The Chinese American Presence in Phoenix.

November 23rd, 2005 by admin

The Chinese have been a part of Phoenix history from the 1870's to the present. Their story is one of struggle and success in building a new life in Arizona through entrepreneurial effort and family connections. Along the way, Americans of Chinese descent were able to combine American culture and their own cultural traditions. This created a situation of living in two worlds, with the richness of both cultures coming together in creating a new identity and life for generations to come. 

 

The Chines Chamber of Commerce of Arizona Invites you to join us for our 69th Anniversary and Chinese New Year of the Rat Celebration Dinner

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

 

6:30 PM

Great Wall Cuisine

5057 N 35th Ave, Phoenix AZ

To RSVP, Please send email to rosalind@cccarizona.org


ARIZONA CIVIL RIGHTS
ADVISORY BOARD
In conjunction with
The Attorney General’s Office
Civil Rights Division
Will host a
RACIAL PROFILING FORUM
At
Phoenix College
Dome Conference Room
3310 N. 10th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
March 6, 2008 from 6-8 PM
The Board has authority pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1402(A) to make periodic surveys of the existence and effect of discrimination in the enjoyment of civil rights by any person within this state, to foster the elimination of discrimination through community effort, and to issue publications of the results of studies, investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote goodwill and the elimination of discrimination between persons because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status or national origin. The Board would like to hear from community members, organizations and law enforcement about racial profiling incidents that they or others have encountered in Arizona, the existence of racial profiling in Arizona, its impact on the lives of Arizona citizens, and suggestions for addressing it.

Save the Date…

 

 

Arizona Small Business Forum

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Please join us for our upcoming Arizona Small Business Forum. Meet representatives from the following agencies (and others) to learn about hot topics that affect your members and address your industry’s specific issues or concerns:



·        US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

·        Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard’s office

·        Small Business Administration (SBA)

·        Internal Revenue Service (IRS)   It’s that time of year to hear the hot topics about taxes!

·        Social Security Administration (SSA)

·        Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL-EBSA)

·        Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR)

·        Maricopa Workforce Connections (MWC)

And hear from our newest partners:

  • Arizona Central Credit Union has graciously offered to host this event.  This will give you an opportunity to check out their new Small Business services and the benefits they provide to their members.

·         Arizona Attorney General’s office Attorney General Terry Goddard will provide you with information to help you protect your identity, and will provide advice about what to do if you are a victim of identity theft.  Identity theft is a serious crime. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Arizona ranked first in ID theft complaints in 2004 among all states, and metro Phoenix ranked number one among all metropolitan areas in the country. The Attorney General's Office is working hard to reduce ID theft in Arizona.

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Mark your calendars…

Date:         Wednesday February 27, 2008

Time:         8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  (Continental Breakfast/Networking 8:30 – 9:00)

Location:  Arizona Central Union

       2020 N Central Ave, Suite 100

       Phoenix, AZ 85004

Phone:       602-271-0751

Please RSVP by  February 20, 2008  Please respond by e-mail to Lisa.A.Novack@irs.gov or by calling Lisa Novack at 602-207-8417.  Please provide your name, the name of your organization, your e-mail address and phone number, and how many will attend.

Guest parking is located directly behind the building and parking will be validated—don’t forget to bring your ticket in.. The building is located off of Central and Holly just north of McDowell. To avoid construction, it’s best to use 1st Ave.  Head east on 1st Ave. and go all the way to end of street and turn right. Parking garage is on the right. 

We invite you to have at least one representative from your organization attend this informational event.  The round-table format will allow you the opportunity to interact with all of the government agencies and other small business organizations.  This is your chance to ask your members or clients to identify any issues or concerns they might have that you can bring to the table.  The issues should not be specific to a particular case, but we would appreciate help in identifying trends and general improvements that could be made to improve service to the public.  (See “Identifying Federal Tax Issues” for suggested questions to address with your members to help identify issues that might exist with IRS.)   

 Please join us for this opportunity to serve your members and to help make this a successful event!  We look forward to seeing you!

Identifying Federal Tax Issues

To assist us in working together to identify issues, we have compiled a list of questions you may want to address with your members/clients before the event.  Discuss the concept of the Small Business Forum at your upcoming meetings or gatherings and use these questions to help spark conversation about potential issues. 

If you could talk to the IRS and tell them about an issue that is running rampant in your industry and that the IRS could change, what would that issue be?

