News About Virtual Assistance

Congressional Bill Would Provide Tax Incentives for People from Home

A bill recently introduced into the US Congress provides incentives for employers to set up telecommuting programs and simplifies some of the US tax code that applies to working from home and home-based businesses. Currently, the US offers no significant tax relief or incentives for companies to institute work from home arrangements for employees, so the bill, if passed, would be a major step in the right direction to spur work from home job opportunities.

Named the Parents' Tax Relief Act of 2007, the bill sponsored by Senator Brownback of Kansas and Congressman Terry of Nebraska includes items of interest to employers, those who work from home and those who operate home businesses. The bill doesn't seem to have a whole lot of support right now and is in danger of being lost in committee, so parties of interest are urged to contact their Senators and House representatives to encourage their support and help the bill get some much-needed attention.

Three important tax relief items in the bill include:

A simplified flat rate office-in-home deduction of either $2500 or the total profit from your home-based business, whichever is less, in place of the current red tape, complexities, and record-keeping nightmare of the deduction for the expenses related to a portion of a home that is used exclusively for business.

An employer's tax credit of $2400 for each employee who begins telecommuting during the tax year.

Excluding the value of any telecommuting equipment provided by an employer, including computers and broadband Internet access equipment, from a work-from-home employee's taxable income .

If passed, this bill would mean substantial relief for home-based businesses and for at-home workers and their employers and it would also provide a tax incentive for employers to create telecommuting programs.

http://homebusiness.about.com/b/a/007444.htm

IREAA Shines The Spotlight on Cindy Colucci of Assist U, LLC

ASSIST U, LLC
Name: Cindy Colucci
Business Name : Assist U, LLC
Location: Old Bridge, New Jersey
Web site: www.assistullc.com
Email Address: cc@assistullc.com

How long have you worked in real estate?
7 Years and licensed. I'm still at the J-O-B as an inhouse assistant but also provide virtual assistance.

Why are you interested in real estate?
I love the different and challenging aspects of the industry. And I do enjoy working with the diverse personalities of agents, and I'm very good at it!

What is your specialty?
General Administrative skills, but desktop publishing and graphics are what I really enjoy. Especially when it comes to marketing materials for agents.

What is your best quality?
My personality, ability to prioritize, extremely oriented with an immense desire and determination to make my business grow and become very, very successful!

Any advice to other VAs?
Be enthusiastic about what you do. Have a dream/goal and don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't do something. Don't procrastinate. If you want something bad enough...Go out and achieve your goals. Be strong, and don't ever let others wear you down. Be seriously about some things, but please don't ever take life so serious that all the good stuff passes you by. SEIZE THE MOMENT!

http://www.ireaa.com/ezinearchives/IREAAezine_2007-5.html

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