(NewsUSA) - Tax policy is set for a pivotal year and while most will focus on potential corporate tax rate changes, a new issue is emerging: the role of AI in tax preparation.

Recently, an influx of AI-driven "pop up" tech firms have entered the market, claiming to be faster and cheaper than traditional tax consulting firms when filing for tax credits. However, these firms lack professional tax and legal expertise required to navigate complex filings.

When filing R&D tax credits, AI-driven tech firms can misinterpret tax laws and make mistakes exposing businesses and CPAs to IRS audits and fines. AI software lacks the judgment required for tax compliance and interpreting the law.

Even on simpler tasks, AI hasn't been accurate. A 2024 Washington Post review found AI chatbots used by major tax preparation firms provided inaccurate responses up to 50 percent of the time, reinforcing IRS's warning against AI reliance for complex tax questions. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the IRS's own AI-powered audit system, highlighting potential inaccuracies in tax compliance.

Meanwhile, the IRS stands to lose revenue if AI-generated filings result in a large increase in fraudulent or incorrect deductions. This feels eerily similar to the wave of fraudulent Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims that led the IRS to freeze processing last year after pop-up firms flooded the market with improper filings—many that are now under investigation.

New AI-driven "pop-up" tech firms, like SPRX, market their software as a low-cost alternative to professional tax firms when filing R&D tax credits despite not being around long enough to make it through an audit cycle yet. They also don't disclose how their systems are trained. SPRX claims automation can handle up to 80 percent of the process, but automation cannot make legal and technical expertise required to determine eligibility, including nuanced legal judgments and employee interviews.

These firms try to promote the idea that AI-driven tax services can replace tax firms and CPA's expertise, but human judgment remains essential in ensuring accuracy and compliance. AI should be seen as a tool, not as a replacement for tax professionals.

Without proper safeguards, relying on these "pop-up" AI tech firms to secure your R&D tax credit could result in the IRS denying your submittal, cost your business thousands or even millions of dollars, and it could also land your business in hot water with the IRS incurring fines, audits and potential fraud.

(NewsUSA) -  

12/19/2024

Seattle, WA – iLocal, Inc., a leading innovator in search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing, is proud to announce its targeted SEO services designed to transform how businesses connect with their customers online. By delivering high-impact strategies tailored to individual business needs, iLocal, Inc. ensures clients achieve optimal visibility, enhanced website traffic, and measurable growth in revenue.

In a digital landscape dominated by search engines, ranking at the top of results pages is essential for businesses aiming to stay competitive. iLocal, Inc. leverages cutting-edge SEO techniques to help clients achieve these goals. From identifying profitable keywords to optimizing websites for both users and search engines, iLocal, Inc.’s comprehensive SEO services are engineered to drive long-term success.

How Businesses Benefit from iLocal, Inc.’s SEO Services

1. Increased Online Visibility
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iLocal, Inc. has helped numerous clients achieve significant increases in traffic, conversions, and overall business growth. The company is committed to making SEO an asset that drives success for businesses in any industry.

Businesses looking to enhance their digital presence and drive meaningful growth can explore iLocal, Inc.’s SEO services by visiting iLocal.net or calling (206) 790-1999.

About iLocal, Inc.
iLocal, Inc. is a trusted name in digital marketing, offering SEO, website development, and online marketing solutions to businesses across various industries. By focusing on measurable outcomes and client satisfaction, iLocal, Inc. empowers businesses to achieve sustainable success in the digital era.

(Peter M Fiorillo) - Choosing The Right Marketing Agency, 

Many opportunities are Present in Reaching Customers, Clients, and Friends in Business as every written line is often read by opposition, Someone, groups that want more than what is being offered. System after system is at play in every message every idea, every thought. Crafting the Branding Message can often feel like Shooting an Arrow to hit the bullseye with a point to the communication. Packing data into the messages takes art we avoid as we just want your message to be read, creativity with LKPFM is to streamline your message free of viruses free of noise bridged to your point of view. 

