Cultivating Sound Business Practices with the Help of the IRS - The 2010 Tax Calendar is Here!

Note: The ARRA (Recovery Act) initiatives and/or programs referenced in this article will expire on September 30, 2010. Any statements about qualifying time periods, or extensions of these dates, as they pertain to the availability of ARRA programs are over-ridden by the expiration of the Act on September 30, 2010.

Last month I received of my first ever copy of the 2010 IRS Tax Calendar for Small Business and Self-Employed. Half-expecting something akin to an accountant's pocket book, I was pleasantly surprised to find a full color, themed calendar stocked full of useful tools and information for small business owners.
Given the tough year most have endured, this freebie from the IRS is a practical resource that we can all benefit and learn from. Here's why:
Get your Arms Around the Tax Year
Navigating the tax year as a business owner is no mean feat, and whether you are a freelancer, start-up or growing small business, the tax landscape is ever changing. This year has been an uncommon one for many reasons -- the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) alone has introduced several new tax provisions that directly impact small businesses.
For example, did you know that the Recovery Act contains a provision that permits small business to reduce their estimated tax payments from 110% of the previous year's taxes to 90%?
The good news is that, not only does the 2010 IRS Tax Calendar log the critical end-dates for many of the provisions of the Recovery Act; it also explains them in plain language.
Growing Your Business With the 2010 IRS Tax Calendar

More than just a log of key business tax dates and regulatory reminders - this year's calendar is an essential business management tool for small business owners.
Featuring a gardening theme (yes, the IRS wants us all to "cultivate and grow" our businesses), each month addresses a full page of tips and advice on a whole variety of topics, including: choosing a tax professional, reaping retirement rewards, your rights as a tax payer, helpful clarification about business expenses and deductibles, etc.
Available in both English and Spanish, you can order your free copy of the 2010 IRS Tax Calendar for Small Businesses and Self-Employed (click on link) directly from the IRS (shipping is also waived).
You can also view the calendar online or download the electronic version and integrate the information into Microsoft Outlook and iCal applications - now there's no excuse to miss your tax deadlines!
More Tools From the Tax Man
"Helpfulness" and "the tax man" aren't words that usually sit well together, so it's a pleasant surprise to stumble upon a variety of other resources from the IRS designed to help the small business owner.
Here are just a few:

• IRS Retirement Plans Navigator - This new site from the IRS simplifies the process of choosing and managing a retirement plan for small business owners by putting all the information you need in one place. The site walks you through plan options for IRAs, 401(k)s, profit sharing plans, and so on. Read more about the site in this *article from *Small Business Trends.

• Business.gov Small Business Tax Center - This one-stop shop online portal where the IRS partners with the Small Business Administration's Business.gov site to help small business owners stay abreast of tax requirements, tax changes and more. The advantage of the site is that it spares busy entrepreneurs the task of wading through a variety of government Web sites, documentation and endless Web searches to find tax information that is relevant to their business.

• Small Business Tax Training & Advice - Did you know that the IRS offers online and in-person training and workshops to helps small business owners understand their tax obligations? Of particular use during tax season are these small business workshops that are currently being held throughout the country. These sessions are presented by IRS partners who are Federal Tax specialists and are a great opportunity to get free advice from the pros.

Additional Resources
Here is a selection of recent blog posts on a variety of small business tax topics:

• *Employment Tax 101- Know Your Withholding, Payment and Reporting Obligations

• *Five Strategic Ways to Ease Your Small Business Tax Burden

• *Tax Deduction 101 for Small Business

*Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

About the Author

Caron Beesley is a small business owner, a writer, and marketing communications consultant. Caron works with the SBA.gov team to promote essential government resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners start-up, grow and succeed. Follow Caron on Twitter: @caronbeesley