Live From WES 2008 in Orlando May 14, 2008

  How is this for a Tax REBATE present?

I am down at the BlackBerry international conference in Orlando, Florida. One thing I have noticed from here is that alot of these attendees were accountants, financial planners or sales people. Then your CEO, CIO, and CFO’s were in full bloom as well. You can truly smell the money that was running around here.

I have to say Research in Motion really laid out the red carpet.  These guys must have paid a fortune for some of the festivities and catering that was done.  The conference offically started Tuesday but the Monday night welcoming party had some of the best food I have ever tasted. I took some shots from the party and you can see them posted later. 

The biggest announcement was the new BlackBerry that is going to be launched in June. It’s called the Blackberry Bold and here it is above.  I can go into details about it but suffice it to say it’s awesome. 

For you novice Blackberry Beginners here are some sites that you need to keep in your handy arsenal. (I met the owners of all the sites)

www.pinstack.com

www.blackberrycool.com

www.blackberryhomepage.com (Great resource for a new beginner and even advanced users)

www.crackberry.com

Now, for you accountants and sales peoples there is a new program called Forms2mobile that you ought to know about.  Imagine taking one of your customized forms and being able to have it on your Blackberry and be able to send information wirelessly through it?  Thats what forms2mobile.com has done. 

The next solution I loved is www.chargeanywhere.com. This turns your Blackberry into a credit card machine. I demonstrated it yesterday and it was phenomenal.  Take your clients money anywhere you go!!!

Today I am meeting with Unify about turning my BlackBerry into a remote control for my home television. Yeah that’s what I said.  

More updates coming. 

How to Choose a Tax Preparer January 14, 2008

Taxpayers who pay someone to do their taxes should choose a preparer wisely.  If you choose to use a paid tax preparer, it is important that you find a qualified tax professional. Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for everything on their return even when it’s prepared by someone else. Do you really understand that? That means once your signature is on it, you better know what’s on there.
 
The most reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts and will ask you multiple questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for expenses, deductions, and other items.  By doing so, they have your best interest in mind and are trying to help you avoid penalties, interest, or additional taxes that could result from later IRS letters and friendly ”remember me” cards.
 
While most tax return preparers are professional and honest, taxpayers can use the following tips to choose a preparer who will offer the best service for their tax preparation needs.

• Ask about service fees.  Avoid preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers, or those who guarantee  a refund or base fee on a percentage of the amount of the refund. That is ludicrous. There rests some shade  and not the good kind.

• Plan Ahead. Choose a preparer you will be able to contact after the return is filed and one who will be responsive to your needs.Get an email address as well as numbers. Ask for cards. 

• Get References. Ask questions and get references from clients who have used the tax professional before.  Were they satisfied with the service received? Be careful though because some people could hate on a firm because they feel they should have gotten more money back and it really isnt the firm’s fault.  So, ask for a good reason and if it’s not reasonable keep asking. 

• Research. Check to see if the preparer has any questionable history with the Better Business Bureau, the state’s board of accountancy for CPAs or the state’s bar association for attorneys. Find out if the preparer belongs to a professional organization that requires its members to pursue continuing education and also holds them accountable to a code of ethics.

  We like these guys here at Capital Concepts. Give them a call and set up your tax appt now.