The Small Business Tax Help Blog

Posts Tagged ‘statistics’

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Today, it seems like everybody and their dog has a blog of some sort. So, you think, what can a real estate blog do for me and my business? The answer is: a lot, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to make it so.

A good blog is, as far as the search engines go, an ever-changing webpage that constantly offers content. This is a great place to be, from a search-engine-optimization (SEO) point of view. A website that is constantly offering new content is a good thing as far as Google is concerned. If you’re offering up-to-date, relevant info about your areas of operation, that’s gold as far as both Google and your readership are concerned. People are always looking for relevant information about their chosen home neighborhood and what’s happening.

A blog that is merely a series of home listings isn’t going to attract much attention. While you can certainly showcase homes you have to sell, try to make them interesting to more people than those who want a 4 bedroom rancher with 2 bathrooms and a charming expanse of front lawn. Perhaps you can talk about this listing’s neighborhood, the history of ranch homes or interesting things people do with bedrooms that are no longer required for guests and family members. Use your blog to capture the interest of people in general, rather than repeat something that is already amply represented elsewhere on your site.

Other topics you can focus on are local housing prices, the economy and how it is affecting home buying and selling in your area, events in your area, tax information/issues, tips for general home buying/selling… the list goes on and there’s plenty of ideas you can get off of the internet. Make it relevant to the times, make it apply to people interested in your area, make it apply to real estate and you will have a good base for a blog. Occasional forays into seasonal-appropriate topics or local news provides some interesting diversions.

This is a project for the real estate businessperson who likes to write or has someone who can write for them. It is not worth starting a blog if you’re just going to parrot someone else’s words, even if they lie in the public domain. It’s already been done before; enough that Google does not reward it with rankings. It also is boring for any human visitor who comes to your site looking for information your competitors haven’t already given them. If you’re just copy/pasting information they’ve seen before, you’re not likely to appear to advantage. Be original.

Spelling and grammar still say a lot about you. Use spell check and grammar checks. Read through your blog posts to ensure that they make sense to other people. Get someone to read them over for you if you lack the skills to do so yourself. The purpose of spelling and grammar is to clearly convey your thoughts on the subject at hand; it is the mark of a careful and conscientious person.

A blog can be a great way of getting yourself and your real estate business out into the local eye. If people are coming to see what you have to say from day to day, they may start viewing you less as just another Realtor and more as someone they can rely on for good information and advice in your area of expertise. That in itself may earn you clients; for the rest, it may open doors to potential clients that have hitherto been closed to you.

Report says area is nation’s most dependent on outsiders

Southern Nevada’s dependence on tourism has been common knowledge for years, but a new report suggests that it’s the most tourism-dependent economy in the United States. The Las Vegas area ranked first, second or third in five of the six comparisons, and in the sixth index, it ranked fourth out of the 23.

Ranking Member Dave Camp on Fox Business Discussing the Democrats’ Job-Killing Tax Increase

Question: Does the Canada Employment Amount on Canadian tax returns apply to self-employed persons?

It doesn’t look like it, since you have to put the amount on the spaces which are designated for earnings with T4 slips , and other employment income.
Yet further down, there’s the little chart for the self-employed.
Oops, it looks like the government forgot to include us!
So they evaded the real question, and the answer is “No”.
It’s not fair, is it?
Self-employment, is after all, employment, and we should get that credit like every other employed person.
The self-employed should raise a protest about this to our government.
What about all the farmers and fishermen? The lose out too, don’t they?

Answer: Hi responder, I am also self employed and wondered about this line 363 too.

AS PER CRA:

Line 363 - Canada employment amount
Employees are eligible to claim an employment amount.

Claim the lesser of:

$250; and
the total of the employment income you reported on line101 and line104 of your return.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/individuals/topics/income-tax/return/completing/deductions/lines360-390/363-e.html

I called CRA about it several weeks ago.

It sure doesn't make sense to me either, because those who get sick benefits from their employers and report "income" on line 104 are getting this credit, while people like you and I, who are indeed self employed, don't receive any value at line 363.

Hardly seems fair, does it?

But, as the saying goes...rules are rules, and unfortunately, the self employed get nada on this one.

I hope my information helps you.

ADDITIONAL NOTES AT 8:38 PM EDT

When I first read the guide and looked at the quick tax program, I honestly thought it was an error, it just didn't look right to me.

Responder, you are 100% right when you say that "self-employment, is after all, employment, and we should get that credit like every other employed person", particularly as self employed individuals, considering that we are paying both shares of CPP as self employed proprietors, and are more deserving of this credit than those who report "sick benefits" on line 104 and get this amount.

Do you suppose that's why CRA didn't give us this credit?

ADDITIONAL NOTES AT 8:40 PM EDT

Yes, the farmers and the fisherman are in the same boat as us self employed (forgive the pun), none of us get this claim at line 363, which is worth a whopping $38.12 ($250.00 multiplied by 15.25% federal tax rate).

ADDITIONAL NOTES AT 8:48 PM EDT

I intend to call my MP's office after tax season ends and make some noise on this issue.

I am just not sure if I will be heard, since my MP for my area in Ontario is Belinda Stronach, and she has herself made her fair share of "noise" this past year.

After the crises: assessing the costs and benefits of financial liberalisation

Mr Governor, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour to have been invited to give the fourteenth Chintaman Deshmukh memorial lecture, and a great pleasure to be with you here in Mumbai.

Going freelance: the self employed dance instructor

Question: What is the tax rate for independent contract labor in Texas (federal and self-employment tax combined)?

I recently started working for someone who owns his own business, but I’m considered independent contract labor or a “sub-contractor.” I have to file my own taxes quarterly, and I need to know what percentage of my checks I need to pay for taxes. I live in Texas, so the only taxes I have to pay are federal and self-employment. Could someone please tell me what the total percentage is?

<3 ::ReN::

Answer: visit IRS.gov site for valid answers or pick up income taxe books at bookstore/library.

make sure u keep 'good' books.

Pilots withdraw rate-hike request

Ship pilots in Galveston and Texas City abruptly decided to drop their request for a controversial rate increase.

Mortgage Crisis Blame: Bush Tried, Dodd and Barney Frank Blocked. "Bushs Brain" Speaks

Leo Hindery, Jr.: The ‘Real Unemployment’ Needs Real Solutions

“Everyone agrees that the recession is over”, said Larry Summers, President Obama’s top economic advisor, on December 13. Yet December’s unemployment numbers announced last Friday…

New Labour to savage UK mortgage market (19Oct09)

Question: Why is it so hard to start a small business?

There’s taxes, weird ID numbers, arcane terms like ‘LLC’ and ‘equity.’ Is it legal to just start selling stuff?

Answer: It is illegal to just start selling stuff. But people do it all the time.

If it was easy, everyone would do it! Starting a small business is alot of work, alot of headaches, and alot of rewards. It's not for everyone.

Imagine if every one started a business and stopped paying taxes., what would happen then? What would pay for all of our infrastructure which you need to run your business? LLC, INC, these were created to protect you as the business owner, each has adv/disadvantages.

The path to starting a small business isn't extremely hard, if you are willing to take the steps.

LLC tax proposal stirs up sound, fury and competing statistics

Busloads going up to Plymouth to protest. Outrage on editorial pages. Anti-tax petition drives.

Tax Benefits Home Business Intro