California to run on 100% clean electricity by 2045
Gov. Brown signs new bill that aims to combat damaging effects of climate change Governor Jerry Brown signed two measures on Monday, Sept. 10 aiming to convert California to 100…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Does shrinking IRS budget reduce your chance of being audited?
YES, shrinking budget reduces your chance of getting grilled by the IRS. • The main reason for the decline: IRS budget and staff levels are down. • Tax collectors are…
Single mom seeks Chapter 7 relief from $60K credit cards
THE client is 50 and got divorced 10 years ago. Her ex-husband decided that working was not good for him so he just disappeared. They had one daughter that client…
Are you paying your employer’s costs of doing business?
(Your rights to reimbursements may be significant) Q: AS part of my work, I travel to clients using my own car and I pay for gas. I also make several…
Here’s how you can get out of debt safely and legally
ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an…
LA County launches new tracking technology to help find missing people with autism, Alzheimer’s
LA Found is a new initiative aimed to quickly locate individuals with cognitive impairments who wander and go missing Los Angeles County officials and health organizations on Wednesday, Sept. 5…
Villar rises to second richest in PH, next to Henry Sy
Real estate tycoon and former politician Manuel “Manny” Villar is now the Philippines’ second richest man after his wealth tripled due to the boom in the construction business that benefited…
Duterte to create department to improve doing businesses in PH
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 6 announce the creation of a department that would ease up the business process in the country for foreign investors. In his speech…
Companies cease sales of e-liquids with labeling or advertising that resembled kid-friendly foods following FDA, FTC warnings
Warning letters for products that looked like juice boxes, cookies and candy part of efforts to protect youth from dangers of nicotine and tobacco product The U.S. Food and Drug Administration…
PH, Israel ink 3 agreements in landmark visit
The governments of the Philippines and the State of Israel have signed three agreements that would strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Prime…
Arnold T. Gonzales, Tourism Promotions Board Officer-in-Charge, on empowering employees and officials in promoting the Philippines all over the world
MARKETING veteran Arnold T. Gonzales was chosen unanimously by the Board of Directors, chaired by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), following…
Celebrate the Moon Festival at Pechanga Resort Casino with a 2018 Mercedes Benz giveaway and great prizes
JOIN us at Pechanga Resort Casino this September to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with our exciting “Harvest Moon Grand Drawing”. There will be 50 winners of EasyPlay and one lucky…
Should employees pay the cost of “dress code” required at work?
ALEXANDER Brown and Arik Silva worked as retail sales associates at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a company that operates retail clothing stores throughout the United States. Brown and Silva sued…
Warning: Before you hire a debt settlement company
IF you are delinquent on your debts, you may be able to avoid dealing with the bill collectors for a few months but sooner or later, you will still need…
Does rental property attract IRS audit?
NO, merely renting out your house, condo, or apartment does not attract IRS audits. But yes, there are rental items that attract IRS scrutiny: • Deducting expenses that are disproportionately…
Maserati Alfa Romeo of Puente Hills holds grand opening, seeks to be No. 1 dealership in SoCal
FOR those who are eyeing to buy a Maserati or Alfa Romeo in Southern California, look no further than Maserati Alfa Romeo of Puente Hills. Maserati Alfa Romeo of Puente…
What’s new: Tax cuts and jobs act (Part 2)
1. BLENDED Federal Income Tax Rate: For Corporations tax elected to use a fiscal year will pay a blended tax rate and not the 21% flat rate. The new rate…
Foreign Travel Agents And Philippine Sellers Converge For Phitex 2018
More than 200 buyers and over 220 sellers are set to participate in this year’s Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) – organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm…
Which has less chances of IRS audits – paper or e-file?
BEING audited by the IRS is dreaded by most taxpayers. My clients constantly asked which method increase their chances of getting audited. Let’s compare two methods of filing your tax…
Seniors rely on Chapter 7 and son for debt relief
THE clients are seniors who just stopped working two months ago. The husband is 75 and the wife is 71. They own a house with $140,000 in equity. Their unmarried…
Are you getting paid less because of your gender?
THE California Fair Pay Act (a.k.a. the Equal Pay Act), enacted in October 2015, prohibits employers from paying employees less than those of the opposite sex for “substantially similar work,”…
If you are in debt, this is probably what you’re afraid of
I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common fear that everyone shares when they’re in debt. As a bankruptcy attorney, I hear it from people who consult with me…
California may overturn order to return $331-M to mortgage settlement fund
Hundreds of foreclosures resulted from Wells Fargo glitch Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento are hoping to overturn a court ruling that would order California to use $331 million in helping homeowners hit…
What’s new: Tax cuts and jobs act (Part 1)
• PERSONAL exemptions: the personal exemptions for you, your spouse, and dependents are suspended. This line item may not even show on your 2018 Form 1040. • Credits for child…
Should employees who “volunteer” to work off-the-clock be paid?
Q: I WORK as a nurse at a hospital that has a strict policy of no unapproved overtime, and no going on breaks unless we are relieved by another nurse….
Can mistakes get you audited by the IRS?
YES, definitely. Mistakes can get you audited by the IRS. Let’s discuss common mistakes that can get you into trouble. 1. Filing On Paper Paper-filed error rate is 21% compared…
Too many bills and not enough income? Find out how Chapter 13 debt adjustment can help
ARE you struggling every month to pay your debts, especially your credit card bills? Are you always worried about not having enough left over for your mortgage, rent, food and…
Bankruptcy court rules in favor of client for $250K after trial
I REPRESENTED a foreign company with a $250,000-claim for a 40-foot container of manufactured goods that it delivered to the debtor, a California company, on December 30, 2014. The debtor…
San Manuel Casino breaks ground on expansion with onsite hotel, world-class entertainment venue
THE San Manuel Band of Mission Indians officially began its major expansion project, marked by Yaamava’, a celebratory event and groundbreaking ceremony, that was observed by dozens of community leaders,…
The Filipino confectioner who delivers cake pops to hospital patients
Fil-Am sugar artist Albert Daniel partners with Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center to gift cake pops as parting gifts to maternity ward patients GIVING birth is life’s greatest…