วันเสาร์ที่ 28 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Schedule C Tax Tips - 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Self-Employment Tax

Frustrated with the amount of self-employment (SE) tax you pay each year? You should be. The sole proprietor pays twice as much in SE tax (15.3%) as the employee pays in federal payroll taxes (7.65%). What's a Schedule C filer to do? Here are three ways to reduce the dreaded SE tax.

1. Take the home office deduction. Have you been mislead by the never-ending rumor that the home office deduction increases the chances of an audit? Such talk is bogus, and to believe it is to needlessly pay too much tax. Here's why: Don't forget that when you take a deduction on Schedule C, you are not only reducing income tax, you are also reducing SE tax. Some folks think that they are getting the same bang for their buck without the home office deduction because they can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes on Schedule A. But this is foolish thinking, because a Schedule A deduction only reduces income tax, while a Schedule C deduction reduces both income tax and SE tax.

2. Deduct tax preparation fees on Schedule C instead of Schedule A. The logic here is similar to Item #1 above. Tax preparation fees are deductible on Schedule A, but why deduct them there when you can deduct them on Schedule C and get more bang for your deductible buck?

Also keep in mind that when deducted on Schedule A, tax preparation fees are only deductible, along with other "Certain Miscellaneous Deductions", to the extent they exceed 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income. So even though you have enough deductions to itemize them on Schedule A, you may not have enough of these miscellaneous deductions to actually deduct them. That's taxes for ya!

One word of caution, however. You can only deduct tax prep fees on Schedule C to the extent those fees apply to business work done by your accountant. So you will probably have to ask your accountant to breakout his fees into business forms (like Schedule C, Schedule SE, Form 8829 and Form 4562) and non-business forms (like Form 1040 and Schedule A).

Remember, too, that your accountant might also do work for you that is exclusively business related, such as bookkeeping, software consulting, paycheck processing or payroll tax returns. Those types of fees are 100% deductible on Schedule C.

3. When it comes to calculating SE tax, get some help. The self-employment tax calculation is complicated. While the SE tax appears to be a straightforward 15.3%, it is actually a little less than that, for two reasons. First, you pay the SE tax on 92.35% (not 100%) of your Schedule C profit. And second, you get to take a deduction on Form 1040 for 50% of the SE tax. And while you must pay the Medicare portion of SE tax on all your profit, there's a limit to how much profit (plus W-2 wages) are subject to the social security portion of SE tax. How do you navigate those calculations? You don't. You spend a few bucks on a decent tax prep software program and let the computer prevent your head from spinning, or you hire a tax professional.

Looking for more small business tax tips? For a free copy of the 25-page Special Report "How to Instantly Double Your Deductions" visit http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com

Wayne M. Davies is author of 3 ebooks on tax reduction strategies for small business owners and the self-employed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Davies

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 26 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Important Things to Know About IRS Appeals

An appeal is simply the reconsideration of a lower authority's decision by a higher authority. For example, Joe Taxpayer has a federal tax debt of $50,000, is recently married, and has a newborn. Joe Taxpayer provides a financial statement and makes a proposal to the IRS repay his taxes through an Installment Agreement at the rate of $300 per month. The IRS rejects Joe Taxpayer's proposal for an Installment Agreement because the IRS views Joe Taxpayer as having the ability to make a higher monthly payment than the payment amount he proposed. Joe Taxpayer disagrees with the IRS's analysis because it appears their analysis is based on a household of one (Joe only) rather than three (Joe, his wife, and child).

In this situation, Joe Taxpayer can and should appeal the IRS's rejection of his Installment Agreement by filing the appropriate forms and identifying the issues with which he disagrees (i.e. the number of people in his household). If the decision to reject the Installment Agreement is properly appealed, an IRS will assign an appeals officer to review the rejection decision.

The scenario above is an example of an issue that may be appealed. There are different appeals procedures that apply in different situations. Below are the primary appeals process that relate to IRS collection and debt resolution issues.

