax information available …

–Tax preparers relying more on mobile apps, expansion of data importing and lots of free answers and advice.

–All services allow users to import PDF versions of major competitors’ tax returns, plus data from W-2 Express and several payroll services.

–All the sites provide free tech support for their products via chat or email

What’s the big news in the world of tax preparation this year? The prevalence of mobile apps, the expansion of data importing — and lots of free answers and advice.

But, while there’s a lot of tax information available …

Jan
27

First Capital, Inc. Reports 2011 Earnings Increase

1327691467 39 First Capital, Inc. Reports 2011 Earnings Increase

CORYDON, Ind., Jan 27, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) –First Capital, Inc. /quotes/zigman/80412/quotes/nls/fcap FCAP +4.03% (the “Company”), the holding company for First Harrison Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $4.0 million or $1.43 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to net income of $3.9 million or $1.39 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The increase in earnings is primarily due to increases in net interest income after provision for loan losses and noninterest income, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expenses.

Net interest income after provision for loan losses increased $393,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. Interest income decreased $1.6 million when comparing the two periods as the average tax-equivalent yield and average balance of interest-earning assets decreased from 5.24% and $426.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 to 5.05% and $412.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Interest expense decreased $1.7 million as the average cost and balance of interest-bearing liabilities decreased from 1.50% and $367.2 million to 1.08% and $347.0 million when comparing the same two periods. The provision for loan losses decreased from $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Bank continued to provide loan loss reserves during the year to offset current year charge-offs and to provide for inherent loss exposure due to weakened general economic conditions such as depreciating collateral values, job losses and continued pressures on household budgets in the Bank’s market area. The primary reason for the decrease in the provision for loan losses for 2011 compared to the prior year was a decrease in net charge-offs from $2.5 million during 2010 to $2.1 million during 2011.

Noninterest income increased $145,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $158,000 when comparing the two periods primarily due to an increase in debit card income. The Company also incurred an other than temporary impairment loss of $36,000 on securities during 2011 based on an independent third party analysis performed in December 2011. This loss was recorded on a privately-issued collateralized mortgage obligation which had been previously downgraded to a substandard regulatory classification due to a downgrade of the security’s credit quality by various rating agencies.

Noninterest expenses increased $449,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010 primarily due to increases of $427,000 in salary and benefit expenses and $392,000 in data processing expenses. The increase in salary and benefit expenses was primarily due to normal salary increases and an increase in the cost of health insurance. The increase in data processing expenses is primarily due to a pre-tax refund of previously disputed ATM charges of $278,000 received by the Bank during the first quarter of 2010. Other operating expenses decreased $270,000 when comparing the two periods, primarily due to a decrease in deposit insurance premiums of $242,000 as a result of lower FDIC assessments during 2011 compared to the prior year.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company’s net income was $1.0 million or $0.37 per diluted share compared to net income of $966,000 or $0.35 per diluted share for the same period in 2010.

Net interest income after provision for loan losses increased $130,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Interest income decreased $366,000 when comparing the two periods as a result of a decrease in the average tax-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets from 5.17% for the fourth quarter of 2010 to 4.94% for the same period in 2011, and a decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets from $419.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 to $409.9 million for the same period in 2011. Interest expense decreased $429,000 as the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased from 1.37% to 0.94% when comparing the two periods, and the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities decreased from $361.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 to $342.8 million for the same period in 2011. The provision for loan losses decreased $67,000 when comparing the two periods from $567,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 to $500,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

Noninterest income increased $39,000 when comparing the quarter ended December 31, 2011 to the quarter ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to increases of $30,000 each in service charges on deposits and gains on the sale of mortgage loans. Those increases were partially offset by the previously mentioned other than temporary impairment loss recorded in December 2011.

Noninterest expenses increased $95,000 when comparing the quarter ended December 31, 2011 to the quarter ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to an increase of $135,000 in salary and benefits expenses. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $116,000 in other operating expenses when comparing the periods primarily due to a decrease in FDIC deposit insurance premiums.

Total assets as of December 31, 2011 were $438.9 million compared to $452.4 million at December 31, 2010. Net loans receivable decreased $18.5 million while securities available for sale increased $10.6 million during 2011. Deposits decreased $13.6 million overall during 2011, but noninterest-bearing deposits increased $6.5 million. Nonperforming assets (consisting of nonaccrual loans, accruing loans 90 days or more past due, troubled debt restructurings on accrual status, and foreclosed real estate) totaled $8.9 million and $8.5 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2011, the Bank was considered well-capitalized under applicable federal regulatory capital guidelines.

