Monster Media 1993 #2/Image.iso/business/sba93_3b.zip/F235.SBE

Text File | 1993-07-01 | 35KB | 742 lines

            ┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
            │ UPDATE INFORMATION--CHANGES IN RECENT │
            │ QUARTERLY RELEASES OF THIS PROGRAM:   │
            │                                       │
            │ (Numbers in brackets indicate YEAR/QTR│
            │  when update or new feature was added)│
            └───────────────────────────────────────┘

@IF990xx]       IT'S HERE (WITH MORE TO COME)....!!!  IN THIS
@IF990xx]       RELEASE OF THIS PROGRAM:  "INTELLIGENT" TEXT
@IF990xx]       FILES, THAT NOT ONLY EXPLAIN THE LAW TO YOU, BUT
@IF990xx]       HOW AND WHETHER IT APPLIES TO YOUR FIRM, BASED ON
@IF990xx]       THE FACTS YOU HAVE ENTERED ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS....
@IF990xx]       YOU'LL NOTICE A NUMBER OF SUCH "INTELLIGENT" FILES
@IF990xx]       IN THIS RELEASE, IN ABOUT 70% OF THE PROGRAM'S TEXT
@IF990xx]       FILES. WE WILL HAVE COMPLETED OUR CONVERSION TO SUCH
@IF990xx]       FILES BY OUR NEXT QUARTERLY RELEASE, IN VERSION
@IF990xx]       93/4, AVAILABLE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1993 ....
@IF990xx]
@IF990xx]       DON'T MISS IT...!

              PENDING CLINTON TAX CHANGE PROPOSALS:
              ─────────────────────────────────────
     As this Version 93/3 of the program is released on
     July 1, 1993, the massive new Clinton tax bill has,
     in somewhat different forms, just narrowly passed in
     both the House and Senate, and the differences in the
     two bills are being worked out in the Conference Com-
     mittee, composed of members of both houses of Congress.
     A final, compromise bill will probably be ready to vote
     on before the end of July.  If it passes, much of the
     fedderal tax information in this program will instantly
     become obsolete.  In that case, look for all the new
     tax rules to be fully integrated into and reflected in
     this program by the time we release Version 93/4, on
     October 1, 1993 (including a revised 1993 tax calcula-
     tion module which will reflect new individual and
     corporate tax laws and federal estate tax changes).


              FEDERAL LAW CHANGES IN THIS RELEASE:
              ────────────────────────────────────

  .  NEW TAX DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS FOR CLEAN FUEL VEHICLES.
     Coverage has been added regarding the new deductions
     for clean-fuel vehicles and the new tax credit for
     electric vehicles, both of which tax incentives are
     in effect after June 30, 1993.  [93/3]

  .  NEW FEDERAL FAMILY LEAVE LAW ADDED.  We've added a
     discussion of the key provisions of the new Family
     Leave bill that was signed into law by President
     Clinton on February 5, 1993.  This new law applies
     to all employers (including non-profit organizations)
     with 50 or more employees in a 75-mile radius.  [93/2]

  .  OFFICE-IN-THE-HOME DEDUCTION RESTRICTED.  Updated to
     reflect the new (1993) U.S. Supreme Court Decision
     (Soliman case) that limits home office deduction
     for certain type of businesses conducted mostly out-
     side of the home. [93/2]

  .  NEW 1993 TAX MODULE.  This release includes a 1993
     income and estate tax planning module, as well as a
     1992 module, either of which is selectable from the
     Main Menu of the program.  [CAUTION:  The 1993 tax
     module is based on 1993 tax rates, brackets, and
     laws as they stood in late March, 1993.  Since the
     new Administration will probably make major changes
     in the tax law in 1993, this module may quickly be-
     come OBSOLETE before the end of 1993.  If so, obtain
     our latest version, which, as usual, will incorpor-
     ate any major tax law changes within a few weeks of
     enactment.] [93/2]

  .  NEW ADA CHECKLIST COMMAND ADDED.  A new menu selection
     ("DISAB") has been added onto the CHECKLISTS submenu
     of the program, which displays an extensive checklist
     that an employer should fill out, when interviewing a
     disabled person, in order to help make sure that there
     are no violations of the Americans with Disabilities
     Act in the hiring process with regard to that person.
     [93/1]