For Instance:

  • Have you recently received any written notices from IRS or had contact regarding specific issues?
  • Did you encounter any unique issues this filing season, when you prepared your return or gathered your records together? 
  • Are there any particularly burdensome issues that you encounter in your business regarding federal taxes?
  • Are there any IRS issues or areas for which you would like more information or clarification?
  • Did you utilize any of the electronic filing and paying options offered by the IRS?
    • Did you encounter any problems or burdens with these systems?  
    • Are you familiar with the electronic filing and paying options or would you like more information?
  • Have you used the IRS web site to find information, forms or publications for your small business? 
    • Did you find what you needed? 
    • Did you find it easily and quickly?
    • Are you familiar with the products and services the IRS has available for small businesses?

The IRS has recently given us the following informational links to distribute to our small business members - please review it to see if there are any items that can be helpful to you -

Upcoming Events:

Register for August 15 Free Phone Forum on Payroll and Foreign Workers The IRS invites tax professionals and small business owners and representatives to participate in a free Phone Forum about Payroll and Foreign Workers on August 15, 2007. Learn about:

  • Immigration and tax laws
  • Common types of visas
  • The difference between resident and non-resident aliens
  • Withholding rules for income and social security taxes, Form W-4 rules, and applicable international agreements

Pre-register via AT&T Teleconference Services  for one of three sessions by Monday, August 13. Please go to IRS.gov  for complete information or email us  with your questions.  IRS Updates & News Releases:

The Tax Gap: Rental Property

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=172596,00.htmlThis fact sheet is the 14th in a series to help reduce the tax gap by helping taxpayers better understand the tax code. Landlords need to be aware of everything that counts as income so they pay their fair share of taxes. They also need to be aware of all deductible expenses so they don’t overpay their taxes. In the simplest terms, rental income is any payment received for the use or occupation of property.  The article discusses various forms of rental income that may need to be declared. Landlords can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses for managing, conserving, and maintaining their rental property. Ordinary expenses are those that are common and generally accepted in the business. Necessary expenses are those that are deemed appropriate, such as interest, taxes, advertising, maintenance, utilities and insurance.   To find more resources on the tax gap — the difference between the amount of tax that taxpayers should pay and the amount that is paid voluntarily and on time, go to the Tax Gap Web site.

Treasury, IRS Release Report on Improving Voluntary Compliance

http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=172790,00.htmlThe Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service released today an IRS report addressing the agency’s implementation of the 2006 strategy to improve voluntary compliance with federal tax laws. The IRS report, “Reducing the Federal Tax Gap: A Report on Improving Voluntary Compliance,” details steps currently being taken by the IRS, as well as those under development, to address key elements of the “tax gap.” The report builds on the seven components of the “Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing the Tax Gap,” which the Treasury Department released in September 2006.  Direct link to the report: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/tax_gap_report.pdf 

National Taxpayer Advocate Releases Report to Congress; Identifies Priority Challenges and Issues for Upcoming Year

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=172415,00.htmlNational Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson delivered a report to Congress that identifies the priority issues the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate will address in the coming fiscal year. Among the key areas of focus will be improving taxpayer services, ensuring that taxpayer rights are protected in the IRS’s private debt collection initiative, and making the IRS’s offer-in-compromise program more accessible for taxpayers who are unable to pay their tax debts in full. The report also addresses the challenges the IRS is facing because of pressure to close the tax gap quickly. The tax gap represents the difference between the amount of tax owed and the amount of tax collected.  “For fiscal year 2008, both the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) face similar challenges,” Olson wrote.  “The IRS is under scrutiny for its efforts to close the tax gap, while TAS is struggling to address taxpayer difficulties that arise as a result of these very efforts.” 

Hydrogen-Powered Honda Vehicle Qualifies for Tax Credit

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=172612,00.htmlPurchasers of the 2005 and 2006 Honda FCX, which is only capable of operating on hydrogen, may rely on their certification concerning the vehicle’s qualification for the Qualified Fuel Cell Motor Vehicle Credit.   Recent Articles from e-News for Small Businesses Federal Minimum Wage Increased on July 24The Fair Labor Standards Act increases the federal minimum wage in three steps:

  • July 24, 2007, $5.85 per hour
  • July 24, 2008, $6.55 per hour
  • July 24, 2009, $7.25 per hour

See the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Web site or call the DOL toll-free help line at 1-866-4US-Wage (487-9243) for more information and a copy of the poster every employer with employees subject to the Fair Labor Standard Act’s minimum wage provisions is required to display at their business. Using Retirement Funds to Start a BusinessRecent news articles discuss using retirement funds to start a business. This is a complex area and without the guidance of a competent pension practitioner it could result in a prohibited transaction subject to taxes and penalties imposed by the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor.Generally, prohibited transactions are transactions between the plan and a disqualified person that are prohibited by law. If you are a disqualified person who takes part in a prohibited transaction the sanctions mentioned above would be applicable.  The final authority to determine whether a given transaction is a prohibited transaction rests with the DOL. DOL has issued two advisory opinions that provide some idea of how DOL treats an IRA investing in a business:

