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One of the most annoyingly stressful things you can do is your taxes. If you haven’t got a math degree, getting to the end of a horrible tax return can feel as big an accomplishment as climbing Everest. But what happens when you finish, and you find out that you owe more tax to the IRS than you can afford? It can be annoying to find out that you won’t be getting that tax refund that can get you out of a jam, to find out that there is more money you have to pay can be quite stressful, and you don’t want to get in trouble with the IRS or get a criminal record. But there are things around resolving the issue, and making sure that you stay on the good side of the IRS.

Step 1: Double Check Your Return

It may be possible that you made errors on your return, as it is easy to add the same income twice, or you didn’t make a deduction. If you thought that you were qualified for a credit or deduction, make sure that you answered the questions correctly. If your return details are the same as the previous tax year, something could be amiss on the side of the IRS. Call or write to the IRS so you can get clarification on the issue.

Step 2: Reduce The Amount Of Penalties And Interest

If you owe a large sum of money, it can be a lot worse when you pay interest and penalties on top of what you originally owed. There are specific law firms that can help, you can seek help from tax professionals Mackay, Caswell & Callahan and other firms that are specifically oriented to help people with tax issues. But you can reduce your penalties by one of the following:

Exceptions to underpayment – if you underpaid this year but you owed less in the last tax year, you do not pay a penalty.

Ask for an abatement – write a letter to the IRS explaining your financial situation, for example, if you have mitigating circumstances, such as a long illness, the IRS may actually waive the penalties. Use the term “abatement” in your letter.

Pay as soon as you can – filing early or paying as much as you can shows willing.

Step 3: Ask To Pay In Installments

Filing Form 9465, the Installment Agreement Request, to set up a payment plan will allow you some breathing space, and if you show you cannot pay the amount in full, the IRS must let make payments in three years or less if you owe $25,000 or below.

Step 4: Offer In Compromise (OIC)

The IRS negotiates back taxes through an OIC, but you will have to offer, at least, your net worth. An OIC is very similar to bankruptcy, so it is an option, but you must be sure to only use this as a completely last resort.

Owing money to any organization can be stressful, but you can get a lot of help from the IRS. But above all else, don’t panic.

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Student @ Advanced Digital Sciences Center, Singapore. Travelled to 30+ countries, passion for basketball.

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Are You Leaving Your Business Open To These Common Security Pitfalls?

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Security is a critical concern for business owners operating on the market today. If there is a security breach in your company, then it can end up costing you a fortune. As well as this, it can also end up damaging your business reputation and this will lead to you losing more and more customers and clients. Aside from losses of sales and damage to your business reputation, there’s another problem that you can have here too. That’s the legal factor. Businesses these days are required to reach certain security standards. If you don’t do this, then you are going to be leaving your company open to a potential lawsuit. So, let’s look at some of the ways that you might be leaving your business open to security pitfalls and the best ways to correct these troubles. 

Failing To Secure Tech

First, you need to make sure that you are taking steps to secure your tech. There are lots of ways that you can do this. For instance, you might be getting rid of old tech. If so, then it’s essential that you wipe all the data. You should start by clearing out the Google search history. If you don’t do this, then there’s a chance that there will be remnants of passwords and encryptions that a criminal could use to access your company’s sensitive data. If you’re wondering how to delete Google search history, you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s relatively simple. By that’s just the beginning, once you have cleared the history, you’ll need to complete a more comprehensive clean up of the tech. Some businesses will even decide to hire a professional service to ensure that this work is completed the right way and that absolutely no data is left. 

Forgetting About The Cloud 

Are you wondering the best way to keep your business data secure? The answer is simple. It’s the cloud. Experts agree that by using the cloud, you will always have a greater chance of avoiding a hack or potential theft of data in your business model. It really is that simple. The benefit of a cloud server is that it keeps your data offsite and restricts the access. 

You might assume that it’s going to be difficult to access a cloud solution that will suit your business. However, we’re pleased to say that’s not the case. Instead, cloud solutions are completely scalable and thus can be accessed by any type or size of company you can imagine. 

Failing To Vet New Team Members

It’s also important that you remember to vet new team members before you allow them any kind of access to your business. While it might not seem like a massive concern, it should be because of the security risk that it poses. Before you allow anyone to join your team, you need to have run extensive background searches on them, spoken to all of the referees that they have listed, and checked for anything that is untoward about them. If you don’t find anything, then this is great and you can go ahead with hiring them.

However, if there is any doubt about them, then you need to be caerful. Run the checks again if you need to, but make sure that you’ve got the information that you need. Even then, you need to have them sign a non-disclosure agreement before they are allowed to join your team, just to be on the safe side. 

Forgetting About Physical Security 

We may live in the age of technology, but this does not mean that you should not be focusong on physical security as well. Your business building is still important, and the people who work for you still need to be protected. You can’t just try to cut corners and save money by leaving your actual business location vulnerable, and yet this is exactly what some companies try to do.

There should be physical security on the doors at the entrance of your building at the very least. As well as this, you’re going to need extras such as CCTV to keep an eye on the areas of the business that are not supervised. We recommend having these in any area that holds important information or money.

Failing To Stay Up To Date 

If you are using out of date technology and software then this may not be running the maximum security that your business needs. The reason it is recommended to keep up to date with tech is so that you are getting the very best services within your company. If you don’t update tech when required you may be missing out on vital security updates that will keep any and all unwanted activity away from your business. Make sure that you keep on top of all of these things and your business will be thriving and successful. 

Using The Wrong Services 

Finally, if you are using the wrong services then you are leaving your business extremely vulnerable to attacks and hacks. Without the right level of support from the correct services then you could be saying bye bye to your business before you are ready. Make sure you know which services to use and research these before you sign up for them. You don’t want to use something you don’t actually need as this will just take your hard earned cash for nothing. 

