Your Pongo Membership Could Mean Tax Savings

Your Pongo Membership Could Mean Tax SavingsTax SavingsYour Membership Could Mean Tax SavingsGood news for last-minute tax filers The money youve invested in your job search may be deductible on your federal income taxes - and that includes your membershipcosts. Of course, nothing is simple when it comes to the tax code. With the April 15 tax deadline mere days away, heres what you need to know about the tax deductibility of job search expenses.The federal government offers an income tax break for something called Unreimbursed Employee Expenses, which includes money spent preparing and sending resumes as part of a job search. In general, you can probably deduct some of your job search expenses ifYou itemize deductions on Schedule A of your fasson 1040 andYour Unreimbursed Employee Expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) andYour AGI is less than $78,200 (or $156,400 if you are married filing jointly).If you meet these criteria, you can deduct the expenses that exceed th e 2% threshold.EXAMPLE If your AGI is $50,000, the first $1,000 in expenses is NOT deductible (2% of $50,000 = $1,000). But anything you spend over $1,000 is deductible. So if you have $1,050 in expenses, you can deduct $50.That may not sound like much, but remember, this is not JUST your job search expenses. You can combine many other work-related expenses with your job search expenses to exceed the 2% threshold.Eligible Unreimbursed Employee Expenses include the followingTravel, baggage charges, meals and lodging, or cleaning and laundry expensesDues to chambers of commerce and professional organizationsLegal fees related to doing or keeping your jobLicenses and regulatory fees for your trade, business, or profession andTax preparation fees.Of course, since were referring to the tax code, there are a few other caveats. You cannot deduct job search expenses if youre looking for a job in a new occupation, if there was a substantial break between the end of your last job and the star t of your job search, or if youre looking for a job for the first time.If youre not sure what you spent on your membership in 2007, contact the Customer Support Team.For complete information on these deductions, consult your tax advisor or read this IRS publication.

Your favorite green veggie is now on the Dirty Dozen list

Your favorite green veggie is now on the Dirty Dozen listYour favorite green veggie is now on the Dirty Dozen listIf you love shopping for fresh produce as much as we do, we have some sobering news. TheEnvironmental Working Groupjust released its2019 updates to the Dirty Dozen list, and alotof the star players in your kitchen made the pesticide-ridden cut.The most upsetting? Kale, our favorite leafy green superfood, made it into the list for the first time in a decade. More than 92 percent of the kale samples tested had at least two detectable pesticide residues on them, with a single sample containing up to 18 different residues. (Weknow.) Dacthal, or DCPA, was the most commonly found pesticide among all kale samples.And just so you know, DCPA is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (and has been since 1995) as a possible human carcinogen. Its been prohibited in Europe for a solid 10 years.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happine ss, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBefore testing fruits and vegetables, the USDA researchers washed and peeled all produce just as you would at home before digging in. In doing so, they revealed how a simple rinse in the sink isnt enough to remove all pesticides from the foods youre about to eat. Overall, the USDA found 225 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on popular fruits and vegetables we eat daily.EWGs 2019 Dirty Dozen ListStrawberriesSpinachKaleNectarinesApplesGrapesPeachesCherriesPearsTomatoesCeleryPotatoesMore than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, andkale tested positive for at least two different pesticide residues.xperts recommend, when your budget allows, that you opt for organic versions of theseproducepicks to keep your pesticide exposure as minimized as possible.On a positive note, we were relieved to see lots of tasty options rank in the Clean Fifteen list for 2019 - or theproduc ethat carries the least amount of pesticide residues once it leaves its natural home and shows up on supermarket shelves.The 15 fruits and vegetables below have few, if any, detectable pesticide residues, so you can buy the conventionally grown (and cheaper) options here without so much as a second thought.EWGs 2019 Clean Fifteen ListAvocadosSweet CornPineappleFrozen Sweet PeasOnionsPapayasEggplantsAsparagusKiwisCabbagesCauliflowerCantaloupesBroccoliMushroomsHoneydew MelonsAvocados and sweet corn were the cleanest, with less than 1 percent of samples revealing any detectable pesticides. So were going to whip up a bowl of fresh guac (with some corn, onions, andpineapple tossed in for fun) tonight in celebration of our favorite healthy fatsTo learn more about pesticides in produce, pesticide regulations, genetically-engineered crops and what you can do to ensure that your fruits and veggies are, in fact, safe to eat, download a copy of the EWGs reporthere.Sign up forDaily Fit by Swirl ed, our newsletter featuring a wellness tip of the day and must-read health news from around the web Youll be one step closer to living a healthy, balanced life.This article first appeared on Swirled.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Corporate Guarantee FAQ - United States

Corporate Guarantee FAQ - United StatesPersonal/Corporate Guarantee FAQ - United StatesWhat is a Guarantee?What is a guarantee?A Guarantee is a contract where someone agrees to be responsible for the debt or obligations of another person (the debtor) in the event that the debtor defaults on the debt. This guarantors obligation is limited to the debt that is the subject of the guarantee.What are the benefits of using a guarantee?Guarantees benefit both the Lender (Creditor) by allowing the Lender to provide a loan with assurances from the Guarantor that it will be paid back. The Debtor also benefits because he is able to obtain a loan where it might otherwise be difficult to secure a loan without the guarantee, especially if the Debtor has a poor credit rating or no collateral to offer the Lender.DefinitionsWhat is a limited guarantee?A limited guarantee is a guarantee that is limited to a specific dollar amount (e.g. $25,000).What is acceleration?If the Debtor fails to make the agree d upon payments when required, then he has defaulted on the loan, and the Lender can take action to recover the entire loan amount immediately from the Debtor and/or the Guarantor.What does acceptance of the guarantee is waived mean?This phrase means that the Guarantor is bound by the terms and obligations of the guarantee even if the Guarantor does not receive notice of the Lenders acceptance of the guarantee.MiscellaneousIf I am the Guarantor of a limited guarantee, what happens if the Debtor borrows mora money than I have agreed to guarantee, but the Debtor cannot repay the loan?You are only liable for the debt up to the value of the limit imposed upon the guarantee. The Lender would only be able to go after the Debtor for any amounts over the limit.If the Guarantor is an executive with a corporation, does this make it a corporate guarantee?It would be a corporate guarantee if the executive is acting on behalf of a corporation (the guarantor) when he agrees to be responsible for the obligations and debts of the Debtor. If the executive is acting in his own capacity, then this would be a personal guarantee.As the Guarantor of a continuing guarantee, what debts am I liable for?You are liable for all obligations of the Debtor, including future debts owed by the Debtor to the Lender, even where the initial debt has been repaid.Attestation and Signing DetailsDoes the guarantee need to be witnessed by someone?Yes, someone that is not a party to the guarantee should witness and sign the document. Most jurisdictions require that a notary public witness the execution of the guarantee. However, some jurisdictions allow any person to witness the guarantee provided that person does not benefit from the guarantee or loan in any way.What is a notary public certificate?Some jurisdictions require that the guarantor acknowledge that he executed the guarantee and understood the terms of the guarantee. This acknowledgment is made in front of a notary public.