  .  NEW FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT TAX DEPOSIT RULES.  The segment
     on withholding taxes now includes a discussion of the
     new (1993) and simplified federal income tax and FICA
     tax deposit requirements.  [93/1]

  .  NEW INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY OPERATING PERMITS. This
     new text segment (see EPA menu selection, or use index)
     provides highly useful and current information about
     whether your business needs to obtain EPA or state air
     quality operating permits, under recent Clean Air Act
     regulations issued by EPA in 1992.  [93/2]

  .  NEW SEGMENT ADDED ON SELECTING PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS.
     This new text segment (see various items for Attorneys,
     Accountants, Benefit Consultants, etc. in index) pro-
     vides helpful tips on how to go about finding and how
     to use various professional advisers, as well as
     where to find free or inexpensive sources of help and
     information through SBA offices, SCORE and SBDC's,
     among others.  [93/3]

  .  INCREASE IN CORPORATE ESTIMATED TAX REQUIRED PAYMENTS.
     Updated to reflect January, 1992 amendments (and FUR-
     THER amendments in February and July and yet again
     in late '92) to the corporate estimated tax rules,
     which now require an increase in the percentage of
     current year estimated tax, in general, that must be
     paid in by corporations to avoid penalty, for years
     1992-1996.  Prior to 1992, corporations were general-
     ly required to pay in 90% of the current year's tax
     as estimated tax payments.  However, during the next
     few years (1992-1996), the percentage to be is paid
     in as estimated tax is increased as follows:

         . Tax years beginning in 1992
           (but before July 1, 1992)    --  93%

         . Tax years beginning on or
           after July 1, 1992           --  97%

         . Tax years after 1996         --  90% (In theory)

     (The initial revisions, which you may have heard
     about, would have phased-in the increases, but
     Congress changed that law, to the above schedule,
     within a couple of months of its passage, then
     changed it twice more in July and November.  Things
     change faster and faster....) [93/1]

  .  AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.  A new section has
     been added regarding the sweeping new requirements of
     this new legislation, passed in 1990, which is going
     into effect, in stages, in 1992 through 1994. [92/4]

  .  NEW CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.  All about the "hiring quotas"
     controversy in the new Civil Rights Act of 1991, and
     what it means to you.  While we are still trying to
     figure out exactly what this complex new legislation
     really means (as are a lot of other people, including
     battalions of lawyers), once the smoke clears a bit
     on some of the hazier parts of the new law, we have
     already included our own overview and analysis, plus
     advice to employers on what you may need to do to com-
     ply with the much tougher new anti-discrimination
     rules, where they apply to your firm.  [92/3]

  .  SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.  If, like most
     Americans, you were glued to the small, glowing tube
     in your living room for several days back in October,
     1991, watching the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill soap
     opera unfold, you are probably already aware that sex-
     ual harassment has become an explosive legal issue in
     the workplace today.  This update of this program in-
     cludes detailed advice on how to prevent such harass-
     ment at your firm, as well as how to protect yourself
     from liability for such acts committed by renegade
     employees, if any such harassment does occur at your
     place of business. [92/3]

  .  EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT.  Do you extend consumer
     credit to your customers?  Yes?  Do you enjoy being
     sued by them?  No?  Then you may find the information
     we have added to the program on the Equal Credit
     Opportunity Act to be very interesting reading. [92/3]

  .  PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS.  We have also added
     to the program a wide-ranging discussion of various
     types of pension and profit sharing plans, their pros
     and cons, etc.  Everything from 401K's to "target
     benefit plans."  (More than you ever really wanted to
     know about retirement plans, but were too gunshy about
     lawyers' fees to ask, in short.)  [93/1]

  .  ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.  This is one of the biggest con-
     cerns affecting businesses now, especially since the
     recent passage of the massive amendments to the Clean
     Air Act, which will impact virtually every small busi-
     ness with a whole new layer of complex regulations
     in the near future.  Forewarned is forearmed, so we
     think you will find this information EXTREMELY valu-
     able, particularly if you have been blissfully unaware
     of what has already become law in this area, and what
     is coming.  If you intend to stay in business in the
     'Nineties, you MUST be aware of penalties, up to
     $25,000 A DAY, for violating environmental laws and
     regulations, and how to steer clear of same.  (How to
     do your part to take care of the environment, and how
     to file for bankruptcy if you don't.)  This area of
     business regulation is becoming so important that we
     have now created a new menu item, on the "LEGAL
     MATTERS" submenu, the "EPA" command, for quickly ac-
     cessing this important environmental law information.
     [93/1]

