News You Can Use

January 19, 2007

Telephone Excise Tax Refund

More than 160 million income tax filers may request a one-time payment on their 2006 federal income tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Following several recent federal court decisions, the IRS is refunding the portion of the tax charged on long-distance calls or bundled services on landline, wireless, or Voice over Internet Protocol service.

Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that paid taxes on long-distance or bundled services may apply for telephone tax refunds for long-distance taxes billed after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006. In lieu of collecting 41 months of old phone records, individual taxpayers can take a standard amount from $30 to $60 based on the number of exemptions claimed on their tax return.

Individuals choosing the standard amount can simply fill in the amount on Form 1040, 1040A, 1040NR or 1040EZ. Those who are not required to file a return can use FormEZ-T to claim the standard amount. Businesses and nonprofits must fill out Form 8913 and base their refund requests on the actual amount of tax paid. Form 8913 should be attached to forms normally filed by the business or nonprofit.

PA Department of Revenue e-Services Center

As the year-end statements arrive in the mail, begin your tax preparations with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue e-Services Center. Catch up now on changes affecting payment of your 2006 state taxes due on Monday, April 16, 2007. Filers should note the one-day grace period is extended for the filing of 2006 taxes due to the arrival of the traditional tax deadline of April 15 on a Sunday.

Log onto the same website to file your return and make payment, if one is due. Individuals, businesses, and tax professionals can access answers to more than 450 of the most commonly asked questions

Access information and forms

Forms are also available at 800-362-2050. The Taxpayer Service & Information Center is available from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 717-787-8201.

Apply Now for Juried Art Exhibition

Established and emerging artists take note of your opportunity to participate in "Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2007". Entry forms are being accepted until Monday, March 19, 2007 for the highly competitive, juried art exhibit set for June 9 through September 9, 2007.

The 40th Annual Art of the State event is a prestigious showcase accepting entries in five categories – painting, works on paper, photography, sculpture, and craft. A panel of distinguished judges from the mid-Atlantic region will determine the recipients of cash awards totaling more than $6,500 from the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council. A $1,000 purchase award will be offered by the State Museum.

Artists will be notified no later than Friday, April 27, 2007 of their acceptance. Details for delivering works of art the weekend of May 12 and 13, 2007 will be included with the letter of notification. The 40th Annual Awards Ceremony and Artists' Reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2007. The Exhibition will continue through Sunday, September 9, 2007 when it will make its final appearance as part of the Harrisburg Annual Gallery Walk.

Entry form and information for the 2007 exhibition (PDF)
Information on 2006 Art of the State winners (PDF)
2006 Art of the State winners by county (PDF)

Link to upcoming State Museum Exhibits

Auto and Boat Show

From Farm Show to Inaugural to Auto & Boat Show – the PA Department of Agriculture's 25-acre Farm Show Complex hosts over 200 trade shows, exhibits and activities annually. The 91st Annual Farm Show had not closed before the Farm Show Complex was being cleaned and prepared for an Inauguration. The facility is now gearing up for the 2007 PA Auto & Boat Show set for Wednesday, January 24 through Sunday, January 28, 2007.

On the heels of the Auto & Boat Show, the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show will ride into town to entice outdoor enthusiasts from Saturday, February 3 through Sunday, February 11, 2007. For those looking forward to spring planting, the PA Garden Expo will be held in the Complex from Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, March 11, 2007. The diversity of the events held year-round at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center provides something for everyone looking to schedule a trip to Harrisburg.

More details on the PA Auto & Boat Show, the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show, and the PA Garden Expo.

Check out the Farm Show Complex 2007 Schedule of Events for year around entertainment.

Prepared for Winter?

Winter appears to have arrived in the northeast a month after its formal beginning, leaving many unprepared for the elements at home and on the roadways. Pennsylvania's Emergency Preparedness Guide recommends planning ahead for an array of emergencies, including winter storms.

When a winter storm strikes, the guide advises staying inside and exercising caution if any alternative forms of heating are to be utilized. Observe all safeguards and properly ventilate to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. In the absence of heat, unneeded rooms should be closed off and towels or rags should be stuffed in the cracks under the doors. Windows should be covered. Eating and drinking will provide your body with the energy to produce its own heat. Layer loose-fitting, lightweight but warm clothing; being sure to avoid overheating, perspiring and becoming chilled.

Equally important is being prepared for hazardous conditions when on the roadways. The incidence of tragedy rises when individuals leave a vehicle and quickly become disoriented in wind-driven snow and cold. The Emergency Preparedness Guide outlines safety measures when stranded in a vehicle. Access the guide and review page 2 for these and other tips, including the contents of a winter emergency car kit.

Print a copy of the Guide for year-round safety planning for you and your family. You will find helpful information for both natural and manmade emergencies, including storms, biological, chemical, and radiological threats. Preparedness for special populations, including the elderly, disabled, children, pets and livestock is outlined on pages 5 and 6 of the Guide. Download the Guide (PDF).

Seniors Beware of Investment Scams

Seventy percent of our nation's wealth now lies in the hands of those over the age of 50. The sheer volume of wealth makes seniors the target of investment scams, according to the PA Office of Attorney General.

With investments so important to seniors and their families, precautions are recommended. Being aware of a few different patterns of investment schemes targeting seniors can help prevent your family from being negatively affected.

Free lunch seminars target seniors encouraging them to purchase complex manufactured products with provisions in the contract promising guaranteed death benefits. Efforts are made to convince seniors to purchase ultra-short bond funds and equity-indexed annuities as low-risk alternatives to money markets or insured CD's. Ponzi or pyramid schemes continue to hone in on seniors with the promise of growth that actually leads to a collapse of the pyramid. Living trust scams convince seniors to send their money to be placed in a trust that is never set up by the scam artist.

The PA Office of Attorney General Monthly Advisory offers a series of tips for avoiding these and other scams: If you believe you may have already been the victim of an investment scheme call the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or file online through.