Richard Chapo

Getting A Copy of Last Years Tax Return

Welcome to the New Year! It’s time to do you taxes! Yes, I can hear you groan through the ether known as the internet. Complaining will get you nowhere. You have to do it and there are plenty of pitfalls that can make it a miserable experience. One such p... Read >

Tax Preparation – The Turn of the Year

We’ve turned into the new year and a new beginning. Unfortunately, that new beginning starts off with thoughts of taxes. Yes, it is the time to start thinking about your business and personal taxes. Here’s how to get through the process without going insa... Read >

Where Are Taxes Headed in 2011?

It’s that time of year. You know, when people like myself peer into our hazy crystal balls and predict the future with amazing accuracy. In this article, we take a look at where taxes are headed in 2011. As I write this, the effort to extend the Bush ... Read >

What To Do If You Think You Are Due A Tax Refund This Year

The federal government has been doing some amazing things the last few years in an effort to get the economy up and running again. Whether they’ve worked is a political hot potato that I am not even going to remotely touch in this article. What I am going... Read >

Is Your Accountant Cutting The Mustard?

We tend to view our accountants like we do doctors – we trust them without question. This is a good choice in some cases, but a bad one in others. In this article, we take a look at the question of whether your account is cutting the mustard when it comes... Read >

Be Wary When Making Donations to Charities for Haiti

Americans are phenomenal when it comes to donating money when tragedies happen. Unfortunately, there are a few scumbags in the world who will throw up websites or send out emails seeking donations for fake charities, the proverbial rip-off. Fortunately, t... Read >

New Tax Break for Business Losses

2009 may have been a tough year economically, but it has been a major year for new tax breaks. The latest is a new tax break announced by the IRS for business losses. As you might imagine, there have been a number of businesses operating at a loss dur... Read >

First Time Real Estate Buyers Beware – Tax Credits That Are Really Loans

The real estate market in much of the United States looks like a boxer after going 10 rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime - bloodied, bruised and in pain. Tax credits have been instituted to try to stop the pain, but buyers should know about a big caveat ... Read >

Single Member LLCs – Pros and Cons

The LLC is touted as a great business entity for small businesses. This is particularly true for single member LLCs. If you are considering forming one of these entities, it is important to realize there are pros and cons that need to be taken into accoun... Read >

Tax Issues When Starting A New Business

You've decided to take the plunge. You are going to start your own business. Congratulations! There are some tax issues you need to consider before you start pursuing your dream business. The first step in starting a business for tax purposes is figuri... Read >

Tax Records – How Long Should You Hold On To Them?

Doing your taxes is hardly a fun time. Once done, most people treat the process as out of out of sight, out of mind. This is fine so long as you hold on to the records you used to come up with the numbers on your return. So, just what are tax records?... Read >

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix And Match Story Lines

When writing creatively, it is rather ironic that as writers we often put ourselves in a box and then refuse to think outside of it. It is hardly creative! This is particularly true when it comes to developing the story line for your work. We pick a plot ... Read >

Choosing Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

The year is flying by quickly. Halloween is past us and Thanksgiving is coming on quickly and you know what that means - the hefty, delicious Thanksgiving Dinner. Ah, but wine are you going to drink? As you probably know by now, wine goes well with foo... Read >

The Finer Points of Fishing

To fish or not to fish - that is the question! Oh, come on. That is no question at all. We all know the answer is to fish and to fish as often as you possibly can. To that end, let us extol upon the reasons why heading out with a rod and real is just a go... Read >

Synchronize Your Marketing Pitches in a Tough Economy

Well, welcome to the end of the world. At least, that is the impression being given by the pundits. As usual, the hysteria is a bit overblown. Are things tough? Yes. Will it last? No. As always, things will turn around. It might take a few years, so until... Read >