Archive for April, 2011

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Risk Transfer With Construction Bond

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Construction projects can often cause a tremendous amount of worry to the project owner. If you are the project owner there is a simple way to prevent the stress and worries caused by hiring a contractor to complete your project. Project owners can make certain that the contractor they hire will perform as expected if they are bonded.

Construction Bonds protect both the project owner as well as the contractor. Contractors can easily obtain a bond within a week so there is no reason one should not obtain a bond. Even if the contractor is inexperienced he is still capable of obtaining a bond.

Contractors who are bonded have a greater advantage over other contractors for many reasons.
Bonds prove to a project owner that the contractor is financially strong, competent and well capable of completing the project without complications. Having a bond will protect the project owner by a process called risk transfer. This means that the insurance company guarantees that the work of the contractor will be provided within the project owners stated budget and time frame requirements through a written contract.

The size of a project is no issue as a construction bond will cover a contractor for any size project whether it is a small project or a very large, time consuming project.

Construction Bonds may include up to five different types of bonds covering any issues that may arise from the starting of a project all the way to the completion of the project and any people involved during the process.

Tender or Bid Bonds are in place to show the project owner that there is a guarantee. This bond is a very important to the contractor since it shows to project owners that the contractor will honor their bid. Contractors who have bid bonds show that they are worthy of hiring because having a bid bond proves that the contractor will provide a Performance Bond if their bid is successful.

Performance Bonds reassure project owners that if the contractor were to default, the owner will not be at a loss. Performance Bonds make a set value of funds available to complete the contract in this event.

Maintenance Bonds also provide a guarantee to the project Owner in a similar way. This type of bonds reassures that the contractor will abide by their obligations of the contract they have signed including any maintenance or defective work obligations.

Stage Payment Bonds, also known as Advancement Bonds/ Advance Bonds, are one of the most beneficial bonds for the contractor as they provide the contractor with a direct service. Advance Bonds allow the contractor advancements in funds to allow him to purchase the initial necessary supplies and materials in order to start on his work without taking a personal loss in cash flow.

Payment Bonds are another important guarantee however they aren’t necessarily beneficial for either the contractor or the project owner. Payment Bonds are formed to provide security for the subcontractors or other laborers and those supplying the materials under the actual contractor. Having this bond in place guarantees a payment amount to these people which is a protection to them since no other bonds offer protection to these workers.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/risk-transfer-with-construction-bond-4659869.html

About the Author

The writer is Joe Murphy with extensive experience in a variety of industries through significant transitions. For more information on Construction Bond, visit http://www.easyquote.ie/business-insurance/index.php/construction-bonds-guarantee-bonds

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in rssorange | No Comments »

Expatriate Tax Return – Ways to Save

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Starting To Think About Filing Your Expatriate Tax Return? Wait! Read This First: How to Save Money on Your US Expat Taxes

Living and working in a foreign country, whether it is temporary or permanent, can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Moving to another country, although exciting, does come with some challenges and requires that you learn a bit of new information as it relates to your US taxes. In order to reap the full benefits of living abroad you need to do some research regarding your expatriate tax return obligation before you need to file. No one likes filing their taxes, and certainly no one likes to spend money unnecessarily, so saving money is crucial. This article will provide you with four great ways to save on your US expat taxes.

Take advantage of the Foreign Tax Credit & Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

While you’re living abroad and filing your US taxes, it is important to make sure that you take full advantage of Form 1116 and Forms 2555, otherwise known as the Foreign Tax Credit Form and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, respectively. The Foreign Tax Credit gives you a credit on your US expat taxes for the amount of money you have paid in tax to a foreign government. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion helps you by excluding a big chunk of your foreign earned income from your US taxes. This is important because even as a US expat, all of the income that you make outside the United States is subject to identical tax rates as someone who is working and living inside of the US. That is where Form 2555 comes in. By completing this form, you can exclude up to $91,500 USD of income earned abroad from your US expat tax return. While including potential deductions of housing and living expenses, it is possible to counterbalance most if not all of your tax liability in a given calendar year.

