Volume 3, Issue 2 Did You Know: Mar/Apr 2011

 Volume 3, Issue 2
Mar/Apr
2011
IRS has unveiled their app, IRS2GO, for smartphones that allows taxpayers to check on the status of their tax refunds and obtain other helpful tax information. The IRS2GO app gives people a convenient way of checking on their federal refund while giving them quick ways to obtain easy‐to‐understand tax tips. Apple iPhone users can download the free IRS2GO at the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2GO app. This is the government’s first steps that reflect their commitment to modernizing the agency and help taxpayers get their information fast and easy. The first release for the app will include features such as: Get Your Refund Status, Get Tax Updates, and Follow the IRS (Twitter news feed). You will only need 3 basic items of personal information to check your refund with the app: taxpayer’s social security number which is masked and encrypted, the filing status used on their return, and the amount of the refund they expect for 2010. For people who e‐file, the refund function of the app will work within about 72 hours after the taxpayer receives acknowledgement of IRS acceptance of their tax return. For paper filers, longer processing time means they will need to wait 3 to 4 weeks before they can check their refund status. IRS2GO is the latest IRS efforts to provide information beyond traditional channels. Did You Know: 90 Million Chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year. Each day, 5 Million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are produced in preparation for Easter. 16 Billion Jelly Beans are made for Easter. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest Easter egg ever made was just over 25 feet high and made of chocolate and marshmallow. The egg weighed 8,965 lbs. T o l e a r n m or e , c h e c k o u t o u r w e b s i t e at www.corwinjenkins.com When I grew up the most popular show on television was petition a Court for visitation rights under three The Waltons. For those younger readers, the Waltons circumstances: portrayed a family living in rural Virginia during the 1930s. • The child’s parent is deceased, or Despite their severe economic troubles, the Walton were a • The child was born to an unmarried woman, or stable, nurturing family with a bunch of kids, mom and dad, • The parents are divorced or separated. and Grandma and Grandpa Walton all living under the same roof. Grandma and grandpa were essential to the family Ohio law allows Judges to consider many factors in structure and embraced by the entire flock. deciding to grant visitation rights to a petitioner. These My how things have changed! Television has replaced the factors include: Waltons with the Bundys, Simpsons, Osbournes, and alas … the Kardasians. Kids describe themselves as coming from “blended families,” “step‐families,” “mom –only,” “dad‐
only,” “mom‐mom families,” “dad‐dad families,” friend‐
families”, on and on. Sadly, thirty‐four percent of all children in Ohio live in single parent households, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. As society changes, our laws must follow. Questions that were rare a few decades ago now present everyday. What happens when granny is not around? What if mom or dad doesn’t want granny around? What about step‐
grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends, and other extended family members who might want to be a part of a child’s upbringing? It used to be the case that grandparents had no legal right to see their grandkids if the parents refused access. The law has changed. In Ohio, a grandparent (or others) may •
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The wishes of the parents, The child’s age, The prior relationship between the petitioner and child, • The distance the petitioner live from the child, • The criminal background of the person seeking visitation (duh), • The amount of time the child spends with other relatives. So, what does this all mean? The law has changed to keep up with our world of evolving and revolving families. The door is now open to others who formerly had no visitation rights. Whether or not “it takes a village to raise a child,” the law now affords that chance. For more information please call Pam Kurt at Kurt & Vermilya Law at 440‐516‐1010. Did You Know: Green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day because it is the color of Spring. It is considered lucky to find a four leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day. Corned beef is strictly an American invention, the Irish don’t actually eat it to celebrate the day. The Ancient Irish used to wear green to show their love for the Harvest Gods. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland & are picked on St. Patrick’s Day & worn on the shoulder. Page 2
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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 5 cups leftover Corned Beef 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Your favorite Hash Browns Eggs (optional) Directions Melt the butter in a 12‐inch cast iron skillet set over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and cook until it begins to brown slightly, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic, corned beef, thyme, oregano and black pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Once combined, spread evenly over the pan and firmly press down with a spatula. Place a heavy lid, heatproof plate or second pan directly atop the mixture and allow to cook until browned, approximately 10 minutes. After 10 minutes stir mixture, press down again, top with the lid and allow to cook another 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned. Serve over your favorite cooked hash browns. (You can also put a sunny side up egg on top when complete.) Ingredients •
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2 cups all‐purpose flour 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1 cup cold butter 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups halved fresh strawberries 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained 1 cup fresh blueberries GLAZE: •
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1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice 1 teaspoon lemon juice Ingredients •
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1 pound white chocolate medallions 1 pound jellybeans Directions Line a jelly roll pan with waxed paper and set aside. Melt the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just‐
barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the melted white chocolate onto the prepared pan. Sprinkle the jellybeans over the top. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces to serve. For something different, drizzle a little melted semisweet chocolate over the cooled bark before breaking it into pieces. Ingredients •
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1 1/2 pounds thickly sliced bacon, diced 6 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 2 inch pieces 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup all‐purpose flour 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 cup water 4 cups beef stock 2 teaspoons white sugar 4 cups diced carrots 2 large onions, cut into bite‐size pieces 3 potatoes 1 teaspoon dried thyme 2 bay leaves 1 cup white wine Directions Directions In a large bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto an ungreased 12‐in. pizza pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12‐15 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over crust. Arrange the strawberries, oranges and blueberries on top. For glaze, in a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in pineapple juice and lemon juice until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool slightly. Drizzle over fruit. Refrigerate until chilled. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside. Put lamb, salt, pepper, and flour in large mixing bowl. Toss to coat meat evenly. Brown meat in frying pan with bacon fat. Place meat into stock pot (leave 1/4 cup of fat in frying pan). Add the garlic and yellow onion and saute till onion begins to become golden. Deglaze frying pan with 1/2 cup water and add the garlic‐onion mixture to the stock pot with bacon pieces, beef stock, and sugar. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add carrots, onions, potatoes, thyme, bay leaves, and wine to pot. Reduce heat, and simmer covered for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender. PRST STD
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“It’s income tax time again, Americans: time to gather up those receipts, get out those tax forms, sharpen up that pencil, and stab yourself in the aorta. – Dave Barry We are on the web!!
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“America is a land of taxation that was founded to avoid taxation” – Laurence J. Peter “Taxes: Of life’s two certainties, the only one for which you can get an automatic extension.” – Author Unknown “Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today.” – Herman Wouk I bet you never thought your cell phone could do these cool little tricks. Some of them could be useful during an emergency. Who would have thought your cell phone can actually be a life saver in an emergency for survival. Check out the tricks you can do with it: EMERGENCY – The Emergency Number worldwide for mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is LOCKED. HIDDEN BATTERY POWER – Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys: *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with the reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will replenish when you charge your cell phone next time. HOW TO DISABLE A STOLEN CELL PHONE – To check your cell phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15‐
digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your cell phone. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, you can call your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your cell phone so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won’t get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either. FREE DIRECTORY SERVICE FOR CELLS – Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don’t have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800) FREE411 or (800)373‐3411 without incurring any charge at all. The Sharper Pencil is prepared on a bi‐monthly basis by the staff of Corwin & Jenkins, CPAs Inc. for their clients and professional associates. The newsletter does not have any official authority and the information contained should not be acted upon without professional advice.