Collection Due Process Hearing

The Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing is triggered by the receipt of specific IRS notices. The notices that will trigger the right to file for a CDP hearing are:

1. Notice of Federal Tax Lien and Your Right to a Hearing Under IRC 6320
2. Final Notice - Notice of Intent to Levy and Your Right to a Hearing
3. Notice of Jeopardy Levy and Right of Appeal
4. Notice of Levy on Your State Tax Refund

A CDP hearing allows the taxpayer to present their objection to the IRS's proposed action. At a CDP, the taxpayer can present financials and propose a resolution to a tax debt such as an Installment Agreement, Offer in Compromise, or Currently Not Collectible Status. Additionally, taxpayers can, in limited circumstances, dispute the tax debt.

A taxpayer has only 30 days from the date of the triggering notice to file an appeal. Once the 30-day window lapses, the right to file for a CDP hearing is lost.

If a taxpayer wants to take their issue to U.S. tax court, they are generally required to follow the CDP procedures. This makes filing a proper and timely request for a CDP hearing very important. Because failure to request a CDP hearing will forclose the taxpayer's ability to take their issue to U.S. Tax Court.

Equivalent Hearing

An Equivalent Hearing is very similar to a CDP hearing, except for these three primary differences are as follows:
1.) A request for an Equivalent Hearing can be submitted more than 30 days after receiving one of the CDP type notices discuss in the preceeding section ;
2. The IRS can continue collection efforts while an Equivalent Hearing is in progress; and
3. A taxpayer cannot move forward to U.S. tax Court if the appeals decision is adverse.

Both the CDP hearing and Equivalent Hearing can be requested by completing Form 12153 Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing.

Collection Appeal Process

The Collection Appeal Process (CAP) is much broader that the CDP process in terms of when the procedure is available. Unlike a CDP hearing, if a taxpayer is not successful, the IRS decision will generally stand and the taxpayer cannot continue the fight in U.S. Tax Court. In addition, a taxpayer cannot under any circumstance dispute the existence or amount of a tax debt. The situations that trigger the right to the CAP are as follows:

1. Notice of Federal Tax Lien
2. Notice of Levy
3. Seizure of Property
4. Denial of Request to Have Seized Property Returned
5. Rejection of Termination of an Installment Agreement

In order to appeal through the CAP, a taxpayer must make an attempt to resolve their tax issue with an IRS manager. If a taxpayer's issue is still not resolved after speaking or corresponding with an IRS manager, the taxpayer may submit a request for an appeal using Form 9423 Collection Appeal Request. Like the CDP, there are time frames within which the CAP must be filed and those timeframes vary depending on the situation.

The Tax Lady Roni Deutch and her law firm Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have been helping taxpayers across the nation find IRS tax relief for over seventeen years. The firm has experienced IRS tax attorneys who will fight the IRS on your behalf.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roni_Deutch

วันอังคารที่ 24 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Most Common Tax Deductions and Credits For Homeowners

Local Taxes
Every homeowner pays an annual real estate tax on his or her home based on its value. However, what every homeowner does not know is that this tax is fully deductible. The federal government allows you to deduct the amount you spent on local taxes-this includes local property taxes.

Casualty Losses
If a fire or storm damaged or destroyed your home, you may be able to deduct the associated expenses as casualty losses. However, there are a lot of rules and restrictions, and the actual amount you can deduct will vary upon your location and the amount of damage.

Home Office
If you work from home then you may be able to deduct your home office expenses. However, this deduction is a little tricky, and the office needs to have it's own room in your house.

Health-Related Improvements
Home renovations or other home expenses made for medical reasons can be deducted. This includes any expenses made specifically for an ill or disabled person living in the home. Some common examples of this deduction include handicap ramps, special air filters or air conditioners, and swimming pools to help treat illnesses.

Mortgage Interest
The IRS allows you can deduct all of the interest you pay on your mortgage for both your first and second home, up to $1.1 million. In fact, the mortgage interest deduction is the largest single tax break in the tax code.

Paid Refinanced Loan Points
Refinancing can be a pain, but it does come with its advantages. If you recently refinanced, then you can deduct points you paid for the new loan. However, you cannot deduct all points at one time. You must divide them evenly throughout your loan. For example, if your loan was for 20 years and you have 40 points, you can deduct 2 points a year.

Green Credit
There are dozens of credits available for "green" renovations. These credits range from getting solar panels to purchasing more energy efficient kitchen appliances. These types of credits are great to take advantage of because they help you save both money and the planet at the same time!