The Foreign Tax Credit (or Form 1116) is different than Form 2555 but they work together to help you save money on your expat tax return. It is important to note that many people take a wrong turn when using these two forms by assuming their taxes will be offset by the numbers they have worked out, and they decide not to bother filing their expat taxes at all. Clearly this isn’t going to do you any good! If you earn money abroad you will need to file in order to receive these tax breaks and avoid being hit with penalties.

Adjust your Foreign Housing Credit for the country you live in

A second tip for filing your US expatriate tax return is to make sure your Foreign Housing Credit is adjusted for the country you live in. The rates vary from country to country which can drastically affect the end result, so it is extremely important to make sure that this is adjusted. As a US citizen living and working abroad, you may be eligible to deduct some of your housing costs from your income in order to save some money on your taxes. In order to qualify for this deduction, you need to meet the “bona fide residence test” or the “physical presence test.” This test ensures that you are indeed living and working abroad. The IRS allows this deduction because they recognize that you may need to spend more money on housing outside of the US. Generally, the deduction is for a maximum of $27,450 or 30% of your Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and you deduct this amount from your gross income for housing costs. As mentioned, this rate is adjustable depending on where you are living. For example, compared to living in the US, places such as London, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Perth all qualify for a much higher deduction rate than the standard rate due to the higher costs of living. By being aware of the changing rates associated with your country of residence, you could end up saving a lot of money!

Use the most advantageous foreign exchange rates

You can also save a lot of money by making sure that the accountant who is filing your expatriate tax return is using the most advantageous foreign exchange conversion dates. When filing your taxes, you can choose different foreign exchange periods such as annually or on a specific day. Making sure you make the right choice as to what period you choose can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. For example, if you receive a $10,000 bonus on June 1st and the foreign exchange rate is lower than the monthly number has been, you may want to use the specific date to translate it into US Dollars (as everything needs to be filed in US dollars).

Don’t get overcharged for your expatriate tax return preparation fees!

Finally, it is imperative to hire a qualified expert to prepare your US expat taxes and agree upon and pay one flat fee to the person who is filing your expatriate tax return so that you aren’t surprised by the final bill. It happens all too often that expatriates believe they will be paying one amount only to be hit with extra charges and fees on their final bill. Many companies don’t disclose their prices or they quote you one price only to have add-ons for each additional service. This obviously means that the tax bill can increase over the course of preparing the return, and you do not want to pay more than you can afford or more than you were expecting. You need to find someone you are comfortable dealing with and this likely means a company that has very transparent prices!

As you can see, there are numerous ways to save money on your US expatriate tax return. By understanding the credits and exclusions that are available to you as an expat, you can ensure that you are well informed and knowledgeable about the ways can save you money. For more information about how the various components of an expatriate tax return work please have a look at our new series Your Expat Taxes Explained.

 

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/taxes-articles/expatriate-tax-return-ways-to-save-4650335.html

About the Author

About Greenback Expat Tax Services

Greenback Expat Tax Services specializes in preparation of US Expat Taxes for Americans living abroad. Incorporated in New York, Greenback’s CPAs have 30+ years specialist experience in US expat taxes. We offer a flat fee ($329 for a federal return), simple process (we don’t make you do all the work!) and, most importantly CPAs who are experts in the ins-and-outs of expat tax returns. For more information and to download a free guide to US expat taxes, visit www.greenbacktaxservices.com

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in rssorange | No Comments »

The UK Mortgage Market in 2011 and Future Outlook – Market Research Report

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Aarkstore.com announces that a new market research report is available in its vast collection:

The UK Mortgage Market in 2011 and Future Outlook

http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/The-UK-Mortgage-Market-in-2011-and-Future-Outlook-118903.html

Introduction

The UK mortgage market continued to suffer from the after effects of the credit crunch in 2010. A lack of funding restricted the ability of providers to increase lending, and demand was adversely affected low consumer confidence. Matters are unlikely to improve in 2011, and the best that can be hoped for is a slow and gradual recovery.

