Tax Day!

Are your taxes done? Filed?

The filing deadline for individuals was March 1 in 1913 (the first year of a federal income tax), and was changed to March 15 in 1918 and again to April 15 in 1955, in order to give individuals adequate time to gather their information from the previous year, organize the data and file accurately for what was due.

Punctuation marks aren’t deductible, apparently

One section of the Internal Revenue Code – 341(e)(1), if you must know – has, from the first capital letter to when you finally hit a period, more words than Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
The section, which deals with collapsible corporations, was repealed in 2004. It probably wasn’t because of the run-on sentence, but you never know.

Can’t buy me love – or tax relief

George Harrison wrote Beatles song “Taxman” as an attack on the high levels of progressive tax in Britain at the time. The lyric “There’s one for you, 19 for me” was in reference to the 95 percent “supertax” that the Beatles were subject to because of their income level.

The U.S. is no stranger to high marginal rates. During the latter part of World War II, the highest was 90 percent. (The effective or “real” rate was substantially less, it must be noted.) For comparison, right now, the highest marginal rate is 39.6 percent.

It happens in other countries, too, Director Ingmar Bergman and tennis player Bjorn Borg both left Sweden for Monaco because the tax rates were so high.

By the way, if you decide to follow their lead and leave the U.S. for tax-protest reasons, be aware that you’ll face a steep charge. An exit fee when you take your money oyut of the USA.

When the government takes your shorts

There have been many colorful acts of tax rebellion. There is one real case, well documented, in which taxpayers owed the government money and paid it with a check written on underwear… And the government cashed them.

Got a student loan? Pay attention

When student loans mature and start accruing interest, that interest is a deduction ­– but not just any deduction. It is what’s called an above-the-line deduction, with the “line” being the line of adjusted gross income on the form.

So what does that mean? Even if you take a standard deduction rather than itemized, you can still take a deduction for the student-loan interest on top of that.

Many people don’t realize, leaving their loan interest on the table.

One caveat: If Mom or Dad still list you as a dependent, you can’t claim it. But they might be able to.

We know your pets are family, but … well, they’re not, actually

Many people have tried to claim a pet as a dependent. No matter how much you love your pets (even if you love them more than your family), they can’t be claimed as a dependent.

People also have tried, unsuccessfully, to claim well-tipped restaurant servers as dependents, as well as deductions for donated blood, semen and eggs.

But you can claim this as a deduction

Gender-reassignment surgery is deductible, as long as the person is properly diagnosed with gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria.

This has not always been true, but even the IRS changes with the times and with changes in the medical community.

Everyone owes taxes – everyone

One of the big misconceptions  is that people think they didn’t owe any tax if they get a refund. You DID owe tax; you just overpaid.

And before you get too excited about that refund, remember that getting one means you gave the government an interest-free loan. If that’s less than palatable, you might want to revisit your withholding setup.

Even people in space

However, residents of the International Space Station are technically out of the country, so they trigger an automatic two-month extension. And they probably e-file.

Speaking of space explorers, there’s a story that members of the Apollo missions got hazard pay, and that was taxable ­– even though it was earned on the moon.

About that, ahem, side business

All income, even illegal income, is supposed to be claimed on your taxes.

Don’t believe it? Ask infamous gangster Al Capone, sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for not paying income tax on his ill-gotten gains. Of course, he also responsible for countless deaths, but it was the taxes that landed him in the clink.

And finally, for those of you who still aren’t finished with your taxes

Most people do not understand the nature of tax extensions… you can request one, and it gives you another six months to file and prepare. But it doesn’t give you another 6 months to pay any tax you owe. So if you owe money to the government, be aware that interest and penalties start accruing after midnight April 15, even if you don’t have to file for months because of an extension.

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Family Preparedness Webinar

On Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 2 P.M. Eastern Time America’s PrepareAthon! is hosting a webinar, “Easy Ways to Help Prepare Your Family for Disasters.”  The webinar panelists are mothers and well-known bloggers. They will offer valuable insights on preparedness and give their perspective on actions you can take before a disaster strikes. Let’s meet the panelists: 

Shelle Wells is a preparedness enthusiast and blogger who is passionate about spreading the disaster preparedness message. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and started her blog in 2012 during National Preparedness Month which takes place every September. Shelle works to “take the scared out of being prepared” by offering readers easy-to-do preparedness skills on her website three times a week. For the webinar, Shelle will discuss how to assemble and update your emergency supplies with a shopping checklist. Follow Shelle on Twitter at @PreparednessMa.

Erica Mueller is the owner of the Mom Prepares website.  In addition, she is a part-time web developer who has a love for all things information technology. Erica is a huge fan of cloud computing, especially when it comes to backing up important documents, files, and photos. For the webinar, Erica has chosen to discuss how to collect and safeguard critical documents using both physical and online solutions. Follow Erica and her website team on Twitter at @MomPrepares.

Tanya Ferraro is no stranger to disaster preparedness. She is the Training and Exercise Coordinator for the Fairfax County Health Department. In addition, she coordinated three Medical Reserve Corps units from southwest to central Virginia. She is a member of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a champion of the Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) model in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tanya is passionate about educating, motivating, and training others to care about their own preparedness. During the presentation, Tanya will discuss how to develop and test emergency communications plans. Follow Tanya on Twitter at @tjlasagna. 