Selling Costs
In addition to deductions and credits for owning a home, there are also benefits if you decide to sell your home. Legal fees, advertising expenses, real estate agent's commission, title insurance, and any other expenses associated with selling your home are deductible. The IRS will even let you include things like landscaping and painting in your selling costs if you complete them with the intention of making the home more saleable.

The Tax Lady Roni Deutch and her law firm Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have been helping taxpayers across the nation find IRS tax relief for over seventeen years. The firm has experienced IRS tax attorney who will fight the IRS on your behalf.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roni_Deutch

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 22 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Quick Click Loans - Instant Funds to Pay off Your Debts Within No Time

If you are looking for fast and quick loans service, quick click loans are the most suitable and perfect deal to avail. This loans scheme is fast, easy and secure for faster accessing of loan with few clicks from your mouse. It is one of the efficient ways of getting instant cash when you require the most. This is the most reliable and trustworthy site to get the acquired cash without any hash and heftiness. You usually tend to go short in cash in the mid of the month as your monthly income get exhausted soon and your next salary is still few days away from you. Unanticipated expenses can be paid off whenever you need to with these quick and easy loans.

Advantages:

The various advantages which you can get in the application of quick loans for bad credit are even if your credit history is less than the perfect, you can still avail the easy application with simple application and easy online approval. The online mode of applying is not comprised of any hard and fast rule of staking your valuable asset on risk. This loan procedure is grooming day by day with the adding features. Arrears, defaults, late payments, CCJ, IVA or bankruptcy- all are accepted without any fusses when you apply for these loans. It is the best and quickest way to apply for the loans online. You need to devote hardly 5-10 minutes in the application procedure. You don't need to visit to the lender and standing in the long queues. You will get the feedback from the lender within few minutes and get the borrowed amount in your account within couple of hours directly in your bank account. You can cover up your short term temporary needs with urgent cash. You can get a great help at the time of distress when you are having shortage of funds and unexpected expense need to be paid off at the very moment.

Eligibility criteria:

The eligibility criteria for getting approved for quick click loans are quite simple and easy. You can acquire instant money within least time by qualifying from the given qualifications:

1. Applicant is freely to get approved if he is permanent citizen of UK and is of 18 years of age or above.
2. He should own an active checking account which should not be more than 3 months old which can be used for the direct transfer and retrieval of borrowed amount.
3. The borrower should be a salaried employee in the reputed company working there from the past six months.
4. He should earn at least the minimum salary of £1000 per month.
5. Applicant should possess a permanent residential address in UK itself.

Angela Kane has done his masters in Finance from Oxford University and is currently assisting quick loans as a finance advisor. To learn out more about quick loans, quick cash loans, quick payday loans, quick loans for bad credit and quick student loans visit http://www.quickloansuk.org.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Akangela_Kane

วันศุกร์ที่ 20 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Why Go For Loan Modification

Many people go for loan modifications for the very simple reason to save their income and home. This bank loan modification has become a tool to save oneself from getting into financial crunches. So what is this loan modification? Loan modification is a change in the loan term, reinstating the loan and getting into a payment that the borrower can afford. By choosing the loan modification program, you make some changes in your existing mortgage. A common belief that most people have about the loan modification is that it is taken when borrowers are in a dire need of changes in their loan structure. This is true but through loan modifications, you also get more benefits. When you are dealing with your finances, saving even a small percentage every month can benefit in great amount later.

In most cases, the loan modifications are opted to avoid the delinquency in the payments. In home mortgage, missing payments can lead to foreclosure and you can loss the ownership of the home. The loan modification programs can be an effective tool that you can use in case your financial status is tight and save yourself from foreclosure. With the home loans modification, the existing mortgage is restructured so that the rates are fixed to fit according to the budget of the borrower. The bank loan modification is a process that is intended for the benefit of both the lender and the borrower. The borrower will have enough time and afford the payment. On the other hand, the lender will get the due.

