TAX NEWS - February 2009

Costa Mesa Small Business Fair

Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel, Orange County's elected taxpayer advocate, today announced that federal, state, and local government agencies will be available on Tuesday, March 10th for a free one day Costa Mesa Small Business Fair.

Representatives from the BOE, Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, Employment Development Department, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Department of Labor, the California Tax Education Council and other local, state, and federal agencies will be available to assist attendees.


Event: Costa Mesa Small Business Fair
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (check-in at 8:30 a.m.)
Place: Holiday Inn, Costa Mesa
3131 S. Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(Free Parking)

The fair topics will be presented in a two-track format to assist attendees interested in starting a business or growing a business. Track one topics include Basic Sales and Use Tax, Writing a Business Plan, State Income Tax and Small Business, Making Taxes Easier for Small Business Filing Schedule C and Surviving and Thriving in Today's Economy. Track two classes for growing your business include Marketing Your Business, The Bottom Line – Top Dollar Advice for Tough Economic Times (Panel Discussion), Sales and Use Tax: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls, Better Business Through Better Records, and Employee or Independent Contractor.

For more information, please call 888-847-9652 or visit the BOE website at www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm.

Attendees can register at www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/seminar.cgi?FLAG=95.

Elected to the Board of Equalization in 2006, Michelle Steel serves as Orange County's elected taxpayer advocate. In 2008, Steel uncovered a $42 million mistake in the agency's sales tax refund procedures. Following her investigation, the tax agency refunded tax security deposits to over 5,500 small businesses.

California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board. The BOE collects more than $53 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.