Shelly Lopez-Gray works as a clinical nurse coordinator for Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women and a labor and delivery nurse for Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital. During the webinar, Shelly will discuss disaster preparedness for pregnant women and parents with infants. Follow Shelly on Twitter at @shellylopezgray.

We hope you’re able to join the conversation. Closed captioning will be provided. Register today!

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Ways to improve your Ergonomic Health

When people hear the words “safety training,” hard hats and yellow tape spring to mind. But did you know that the most common workplace injuries are related to everyday strains and repetitive tasks? In fact, ergonomic injuries are the most frequently reported workplace injury.

Although the term sounds complex and foreign, ergonomic injuries are commonplace and make up the majority of office injuries. They can include joint deterioration, tendon inflammation, and muscle problems. Because these injuries develop in joints and muscles and don’t often involve breaks or serious illness, they can form over time or happen all at once.

Most ergonomic injuries arise from repetitive movements, awkward posture, and overextension during moments of everyday exertion. They can also arise from repetitive pressure, exposure to vibrations, and exposure to fluctuations in temperature.

With increasing digitization of work resources and programs, employees spend more and more time each day at their desks, staring at computer screen. In fact, many chronic issues related to ergonomics—such as back problems and hypertension—have seen dramatic increases (as much as double) with the use of computers in the workplace. Anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of office workers annually report being affected. Additionally, ergonomic problems disproportionately affect older workers and those already affected by chronic health issues.

In recent years potential ergonomic problems have become a major concern in many types of businesses. Many facilities are now devoting significant time and effort to controlling the twisting, turning, stretching and other motions that place stress and strain on employees’ bodies.

Our training products on “Industrial Ergonomics” focus on potential ergonomic problems in manufacturing, assembly and warehouse environments, and cover recognizing ergonomic problems, potential adverse effects, and pragmatic solutions employees can use to address to these problems. Topics covered in these products include:

• Physiology of the body.
• Parts of the body most affected.
• Eye strain.
• Pragmatic preventative measures.
• Correct use of office equipment.
• Exercises and stress release.
• and more.

Ergonomic injuries can mean big expenditures for a business. They cause serious pain and debilitation, are difficult to properly diagnose, and can easily put an end someone’s career on the job site or at the office. There are often no cures for ergonomic injuries because repetitive movement and time usually play such a large role in how they develop. However, there are important things you can do to prevent these types of injuries from gaining traction.
Here are 5 ways you can prevent ergonomic injury:

1. Watch your posture

Whether an ergonomic injury happens all at once or gradually, posture helps build the muscles that prevent strains and helps slow deterioration by supporting joints. Keep the weight of your arms supported at all times, and square your body to your computer monitor. Avoid eyestrain by keeping your screen at arm’s length. If you’re on the phone frequently, use a headset to avoid neck problems.

2. Stay mobile and supported

Many diseases and clotting conditions can affect the leg’s blood vessels. Many can also be prevented by regular movement and stretching. Be sure to get up from your work station at frequent intervals throughout the day to stretch and walk around. Many exercises that improve circulation can be done within the confines of an office. Taking a break from your computer will also relieve eye strain and promote the natural movement of your ocular muscles.
If you work on your feet, it’s important to support your body with proper footwear. In some cases, back support can also be used to prevent similar injuries and strains.

3. Use the tools at your disposal

Many back injuries happen because employees were lifting improperly, either without appropriate help or with improper or no tools. Remember to lift from the legs without bending your back and ask for a hand if objects are awkwardly sized or weigh too much to lift. There is no universal standard for how heavy an object can be before you must use a lift or ask for help, so use your own judgment and listen to your body. Additionally, use power tools whenever possible to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

4. Keep healthy

Health is a major contributing factor to ergonomic injuries. Getting regular exercise outside the office can go a long way to preventing injury and has the added bonus of extending your life. Stay hydrated and maintain proper nutrition to avoid muscle cramps and problems. Fatigue can also play a role in many forms of stress, so be sure to get a good night’s rest.

5. Avoid risky behavior

Many ergonomic injuries happen from overextension. You can prevent them by avoiding activities that you know may put you at risk. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to let your boss know that you think something is outside of your physical capabilities. If an activity or working condition seems unsafe, report it and defuse the situation before it turns into a workplace injury.

Every job makes a different set of demands on the body. Today the issue of how this impacts employees, and what can be done to reduce or eliminate adverse effects is receiving a lot of attention. While there is much debate about many aspects of ergonomics, everyone agrees on one thing… that is by using proper ergonomic techniques, employees can be safer and more productive as well as feel better at the end of the day.
Our training products on “Office Ergonomics” address how to recognize ergonomic problems, the potential of adverse effects and practical solutions employees themselves can use to help deal with ergonomic problems in the office. Topics covered in the products include:

• Physiology of the body.
• Parts of the body most affected.
• Eye strain.
• Pragmatic preventative measures.
• Correct use of office equipment.
• Exercises and stress release.
• and more.

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