  .  FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT REPORTING.  We are now cover-
     ing new federal laws requiring reporting of foreign-
     owned investments in U.S. businesses and real estate,
     what forms to file, and how those new rules may apply
     to you in unexpected situations, in these times of
     growing global business transactions (not to mention
     raging xenophobia). [93/1]

  .  LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES.  It walks like a duck, it
     talks like a duck, but it's taxed like a goose.  What
     is it? It's not a corporation, it's not a partnership,
     and it is definitely not a sole proprietorship....What
     the heck is this new thing?  It's called a "limited
     liability company," an interesting, and potentially
     useful new type of business entity that you can now
     set up, under the laws of eighteen states (and more
     to come).  And the IRS has ruled that such entities
     are generally taxable as partnerships, not as corpor-
     ations.  Expanded information on this new kind of
     legal entity, now adopted as a sort of "hybrid" of a
     corporation and a partnership, in 18 states, has been
     added to this version of the program. [93/1]

  .  VACCINE EXCISE TAX TERMINATED.  The federal excise tax
     on vaccine manufacturers has terminated, as of the end
     of 1992.  For details, see the "EXCISE TAX" selection
     on the "TAX INFO" menu. [93/1]


                        STATE LAW CHANGES:
                        ──────────────────

  .  STATE USE TAX COLLECTION BY MAIL ORDER RETAILERS NOT
     REQUIRED.  The U.S. Supreme Court held, on May 26,
     1992, in the case of Quill Corp. v. North Dakota,
     that, under the U.S. Constitution, a state may not
     force out-of-state mail order retailers to collect
     use tax on sales to residents of the state, where
     the company had no presence in the state.  Thus, it
     appears that many of the new "broad grasp" mail order
     company use tax law provisions, which have been adop-
     ted in some 34 states in recent years, may be invalid
     and no longer enforceable.  While this is good news
     for all mail order retailers, the bad news is that
     the Court also indicated in its decision that Congress
     could, if it chooses to do so, constitutionally enact
     legislation that would permit the states to require
     use tax collection on mail order and similar sales by
     out-of-state retailers.  [92/3]

  .  SALES TAX COVERAGE EXPANDED.  Greatly expanded, more
     detailed coverage of state sales tax laws, including
     registration, local taxes, taxable categories, and
     major exemptions from sales tax (for most states).

  .  GASOLINE TAX RATES ADDED.  Coverage has been expanded
     to include state gasoline rates for all 50 states and
     the District of Columbia as of early 1993. [93/1]

  .  ALABAMA ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.  Effec-
     tive October 1, 1993, Alabama law will authorize the
     creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  Alabama joins
     some 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  ARIZONA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added coverage
     of "LLC" law enacted by Arizona. [93/1]

  .  ARIZONA SALES TAXES.  Coverage of the Arizona sales
     and use tax law has been expanded. [93/1]

  .  ARKANSAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Arkansas has
     adopted LLC provisions, effective 4-12-1993.  [93/2]

  .  ARKANSAS SALES TAX EXPANSION.  More detailed discussion
     of Arkansas sales and use tax laws, including recent
     expansion of sales tax (gross receipts tax) to cover
     a number of different kinds of service businesses.
     [93/1]

  .  CALIFORNIA -- EMPLOYERS MUST REPORT NEW HIRES.  Effec-
     tive April 1, 1993, certain California employers must
     report all new hires (or rehires) to the state Employ-
     ment Development Department within 30 days, on a new
     reporting form.  Big Brother is watching, and he wants
     you to help him.... [93/2]

  .  CALIFORNIA.  Effective in 1994, most small employers
     in California (25 employees or less) will be eligible
     for a state income or franchise tax credit of up to
     the greater of $25 a month per employee or 25% of the
     amount paid for employee health care coverage.  (This
     credit was to have gone into effect in 1992, but was
     delayed until 1993, and now has been delayed for yet
     another year by the California Legislature.)  [93/1]

