Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Please protest new 1099 requirements!

Dear ASMP Members:

One of the provisions of the new healthcare reform legislation will significantly impact the administrative burdens of your business unless the IRS changes it. As of now, starting next year, if you pay any person or corporation more than $600 in a year for goods or services, you must report that to both the IRS and the entity or person whom you paid. For example, if you bought a new camera or lens for $1,000, you would have to report that on your income tax returns and issue a 1099 to the company from which you made the purchase. Fortunately, there is now an exemption for credit card transactions, but that doesn’t apply if you paid by cash or check.

The good news is that the IRS has asked for comments from the public. Please copy and paste the sample letter below, edit it as you choose, and email it toNotice.Comments@irscounsel.treas.gov. Please be sure that the subject line of your email says Notice 2010-51. Please note that the emails must be sent by Sept. 29, 2010.

We understand the government’s desire to track cash transactions, but the current system would impose an unacceptable record-keeping and reporting burden on small businesses like yours.

Thank you for your support and your membership in ASMP,

Vic

Victor S. Perlman

General Counsel & Managing Director


(SAMPLE EMAIL)

TO: Notice.comments@irscounsel.treas.gov

RE: Notice 2010-51

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am a professional photographer and a small business person. I have virtually no administrative staff to handle my record-keeping and reporting responsibilities. The new requirement under Section 6041 of the Internal Revenue Code would place impossible burdens on me. The exemption for credit card transactions was a great step toward reducing the impact of this change in the tax code. Unfortunately, it does not go far enough.

I often pay for computer and camera equipment, studio and equipment rentals, catering services, and other items by check or cash. Those expenditures often total more than $600 per vendor in any given year. Having to keep separate track of each of these items — and then to issue Form 1099’s to each vendor — would simply take more time than I have as the owner of a very small business operation, and it would require back office support that I do not have and cannot afford.

Please change the requirements so that they apply only to larger business entities, such as persons or entities that employ more than 25 people.

Thank you for your time and understanding.


Friday, August 27, 2010

Hell Pizza

Hell Pizza, from New Zealand, has figured out how to do social networking the right way.
Check out their online movie.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

MKE Bike Film Festival

The Bike Film Festival is going to be in Milwaukee this weekend on August 27 - 28 at The Times Cinema. Friday night's movie, at 7:00pm, is The Birth of Big Air. For a list of movies and showtimes check out the link above.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Art O Mat location updates

Here is a updated list of Art O Mat machines you can find my work in.

Cambers Art Hotel - Minneapolis, MN
City Arts Center - Oklahoma City, OK
Contemporary Art Center - New Orleans, LA
Dare County Arts - Manteo, NC
Faces - North hampton, MA
Vision Gallery - Chandler, AZ
My Addiction Gallery - Tucson, AZ
The Radio Room - Portland, OR
Venue - Seattle, WA
Wonder Root - Atlanta, GA

Monday, August 16, 2010

Summer Camp

Dear Mom & Dad,
I'm having a great time at summer camp. There are so many cool things to do. (Too bad I'm too old to play. I just got to take the photos!)













































Friday, August 13, 2010

It's time to EAT!!!


Attention Wisconsin Foodies, IT'S TIME TO EAT!!!
The Wisconsin Farmer's Markets are in full swing.
Below is a photo I did last week at the Bay View Farmers Market, and a list of all the Milwaukee farmer markets.



Monday, August 9, 2010

Burning Sons 7" release show















































BURNING SONS' new 7" comes out tomorrow 08.10.10 on WHITE VINYL.
With the release show on 08.13.10 during Riverwest Fest at River Horse Bar @ 7pm. "for all of us old folk"



















Cover illustration by Nina Blasnig
All band photos by (Yours Truley) Corey Henen
for more info check out Burning Sons web site.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Jumping for Jesus!

The other day I was working on a editorial assignment at St. Dominic's Church in Brookfield, WI.


















Father Sean O'Connell