Taking the opportunity to handle opposition in the delivery of a message takes, Physical, mental and Technology only with the most important belief in what you're doing has tangible results on acceptance of message and clients knowing results are never Guaranteed. Our Syndication partners do Guarantee Reach which is massive in marketing. Having the ability to get the message out and read by the opposition says consumers have the right to eat it or not. So in modern firewalls of message clients ask what are the physical boundaries of Acceptance of Message. Beer is a boundary to the mass population, Frequency and FCC is a boundary to the population, Web Protocol framerates are boundary to the population, and given these are purchasable elements it Limits new brands acceptance to the market and Populations they can reach. 

So how do we do it technologically and organically, First off were from the people and have drank a lot of beer, We Played advanced technology games and went to the source of crafting, We Listen and believed our clients to get to the root of what is being conveyed so as not to self consume our business in a time of speed and uncertainty. Constance Burke as a marketing and communications director is smart, tough kind, sensitive, loving, and often a microphone for the clients with accuracy and pointedness. Directional control for you is what syndication is all about as our client so we can have the organics of life direct, create, and sustain a message in a tide of private webs and virtual infrastructure while delivering your Brand message right to the doorstep of Millions of Americans every day you hire us. Constance Burke is a woman, a Canadian friend, and I Peter m Fiorillo think she's a great hire to help your company navigate the waters of Branding and marketing. 

Go to lkpfm.com to request proposal.

(Peter Fiorillo) - Message Delivery is Key for, standing out from the competition. You need to be unique in your message and branding let us create and deliver your message to 100 million Americans we guarantee success unlike any other brand what we are proposing that will change is the delivery and give you results the kind you will been looking for. Remember the brands you are competing with have access to media as well. What we want to do for you is save you time ,effort, energy and streamline your message with premium and proper research we can do just that. With proper information and how you want to tell your story we turn that into a beautiful story to stand out from the competition. Share your unique message that your brand will be at the top of minds of people and companies that want your services. Let's be different. How we deliver you message is unlike any other way based on access we have. 

 Our example is 

Delivery is key of message the new "Get Your Paper Here'. Marketing front of our cooperative media future how it's delivered when and what time to cement a powerful brand message.  Readership , Reach and acceptability are always at question. LkPFM Corp  seasoned the corporation for a competitive advantage for years before entry to this market for acceptance from Big conglomerates. Understanding  the balance of getting the brand message out and getting proper feedback to the client. 

An Ohio Corporation from the salt of America finding our place was no simple task. We take the Addie it was said 'more presidents are from our state than any other'a statement  some could say it ment 'were better than your state'. In a union of 50; all states have great strengths and misunderstanding messages of endearment can create hardships for all. .I always liked the passage  3% of Americans ' don't even know who the president of the United States name' (10 million people) as it brings reality to importance of food, clothing, shelter , knowledge and the Earths realities of survival. So how often do the readers here stories that they can't comprehend, we make it simple we expand the words of communications tailored to your message and recognize 3 points as listed.

-- We are judged by originality 

-- Independent thoughts 

---Direction and clean foresight 

Go to LKPFM.com and Watch us, Work with us and grow your syndicated news media. 

(Constance Burke) - Lets talk brand Messaging, Lets talk brand Message. In today's world of Cooperative Reach in digital information and endless choices in agencies, LKPFM Corp directs campaigns making your brand and message stand out to the ideal customer at the right time with the right angle.  In fact, brand messaging is built through creativity and strong data. This takes, Time, Effort and access to proper recourses. Our NEW Online Access Point to Print, Newspaper, and Digital provides is this just that.

Smart strategies and innovative approaches are the keys to successfully deliver your message to your target audience. We are a communications company specializing in media placement, offering an approach he that will help you stay ahead of the competition and build your successful media campaign with Consultation and Directed Media to gain warm market new contacts and Guaranteed reads for your growth. 