  .  CALIFORNIA.  Updated to reflect 1992 indexing of
     California tax brackets for personal income tax,
     which were released in September, 1992 by the
     California Franchise Tax Board.  [93/1]

  .  CALIFORNIA SDI RATE INCREASED FOR 1993.  Updated for
     increase in State Disability Insurance (tax) rate
     calendar year 1993, from 1.25% to 1.30%. [93/1]

  .  CALIFORNIA'S TOUGHER NEW ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENT RULES.
     Covers new estimated tax rules, effective 1-1-1993,
     that will limit ability of individual taxpayers to
     avoid underpayment penalty by merely making estimated
     tax payments equal to 100% of their prior year's tax
     liability, for certain high-income taxpayers whose
     income increases by more than $40,000 from the prior
     year.  Also updates increase in amount of estimated
     franchise tax for corporations, from 90% to 95%, that
     goes into effect in 1993. [92/4]

  .  CALIFORNIA LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES.  More infor-
     mation has been added on the gross receipts taxes
     that are imposed by several major California cities
     and counties, and how to minimize your local license
     tax burden. [92/3]

  .  CALIFORNIA.  The State Board of Equalization has
     dropped the requirement that most new businesses reg-
     istering for the sales tax post a deposit (except for
     retailers who have established a poor record of pay-
     ing sales tax to the state).  In the past, most new
     businesses in California were required to post a bond
     or deposit totalling 3 times their estimated monthly
     sales tax collection (up to $10,000).  Dropping this
     requirement is intended to lower one barrier to the
     creation of new small businesses.  [92/3]

  .  COLORADO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Colorado. [93/1]

  .  COLORADO WITHHOLDING OF TAX ON SALE OF REAL ESTATE.
     Added new section on new (1993) law requiring
     persons selling real estate to nonresidents of
     Colorado to withhold income tax. [93/1]

  .  CONNECTICUT SALES TAX.  The Connecticut sales tax was
     reduced from 8% to 6%, effective October 1, 1991.  At
     the same time, motor fuel tax rates were increased
     from 23 cents to 25 cents a gallon as of 9-1-91, 26
     cents on 1-1-92, 28 cents on 1-1-93, 29 cents on
     7-1-93, 30 cents on 1-1-94, 31 cents on 7-1-94,
     32 cents on 1-1-95, 33 cents on 7-1-95, and to 34
     cents a gallon on 1-1-96. [92/3]

  .  DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law recently enacted by Delaware. [93/1]

  .  FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Florida. [93/1]

  .  FLORIDA WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW UPDATED.  We have
     updated the coverage requirements under the Florida
     workers' compensation law to reflect recent legislat-
     ive changes. [93/1]

  .  FLORIDA SALES TAX EXTENDED.  Revised to reflect expan-
     sion of the Florida sales tax to apply to certain bur-
     glary and other protection services, plus nonresiden-
     tial cleaning and pest control services.  [92/3]

  .  GEORGIA ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.  Effec-
     tive March 1, 1994, Georgia law will authorize the
     creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  Thus, Georgia
     joins 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  HAWAII UNEMPLOYMENT TAX CHANGES.  For calendar year
     1992 and in subsequent years, the "new employer"
     state unemployment tax rate (1.70% in 1993) is the
     same as the contribution rate assigned to employers
     with a .0000 reserve ratio.  (The rate was 3.1% for
     new employers in 1991.)  The wage base for Hawaii
     unemployment tax has been increased to $23,900 in
     1993 (from $7,000 in 1991), however, so that the
     maximum tax for a given employee has increased from
     $217 in 1991 to as much as $406.30 in 1993. [93/1]

  .  HAWAII GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION FOR HOTEL OPER-
     ATORS.  Legislation passed in 1991 now allows Hawaii
     hotel operators to reduce taxable gross receipts by
     the amount disbursed to hotel employees for salary,
     wages, and benefits.  [92/3]

  .  HAWAII EXEMPTION FOR "AFFORDABLE HOUSING."  New legis-
     lation exempts certain planning, design, etc. services
     in connection with construction and sale of "afford-
     able housing" between July 1, 1992 and December 31,
     1994 from the state General Excise Tax. [92/3]

