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Show Salina SunGunnison Valley News Wednesday. March 10. 1999 Page 3 By David Sung Aminals s t - fr . r nouj REMEMBER SON THE BEST UjAY To A MAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HIS , T T STOMACH I Its easier to get tax help and information from the Internal Revenue Service. Print, fax, telephone and computer services are available all year long. Here are some numbers to remember. 800 and 877 numbers are - Free forms and publications Get (1 Publication 9 0 for a list of most publications, some in Spanish. of most IRS forms and publications buy a CD for $25 from the National Technical Information Service at or for $ 8 at www.irs.ustreas.govcdorderson the Internet. - Recorded tax messages on TeleTax toll-fre- e. 1 CD-RO- 1 1 for automated refund information and to hear over 140 tax topics, some in Spanish. - Hearing-impaire- d tax assistance f usi ng TTYTDD equip- ment. Tax assistance - Taxpayer Advocate - to helpcut through red tape when problems cant otherwise be resolved. - IRS on the Internet Web: www.irs.ustreas.gov File Transfer Protocol: ftp.irs.ustreas.gov Telnet: iris.irs.ustreas.gov -- Modem - Forms and instructions by TaxFax dial from the fax Family Business Estate Tax means tax treatment special small businesses Family-owne- d get special treatment on their estate taxes. For 1998, up to $675,000 of the value in qualified, family-owne- d business interests can be excluded from a decedents taxable estate. I To qualify for claiming the special busitax treatment, the family-owne- d ness interest must be more than 50 percent of the decedents estate and the decedents family must own at least 30 percent of the business. A business meets the definition of family owned if it is owned at least 50 percent by one fami ly, at least 70 per cent by two families, or at least 90 percent by three families. The exclusion will decn ase in the future as the value of the regular estate tax exclusion increases. The total value of both exclusions will be limited to $1.3 million. Get Ready for Year 2000 On January Administrations Y2K Web site explains how to take this test. Second, take action now. People should fix any Y2K problems they problem or the Y2K bug. It may uncover, and test their results. They cause problems for businesses unless can ask their vendors for assistance. Third, stay informed. Logging on to they act now. This is not just a computer problem. various Internet Y2K sites is an excelIt could affect any equipment that uses lent way to stay current, and the SBA a computer chip, as well as the suppli- Web site is a good place to start. ers and business partners small busiBusinesses should ask their banks, nesses rely on. Here are three steps building managers, suppliers, customers and others critical to their business every business person should take. test. if they are Y2K compliant. First, take a For more information, contact the People should check their computers, as well as any electronic equipment SBA at or at that uses embedded elec- www.sba.gov on the Internet. tronic chips. The U.S. Small Business 1 , 2000, some computer-base- d systems will begin processing information as if it were January I, 1900. This is called the Year 2000 nt time-sensiti- Soundscape Jazz Concert A Thursday, March 11, 1999 at 7 p.m. Gunnison Valley High School Auditorium Admission: $2 Sponsored by The Gunnison Valley Arts Council t Anderson Tax Service Johnny Anderson, Certified TCA Consultant 528-716- or 2 528-353- 9 New Location: 88 South Main, Gunnison (Next to the STAR Theatre) 'f J Me! 1 Change of Address will affect tax return Department 1 -- m FOR ALL YOIJIl BOOKKEEPING NEEDS . . . Looking for help with buying or selling a home? l The Speaker will be Vic Saunders of the 'Charitable Remainder Unitrust' (Bring your own dishes) mm sat 835-856- 3 Norman Jensen at ntmiTiTrnrmmMii OPY Rose Wichael Give Freida McCaleb and Rose Wichael a call today! 4 KwwmxxxxMxrKXJ miums. Consumer access to the department is available through its web site at www.insurance.state.ut us. Information such as the followingcan be found there: Private Passenger Auto Comparison Table Homeowners Insurance Comparison Table Medicare Supplement Comparison Table a list of long term care insurers market share reports in32 lines of insurance showing the top 20 companies administrative action taken against insurers, agents and agencies steps in filing aconsumer complaint links to other web sites that may be of interest to consumers (i.e.. Insurance Fraud Division. Industrial Commission, FEM A, Utah Office of Health Data Analysis, etc t Contact with the department by fax is also available at 801 may be sent to addresses on the web site or to idmain.jwhitbvtg'state.ut.us. Personal visits to the department may be made at the State Office Building behind the Capitol Budding in Room 3110, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. i 538-382- u i Diabetic Screening March 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Gunnison Valley Hospital reception area. We will be doing free pressure checks. N. 529-121- Utah's Insurance Department is one 29 states that have organized an insurance fraud division. In 1996,Utah lost an estimated $649.5-miIlio- n as a result of insurance fraud. These losses filter down to the consumer who pays for it in increased prices when buying insurance and goods and services. Reduction of fraud reduces insurance pre- of FREE American West Realty Richfield 375 Main Salina 69 E. Main 896-844- 4 in each of these three divisions improving the departments response time to consumer needs. blood sugar and blood 1 283-437- 528-355- Freida McCaleb i i in ok' USU Development Office Steve Frischknecht at 6 Jay Olsen at 1 Consumers can find help at the Utah Insurance 4 For Tickets. Contact afternoon session will emphasize the importance of a coordinated community response to domestic violence, particularly perpetrator treatment accountability. Successful intake and tracking protocols developed by the Washington County Domestic Violence Coalition will be discussed. Use of these protocols has greatly reduced by perpetrators to court ordered treatment in Washington County. The afternoon seminar will also look at the importance of the Judicial response todomestic violence, specifically, ordering perpetrators