Loan modification is a better way out from getting your home to enter foreclosure. This is one big advantage that the loan modifications can give. You will still have your house within your ownership. The loan term will change into a longer period than the first. The loan modifications will give you a longer loan term settlement. The home loan modification now longer is more affordable, manageable and a term that will keep your financial status safe and secure. You don't have to worry about meeting the high periodic payment anymore as the new loan structure will help you to keep your finances balanced. Another benefit that the loan modification program gives is that the borrower will have a big chance to save his money. The interest rates will get lowered and with this, you can save your income more than before. Forget about high interest, high monthly payment and meeting deadlines, the loan modification is a solution to overcome your financial problem.

Instant Loan Modifications is a specialist in the loan modification field and offer their expert knowledge to keep you out of getting into a foreclosure. To know more about their program you can visit at http://www.instantloanmodifications.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Star_J

วันพุธที่ 18 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Bad Credit Loans - Sure Financial Support Despite Bad Credit Tag

Needs are unlimited whereas finance are limited. IN order to satisfy your need you keep on availing small loan one after another. With a fix salary to rely upon you might fail to cope with higher interest rate of the loan. This might turn your credit file negative and leave you with bad credit tag which is very dangerous as it might trap you from all around. At such troublesome situation when need of cash crop up and if you don't have sufficient cash you may feel stressed. Lenders reject your loan application with bad credit tag. Don't worry! Apply for bad credit loans to attain financial assistance regardless of poor credit score. These loans offer adequate funds so that borrowers can easily execute all their needs.

A bad credit tag may arise due to arrears, defaults, late payments, missed payments, CCJ, IVA or bankruptcy, divorce etc. So, all bad credit holders can freely apply for such loans to fulfill their financial requirements without any restriction.

A FICO score of 580 or less indicates a bad credit score. So, those having such score without any tension can apply for the bad credit loans. These borrowers are given based on credit history records such as late payments, amount of loan, time period of loan, residence history, negative credit information and the repayment history of the borrowers.

These loans can be derived in both, the unsecured and secured forms. Secured bad credit loans can be entailed by pledging collateral against the borrowed amount. The borrower can apply for a loan ranging from £5000-£75000 at low interest rates for a longer repayment period of 5-25 years.

On the other hand, the unsecured bad credit loans enable borrowers to enjoy freedom from collateral obligation. The borrower can apply for a loan amount within the range of £1000-£25000 for a period of 6months to 10 years. These loans carry little higher interest rate, as they are offered without any security against loan amount. At the same time they get quickly approved by the lender, due to non evaluation of property.

Thus, bad credit loans are a wonderful option to avail finance without considering bad credit score of borrowers. By making timely repayments borrowers can get a great chance to improve their credit score for future borrowing.

William Black has no formal degree in finance, but years of work that he has put in the finance industry makes him perfectly eligible to be called an expert in financial matters. To find bad credit loans, unsecured loans, personal loans, payday loans, cash loans visit http://www.infoaboutloans.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Black

วันจันทร์ที่ 16 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Credit Repair Through Debt Consolidation Loans is Not Always Necessary

When credit repair is talked about, the idea of a debt consolidation loan will often come to mind. Several banks and lenders offer this. Literally taking out a debt consolidation loan means collecting all your loans into one.

Some banks and financial establishments offer high loan limits based on your loans and other liabilities. They will provide you the amount that you need to settle all of your accounts and just retain one. They will help you pay all your debts so that you can more easily manage your debt with them.

This is a good offer to those who are financially down. This type of loan offers a low interest rate so you can avoid debt accumulation and difficult payment schemes.

To solve your credit problems, you don't have to look for financial analysts. The information that you need can be found on the internet. Many methods are out there waiting for you to take a peep and open your mind to the possibilities. As early as now, you should think about having your own credit repaired. While you are able to, you should settle all your debts and start saving for your future.

Loan consolidation is just one remedy; you can also consider other options. Actually, if you can still handle your loans, you can just keep up on the payment schedule until you are fully paid. Actually, this is the simplest yet the greatest credit repair style that you can have. You only need your desire, self-discipline and the proper mindset. Maybe getting a second job or scaling down expenses is the answer. It is up to the individual.