  .  IDAHO REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO OBTAIN ACCOUNT NUMBER.
     Beginning July 1, 1993, Idaho employers are required
     to register with the Idaho Tax Commission and obtain
     a employer's withholding account number.  Formerly,
     there was no such registration requirement. [93/2]

  .  IDAHO ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.  Effec-
     tive on July 1, 1993, Idaho law will authorize the
     creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  Idaho joins
     some 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Illinois. [93/1]

  .  ILLINOIS SALES TAX.  Expanded information is now now
     provided on the Illinois sales and use taxes. [93/1]

  .  IOWA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Iowa.  [93/1]

  .  IOWA TAX BRACKETS ANNOUNCED FOR 1993.  Revised to
     reflect new maximum tax bracket for Iowa individual
     income tax in 1993. [93/1]

  .  KANSAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of the "LLC" law enacted by Kansas. [93/1]

  .  MAINE SALES TAX.  Updated to reflect drop in sales
     tax rate from 6% to 5%, scheduled to go into effect
     7-1-93. [92/3]

  .  MARYLAND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of the "LLC" law enacted by Maryland. [93/1]

  .  MICHIGAN ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.  Ef-
     fective June 1, 1993, Michigan law will authorize the
     creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  Michigan joins
     some 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

   . MICHIGAN SINGLE BUSINESS TAX SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT.
     The small business tax credit allowed to certain smal-
     ler businesses under the Single Business Tax has been
     amended, and now applies to firms with up to $10 mil-
     lion in annual gross receipts (formerly $7.5 million).
     [92/3]

  .  MINNESOTA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law recently enacted by Minnesota. [93/1]

  .  MISSOURI ENACTS PASSES CORPORATE INCOME TAX INCREASE.
     Corporate tax rates in Missouri will jump from 5% to
     6.25% on September 1, 1993, under recently enacted tax
     legislation just signed into law by the Governor of
     Missouri. [93/3]

  .  MONTANA TAX RATES CHANGED FOR 1993.  Montana has re-
     duced its tax rate for individuals from a former max-
     imum tax bracket of 11%, to a new flat tax of 6.7% of
     taxable income, which is now computed without item-
     ized deductions or personal exemptions. The corporate
     tax rate for 1993 has been changed to 7.08% on the
     first $500,000 of taxable income, and 7.57% on the ex-
     cess, dropping back to 6.75% and 7.25%, respectively,
     in 1994 and thereafter.  The corporation minimum tax
     is increased from $50 to $100, starting in 1993.
     [93/2]

  .  MONTANA ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.  Effec-
     tive October 1, 1993, Montana law will authorize the
     creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  Montana joins
     some 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  MONTANA SALES TAX PROPOSED.  On June 8, 1993, Montana
     voters will decide whether to adopt a Montana sales
     tax, at the rate of 4%.  If Referendum 111 is approved,
     the income tax brackets, which currently range from
     2% to as high as 11%, would be replaced by a flat 6%
     income tax rate. [93/2]

  .  NEVADA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Nevada. [93/1]

  .  NEVADA BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX.  Nevada has enacted a
     new Business Privilege Tax, effective July 1, 1991.
     The new tax is based on the average number of employ-
     ees a company has, generally at the rate of about
     $25 or $30 tax per employee per quarter (plus $17.50
     for each employee over 999).  An independent contrac-
     tor is not counted as an employee for purposes of the
     tax.  A person may not conduct a business in Nevada
     without first obtaining a business license from the
     state Department of Taxation, and paying a $25 license
     fee.  [92/3]

  .  NEW JERSEY MANDATORY DISABILITY LAW.  Added coverage
     of New Jersey law requiring employers to provide disa-
     bility insurance coverage for their employees. [93/1]

  .  NEW YORK MANDATORY DISABILITY LAW.  Added coverage
     of New York law requiring employers to provide disa-
     bility insurance coverage for their employees. [93/1]

  .  NORTH CAROLINA MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.  Updated to
     reflect scheduled increase from $3.35 to $3.80 on
     January 1, 1992, and a further increase to $4.25 an
     hour on January 1, 1993. [92/3]

  .  NORTH DAKOTA ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.
     Effective July 1, 1993, North Dakota law will authorize
     the creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  North Dakota
     joins 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  OHIO ADDS NEW PERSONAL INCOME TAX BRACKET.  Updated
     to reflect new 7.5% maximum tax rate under Ohio per-
     sonal income tax, starting in 1993. [93/1]