You should certainly be using IT support services when it comes to the cybersecurity aspect of your business. They will keep a close watch on your business and alert you to any hacks, no matter how small. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to do in order to avoid leaving your business open to some of the common security pitfalls. It’s more important than ever that you are taking the right precautions, and doing everything in your power to keep your business safe. Tech is more powerful than ever in business, so you can’t afford to fall down on this hurdle. We wish you the very best of luck.

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4 Ways to Improve Your Customer Experience

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Customer experience is much more than a one-time interaction. It’s an ongoing process that requires your business to think critically about how you can improve every interaction with your customers. Your customers should feel valued and understood at every step of the way, from first contact to the final sale. If you’re reading this, you know that customer experience is essential to the success of your business. It goes beyond surface-level niceties like “hello” and “thank you.” Instead, CX involves a 360-degree view of how customers perceive your company from beginning to end. These customer experience tips will help you streamline your interactions and give your customers the kind of service they want to return to.

Make it easy for customers to do business with you.

Never make your customers feel like they’re jumping through hoops to interact with you. Instead, make it easy for them to find and use your customer touchpoints—your website, social media channels, or physical storefront. Don’t forget about accessible payment options for your website and store to allow for multiple payment methods. Whether you include options to pay via PayPal or you need high risk merchant services due to poor business credit, pay attention to what you offer.

This applies to your customer service interactions as well. Make sure you have a clear way for customers to reach you through email, phone, a contact form, or some combination of the three. Be sure to include your hours of operation and any steps customers need to take to resolve their issues as swiftly and painlessly as possible.

Make sure your contact channels are functioning well.

Make sure you have a way for customers to reach you both during regular business hours and after business hours (if applicable). Ensure your phone system is working correctly, your emails are always sent, and your website or any other online contact form is easy to use. Additionally, make sure you’re responding to customers promptly. If you’re doing everything else right, but if your contact channels are a mess, you’ll end up with many frustrated customers. No one likes to feel ignored.

Offer solutions to problems, not just products or services

It’s essential to offer products, services, and solutions to your customer’s problems and concerns. When speaking with customers, focus on their challenges and how your products or services can resolve them. Remember that customer service isn’t just about sales. It’s about resolving customers’ concerns about your company, products, or services—even if they aren’t ready to buy yet. Your goal is to create a lifelong relationship, not just a single transaction.

Establish trust through transparency and authenticity

Trust is crucial for building a strong customer experience. Be transparent about your policies and your products—this means disclosing any potential risks or downsides as well. Be authentic in how you interact with your customers. You should always be yourself, even if that means you’re not the best salesperson or occasionally make a mistake. Customers will respect your authenticity, which builds trust and loyalty.

Summing up

If you take nothing else away from this article, this is the one thing you need to remember: your customer experience dictates your business’s future. Your customers don’t just experience your products or services once. They experience them throughout their entire relationship with you. Make sure you’re paying attention to every single touchpoint and listening to how you can improve. Put in the effort to improve your CX, and you’ll see the results in no time.

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David Faraco and Aquarius will create the First NFTs in Solidarity with Nature

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When it comes to the environment, we often think about ways to reduce our carbon footprint or recycle more. But what if there was a way to actually support the environment while also supporting your favorite artist? With NFT, now there is! NFT, or non-fungible tokens, are a new way to collect and trade digital art. And because they’re stored on the blockchain, they’re completely secure and immutable. That means that when you buy an NFT, you can be sure that you’re getting the real thing and that your purchase will support the artist directly. Plus, NFT are a great way to show your support for environmental causes. Aquarius and David Faraco are teaming up to create the first-ever nfts in solidarity with nature.

What is an NFT?

An NFT is a digital asset that is stored on a blockchain. The term NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. NFT are unique, unlike traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, which can be exchanged for goods or services. NFT have been gaining in popularity due to their ability to represent digital assets in a more secure way. For example, an artist could create an NFT of their work and sell it as a digital collectible. The benefits of using an NFT include the fact that they cannot be counterfeited and are tamper-proof. David Faraco Heredia, will be creating the first ever NFT in solidarity with nature. This project is aimed at helping to preserve our planet’s natural resources.

How will David Faraco’s NFT help nature?

In David Faraco’s native country of Costa Rica, nearly a quarter of the land is protected in some way by the government. This includes rainforests, national parks, and biological reserves. Now, with the help of blockchain technology, Faraco is hoping to do even more to protect the environment. Faraco is the founder of Aquarius Crypto Universe, a company that creates non-fungible tokens (NFT). NFT are digital assets that can be bought, sold, or traded like traditional cryptocurrencies. However, unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, each NFT is unique and cannot be replicated. Aquarius will use NFT to create digital certificates of ownership for land and wildlife. These certificates will be stored on the blockchain, making them tamper-proof and impossible to forge.

What are the benefits of using NFT?

  1. According to David Faraco, the benefits of using NFT include “the ability to show provenance, the immutability of the data, and the trustless nature of the technology.”
  2. He claims that by using NFT, we can “create a more sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants.”
  3. Faraco believes that NFT “have the potential to revolutionize how we interact with and value Nature.”

David Faraco, CEO of Aquarius Crypto Universe, has announced that they will be creating the first ever NFT in solidarity with nature. This comes as a response to the growing environmental crisis and the need for new ways to support and protect our planet. NFT are unique and cannot be exchanged for another currency. This makes them ideal for supporting causes and organizations, like Aquarius, that are working to make a difference. These NFT will be available for purchase on Aquarius’ website and will help support their environmental initiatives.

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