Michelle Steel Provides Extra Assistance to Small Business Owners

Westminster Small Business Fair Presents Creative Solutions for Tough Economic Times

Michelle Steel, Southern California's elected taxpayer advocate, and Westminster Mayor Margie L. Rice today announced that representatives from the State Board of Equalization (BOE), Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, Employment Development Department, U.S. Small Business Administration, Orange County Institute for Women Entrepreneurs, Orange County SCORE and other local agencies will be available to assist attendees at this BOE sponsored Westminster Small Business Fair.

Event: Westminster Small Business Fair
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (check-in at 8:30 a.m.)
Place: Westminster Civic Center 8200 Westminster Blvd Westminster, CA 92683
(All day parking $4.00)

Topics presented include: Basic Sales and Use Tax, State Income Tax and Small Business, Developing a Business Plan, SBA Loan Programs and Services, Internet Marketing, Sales and Use Tax: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls, Employee or Independent Contractor, Better Business Through Better Records, Effective Marketing Strategies for the New Economy, and The Bottom Line – Top Dollar Advice for Tough Economic Times.

To register, call 888-847-9652 or register online at: http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/seminar.cgi?FLAG=105. For more information on this Westminster Small Business Fair, visit www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm.

Elected to the Board of Equalization in 2006, Michelle Steel serves as Southern California'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.

The five-member 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. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.