Elections/ IRS/ Volunteers in Medicine

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 6:28 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: Elections/ IRS/ Volunteers in Medicine

So the election is over and it is time to move forward on a small business agenda for next year. I have asked in the past for ideas for legislation SB Cal could sponsor and I am asking again. Please give me your ideas if you have not already done so.
I would also like to know if you have a relationship with a state Senator or Assemblyman. I would like to keep track of your contacts as legislation unfolds next year. Please let me know of your contacts by return email
On another front I want to remind you that the IRS is targeting small businesses to reduce the $290 billion tax gap. Commissioner Kevin Brown announced that the division is planning a significant increase in audits of small businesses.
The Commissioner has estimated that 75% of this tax gap can be traced to small business owners. Of course we all feel that small businesses should pay what we owe but the tax code is extremely complicated and there is a real fear that small business owners will be paying a lot of interest and penalties for minor errors and misunderstandings.
In the spring I will be getting you more information on what you can do to protect yourself but please let me know if you have been the recipient of an IRS audit in the last year.
The last point and I am gloating here is that the Volunteers In Medicine Institute will be recognized Tuesday night by the Manhattan Institute for our work in developing clinics around the country. The program takes retired doctors,nurses and dentist and allows them to provide health services to the working uninsured. We now have 50 clinics around the country the most recent one in San Diego. I will be going to New York tomorrow to be part of the awards ceremony. I am Vice Chair of VIMI. For more information about us go to www.vimi.org