  .  OHIO EXPANDS SALES TAX TO SERVICES.  Updated to reflect
     new sales tax law, effective January 1, 1993, which
     extends the sales tax to various specified services.
     [93/1]

  .  OKLAHOMA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law recently enacted by Oklahoma. [93/1]

  .  OKLAHOMA SALES TAXES.  Coverage of the Oklahoma sales
     and use tax law has been expanded. [93/1]

  .  RHODE ISLAND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added
     coverage of "LLC" law recently enacted by Rhode
     Island. [93/1]

  .  RHODE ISLAND MANDATORY DISABILITY LAW.  Added coverage
     of Rhode Island law requiring employers to provide disa-
     bility insurance coverage for their employees. [93/1]

  .  RHODE ISLAND INCREASES INCOME TAX ON HIGHER-INCOME
     TAXPAYERS.  The state income tax, equal to 27.5% of
     federal income tax liability, is "temporarily" in-
     creased, on federal tax liability in excess of
     $15,000, to 29.75% in 1992 and to 32% in 1993.  Also,
     the 11% business corporation surtax on income, sched-
     uled to expire in 1993, has been extended to January
     1, 1997.  [92/3]

  .  SOUTH DAKOTA ADOPTS "LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" LAW.
     Effective July 1, 1993, South Dakota law will authorize
     the creation of "limited liability companies," which are
     neither corporations nor partnerships.  South Dakota
     joins 26 other states which have enacted such laws
     authorizing formation of limited liability companies.
     [93/2]

  .  SOUTH CAROLINA TAX BRACKET INDEXING FOR 1993. Updated
     to reflect increase in the income level at which the
     top state personal income tax bracket begins, in-
     creased from $10,600 in 1992 to $10,800 in 1993.
     [93/1]

  .  SOUTH DAKOTA REJECTS INCOME TAX.  South Dakota voters
     went to the polls on November 3, 1992 and voted not to
     adopt an initiative petition that proposed to institute
     a state income tax on individuals and corporations.
     The maximum proposed state income tax rate for both
     corporations and individuals in South Dakota would have
     been 6% if the measure had been approved by the voters.
      [92/4]

  .  TENNESSEE ENACTS TAX ON SERVICES.  Effective July 1,
     1992 through March 31, 1994, Tennessee has repealed
     its 6% sales tax on most services, but has replaced
     it with a new 6.75% tax on services of various spec-
     ified kinds. [92/3]

  .  TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Texas. [93/1]

  .  UTAH SALES TAXES.  Coverage of the Utah sales and use
     tax law has been expanded. [93/2]

  .  UTAH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Utah. [93/1]

  .  VIRGINIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added cover-
     age of "LLC" law enacted by Virginia. [93/1]

  .  WASHINGTON STATE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.  The state
     minimum wage in Washington is slated to increase to
     $4.90 an hour after 1993. [93/2]

  .  WEST VIRGINIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW.  Added
     coverage of "LLC" law enacted by West Virginia. [93/1]

  .  WEST VIRGINIA CORPORATE INCOME TAX.  Updated to re-
     flect drop in tax rate from 9.15% to 9% after June
     30, 1992. [92/3]

  .  WYOMING SALES TAX INCREASED TO 4%.  Effective 7-1-1993,
     the Wyoming sales tax rate is temporarily increased
     from 3% to 4%, except on certain farm implements. [93/2]


   OTHER CHANGES AND ADDITIONS IN RECENT QUARTERLY RELEASES:
   ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

  .  FLEX PLANS.  We have added a whole new segment on
     "flexible spending plans," or cafeteria plans, as
     they are sometimes called, which are becoming ex-
     tremely popular alternatives to traditional modes
     of providing tax-favored fringe benefits to employ-
     ees.  This is a very exciting new area, as it allows
     employees who have young children, for example, to
     select dependent care reimbursement, while other
     employees with differing needs might instead select
     other tax-free benefits.  (Employers say that their
     workers take to these new flex plans like bulimics
     in a bake shop.) [92/3]

