The retirement plan options available to sole proprietors have expanded in recent years. Case in point: If you file taxes as a self-employed individual, you can take advantage of a 401(k) plan the same as a corporation with hundreds of employees. Many of the obstacles to this arrangement, including the high costs for administering such a plan, have been eliminated. [continue]

Unfortunately, you cannot deduct the value of the time and effort you devote to charitable causes. However, if you incur expenses in the course of your charitable activities, you may be able to deduct your out-of-pocket costs on your personal tax return. Consider the following: [continue]

A new business can take advantage of a special tax election for start-up expenses. Instead of amortizing expenses over a 15-year period, you can currently deduct up to $5,000 of your qualified expenses. [continue]

If you are like many busy business people, you may send hundreds of e-mail messages each workweek. You are usually rushed to communicate promptly, so you might not take care to ensure your outgoing messages are properly worded. This could lead to miscommunication that jeopardizes your business relationships. How can you avoid potential problems? Here are ten helpful hints: [continue]

You have probably seen television commercials or heard radio ads depicting identity theft. These spots are generally designed to coerce consumers into securing credit card protection. But individuals are not the only targets of such scams. What happens if a business is victimized by con artists? The results could be catastrophic. [continue]

*Treasury Securities—The U.S. government has made it easier for investors to buy Treasury securities. You can now purchase securities for a minimum of only $100. Previously, the minimum purchase was $1,000. This change is expected to open up this investment option to a wider range of investors. The change went into effect on April 7, 2008. [continue]