Looking to compare your options for debt consolidation loans? Visit http://creditsecrets.cool-reviews.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Flugenheim

Debt Consolidation Loans - Helpful Method to Pay the Bills

With the economy making it hard on most of us to get by every month, the most worrying thing on everyone's mind is paying off debts. Most families are saddled with mortgages, credit card debts, student loans, medical bills, and many more. The list can be endless and mind-blowing. No wonder many of us would rather forget it, hoping that times would improve and just praying we would be able to keep up with payments we need to make. Actually, a lot of us aren't able to keep up anymore. We don't need to wait until our credit becomes bad because of unpaid debts. Or maybe it is already bad. But the responsible thing to do is to come up with options that can help us keep up with our debts and one option is debt consolidation loans.

Debt consolidation is adding up all accounts for payment to come up with a monthly payment stretched out over a certain period of time, depending on how much we can afford to pay monthly. Debt consolidation loans are offered by some financial companies to consumers who want to do debt consolidation by paying off all debts with the loan and just having to make a monthly payment on the loan. With this option, one doesn't have to keep track of so many accounts for payment and would only need to make a payment on the debt consolidation loan.

Some people may hesitate about taking out a debt consolidation loan, thinking, heck, it is another loan and I don't want to add another one to my list of debts. Well, it will be another loan but remember, you are taking it out to erase all the other debts and just have to think of one debt, right? Don't be afraid to find out exactly how much you owe, that is important. We need to be honest with our financial standing so that we can choose a responsible and reasonable option to becoming debt-free. Let us get rid of the swagger, the half-truths, the fantasy that things will get better and that the situation is temporary. The longer we put it off, the harder it will be in the long run. The best thing to do is to do it now, at the earliest opportunity, so we don't run up more debts and more interest. And remember, once we get started on it, don't run up more debts.

But a debt consolidation loan may not be for everyone. First of all, most companies offering this option require some type of collateral, such as a home equity, to be able to qualify. And if one's credit has already gone bad, then this option may not be for you. But for those who are still able to make their payments on time, but suffering with empty pockets and sleepless nights, then maybe its time to think about making it easy on ourselves and trying to find a simpler solution to debt payments.

Contact a financial company you have a relationship with and find out if you qualify for a debt consolidation loan. Even if you have existing accounts with them, with a good track record, they may be willing to give you a debt consolidation loan.

Debt Consolidation Help provides comprehensive information about the options one has to deal with debt. Learn about how to deal with overwhelming debt at http://www.debtconsolidationhelp.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Lucy_Smith

วันเสาร์ที่ 14 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Loan and Debt Consolidation - Its Importance and How it Works

Despite hour after hour of grinding work, we often don't come to a point where we can relax in the comfort and luxury that our labor brings. Financially speaking, it seems that no amount of hard work could ever propel us to the sought-after promised land of milk, honey and luxuries. Patiently and stubbornly, we clung on to some of our most cherished ideals, and we continue with the hard work. However, to our dismay, debt is sure to accumulate. When you are in debt, it is one of the most irritating and frustrating sensations, wherein you will lose sanity trying to figure out the prioritization of settlements. It seems that you're climbing hill after hill, only to find out that for every crest you climb, another one on the horizon looms. Such cycle of things can be maddeningly dispiriting.

For people in such a condition, loan consolidation may provide a ray of hope. To start off with your consolidation program, the first step is to apply for a secured loan, as these have the best rates of interest repayment; usually, you have to provide collateral that will secure the loan such as your house, car, or real properties. After that, you are now on the bill consolidation process by bringing all of the debts you incurred under one lending institution. This lender will then be charging you monthly payments for your debt instead of the multiple and dumbfounding array of debts you had before, often at a lower overall monthly cost. But because the security you latched on to this loan is significant, debtors have to be sure they can pay in time. Otherwise, they may stand to lose all that they hold dear.

Loan and debt consolidation works when you managed to secure for a better interest than the ones you had in your previous debts. But a word of caution has to be dispensed here: consolidate your debts only if your finances are beyond repair, and you are secure in the knowledge that you make all the future payments.

My name is Dean and I own the Loans and Finance website. Like many people I have a keen interest in finance issues. If you have enjoyed reading this article then you may be interested in the Debt bill section of my site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Sturridge

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 12 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loans - What You Need to Know

People who do not know how to live within their means are most likely candidates for incurring bad debts. This is most possible when they have credit cards. If you are a wise spender, owning a credit card can be an advantage. However, if you are extravagant, impulsive yet just an average earner, it will be possible that you will be crying over your monthly bills in a few months.