  .  FRINGE BENEFITS.  An in-depth coverage of various
     employee fringe benefit plans your company can offer,
     in addition to the basic health, life insurance and
     disability plans covered in the current edition.
     How to put the golden handcuffs on those employees
     you want to keep, and how to give the sleeves of the
     vest to the ones who don't perform up to what you
     expected.  Everything from stock option plans, SARs,
     and phantom stock, to dependent care, educational
     benefit and group legal services plans and employee
     purchase discounts are now covered, in easy-to-
     understand language that gives you crucial the in-
     formation you need, as a business owner, to decide
     if such plans warrant consideration by your company.
     [92/3]

  .  DEVELOPING TRENDS.  We have added a lengthy new seg-
     ment, concentrating on changing economic and business
     trends in the marketplace, as well as developing
     areas of business law and pending tax and other law
     changes you need to be aware of if you are in busi-
     ness.  Covers areas ranging from VDT terminals
     (health problems that may result from their use) to
     "wrongful termination" of employees to new environ-
     mental regulations to economic trends and pending
     national health insurance proposals.  (Access this
     info by selecting the "ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS TRENDS"
     item from the index, using the "INDX" selection on
     the Main Menu.) [92/3]

  .  TELEPHONE HOTLINES. Updated various telephone numbers
     of government agencies, many of which have changed or
     been disconnected in recent months.  Also added
     Justice Department information line number for in-
     formation on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     [92/3]

  .  THIS UPDATE FILE has been added, a useful feature for
     users which we will continue to provide with each new
     quarterly update in the future.

  .  BUILT-IN ORDER FORM.  In addition, we have built in a
     feature that now allows you to print out the order
     form to send to us (with $$ enclosed), if you want to
     order an update or program upgrade, or the companion
     book that we sell here and in bookstores, STARTING &
     OPERATING A BUSINESS IN @STATE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
             NOTE:   Things change....Rapidly.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The above are changes made in  the last 4 quarterly updates,
not including earlier revisions.  Thus,  if you have an ear-
lier  version of the program  issued more than 3 months ago,
there are a great  many update  changes since  then that are
NOT listed above,  since those  have long since  been incor-
porated into  the program, and,  from our point of view, are
now ancient history.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

   ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │AS YOU WILL NOTE FROM THE FOREGOING CHANGES, THE LAWS│
   │AFFECTING BUSINESS TEND TO CHANGE  VERY RAPIDLY,  AND│
   │THIS  PROGRAM IS  REVISED ON ALMOST  A DAILY BASIS TO│
   │KEEP UP WITH THE FLOOD OF  TAX AND LEGAL CHANGES THAT│
   │OCCUR.   ACCORDINGLY,  IF THIS PROGRAM IS MORE THAN A│
   │YEAR OLD,  A LARGE PORTION  OF THE INFORMATION  IN IT│
   │IS LIKELY TO BE DANGEROUSLY OUT-OF-DATE. WE ISSUE UP-│
   │DATES OF THE PROGRAM EVERY 3 MONTHS AT A VERY REASON-│
   │ABLE PRICE.  TRY US.                                 │
   └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘



AND COMING ENHANCEMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS NOW IN THE WORKS...
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

We are constantly expanding and updating the subject mat-
ter and coverage of this program, as well as adding new
features.  Here is a partial list of a few items we are
researching (and translating into plain English!) now, for
inclusion in the next two quarterly releases of the program
(Summer/Fall 1993):

  .  AUTOMOBILE EXPENSES.  A new segment will be added on
     taking deductions for automobile and travel & enter-
     tainment expenses.

  .  ARE YOU READY TO START A BUSINESS?  A new segment is
     to be added on characteristics of successful entrepre-
     neurs, and factors you should consider before you
     start a business.

  .  SHOULD YOU HIRE EMPLOYEES?  A new feature, which will
     suggest a few things you need to consider before you
     hire your first employee.


OTHER PLANNED FEATURES....
──────────────────────────

We also add new features to the program from time to time,
and will be adding any of a number of other modules we are
considering right now, at some time during the following
3 or 4 quarterly updates.

           ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
           │  OUR FAVORITE QUOTE FOR THIS QUARTER:   │
           │"Some towns may be too small to support  │
           │ a lawyer, but no town was ever too small│
           │ to support TWO lawyers."                │
           │    -- Old American Proverb              │
           └─────────────────────────────────────────┘