 Home Office DeductionIf you use a portion of your home regularly and exclusively for business purposes, you may be able to take a percentage of your expenses as a home office deduction.  Expenses may include the business portion of real estate taxes, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, insurance, depreciation, painting and repairs. Related Links:

 Can’t Pay the Entire Balance Due on a Tax Return?No one plans on getting behind in their taxes, but sometimes it happens. The first thing to do is contact the IRS and explain your situation. For taxpayers who cannot resolve their tax debt immediately, an installment agreement can be a reasonable payment option. If you don’t make an effort to pay the bill, or make other payment arrangements, the IRS could take more serious enforced collection action which may have an adverse affect on your credit rating. Related Links:

 Are You Aware of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit? After December 31, 2006, the Welfare-to-Work Credit was combined with the Work Opportunity Credit.  The WOC provides an incentive for businesses to hire individuals from targeted groups that have a particularly high unemployment rate or other special employment needs. There are also some changes for employees, including the qualified veterans group, hired after May 25, 2007.  The law provides immediate increases in tax incentives for employers in Renewal Communities, Empowerment Zones, and rural renewal counties.

There is an estimated $11 billion in tax incentives available to businesses that hire local residents, upgrade equipment needs, and build or rehabilitate commercial property in Renewal Communities and Empowerment Zones. These incentives include wage credits, increased deductions, accelerated depreciation, low-interest loans through facility bonds, tax savings on capital gains, and other incentives. Related Links:

·         Headliner Volume 209, Work Opportunity Tax Credits Expanded to Promote Tax Incentives for Economically Distressed Areas

  • Headliner Volume 196, Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Welfare-to-Work Credit Extended
  • Form 5884, Work Opportunity Credit
  • Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit

 Subscribe to e-News for Small BusinessesIf you would like to receive e-News for Small Businesses, please visit this link to subscribe: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=154826,00.html  

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Pig and its 68th Anniversary on March 10 at Great Wall Cuisine, 5057 N. 35th Avenue in Phoenix from 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM.  $35 PP.  For information call Rosalind at 602 955-6665 by Tuesday, March 6.

 Scholarships:  Students who are graduating this year with a B average and whose parents are members who have paid their dues for a year in 2006 are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.  Applicants need to send their high school transcripts to Jeff Gong at GetNet, 333 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85013 by February 28, 2007 and include a brief paragraph about their participation in any other school activities or organizations.

Click here to see pictures from our June 22 mixer.
Thank you to all of you who helped make this mixer a great success!

Click here to see pictures from our April 26 mixer.
Thank you to all of you who helped make this mixer a great success!


IRS broadcasts through the Web a free monthly program about current tax issues and policies.  While generally aimed at tax professionals, Tax Talk Today is available to the public and we want to ensure our partners view these informative shows. Please share this message with your staff and members/clients in the restaurant business.  All are welcome to view this program to find out more information.

The February 13th broadcast would be of interest to your organization.  The title of the program is Simplifying Tip Reporting. Our panel of experts will discuss the Attributed Tip Income Program (ATIP), a new program designed to improve tip income reporting. ATIP expands the existing IRS tip reporting and education program by offering employers and employees in the food and beverage industry an additional tip reporting program. ATIP reduces industry recordkeeping burdens, has simple enrollment requirements that do not require one-on-one meetings with the IRS and promotes reporting tips on Federal income tax returns 

Panelists scheduled to appear are:

  • Mary C. Gorman, Assistant Division Counsel (Pre-filing), IRS
    Daniel R. Lauer, C.P.A, Program Manager, National Tip Income Reporting Compliance, IRS
  • Michael M. Lloyd, Associate,  Miller & Chevalier
  • Cindy Hockenberry, Tax Information Analyst, National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)

The show also includes a taped interview with Kathy Petronchak, the new commissioner of the Small Business/Self-Employed Division of  the IRS. 

To view the show, please go to www.taxtalktoday.tv and register.  The show airs at 2 p.m. (EDT).  You can even submit questions on ATIP during the live broadcast.  Archives of each program are available online 24 hours after the broadcast, by podcast, or you can purchase a VHS copy.

Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer

If you pay someone to prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their own tax returns even if prepared by someone else. So, it is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare personal returns. Most return preparers are professional, honest and provide excellent service to their clients. Here are a few points to keep in mind when someone else prepares your return:

  • A Paid Preparer is required by law to sign the return and fill in the preparer areas of the form. The preparer should also include their appropriate identifying number on the return. Although the Preparer signs the return, you are responsible for the accuracy of every item on your return. In addition, the preparer must give you a copy of the return.
  • Review the completed return to ensure all tax information, your name, address and Social Security number(s) are correct. Make sure that none of these spaces is left blank.
  • Review and ensure you understand the entries and are comfortable with the accuracy of the return before you sign.
  • Never sign a blank return, and never sign in pencil.
  • If you have provided specific authorization in a power of attorney filed with the IRS, you may have copies of notices or refund checks mailed to your preparer or representative; but only you can sign and cash your refund check. For further information on Powers of Attorney, refer to Topic 311.
  • A Third Party Authorization Check Box on Form 1040 allows you to designate your Paid Preparer to speak to the IRS concerning how your return was prepared, payment and refund issues and mathematical errors.

It’s important for taxpayers to find qualified tax professionals if they need help preparing and filing their tax returns. Unqualified tax preparers may overlook legitimate deductions or credits that could cause clients to pay more tax than they should. Unqualified preparers may also make costly mistakes causing their clients to incur assessed deficiencies, penalties, and interest. Here are some suggestions to consider when hiring a tax professional:

  • A paid preparer must sign the return as required by law.
  • Avoid preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers. If your returns are prepared correctly, every preparer should derive substantially similar numbers.
  • Beware of a preparer who guarantees results or who bases fees on a percentage of the amount of the refund. A practitioner may not charge a contingent fee (percentage of your refund) for preparing an original tax return.
  • Understand that the most reputable preparers will request to see your receipts and will ask you multiple questions to determine 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 an IRS examination.
  • Choose a preparer you will be able to contact and one who will be responsive to your needs. Ask who will actually prepare the return before engaging services. Avoid firms where your work may be delegated down to someone with less training or some unknown worker. You should know exactly who works with your tax matters at all times and how to contact him or her; after all, you are paying for it. Determine if the preparer is exporting your return to a foreign country for preparation. Foreign countries do not have the same security and privacy laws as the United States nor is there any recourse should your information be compromised as a result of lax or nonexistent privacy procedures.
  • Investigate whether the preparer has any questionable history with the Better Business Bureau, the state’s board of accountancy for CPAs, the state’s bar association for attorneys or the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) for enrolled agents.
  • Determine if the preparer’s credentials meet your needs. Is he or she an Enrolled Agent, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Tax Attorney? Only attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters including audits, collection actions and appeals. Other return preparers may represent taxpayers only in audits regarding a return that they signed as a preparer.
  • Find out if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization that provides or requires its members to pursue continuing education and holds them accountable to a code of ethics.
  • Check IRS.gov for information regarding abusive shelters and other tax schemes and scams. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
  • The IRS can help many taxpayers prepare their own returns without the assistance of a paid preparer. Before seeking a paid preparer, taxpayers might consider how much information is available directly from the IRS through the IRS Web site. Check out these helpful links:
    • e-file for Individual Taxpayers
    • Free File
    • Free Tax Return Preparation For You by Volunteers

Unfortunately, unscrupulous tax return preparers do exist and can cause considerable financial and legal problems for their clients. Examples of improper actions by unscrupulous preparers include the preparation and filing of false paper or electronic income tax returns that claim inflated personal or business expenses, false deductions, unallowable credits or excessive exemptions.

Tax evasion is both risky and a crime, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Remember, no matter who prepares a tax return, the taxpayer is legally responsible for all of the information on that tax return.

Report suspected tax fraud and abusive return preparers by completing Form 3949-A and mailing it or a letter with similar information to:

Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888

Minority certification covers 2 cities, ADOT 

Now getting certification as a disadvantaged business enterprise with the city of Phoenix means a business is certified in Tucson and with the Az Dept of Transportation as well.

The three recently signed an intergovernmental agreement to acknowledge each other's certifications.

About 1,000 businesses are DBE-certified statewide. To become certified, a business must prove that at least 51 percent of the firm is owned by an African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American or Native-American, or by a woman.

(Arizona Republic, February 28, 2005, Section D4)

To view the following documents, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. 

Newsletter January 2004.pdf

Newsletter March 6, 2004

Chinese Chamber of Commerce 2004 New Year's Banquet
February 28, 2004 - Click here to view pictures

 

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