Well, you can breathe for the moment. Banks and private firms can give you options in order to pay out those debts. Credit card debt consolidation loans can be one of them. But wait, this is not yet the time to relax. There are certain need-to-know facts about this option. Find out what they are.

The need for consultation

Why do you think you need this? The answer is simple. You have to know if you really need the service. Other options are available for you. They might be better in terms of meeting your preferences. Knowing all information can make you an informed client. Consultation does not only help you know your options. It also uncovers your abilities to pay the debt. Therefore, once all of these are laid out, you will be most likely to find the perfect option.

Studying the agreement

Suppose you have eager institutions to help you out. That could be a good thing because you know you do not have to waste time in convincing them with your abilities to pay. However, you need to uncover what is behind all these credit card debt consolidation loans. The monthly payment from your calculations may be lower but you might be incurring additional payments that are usually hidden. Therefore, you need to be careful with all your agreements and make sure you understand them clearly.

Other issues

Well, this may be a good business for scammers. If you ask why, the answer is simple: it is badly needed. People may pay constantly the loan yet some services may not be paying your creditors. Once you uncover this problem, it might be too late already. You can even have problems with your credit scores.

This kind of service may be a good or a bad thing. If you're not well informed about it, then you are bound to make poor decisions. It is important that you are aware with all of these things. It is agreeable if you have the urge to take the bait. Certain institutions can really make catchy ads and use double-meaning words that often can be too misleading. This is the reason why you need to educate yourself before you make the worst decision.

Credit card debt consolidation loans are not all-bad stuff. As mentioned, it is an option. Our goal here is to give you a bird's eye view of what you can expect with this service. Most of the time, it can be a good option. However, it will all depend on the ability of the debtor. If you still are the same person who doesn't know how to live with in your means, do not expect that this can work for you. Even if this is the most suitable option for you, this loan won't work or even with the other types.

Debt Consolidation Help provides comprehensive information about the options one has to deal with debt. Learn about how to deal with overwhelming debt at http://www.debtconsolidationhelp.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Lucy_Smith

วันอังคารที่ 10 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Ohio Credit Counseling Agencies Overwhelmed by Debtors

Getting an appointment with a credit counselor that serves Ohio can be frustrating. Nonprofit credit counseling organizations have limited funds, and therefore cannot hire additional staff in order to meet the higher demand.

Most agencies depend on grants and community support to cover operating expenses. In addition, credit counselors must be trained and seasoned before they can handle client sessions on their own.

Foreclosures Straining Agencies

Another reason that Ohio credit counseling organizations are overwhelmed is that some parts of Ohio lead the nation in foreclosures. Slavic Village, a community in the Cleveland area held the dubious honor as having the highest foreclosure rate in the country.

Most of these credit counseling organization provide housing assistance in addition to debt management and credit counseling. In fact, the ratio of client appointments for debt vs. housing counseling has reversed from just a few years ago. For example, two organizations in Columbus are receiving 3 housing counseling calls for every 1 credit counseling call from local residents. That ratio used to be the opposite.

Appointment Times are Limited

Some residents have voiced their concern that they cannot speak with anyone when they call. For example, several organizations in the Cincinnati area share the same toll-free appointment time. This works well for reducing costs at those organizations, but it can frustrate Cincinnati residents that need to get through to speak with someone.

Even if you leave a message, it could be many hours or the next day before you hear back. Furthermore, the mortgage delinquency calls are taking up many of the credit counseling appointment times, pushing available appointments back 2 weeks or more.

Ohio Has Higher Unemployment Rate

To further fuel the demand, Ohio has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Only 11 states and the District of Columbia had worse unemployment rates than Ohio as of November 2008. This higher statewide unemployment rate is causing more financial headaches with unsecured debt and home mortgages.

