Small business owners can take advantage of this package and grow their businesses. The reason I write about this is that some benefits specifically apply to technology purchases and others are “for the bottom line” which means capital for needed equipment (like technology).

The package extends a tax deduction that allows small businesses to deduct up to $250,000 a year in new equipment purchases including technology (laptops, desktops, servers, network security, software upgrades…). Section 179 of the tax code allows small businesses to take a deduction for equipment purchases in one tax year instead of over the life of the equipment (usually 5 to 7 years).

The law also keeps in place the 50 % bonus depreciation President Bush put into place in 2008. Say you buy $500,000 in equipment this year (2009), $250,000 can be immediately deducted with section 179 mentioned above, plus another $125,000 (1/2 of the balance) can be deducted this year also because of the “bonus”. It is my understanding the remaining balance ($125,000 in this example) would be depreciated over the useful life of the equipment.

Both of the above should allow any of you who need new equipment and especially new or upgraded technology to write off in full or almost full the cost this year.

There is one more section that may help, another part of this Act allows businesses that lost money in 2008 to “carry back” that loss to their prior year’s tax returns by amending returns up to five years back. Previously this could be done up to two years back. This does only apply to those who have $15 million or less in gross income.

Since I am not a “tax” lawyer or professional (CPA), this is just my reading the law to you, see your tax professional(s) on how this could help you, and remember this is a government program, there are loopholes, rules and exceptions out the wazoo just to keep some of us from gathering the benefits.

Oh, if you do decide to spend some of that capital, IFix Computers in Beautiful Branson Missouri (417) 337-7184 would be more than willing to help you with professional advice on hardware and software that will benefit your business.

Until we meet again, have a virus free week!

Now, this is not going to be a financial column, if you need wise advice go to Dave Ramsey or Crown Financial Ministries. It is my desire today is to keep you from ending up like the family in the article below. They lost all savings, have 2 mortgages on the house and $200,000 in credit card debt all thanks to one person believing in the ability to make lots of money quickly.

The story is here http://blogs.zdnet.com/Foremski/?p=499&tag=nl.e019

What happened to this lady and family “could never happen to me” you think. Yes, this really could happen to you. We always feel that we are invulnerable. The wife lost everything in desperation for money that would solve all her families problems. Folks, that is just not how money works.

My primary desire here is for you to remember, there is no such thing as easy money, don’t get desperate in these times, if you deleted or blocked the Nigerian type scam in the past, continue to do so now. Talk with your parents and in-laws about these scams, bring it up somehow so they know they are out there and can and will hopefully avoid them.

If someone you know has been “hit” help them break the cycle, just as in the story above, the scammers will continue to prey on the victims, they don’t just make a onetime attempt and walk away.

Snopes has a good article from 2003 here http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp

You can report these emails or betterr yet help someone by getting them get in contact with United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 419 Task Force, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001-4518 or telephone (202) 406-5850 fax: (202) 406-8203, (202) 406-6390

Until we meet again, have a virus free week.

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

There is great need for a sarcasm font.

How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5.  Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good GREAT stories.

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray?   I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

“Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this –  ever.

I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What’d you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

My son asked me in the car the other day “Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?” How the do I respond to that?

I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than something from Kay’s.

Smile, it could be worse!

Until we meet again, have a virus free week.

As a technology professional, Heath requirement changes, PCI compliance, HIPPA and others have made me some money and stand to keep me fed for years to come.

I hate to be more static but I do feel that as an American I am required to speak up. You see, I stand to make a lot of money during this presidency because of new / modified laws and “universal healthcare access”, yet my ability to make money does not require me to sell my soul. I do not feel that the changes proposed and quite honestly forced upon Americans are needed or wanted by “the people”.