First Harrison Bank currently has thirteen offices in the Indiana communities of Corydon, Edwardsville, Greenville, Floyds Knobs, Hardinsburg, Palmyra, New Albany, New Salisbury, Jeffersonville, Salem and Lanesville. Access to First Harrison Bank accounts, including online banking and electronic bill payments, is available anywhere with Internet access through the Bank’s website at firstharrison.com . First Harrison Bank, through its business arrangement with Lincoln Investments, member SIPC, continues to offer non FDIC insured investments to complement the Bank’s offering of traditional banking products and services.

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts; rather, they are statements based on the Company’s current expectations regarding its business strategies and their intended results and its future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends” and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause or contribute to the Company’s actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to these differences include, without limitation, general economic conditions, including changes in market interest rates and changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; legislative and regulatory changes; and other factors disclosed periodically in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, whether included in this report or made elsewhere from time to time by the Company or on its behalf. Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

FIRST CAPITAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) Year Ended Three Months Ended December 31, December 31, ——————– ——————– OPERATING DATA 2011 2010 2011 2010 ——— ——— ——— ——— (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Total interest income $ 20,273 $ 21,834 $ 4,923 $ 5,289 Total interest expense 3,760 5,502 805 1,234 ——— ——— ——— ——— Net interest income 16,513 16,332 4,118 4,055 Provision for loan losses 1,825 2,037 500 567 ——— ——— ——— ——— Net interest income after provision for loan losses 14,688 14,295 3,618 3,488 Total non-interest income 4,051 3,906 1,099 1,060 Total non-interest expense 13,211 12,762 3,257 3,162 ——— ——— ——— ——— Income before income taxes 5,528 5,439 1,460 1,386 Income tax expense 1,543 1,561 415 417 ——— ——— ——— ——— Net income $ 3,985 $ 3,878 $ 1,045 $ 969 Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 13 13 3 3 ——— ——— ——— ——— Net income attributable to First Capital, Inc. $ 3,972 $ 3,865 $ 1,042 $ 966 ========= ========= ========= ========= Net income per share attributable to First Capital, Inc. common shareholders: Basic $ 1.43 $ 1.39 $ 0.37 $ 0.35 ========= ========= ========= ========= Diluted $ 1.43 $ 1.39 $ 0.37 $ 0.35 ========= ========= ========= ========= Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 2,786,410 2,785,168 2,785,693 2,787,306 Diluted 2,786,410 2,786,227 2,785,693 2,787,306 OTHER FINANCIAL DATA Cash dividends per share $ 0.76 $ 0.74 $ 0.19 $ 0.19 Return on average assets (annualized) 0.90% 0.84% 0.94% 0.85% Return on average equity (annualized) 8.04% 8.10% 8.22% 7.95% Net interest margin 4.14% 3.96% 4.15% 4.00% Interest rate spread 3.97% 3.74% 4.00% 3.80% Net overhead expense as a percentage of average assets (annualized) 2.98% 2.79% 2.93% 2.79% December 31, ——————– BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION 2011 2010 ——— ——— (Dollars in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,923 $ 21,575 Investment securities 111,456 100,883 Gross loans 280,229 299,023 Allowance for loan losses 4,182 4,473 Earning assets 401,361 414,114 Total assets 438,886 452,378 Deposits 364,374 378,003 FHLB debt 12,350 15,729 Repurchase agreements 9,125 8,669 Stockholders’ equity, net of noncontrolling interest 50,942 47,893 Non-performing assets: Nonaccrual loans 7,401 7,541 Accruing loans past due 90 days 363 370 Foreclosed real estate 661 591 Troubled debt restructurings on accrual status 462 0 Regulatory capital ratios (Bank only): Tier I – adjusted total assets 10.06% 9.32% Tier I – risk based 16.11% 14.83% Total risk-based 17.05% 15.54%

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, globenewswire.com

SOURCE: First Capital, Inc.