Southeastern Ohio has been hit especially hard. Only 4 counties had unemployment rates under 9%. Morgan County was tops with 12.7% unemployment, with Coshocton, Guernsey, Muskingum, Perry, Noble, Monroe, Meigs and Vinton Counties all reporting over 10% unemployment. Elsewhere, Huron County lead Ohio with 13.5% unemployment. That means nearly 1 out of every 7 county residents that were in the work force were denied unemployment. That is in addition to those residents that no longer consider themselves a part of the workforce, such as retirees or students. That makes for a lot of extra people in financial trouble.

If you are looking for an appointment with a credit counselor, understand that there may be substantial waits before most of these local agencies can schedule you in. If your need is urgent, then you should make sure that you get help from an organization that does have available appointments before your situation gets worse.

Most nonprofit credit counseling organizations maintain both an appointment/counseling hotline as well as an online counseling tool. Insist on nonprofit credit counseling that puts your needs first.

Kenneth Long began his public service with nonprofit organizations in 2001. He has since conducted workshops teaching other nonprofit executives how to integrate credit counseling with volunteer tax preparation programs. Long is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_Long

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 8 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Improve Your Credit Score - The Process of Improving Your Credit Score

The economy is in such a state that everyone is now forced to stretch their resources just to survive. The hard time is also responsible for the majority of people seeing a drastic drop in their credit scores. The most unfortunate part of the fall in FICO scores is the fact that now is the best time to invest. If you are one of the people that are experiencing lower credit ratings, now is also the time to begin improving your credit score.

There are several reasons to begin the task of improving your credit standing now as opposed to later. One way to help stabilize your rating with the bureaus is by continuing to make payments in a timely manner. It really does not matter if you only make the minimum payment, as long as you are making payments on time. Keeping your credit balances at right around the 30% level will help to improve your rating as well. You should also avoid making too many inquiries.

Victims of foreclosures and repossessions may have a harder time when it comes to improving credit, but it is not impossible. In the case of extreme situations, it is best to hire the services of a reputable credit counselor to help raise your credit score. Counselors can negotiate several different options with your creditors and help removed negative items that are erroneously placed on your bureau. The sooner you begin to work on re-establishing your worthiness with the bureaus, the faster you can realize some results.

The saying "Success Is When Opportunity Meets Preparation" is especially true in tough financial times. Everything from real estate to automobiles is being sold at an all time low. You may not be able to take advantage of these deals now, but you surely can start preparing yourself to benefit in the future. If there is one positive during tough financial times, it is the inability to open new credit accounts and therefore creating more debt. Improving your credit score now will put you in great position to deal with the opportunities that will be presented in better times.

Marc Marseille is an internet professional with several websites on the net providing valuable resources to many. For more information on how to raise credit score or locating credit counselors, you an visit improve credit score.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Marseille

วันศุกร์ที่ 6 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

The Truth About Credit Debt Counseling Program and How it Affects You

What can a credit debt counseling program do for you? Amid the oft misleading ads, hype and outright scams, it is important for you to know the truth about credit counseling before diving in.

A credit counseling program may be just the thing you need to begin your journey to being debt-free. And a journey it is. You see, there is no easy solution or quick fix to debt problems. Anyone who tells you otherwise may not have your best interests in mind.

What a good credit counseling agency does is look at your case from a professional perspective and offer you options for resolving your debt issues.

You are expected to provide all details about your finances including credit, debt and income, as well as your short-term and long-term personal financial goals. This is in order to provide you with the best possible option(s) to suit your situation and lifestyle.

The first thing you need to do is find a reputable credit counseling service. This can be challenging as scam companies are galore. But if you know what to look for you can narrow down your search and make the task much easier.

It is advisable to go for a nonprofit agency. But note also that some so-called nonprofit agencies have been caught in crooked practices, so you should not stop here.

Check with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) as they have a list of reputable nonprofit agencies you can choose from.

Here are some red flags to look out for when shopping for a credit debt counseling program;

1. Upfront fees. Most legitimate credit counseling agencies will not ask for a fee before talking to you.

2. Claims to make you debt free today. It takes time, even with the best help in the world.

3. Erase, or cut your debts by 50% or more. A reputable debt counseling service will expect you to meet your obligations as this is the honorable thing to do. If an agency promises to erase or cut your debts by a huge percentage, this is likely to be a debt settlement plan which can potentially cause you other problems including tax problems.