to complete domestic violence treatment and the imposing of serious consequences when that does not happen. A panel format using a case scenario will be used, with members of the panel coming from law enforcement, prosecution, the court DCFS, shelter workers, treatment providers, and victim advocates. Hours for continuing education will be given by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Utah State Bar. We suongij c.wu..ugc our judges, prosecutors, and attorneys to take advantage of this opportunity to see how a county coalition has established an effective approach for handling domestic violence perpetrators. We believe that will be a beneficial education experience for all. Since empirical research on domestic violence began in the 1970s, it has become clear that without intervention, a significant percentage of do- Hire March 18, 1999 at 7 p.m. in the Centerfield LDS Ward Building 436-828- RapeSexual Assault Program Coordinator mestic violence cases escalate into more serious incidents over time. Traditionally, the primary social institution initially intervening in domestic abuse cases is the local law enforcement agency. Prosecutors, in turn, are responsible for the evaluation of police actions when the incident results in an arrest. The prosecutor receives and assesses the sufficiency 5laS Dtv'Pi of complaints and evidence collected by law enforcement, and acts as the peoples representative in the court to bring about formal sanctioning of unacceptable and criminal conduct. Finally, judges have the express responsibility to adjudicate the conduct of a particular offender as well as interpret and rule on the constitutionality of laws. Ideally, law enforcement, the by Elaine Blackburn judicial system, and victim services Administrator, Richfield work together to protect victims and Rehabilitation and Care Center punish perpetrators. On March 19, 1999, Jges, prosOver the past 23 years of working at "Reason for leaving last job: Matu- ecutors, and attorneys in .ur area will Richfield Rehabilitation and Care Cen- rity leave." have an opportunity for an excellent It's best for employers that I not educational ter, I have reviewed hundreds and hunexperience. A judicial dreds of applications for work. Many work with people." seminar will be held at the St. training have been illegible, only partially filled Am a perfectionist and rarely if if Inn beginning at :30 George Holiday out, or even downright deceitful and ever forget details. a.m. with Judge James L. Shumate, I have an excellent track record, many times there have been some which Presiding Judge of the Fifth District contained some very humorous statealthough I am not a horse. Court, as the luncheon speaker. The Note: Please don't misconstrue my ments. I 14 list ran across a real of Recently, jobs as job hopping. I have never statements included for workand since quite a job. I could with most of them vouch that Reason for leaving last job: They value of a car that has been totaled? How long will the insurance comthese kinds of comments on applicainsisted that all employees get to work tions happen frequently, I thought it by 8:45 a.m. every morning. Could not pany pay for my rental car? Consumers outside of the might create a chuckle or two to share work under those conditions." them: "The company made me a scape- departments calling area can call the on a toll free number to I require a salary commiserate with goat, just like my previous employ- department obtain answers to such questions. The ers. extensive my experience. Last year "Received a plague for Salesperson "References: None. I've left a path number is the department received 9,045 calls on of destruction behind me. of the Year. this line. The department has a variety of brochures that can help consumers understand insurance. They include: Private PassengerComparison Table Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance Homeowners Insurance Comparison Table Consumers Guide to Home InsurGovernor Michael O. Leavitt and ance Commissioner Mcrwin U. Stewart anMedicare Supplement Comparison nounced that in 1998 the Utah Insur- Table Dont let a refund get lost or re- ance Department assisted Utah insur998 Guide to Health Insurance for turned to the Internal Revenue Serance consumers in obtaining benefits with Medicare People vice. Taxpayers should add the IRS to under their insurance policies or the Life Insurance Buyers Guide their list of people and places to notify return of premiums with a value of A Shoppers Guide to Cancer Insurabout their change of address. If the more than $1.1 million dollars. ance IRS doesnt have theircurrent address, Last year 35,806 consumers called A Shoppers Guide to Long-Terthen a tax refund or any letters about the department with insurance related Care Insurance past returns may never get to them. Fill concerns and the Department opened e ConsumersGuidetoWeatherDam-agout IRS Form 8822 and send it to the 1,064 complaint files. We were able Claims IRS. to help most of these consumers during Consumer groups wanting informathe initial phone call, noted Commistion about a certain line of insurance, sioner Stewart. "Those consumers with legislation or just to have the oppm more complicated issues required us to ask questions and receive anto set un a complaint file and to invesswers about insurance mav contact the tigate them more thoroughly. department. A specialist in almost evConsumers cal I the department with ery line of insurance i a.ailable to a wide variety of insurance concerns. attend consumer group meetings. Why is my premium going up? What In an effort to more quickly respond Taxes, Electronic Filing are the requirements of the Health Into the needs of consumers and take Bookkeeping, Payroll surance Portability and Accountabilcare of their complaints, the departity Act (HIPAA)? My claim is being ment has reorganized three of its dividenied. Can they do that? How long sions. These divisions will specialize 528-741- 5 does an insurer have to settle aclaim?" in life, health or property and casualty Hew does an insurer determine the insurance. Specialists are centralized be held Edwin Sunderland at ' by Diane O. Hendrickson, MS Tami Hansen, CPA TheSanpete County Farm Bureau Annual Banquet will j discuss abuse ' IT Call IRS for Service Seminar to 2 U-- l I I I IfJILL! I I I im J |