CONTACT: Chris Frederick Chief Financial Officer 812-734-3464

(C) Copyright 2010 GlobeNewswire, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jan
27

Tax ideas aim for U.S.-made

1327690284 18 Tax ideas aim for U.S. madeJanuary 26, 2012 in Nation/World Obama puts focus on manufacturing Alisa Priddle Detroit Free Press

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  Encouraging industry

The White House proposals to stimulate manufacturing:

• Removing tax deductions for expenses related to outsourcing, such as moving expenses for shipping jobs overseas, and providing new incentives, such as a 20 percent income tax credit for the expenses of bringing them back home.

• Narrowing eligibility for current tax deductions for domestic manufacturing, and doubling the deduction for advanced manufacturing from 9 percent to 18 percent.

• Creating a new Manufacturing Communities Tax Credit to help communities that have suffered plant closure and massive layoffs.

• Creating $5 billion in temporary tax credits, predicted to drive nearly $20 billion in domestic clean energy manufacturing.

• Reauthorizing 100 percent expensing of investment in plants and equipment at a cost of $4 billion. This is an extension through the end of the year of a provision that allows businesses to expense the full cost of their investments in equipment.

• Closing a loophole that allows companies to shift profits overseas to avoid taxes, a move estimated to raise $23 billion.

A number of tax proposals form the backbone of President Barack Obama’s blueprint to support American manufacturing by discouraging outsourcing.

A series of six proposals are designed to change aspects of the tax code so a company deciding where to build its products will be swayed to choose the United States rather than a lower-cost country such as China, White House officials said Wednesday.

Gene Sperling and Jason Furman, both of the White House’s National Economic Council, expanded on the president’s State of the Union address in a briefing Wednesday before Obama’s remarks at Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The president is asking companies to think twice when deciding where to build their products, Sperling said. Instead of using past data that focused on lower labor costs in emerging countries, companies are being asked to look 10 years down the road and recognize a shift to greater productivity in the U.S.

Obama’s visit to Iowa started a three-day, five-state tour that concludes Friday at the University of Michigan, where he will discuss retraining for workers and the need for colleges to hold down tuition costs.

The administration said the manufacturing sector added more than 300,000 jobs since December 2009, helped by companies bringing jobs back to the U.S. and making additional investments here. Manufacturing jobs are growing for the first time since the late 1990s, officials said.

The cost of implementing the tax proposals, which Obama wants Congress to act on immediately, would be covered by closing tax loopholes that encourage shifting jobs overseas and shielding profits overseas.

I've been investing in tax for a while now. Support - The child did not provide one half of his or her support for the year. That's a pop quiz. For more information, please visit the IRS website and click on . Here are a few pit falls to watch out for when buying a car for export: Make sure you actually qualify as not all expats do. Financial eligibility rules apply. You're probably thinking that asking for a tax return is really tacky. We all know the rules of www.irs.gov. That was sort of lame. We'll get down to business and this has been ineffective so far. You can use a 'defective' trust to help reduce them. If you make your $10,000 equipment purchase next year, your tax savings will be $4,000.

Jan
27

Could you be a 15-percenter? Decoding tax rates « Artesia News

1327689087 23 Could you be a 15 percenter? Decoding tax rates «  Artesia News

NEW YORK (AP) — Millionaires can be just like everyone else. At least when it comes to paying taxes.

Mitt Romney released records this week that show he pays a tax rate of about 15 percent of his income. The relatively low figure is raising eyebrows because it’s on par with the rate paid by many middle-class households. That’s despite the Republican presidential candidate’s impressive income of $45 million over the past two years.

The disparity seems to fly in the face of the basic rule that tax rates move in tandem with wages; the more you earn, the more you pay. So Romney’s disclosure may stir suspicions that the system is tilted toward the rich.

In his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Barack Obama focused on the issue by noting that a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households.

“We need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes,” Obama said in a speech that repeatedly touched on the gap between the rich and poor.

On average, the wealthy pay taxes at a much higher rate than the middle-class individuals. But the primary reason that many pay a lower tax rate is that more of their income comes from investments, which is generally taxed at a far lower rate than wages.

Even if investment income doesn’t play a big role in your finances, understanding the basics of how tax rates work can help even the average wage earner save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year.

Here’s an overview of what you need to know:

Although it’s common to grumble about taxes, taxpayers often don’t know precisely what percentage of their income goes to the government. So an essential starting point is to look at how tax rates are applied.