“Determination, direction and perseverance of growth market potential will shape the future of online, print, and virtual communications in the modern era,” According to the LKPFM media team. “With Corporate Inception in 2016 our strength of continuity of service provides sustained messages, crafted stories and tailored communications to reach your desired market.”

Our media placement organizations, access 100+ million Americans in print newspapers as well as digital platforms, and provides reports of instant readership verification in your Campaigns.

Consider some of the most iconic brands, Simple Messaging "The Power of Brands' Investors Relations Message said it all as a Cooperative Reach in industry's driving success. from evolving scratch to existing companies all built their way to the top through smart marketing techniques that target their desired audiences "Adapt and Thrive"

LKPFM Corp is ready with immediate online service to help us create a standardized way for you of conveying your corporate values and products to the public through Daily Media Placements at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising.

New access point allows brands, businesses, and entities wishing to communicate with U.S. markets to register through a portal for creating approved news copy. The platform allows for easy dissemination of syndicated copy directing the build a consistent and effective message for target markets. The extensive placement helps build investor confidence as well, with demonstrated effectiveness for delivering tangible sales and results to upcoming and established markets.

The syndication network ensures that your stories are placed direct to consumers nationwide through media outlets that they regularly read, viewed, trusted and tracked. Specific services include campaign design, marketing research consulting, and editorial content/PR writing.

For more information about how to share your brand to the right audience and stay ahead of the competition, visit lkpfm.com.

(NewsUSA) - Youth Apprenticeship Week, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, features a range of events and speakers at venues across the United States to showcase the many benefits of Registered Apprenticeship programs for youth and young adults ages 16-24.

The nationwide initiative takes place from May 5 – 11, 2024, and includes more than 300 events and over 70 proclamations intended to celebrate and educate the public about Registered Apprenticeships. Current apprentices and graduates of Registered Apprenticeship programs will share their experiences and success stories.

Youth Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for employers, industry associations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, education providers, and government leaders to host events, launch new programs, and raise awareness of these life-changing Registered Apprenticeship career opportunities for youth and young adults and how they create a sustainable pipeline of skilled and diverse talent for the jobs of today and tomorrow for critical industries.

Attendees will hear how youth and young adults can utilize Registered Apprenticeships to earn competitive wages while obtaining training and skills to grow and advance in careers essential for today's workforce and jobs of the future. Registered Apprenticeships result in a nationally recognized credential and may include the chance to earn college credit and often a degree at no expense to the apprentice.

"Youth Apprenticeship Week recognizes the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to creating employment opportunities for youth and young adults and the critical role they play in our nation's workforce infrastructure," said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su in a statement announcing the event. "Youth apprenticeships are not just pathways to careers; they are bridges to futures filled with promise, opportunity, and endless potential," she emphasized.

The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting two events during Youth Apprenticeship Week, including a Kickoff event with Youth Apprentice Trailblazers on May 6 and a special Signing Day event with new youth apprentices on May 9. These events highlight careers in a range of fields important to America's success, including construction, transportation, advanced manufacturing and clean energy, education, cybersecurity, robotics, and healthcare. Youth apprenticeship is an earn-and-learn strategy that gives young people a pathway into a good job, and a jump-start into a well-paying career. Under the Biden-Harris administration, more than 1.4 million apprentices have been served, including more than 541,000 new youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 years, according to the US Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, the government agency responsible for Registered Apprenticeship programs.

For more information about Youth Apprenticeship Week and how to participate, visit www.apprenticeship.gov. Spread the word on social media through #YAW2024 and #ApprenticeshipUSA.

(NewsUSA) - Silver is a part of everyday life in more ways than most people realize. Besides the more obvious industrial uses, silver is a key component in many products that people rely on every day. Your electric-powered car, the antibacterial thread in your sports gear, and even your smartphone all use silver.

