MINIMUM WAGE RATE IS NOW $7.25 PER HOUR --- UP 10.7%

You need to know this if you are employing your spouse or kids
to get the tax benefits described in Ch. 6-7 of
"Home Business Tax Savings Made Easy!"

The new federally-established minimum wage rate is now $7.25/hour.
Most states have their own minimum wage, BUT
most employers have to pay whichever is higher,
your state's rate or the federal rate.

To find out your state's current minimum wage rate, visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

Between 3 million and 5 million American workers will see
a pay raise due to this, according to the Labor Department.
That's a good thing for those employees, but not so good
for their employers, many of whom are struggling to survive the recession.

Interesting footnote:The 13 states with the highest minimum wage
(all of which are higher than the new federal new minimum)
have higher unemployment levels than all other 37 states.

GOT REFUND?

Of all tax returns filed so far in 2009 (most of which were for 2008 income),
the IRS says that 79% have gotten refunds, and has computed
that the average refund was $2,675.

Wow! The IRS got religion? Not on your life!
They've simply gotten us to overpay our taxes by an average of
$225/month. Then 15 months later the give it back to us --
with no interest-- and we happily brag that we got a refund.

Would you rather have an extra $225 cash in your pocket every month,
or an extra $2,675 cash in your pocket once a year? If you like the
1-time check every April, do nothing; it will continue coming as before.

But if you'd rather have an extra $50-$60 cash
in your pocket every week all year long, you
could go to your company's payroll office and
add another 3 "allowances" on your W-4 with-
holding form, and the extra money will show up
in your take-home pay automatically.

(BTW, if you don't know what I'm talking about, see
Ch 13 of "Home Business Tax Savings Made Easy!")