Features and benefits

* Summarizes the main macroeconomic and regulatory developments affecting the mortgage market.
* Assesses the impact of interest rate movements, funding constraints, increased regulation and other factors upon the mortgage market.
* Sets out Datamonitor’s gross lending forecasts for the period 2011-2015.

Highlights

Remortgaging activity was slow throughout 2010, as borrowers remained inclined to remain on low standard variable rates. However, renewed speculation about possible rises in the base rate over the next few months could help to fuel a partial recovery in this market.
House prices will, at best, remain static in 2011, as consumer demand for housing falls in response to higher taxation, spending cuts and decreasing real incomes. This will limit the amount of equity many homeowners have in their properties, reducing their ability to remortgage or move home. Providers may also be less inclined to lend as a result
Funding remains problematic. New securitizations are scarce, and are not keeping pace with redemptions. Lenders will also have to deal with the winding down of government support through the Special Liquidity Scheme and Credit Guarantee Scheme. Forthcoming Basel guidelines will severely restrict the ability of banks to lend at high loan-to-values.

Your key questions answered

* Understand the key factors that will drive the mortgage market in 2011 and beyond.
* Assess the prospects for an increase in lending activity in 2011.
* Use Datamonitor’s forecasts to help inform your future plans.

Table of Contents :
DATAMONITOR VIEW
Catalyst
Summary
ANALYSIS
forecasts a lean market for gross lending over the next five years
Gross lending will rise to just £200bn by 2015
Under the optimistic scenario, gross lending will reach £220bn in 2015
The pessimistic forecast sees gross lending growing to £180bn by 2015
Business activity was sluggish throughout 2010
Gross lending in 2010 did not improve on the levels seen in 2009
The fragile state of the UK economy has held back consumer demand for mortgages
Remortgaging levels remained depressed throughout 2010
Mortgage interest rates barely shifted in 2010
House purchase activity appears to have bottomed out
Credit availability has stabilized, but not yet begun to recover
The post-crash recovery in house prices ended in early 2010
Arrears and possessions declined in 2010
Uncertainty surrounded progress on the Mortgage Market Review in 2010
Prospects for growth in 2011 are subdued
Mortgage lending got off to a slow start in 2011
expects the base rate to end the year at 1%
House prices are likely to remain flat at best in 2011
Funding issues will become more pressing as the year progresses
Poor availability of high LTV mortgages will continue to hinder first-time buyers
Arrears and possessions may rise slightly in 2011
Buy-to-let is the only major sector of the market that will see significant growth in 2011
APPENDIX
Supplementary data
Definitions
Bank of England base rate
CAGR
Gross advances
Remortgaging
RMBS
Methodology
Forecasting methodology
Further reading
Ask the analyst
consulting
Disclaimer

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/the-uk-mortgage-market-in-2011-and-future-outlook-market-research-report-4652338.html

About the Author

We specialize in providing online market business information on market research reports, books, magazines, conference booking at competitive prices, and strive to provide excellent and innovative service to our customers.

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in rssorange | No Comments »

Eliminate Credit Card Debt Legally – Cut Your Debt in Half and Eliminate It Quick

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Debt relief is a legal option for wiping out your bills, sometimes by as much as 50%. What does this do? Does it give you flexible payment options? Do you get an extension to pay? The answer to both of these questions is no.

This is not a magic solution for your problems. What this can do for you is reduce what you owe and eventually restore your credit rating. The method we are discussing here is debt settlement. Settlement is different from debt consolidation. The two things are easily confused, but they are different. Each of these solutions has its benefits and each one has its demerits but settlement can help you to eliminate credit card debt legally.