Silver also factors in products ranging from solar panels to burn creams and water purification systems.

Silver is one of the most versatile elements; it can be ground into powder, turned into paste, shaved into flakes, converted into a salt, combined with other metals, flattened into printable sheets, drawn into wires, suspended within other materials, or even used as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

Key areas where silver shines include:

Automotive. Nearly 90 million ounces of silver is projected to be absorbed annually in the automotive industry alone by the year 2025, according to the Silver Institute, a nonprofit organization that informs the public about silver and its uses.

Medicine. Silver has a long and intriguing history as an antibiotic in human health care. Silver has been developed for use in water purification, wound care, bone prostheses, reconstructive orthopedic surgery, cardiac devices, catheters and surgical appliances. In addition, recent research suggests that silver’s long-lasting antibacterial power could improve the performance of medical products that help protect us from harmful pathogens.

Electronics/Technology. Silver’s excellent electrical conductivity makes it a natural choice for everything from printed circuit boards to switches and TV screens. Silver has become an important element in 5G infrastructure investment.

Silver also is a solid choice for savvy investors, as the demand will continue to rise. Currently, there is an abundance of silver, which has kept prices low.

Companies such as Vancouver-based Silvercorp Metals offer an opportunity to benefit from the investment value of silver. Silvercorp acquires, explores, develops, and mines precious and base metal mineral properties at its producing mines and exploration and development projects, primarily in China’s Ying Mining District, known as “The Silver Quadrant,” where it also produces gold, lead and zinc.  

Looking ahead, silver is an essential element of the “electrification economy,” and companies such as Silvercorp that are positioned for long-term growth and committed to responsible mining practices are worth watching.

Visit silvercorpmetals.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) - Starting and maintaining a successful small business is a challenge in any setting. For rural entrepreneurs, that struggle is even greater when it comes to accessing capital, high-speed internet and quality workers, according to a survey from SCORE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses since 1964.     

SCORE’s Fall 2022 Megaphone of Main Street: The Small Business Rural/Urban Divide surveyed more than 3,000 entrepreneurs and discovered that population shifts away from rural areas are challenging small business owners in desperate need of reliable talent and technology.     

Rural business owners report higher expenses and fewer customers than non-rural counterparts, according to the survey.  Rising fuel costs (49.3%), slowing customer spending (48.6%), tight marketing budgets (47.6%) and a limited local customer base (34.6%) are their most vexing customer-related challenges. In addition, rural businesses are 26% more likely to have trouble finding qualified employees, says SCORE.     

Noting that the technology gap between rural and non-rural businesses persists, SCORE’s survey found that twice as many rural entrepreneurs (19.2%) compared to non-rural entrepreneurs (9%) struggle with access to broadband/high-speed internet, making it harder for them to conduct business, reach customers and grow. Small businesses in both rural and non-rural areas say they’re challenged by a lack of technological knowledge or assistance.     

“As a small business owner in a rural area of Erie County in Western New York, it has been challenging over the last decade to attract staff, being at least a 30-minute drive from the city of Buffalo and the surrounding suburbs,” says Kerry Planck of Alpine Made LLC in South Wales, N.Y. “My latest long-term employee, who lives 30-plus miles away, recently quit, due in part to the long commuting distance and higher gas prices,” she adds. “I generally give six-month raises to my employees; however, they have not kept up with current inflation levels.”     

Planck has worked with SCORE mentor David Bunis for 10 years, most recently on staffing- retention issues. “I was advised by SCORE to work with local colleges to recruit paid student interns,” says Planck. “This has helped me greatly throughout the last two years.”     

SCORE provides tangible solutions for all entrepreneurs in the form of free mentoring from small business experts, as well as online tools and workshops. Local SCORE chapters also offer in-person events and roundtable discussions. Since 1964, SCORE has helped 11 million entrepreneurs start or grow a business.     

Visit score.org for more information and to download the complete Megaphone of Main Street: The Small Business Rural/Urban Divide data report.

(NewsUSA) - Small business owners know that one of the secrets to success is hiring quality employees and keeping them. One of the best ways to keep your best employees happy is by offering a robust benefits plan. In fact, 11 states now mandate that most small businesses offer employees a retirement plan, according to Value Point Associates (VPA), a national Employer Member Association that specializes in offering “large-company” benefits to small and medium-sized businesses.     

VPA leverages the size of its membership to negotiate affordable rates on top-notch employee benefits plans. These plans can be tailored to the needs of a range of small business models.     

“VPA’s association model is likely the easiest employee benefits arrangement in the country for small businesses,” says Michael Schifferle, director of sales and marketing for VPA.     

Some of the distinctive benefits of a VPA membership plan include:     

- Less stress. VPA handles the benefit package administration and design, and small businesses can choose from several programs to select the best fit.     

- More money. Many small employers feel they can’t offer a 401k plan to employees because of the high cost. With VPA’s incredibly reasonable rates, small businesses can offer the retirement savings plans that employees want, which helps them compete with larger businesses for top talent.     

- Less paperwork. VPA also assists its members with administrative tasks and services, including benefit package administration, coordination with payroll services, audits, and Form 5500 preparation and filing.     

- More security. Small business owners appreciate that VPA membership reduces personal ERISA fiduciary liability. By contrast, a larger employer offering a 401k plan serves as the plan’s sponsor itself, which increases liability.     

In addition to retirement plans, VPA offers affordable options for employee health insurance. Employers can explore both traditional group insurance and non-traditional coverage that provide the most flexibility and savings of time and money. VPA helps small businesses stay competitive on the health insurance front by offering employees ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement), QSEHRA (Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement), and other HRAs, as well as Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.     

Visit valuepointassociates.com for more information. 

Enter the AngelPay Foundation, a nonprofit payment processing company. The AngelPay team originally invented the first secure, scalable, and reliable Internet payment processing platform called Authorize.Net back in 1996.

Today, they provide the same tools and service, but they believe operating as a nonprofit helps to restore trust and integrity to the industry. It also gives the team an opportunity to give back to the merchant community that has been good to them over the years.

"Over the past couple decades, we've seen a lot of companies resort to shady tactics to satisfy shareholder demands. If you're operating as an aggressive for-profit company in this industry, there are just too many temptations to exploit your customers," says Ferris Eanfar, AngelPay's CEO.

"The credit card payment processing industry has not always treated merchants fairly, and we realized we could do something about that," says Jeff Knowles, AngelPay's CTO.

Payment processing can be a challenge for businesses large and small, nonprofits, and artists who need to accept credit cards. AngelPay recognizes that many merchants feel exploited by their existing payment processors, but they don't know where to go.

To this end, AngelPay believes that merchants can benefit from its payment processing program for the following reasons:

A Solution for Merchant Pain. AngelPay developed their "Pay-What-You-Can" pricing structure and "Emergency Contract Triage" program. "The Triage program started out as a way to add a little levity to the lives of our merchants, but we've been surprised at how many merchants have taken it seriously," says Eanfar. The programs help merchants manage their costs more effectively, in addition to revealing how they're being exploited by other payment processors.

Simplicity. One of the things that differentiates AngelPay from other payment processors is the simplicity of its fees and nonprofit cost structure. Anybody who has ever implemented credit card processing for their company knows that the complex fees of most processors can be frustrating.

Proven Experience. AngelPay was launched several years ago after the team sold Authorize.Net, but AngelPay has grown quickly and its mission - "Return wealth and power to the creators of value" - seems to be resonating with the merchant community. Given the cost advantages, it makes sense that merchants would choose a veteran team operating as a nonprofit provider over more aggressive financial companies that may not have their customers' best interests at heart.

To learn more about AngelPay, visit: https://AngelPayHQ.org