Taxpayers can currently fall into one of six federal tax brackets depending on their taxable income. This amount includes items such as wages and distributions from retirement accounts. The tax rate for each bracket ranges from 10 percent to 35 percent. This is the most basic building block of tax planning because your taxable income can be reduced considerably by various credits, exemptions and deductions.

Here’s the breakdown of how much single filers would pay in federal income taxes depending on their taxable income for 2011:

1. 10 percent – income up to $8,500

2. 15 percent – over $8,500 up to $34,500

3. 25 percent – over $34,500 up to $83,600

4. 28 percent – over $83,600 up to $174,000

5. 33 percent – over $174,400 up to $379,150

6. 35 percent – amount over $379,150

Keep in mind that these are marginal rates, meaning your income is taxed in tiers. The first $10,000 you earn, for example, is taxed at a lower rate than the next $10,000.

So let’s say you earned $100,000, putting you in the 28 percent tax bracket. This doesn’t mean you’d fork over $28,000 in federal income taxes. It means that the amount you earn above a certain threshold is taxed at 28 percent. Your federal income taxes would actually be closer to about 22 percent of your income.

The current federal rates are set to expire at the end of this year. If Congress doesn’t act by then, the rates would revert to levels from before the Bush-era tax cuts, which ranged from 15 percent to 39.6 percent.

For now, federal income tax rates overall are near historic lows, says Joseph Rosenberg, a research associate at the Tax Policy Center in Washington, D.C. He also said that nearly half of Americans do not pay any federal income taxes as a result of various exemptions given to those with dependents and limited incomes.

Federal income taxes are only a piece of the larger tax picture, however. Payroll taxes, which go toward Social Security and Medicare, eat up another 5.65 percent of wages. That rate returns to 7.65 percent if the payroll tax cut pushed by Obama isn’t extended past February.

State taxes are another factor and can vary widely, with rates ranging from as low as 3.4 percent in Indiana to 11 percent in Hawaii and Oregon, according to H&R Block’s Tax Institute. A handful of states, including Alaska and Florida, do not have an income tax.

Not all income is taxed at the rates outlined above. A key exception is any money earned from long-term investments, such as stocks, mutual funds and real estate held for at least a year. This income is classified as capital gains and is taxed at a flat 15 percent. That’s regardless of whether it’s $100 or $1 million.

“This is why someone who’s a millionaire might have an effective tax rate that’s lower,” said Gil Charney, a tax analyst with H&R Block’s Tax Institute. “A higher percentage of their income is going to be from long-term investment income.”

In Romney’s case, a chunk of his income in 2010 and 2011 came from Bain Capital, the private equity firm he founded and managed between 1984 and 1999.

Bain still pays Romney “carried interest,” which is a classification of pay for managers of hedge fund and private equity firms. Critics say this type of compensation and should be taxed as salary at ordinary rates. But as it stands, carried interest is considered capital gains because it’s profit in excess of what investors paid into the fund, Charney said.

The tax rate for capital gains wasn’t always 15 percent. The rate has moved up and down through the years. In the 1970s, for example, the figure was close to 40 percent. And if Congress doesn’t act by the end of the year, the capital gains tax rate will revert back to 20 percent.

Tax rates are subject to political influences. But there are a few standby strategies taxpayers can use for reducing their tax bill.

A key tactic is to reduce taxable income; this is why financial planners are such advocates of maximizing contributions to 401(k) accounts. Workers can reduce their taxable income by as much as $17,000 a year. For traditional individual retirement accounts, the maximum contribution is $5,000 a year.

Most large employers also let workers set aside up to $5,000 of pre-tax wages in a health care flexible spending account. This money can be used for a variety of medical costs, including co-pays, prescription drugs and supplies such as cold packs.

There are also numerous tax breaks for donations and education and health care costs that you may incur anyway.

Not everyone will be able to get their tax rate down to 15 percent. Yet there are numerous steps you can take to minimize your tax bill.

Follow Candice Choi at twitter.com/candicechoi

Jan
27

No time to file tax return? File for IRS tax extension @ Green Extension Tax

1327687876 18 No time to file tax return? File for IRS tax extension  @  Green Extension Tax

Every year brings new tax season and along with it great stress and anxiety among tax payers. Why? Because tax season means collecting tax papers, doing complex calculations, contacting IRS and etc. Result? Stress, time consumption and more stress. Did you know that during the tax season, most of the people lose on their sleep and hence suffer health consequences?

