Do you qualify for earned income credit?
HERE are the top 10 things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit: 1. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $6,044 this…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Jury awards $26.1 million to employee terminated due to age discrimination
IN 2002, Bobby Nickel was hired by Corporate Express as a facilities manager. In 2008, Corporate Express was acquired by Staples. In 2011, at the age of 64, Mr. Nickel…
Mentally unstable lawyer discharges $82,000 of students loans
FIRST of all, I am not the lawyer in question although I am able to speak fluent Thai and Russian after 3 bottles of beer and the last judge I…
10 tips in deducting charitable contributions
1. YOU may deduct donations to qualified organizations. Qualified organizations have tax-exempt status from the IRS. These include corporations or foundations organized in the U.S. for religious, charitable, educational, scientific,…
Are homeowners liable for injuries caused by drunk guests?
ON April 27, 2007, Jessica Manosa hosted a party at a vacant residence owned by her parents. Manosa and most of the attendees of the party were under 21 years…
Do you have a secret fear of losing everything you have?
I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common concern we all share. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult with me everyday. It is…
Questions to ask yourself about brushing
BRUSHING: It’s the foundation for keeping your mouth clean and healthy. In fact, it’s so basic that most people don’t think about it very much—they just do it. If you’re…
Adversary complaint to challenge discharge cannot be settled by parties
DEBTOR filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief to discharge $150,000 of unsecured debt. Creditor who holds a state court judgment for $50,000 on a signature loan files an adversarial case…
What status should you use to file your tax returns?
HERE are 12 tips to help you choose your correct filing status: 1. There are five filing status options to choose from: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head…
Employees working 12 hours per day may be owed backwages
Q: I AM an hourly employee at a skilled nursing facility working 12-hour shifts, three days a week. I usually work more than 12 hours per shift finishing up paperwork…
When you have no choice but to file bankruptcy
Facing serious debt problems can be depressing to a lot of people. It may seem like the end of the world. You may feel angry, depressed, guilty- or a combination…
Misrepresentation of debtor’s true income leads to denial of bankruptcy discharge
THE new bankruptcy law requires debtors to calculate their gross and net incomes using the means test form B22. Differences in the calculation of income can result from many factors….
How to avoid IRS audits in 2014
1. E-FILE. When you e-file, your chance of getting an error notice from the IRS is significantly reduced. Besides, it’s faster. Your refunds also arrive sooner. 2. Check your occupation. …
Is it wrongful termination if you’re forced to quit?
JORGE Vasquez worked as a maintenance technician for Franklin Management Real Estate Fund, Inc. He was paid $10 per hour for 40 hours per week. Jorge’s supervisors regularly instructed him…
Real smiles versus fake smiles
THERE’S a big difference between a real smile and a fake smile. And while a polite smile can help smooth over some social situations, a sincere, honest, from-the-heart smile can…
Can trustee force debtor to turnover money that no longer exists?
WHEN debtor filed his Chapter 7 petition, he had $10,000 in his checking account which was used to cover checks issued before bankruptcy was filed. On schedule C, debtor claimed…
Medical expense deductions
YOU may deduct medical expenses only to the extent that expenses for doctors, drugs, insurance, etc. exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income. This means that you lose the…
Long-term unemployment: A sad result of wrongful termination
“INVOLUNTARY job loss is a stressful event, creating a variety of problems immediately, and long periods of unemployment can compound those problems,” states The Urban Institute, in a report it…
2 common mistakes that always lead to financial trouble
Many factors lead to financial problems and bankruptcy. While there are things that are simply beyond your control (example: sickness, disability, unemployment, etc.), a lot of bankruptcies are also a…
Sugar shockers
Feeling a little listless today? Why not perk yourself up by pouring 15 teaspoons of sugar in your mouth? You probably laughed at the above suggestion, but if you’re a…
What types of taxes can you deduct?
LET’S review a few rules on federal, state, and local taxes: 1. California State Income Taxes in box 24 of your W2 are deductible. So are quarterly estimates paid by…
Employees misclassified as independent contractors awarded over $10 million
Courts look at several factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The most important factor is the employer’s right to control the worker’s manner…
If you want to get out of debt, here’s what you need to change
EVERY day, I meet with a lot of people who are sick and tired of being in a financial mess but they are unwilling to pay the price of being…
Courts divided over home value dates for junior lien strip plans in Chapter 13
Homeowners like the idea of getting rid of the second trust deed on their residence in a bankruptcy. The second trust deed could be a home equity loan or home…
Listening to and learning from you
A CRITICAL component of personalized patient care is cultivating the art of listening. One of the most important reasons we use social media is to be sure it’s easy for…
CA tax changes for 2013 tax returns
MINIMUM Wage –Minimum wage increases to $9 per hour effective July 1, 2014. Medical and Dental Expense Deduction – Federal law made it tougher to deduct medical expenses by raising…
Treatment of non-filing spouse income in bankruptcy
CAN a spouse file for bankruptcy while the other does not? For instance, husband’s gross income is $3,000 monthly. Wife’s income is $8,000 monthly. Husband has $100,000 of credit card…
Does employer’s hiring of young attractive females over males qualify as free speech?
KYLE Hunter is a weather forecaster and broadcaster for over 23 years, who won several prestigious awards. He sued CBS Broadcasting, Inc. for discrimination, alleging that two of CBS’ television…
Need help with debt but too embarrassed to ask?
HAVE you ever faced a situation in your life where you needed help so badly but you were just too afraid or embarrassed to ask for it? Perhaps you felt…
New California laws for 2014
(Part 2 of 2) Immigrants POLL workers: Permanent legal residents who are not citizens may serve as poll workers in California elections. Employer threats: Employers are prohibited from inducing fear…