Michelle Steel Assists Small Business Owners in San Diego

San Diego Small Business Fair Presents Creative Solutions for Tough Economic Times

Michelle Steel, Southern California's elected taxpayer advocate, 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, and other local agencies will be available to assist attendees at this BOE sponsored Small Business Fair.

Event: San Diego Small Business Fair
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (check-in at 8:30 a.m.)
Place: The Handlery Hotel and Resort
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
(Parking: $3.00 with validation at the check-in table)

Topics presented include: Basic Sales and Use Tax, State Income Tax and Small Business, Social Networking 101 for Businesses, Financing, Marketing, Surviving the Downturn, Sales and Use Tax: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls, Employee or Independent Contractor, Better Business Through Better Records, and The Bottom Line – Top Dollar Advice for Tough Economic Times.

To register, call 888-847-9652 or register online at: www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/seminar.cgi?FLAG=103. For more information on this San Diego 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.