If you are going through the same situation then I say stop NOW. Your health and peace of mind is more important. Keep your papers aside, stop all your calculations and relax. You don’t have to stress over your taxes because you have the option to get your tax return due dates extended by 6 months. Yes, you heard it. You have till October 15th to file your tax return. Wondering how is this possible? Simple, get hold of tax extension form and file it with the IRS.

There are 2 types of tax extension forms.

Personal tax extension (IRS form 4868) – This form is used by individuals, single member LLCs, sole proprietors, 1099 filers and etc to get an automatic 6 month extension on their tax filing due dates. Efile form 4868 and say goodbye to your April 17th tax return deadline.

Business tax extension (IRS form 7004) – This form is used by corporations, multi member LLCs, partnership firms and etc to file their business tax returns on a later date. If you think that you won’t be able to collect all the tax papers to file your return by the due date, go for IRS tax extension. Refer to the tax extension deadlines for 2012 for further details.

NOTE: many people believe that filing tax extension will give them more time to pay their taxes. However, that is NOT true. Getting a 6 months extension to file your tax return does not allow you more time to pay your taxes. If you think you owe IRS taxes, make sure you pay them along with your tax extension form 4868 or form 7004

There are 2 methods to file for tax extension:

Paper filing method and Electronic filing method

Many years back, paper filing was the only option to file tax returns and extension but due to its complexities and disadvantages, IRS introduced the efile method which is highly recommended worldwide. Want to find out how?

If you opt for paper file method for tax extension filing, you would first have to purchase the form, fill in the form (search Google for tax extension instructions). Do complex calculations to find out tax amount due to IRS, post the tax extension form back to IRS along with your tax amount cheque and even if your tax extension is approved, you won’t get any acknowledgement from IRS.

Imagine the complexities paper filing carries with it, along with huge costs and time consumption. Besides that paper file depletes our environment. Every year thousands of trees are sacrificed so that more and more paper can be produced. But if you stop paper filing, it would be a boon for the environment.

Electronic filing, on the other hand is super quick, easy and secure. Moreover, if you efile tax extension, then IRS will also provide you acknowledgment via email within few days. Efile is fast, saves time and is cost effective with greenextensiontax.com

Jan
27

2012 1099MISC Form Printing Is Easier And Faster With EzW2 Software From Halfpricesoftcom

Syndicate this article question 2012 1099MISC Form Printing Is Easier And Faster With EzW2 Software From Halfpricesoftcom Posted By: albertoste

1099 form mailing deadline is just 5 days away. EzW2, the simple and affordable W2 and 1099 software from halfpricesoft.com is shipping to help small businesses, non-profits and accounting professionals prepare and print tax forms easily and quickly before Jan 31, 2012, the 1099 & W-2 form mailing deadline to recipients.”We found most software on the market were too complex and too expensive for small business owners,” said Halfpricesoft.com founder Dr. Ge. “We believed small business owners and HR managers need tax applications that were user friendly, super simple, affordable & totally risk free. We offer users the free trial version w2 and 1099 software. So customers can try before purchasing with no obligation. “EzW2 software supports forms W2, W3, 1099-misc and 1096. Designed with simplicity in mind, the new edition of the already popular product was updated according to the suggestions from customers including:-

Jan
27

Shenandoah Valley board approves a preliminary budget with a potential tax increase

1327685474 17 Shenandoah Valley board approves a preliminary budget with a potential tax increase

SHENANDOAH – In order to meet a Pennsylvania Department of Education timeline, the Shenandoah Valley Board of Education approved the submission of a preliminary operating budget with a potential tax increase of 4 mills for the next budget year.

The approval was made during Wednesday’s school board meeting in a 5-1 vote, with President William Grutza, Vice President Daniel Salvadore, Secretary Karen Kayes, Margaret Shustack and Joseph Alshefski voting in approval. The lone negative vote came from Richard Zimmerman. The preliminary budget totals $17,144,477 for 2012-13, which is $953,661 above the 2011-12 budget year.

The preliminary budget shows a real estate tax rate of 53.30 mills, subject to change when a tentative budget for the next budget year is determined. All other taxes remain the same. School districts must formally adopt their operating budgets by June 30.

