Number Crunchin' News
August 2002

LETTER FROM OUR CO-PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Members, 

While I have enjoyed being SBBA President for two years and Co-President for the last year, September 30th will definitely be my last day serving in this position.  There are several of you out there who would be an ideal candidate for the position.  If you’re interested, please contact the nominating committee (Mary Cathcart or myself) ASAP to express your interest in serving as President or as another officer. 

Sandy Stites has served on our Newsletter Committee for (I believe) FIVE YEARS and has just resigned from the Committee.  Thank you so much, Sandy, for all your years of commitment, both on the newsletter Committee and as a past officer.  You’ve been a great asset to our organization and we appreciate all you have done. 

The company that I work for is destined to move to Carpinteria in the next few months and therefore you may not be seeing much of me in the near future.  I will remain a member of the SBBA, though, and will keep in touch via the listserver and the newsletter.  I am privileged to have been a member for almost as long as the organization has been around; I’ve made many lasting relationships and learned much from you, my peers.  Thank you all.

Sincerely,  Caron Garliepp 

(Editors Note: You may find descriptions of Officers & Directors on our Web Site @ www.sbbaonline.org)


COME AND LEARN    

In keeping with Board policy and the stated purpose of the organization to provide an exchange of information and further the education of our members, the Newsletter Committee will maintain a calendar listing of educational opportunities available to members and the public.   This listing will contain information that you send in.  Please send your contributions to the editor prior to the fifth of the month to have them included in that month’s newsletter! 

Educational Opportunities

QUICKBOOKS LEVEL 1 CLASS Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002 @ the Goleta Valley Community Center. 10am-1pm $129 (SBBA Members 20% discount)

This is a “Beginner/Intermediate” class, for those looking to learn and/or improve their QuickBooks knowledge & skills.  (Further seminar details to be published in next month’s newsletter)

Seminar Given By Monica Dittrich


To check out the “Sleeter Seminar Schedule for 2002": Go To: http://www.sleeter.com

 Submitted By Sandy O’Meara


QuickBooks News  Mac QB Users Have Been WAITING For…

Intuit has just announced a multi-year plan to develop and support a new Mac O/S X compatible version of QuickBooks.

Intuit expects to release an updated version of QuickBooks for the Mac in Q1 2003 due to increased demand for the Mac OS X compatibility.  QuickBooks Pro Edition 5.0 for the Mac will be built for Mac OS X and will also support Mac OS 9.  Additional product details will be disclosed at a later date.  Thereafter, Intuit expects to release a new version of QB for the Mac on approximately an annual basis.   

While details about the updated product are not available today, you and your Macintosh-based clients can keep up-to-date on new developments and announcements by visiting www.usequickbooks.com/mac5.

 Reprinted From Email Announcement Received on 8/7/02 From Intuit

-Monica Dittrich 

PS: QB 4.0 is still available for the Macintosh via Customer Service Only @ (800) 446-8848


“Formula for success:      Underpromise and overdeliver”

           -Tom Peters


 Self Employed?  Protect Yourself From Loss Of Income

-Reprinted From The California Employer/EDD 2nd Q 2002

If you are self-employed, you can protect yourself against a loss of income due to injury or illness with Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC).  We offer this program as a safety net to self-employed individuals doing business in California. 

The DIEC Program offers you:

 To qualify for these benefits, you must apply for DIEC, be approved for coverage, and pay quarterly premiums prior to becoming disabled.

Generally, a minimum of seven months must elapse before a new member is eligible to receive benefits.

For more information, please call us at 1-888-745-3886, or visit our Web Site: 

Frequently asked questions: www.edd.ca.gov/difaq9.htm

To download an application for DIEC: www.edd.ca.gov/de1378di.pdf


FREQUENT-FLYER MILES NO LONGER TAXABLE

Until recently, employees who traveled on business were unsure whether the frequent-flyer miles they received for business trips, but used for personal purposes, were taxable.  The IRS has finally settled this burning question in the taxpayer’s favor.

Background

Business frequent-flyer miles can arise from business trips – traveling on airplanes, renting cars, staying in hotels and using credit cards for business.  These miles can really add up when coupled with bonus miles offered by airlines to their frequent-flyers – sufficient miles may be generated to allow an employee to take his or her entire family on vacation.  Such miles may also be used to upgrade an airline seat, obtain free or discounted travel or travel-related services, or other benefits or services.

IRS Position

The long-standing question has been: Are such miles taxable if used for personal purposes, when earned in the context of a business trip?  The IRS has announced that there will be no tax on such frequent-flyer miles, unless the employee converts the miles to cash.  If miles are so converted, the employee reports taxable income in the amount of the cash received.

 ­Reprinted from “CPA-CLIENT TAXLETTER” 3rd Q 2002


Notes On QuickBooks 2002 “Series”

Some of you may have either heard or know, that the QuickBooks 2002 series has the very convenient feature of “remote access” from one computer to another – from ANY location to another including out of state or even country.

Intuits’ Web Site doesn’t make it clear WHICH of the 2002 editions, there are 4, work “with each other”.

Here is the breakdown:

QB Premier Accountant Edition 2002 can access ALL other QB 2002 editions

QB Premier 2002 Edition can ONLY access other Premier editions

QB Pro 2002 & QB Basic 2002 can not access any edition – BUT – can be accessed by the QB Premier Accountant Edition 2002


A year from now you may wish you had started today”

       -Karen Lamb


Editor of this month’s Newsletter was Monica Dittrich.  Thank you Vicki St. Martin for your availability in proofreading this issue!  Next month’s editor will be Julie Raffety.


The Not So Fine Print