Avoiding Audits

Tax season is, arguably, one of the most stressful times of year for individuals in the United States. With all the time individuals put into compiling documents and understanding filing options, it is easy to see why tax audits can be a cause for alarm after making it through such a hectic part of the year. Tax audits are extremely inconvenient, as they often will cost you time and the expense of being examined. Often, audits will also lead to a tax dispute. However, the good news is that it is fairly simple to avoid being audited as long as you remain organized and honest when filing your taxes.

One key thing to remember is that, to the IRS, everything is income and should be declared as such. This includes any foreign income or foreign bank accounts that are sometimes forgotten because foreign banks do not send Forms 1099. If you are audited, the IRS can ask for your bank records and determine if you have failed to declare all necessary items. Keeping good records is a great way to prevent this and can help get you of trouble at the beginning of the auditing process. Always check to make sure that the financial documents you are receiving are correct, especially Forms 1099. The IRS focuses on information return matching, so if the received documents about financial records aren’t consist, you may run into a problem.

Another easy way to make sure filing your taxes and the proceedings afterward run smoothly is to pay close attention to timing during tax season. Make sure you have a clear idea of what financial information you have to file for the current year and when you can claim deductions. When it comes to deductions, also make sure that you are not claiming false deductions. Seek advice if you are unsure about what qualifies as a legitimate deduction. However, it is usually easy to tell, if you are being honest with yourself, what financial activities qualify for deduction.

Using Public Speaking to Promote Your Brand

Good public speaking skills are essential to your career and personal goals. Opportunities that allow you to hone your communication skills should never be overlooked because effective communication can help you successfully convey ideas to management, clients, co-workers, or consumers. Having good public speaking skills can help you quickly establish credibility with an audience. This is important because communication is also a key part of marketing and building a brand. Whether you’re looking to build your client base or simply raise awareness about your company or product, consider adding presentations to your campaign.

Finding opportunities to speak may seem challenging at first. However, once you start looking for opportunities, you may be surprised by how many trade associations, charities, and other groups are looking for good speakers with interesting presentations. Booking your first presentation could be as easy as sending an organization a simple Email or giving them a call.

However, it is important to remember that if there aren’t many opportunities to be a guest speaker, you can create your own opportunities to speak about your brand or product. Consider conducting a self-hosted event where you book a location and invite potential customers to attend. Some hotels and notable business venues may even help you gain attendees by allowing you to invite people from their databases.

Whether you are presenting as a guest speaker or at your own event, the most important thing to remember is that you need be an interesting speaker and keep the audience engaged. Also, make sure that you are presenting information that seems valuable to your consumers. No one should feel like the main point of your speech is to sell something. Finally, make sure your presentation has a call to action that will turn your audience into prospects and paying clients. This can include offering to keep in touch after the presentation or offering informational handouts to your audience.