According to the PDE website dealing with referendum exceptions, a school district that adopts a preliminary budget with real estate taxes that exceed its index may seek approval for referendum exceptions to increase tax rates by more than its adjusted index. Section 333 of the Taxpayer Relief Act, as amended by Act 25 of 2011, provides four exceptions that require approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The base index is calculated by averaging the percent increases in the Pennsylvania statewide average weekly wage and the Federal employment cost index for elementary/secondary schools.

During the public comment on agenda items portion near the beginning of the meeting, the preliminary budget was questioned, particularly the possible tax increase.

"With the real estate tax, we’re already at the highest level and since the 53 is over that limit, it’s going to have to be put on the ballot," Annie Morrisey said.

"What we’re going to do is request referendum exceptions, Business Manager Anthony Demalis said. "There are two exceptions that we can apply for. We have to apply for those, and the state would have to approve them, but there is no guarantee they will be approved."

"Am I correct that it would go on the ballot for the increase?" Morrisey said.

"If the board so chooses to do that, it could go on the ballot," Demalis said. "If PDE denies (the referendum exceptions), it’s possible the board may choose not to do so (increase above the index limit)."

"This is all preliminary," Grutza said.

After the meeting, Demalis said since the preliminary tax millage will exceed the indexed limit of 1.331 mills, the school district would be required to get voter approval on any tax increase above that limit unless it receives approval from PDE for referendum exceptions.

"If we would have agreed to not raise above the index, we would have been required to send in a few pieces of paper (to PDE) and wouldn’t have to go through the full-blown budget," Demalis said. "The two exceptions would involve increase in retirement costs and special education, which is the biggest one at this point."

Demalis said the next step is for PDE to decide whether to grant the referendum exceptions. If approved, the school district will not be required to put a ballot referendum for the 2.669 mills over the index, assuming that the final budget will include the total increase.

"If not approved, then we can either increase by only 1.331 mills without a referendum, or if we go above that index limit, we would have to put it on the ballot," Demalis said. "There is a timeline that has to be followed and that’s why we’re doing this so early (in the year).

Demalis said there are four budget areas for next year that have significant increases, which are factors in the preliminary millage increase. The four items that impact on the budget are:

- Cyber-charter school tuition – approximately $250,000

- Retirement benefits – $257,945

- Special education – $201, 514

- Health benefits – $247,654

"That’s pretty much the increases from one budget compared to the next," Demalis said. "And most of them are really beyond our control."

Jan
27

Online Sellers Brace for a New Tax Filing Requirement

1327684268 95 Online Sellers Brace for a New Tax Filing Requirement

Have you had a nice side income selling stuff on eBay or through PayPal? Sales you maybe conveniently forgot to declare at tax time?

Well, that party is officially over.

Thanks to our revenue-hungry, debt-strapped government, the IRS is now keeping tabs on what you've been selling on eBay, Amazon or your own company's website. If you've used PayPal or other popular payment-collection tools to sell products or services, you may see a crisp new 1099-K form from your payment provider. This change is a biggie.

Over the years, an industry sprang up around small, online sellers and resellers who neglected to include their Etsy or eBay income at tax time. It was like running a lemonade stand, or the equivalent of a cash business.

That's no longer the case. If you conducted 200 transactions totaling $20,000 or more, you'll be getting a tax form from your payment provider declaring the amount of that income. If you're thinking about losing that form, don't — the IRS gets a copy, too.

I personally cannot wait to find out the total figure in previously hidden income this 1099-K form will reveal. I think it will be huge.

We may see some changes in the marketplace, too. Smaller sellers may keep a sharp eye on that $20,000 figure and just shut their stores down for the year if they get close to that threshold.

Other, more serious sellers may even lift their prices to cover the tax bite. Otherwise, they're looking at a pretty radical change to their profit margins, especially for sellers of physical goods.

Still more sellers will ramp up their business to try to reel in added sales. If more than 30 percent of an entrepreneur’s gross income just vaporized thanks to the 1099-K form, they may be looking to drive more sales volume to keep their income stable.

If you have questions about your obligations with the new 1099-K form, the IRS's website is a treasure trove of information, so start there. If you have more questions, ask a tax pro.

Does your business sell online? Tell us how this tax change affects you in the comments below.

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