4. Charges a high monthly fee based on your total debt. If you enroll in a continuous program such as debt consolidation and/or educational program, you can expect a monthly fee. But this should be a flat rate that you should know upfront.

5. If the agency's employees work on commission, run!

It should also be pointed out that a credit debt counseling program can impact on your ability to obtain new credit. Typically, it will show on your credit report that you are in counseling. Some creditors just will not want work to with you if you are in counseling.

Also, though your counselor will negotiate for lower interest rates on your behalf, some rates could actually go up. If you choose to take the debt consolidation route, you will be required to close some accounts which will like negatively affect your credit score.

Discover insider secrets and strategies about how to repair credit fast. David Kamau is offering a free report that offers tips for self credit repair and identity theft protection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Kamau

วันพุธที่ 4 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Essential Credit Card Debt Facts

Love them or loathe them, the credit card is actually a good thing. We are all searching for a better credit score and a credit card is very often the best way to build good credit, but misuse it and they suddenly become your most hated financial outlay.

The credit card debt facts are these:

The pros are;

1# Emergency Financial Aid: A credit card can be used, as is the case by many users, as an emergency source of funds.

2# Free Insurance: when used to purchase items many cards offer the security of free purchase insurance.

3# Improved Credit Status: As long as your use is controlled and you don't run into problems your improved credit status will make it easier to gain loans for cars etc.

The negatives are;

1# Card Misuse: Using your credit card as an extension of your paycheck and maxing it out will get you way in over your head very quickly.

2# Missing payments will have an adverse affect on your credit for SEVEN years and becomes affective almost as soon as you miss your first payment.

When deciding to get a credit card the two important factors to give consideration to are the Interest charged by the card supplier and the balance payable at the end of each period. Different Credit card companies offer different interest rates, but an acceptable FIXED interest rate is between 8 and 11 percent. You can then compare the various special offers that each supplier in that bracket is offering before making your final choice.

With regards to payable balance that comes down to you, how much you can comfortably afford to pay each month, remember this sum should include the added interest rate; for example: If you can only afford to pay $100 each month and your credit card has an interest rate of 10% APR you should only spend around $90 to $95 as there will be a minimum monthly interest charged.

However should these credit card debt facts go unheeded it is likely that you will end up looking to consolidate your credit card debt and quite often a debt consolidation loan is the best option to do this, but before looking into a credit card debt consolidation loan there are methods that many are now using to achieve financial freedom in remarkably short periods of time.

The methods mentioned are not widely known but are both ethical and legal and are not liked by the financial institutions who DO NOT want you or anyone else using them to reduce and eliminate debt as it would be very damaging to their interest related profits. Find out more about these methods by visiting my sites using either of the links at the end of this article.

Act now and obtain the methods and the knowledge you can use to achieve financial freedom in as little as three years just click here. These completely ethical methods of debt reduction have been kept secret by the financial institutions for decades, why? BeFreein3, take action now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_P_Myers

วันจันทร์ที่ 2 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Guaranteed Approval Secured Credit Cards

If you're in the market to fix your credit today, you've probably come across a secured credit card. When you're looking at these applications, you're probably wondering which ones you're going to get approved for and which ones you're not going to get approved for. Well, I have great news for you and I'll tell you now that 99% of the applicants that apply for a secured card generally get approved and I'll tell you why.

With a secured card, you're going to have to give the bank money before you even can use it. Since you're a higher risk to the companies, you're going to have to have some sort of money as back up just in case you don't pay your bill. Since they will have your money, they won't have to worry about never getting money for you. This is why they can approve anyone that applies.

As long as you put a deposit on the account, there's almost a guarantee that you'll get approved. Just make sure that you read over the application before you do apply because you'll find that there are many fees with many cards. Some of the fees you're going to encounter are setting up fees, annual fees or even monthly fees. When you do apply, you'll find that there's a fee and disclosure sheet. I highly recommend you look at this before you apply.

If you're looking to get a higher credit score or a credit card for your wallet, I highly advise you look down this route. There are a lot of great cards out there. Do your homework and you should find a great one that suits your needs.

Find secured credit cards today all at http://www.FINDsecuredcards.com - where you can find more of Tom's work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Tessin

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