1. Debt consolidation.

Consolidation combines all of a person’s various debts into one lump sum. Negotiators work with creditors to reduce or eliminate fees and percentage rates on the borrowers different credit accounts. The debt negotiator will the collect one consolidated monthly payment from the consumer and then distribute it to the various creditors. This option does not reduce the person’s original debt and is not the best solution to eliminate credit card debt legally. The benefit to this option is that it is less destructive to your credit than either bankruptcy or debt settlement. You can pay off your debts over a period of time. Once your debts are paid off, then your credit will be restored. This is not the case with bankruptcy which will remain on your credit report for 7-10 years.

2. Debt settlement.

Settlement reduces the actual amount of principal debt. A debt negotiator will work with creditors, or more often, debt collection agencies to reduce the amount of money owed. Once the repayment amount has been agreed to by all parties, the debt negotiator will collect the money from the debtor, hold it in trust, and then pay the debt to the creditor. This option is a good choice for someone who doesn’t have the ability to pay the full debt that they owe, but can make some kind of payment. It is a less harmful solution than bankruptcy and a good way to eliminate credit card debt legally.

Whichever solution seems like a good one for your situation, it’s important to do your homework and find a debt negotiator with a good reputation. With the right debt relief solution and the right negotiator, you will be on your way to a brighter stress free future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/eliminate-credit-card-debt-legally-cut-your-debt-in-half-and-eliminate-it-quick-4655715.html

About the Author

Here is the #1 resource to eliminate credit card debt legally just click here to get out of debt now

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in rssorange | No Comments »

Local Mobile Monopoly Review – A Customer's Opinion on a Very Hot Product

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

If you’ve heard about Local Mobile Monopoly and want more information on what all the buzz about and if it really is as good as you hear then you’re in luck because I’m going to give you a thorough Local Mobile Monopoly review. In this review I’m going to talk about the resources required to start, how much work it is actually going to take to start seeing money, and finally talk about the testimonials of current customers. After reading through this you will be able to make an informed decision on whether or not to jump onto the Local Mobile Monopoly train so lets get started!

First, talking about what is required was actually quite astonishing to me when I downloaded the product for the first time. Literally all that is required is your cell phone, but if you don’t want to use even that then there’s software that comes with the product that you can use to send the text messages out for you. To start making money, all you have to do is start texting people in your area about a restaurant, bookstore, or even small cafe. You text, they come, and you earn money basically to sum it up fairly quickly. Hey if it worked for me who is completely marketing illiterate and can hardly work my own cell phone then I can almost guarantee it will work for you.

Now, talking about work the whole process is really simple to go through and won’t take up more than an hour of your time each day. I’ve seen other users claim thousands of dollars a month, but they’re probably working a lot. I’m only working one hour a day and making a few hundred each week, which in my books is absolutely insane. There’s no writing, videos, or selling involved and the best part is that this really can’t get saturated because it’s local to your area and there are thousands of businesses everywhere. Bottom line, it’s not a lot of work, but always remember the more you put into it the more you will get out of it.

Finally, I’ve seen hundreds of people make claims about their earnings and to me it sounds quite ridiculous. I’m not sure if one person can be making $30k a month doing this, but I realisticly make around $500 a week and most of it is set and forget. I find new businesses to promote and send out mass text messages at the end of the week. It surprisingly is that easy so if you want to take a chunk of the cash that these people are claiming by working this system then you should definitely try it.

So in this Local Mobile Monopoly review I have gone over what is required for you to get started, how much work is really involved to start seeing money, and finally about the claims people make about their earnings. I can’t vouche for theirs, but mine are 100% realistic. You should now be able to make an informed decision on whether or not you want to buy Local Mobile Monopoly so check it out here!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wealth-building-articles/local-mobile-monopoly-review-a-customers-opinion-on-a-very-hot-product-4644290.html

About the Author

I’m an enthusiast in many fields and enjoy writing reviews about products so others can either learn or benefit from my knowledge. I hope my articles help you out in some small way.

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in rssorange | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »