March/April 2007     CFO Advisor: Accounting Software Trends
	in this issue Tax Break for Software Purchase 5 Common Questions About ERP Local Microsoft Events Excel Tips & Tricks Give a Gift, Get a Write Off Trivia Tidbits About CAL Business Solutions     SIGN UP! Join Our Tips & Tricks e-Newsletter       Quick Links...       About CAL     Microsoft Dynamics GP     Free Resources     Accounting Software Research     Previous Newsletters     Contact CAL       CAL Business Solutions Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Implementation, Customization, Training & Support.   Learn More		The CAL Business Solutions bi-monthly e-newsletter is the best place to get the latest accounting software trends, industry news, local events, and of course tips and tricks for the CFO's favorite tool - Microsoft Excel! We are counting down to tax day so this issue will focus on tax facts and trivia. Remember, the IRS has kindly given us 2 extra days to pay - tax day is April 17th this year.   Anya Ciecierski, CAL Business Solutions Tax Break for Software Purchase Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code hit the news as the tax loophole that let some businesses write off luxury SUV's. But it is not just for Hummers anymore! Did you know that Section 179 can give you a tax break for purchasing off the shelf software (say for example, Microsoft Dynamics GP accounting software)? Instead of deducting a portion of the expense each year, Section 179 allows a business to receive all the tax benefits in one year. You can write off up to $108,000 from your 2006 income. Use Microsoft Financing and you can even get tax benefits one year and begin payments the next. Section 179 deductions go down in 2008, so plan your software purchases soon! (I am just a marketing gal, so check with your tax professional to confirm) More Tax Articles: Hard-to-figure rules for taxing software Tax strategies for major business expenses 5 key tax code changes affecting small businesses   Learn More About Section 179 5 Common Questions About ERP Get the answers to these 5 questions about ERP software: Is a "business process" a department or a particular function? Is a modular ERP application any different than my current stand-alone applications today? Why do I care if my applications are integrated? Why should my ERP application suite reach beyond my internal operations? Is there an advantage in having one ERP suite that addresses all areas of my business?   Get The Answers Local Microsoft Events Microsoft® Connections Events are free half-day seminars designed to connect small business people with experts, resources, and information that can help you make the most your technology and stay competitive. Current topics of discussion include information management, hosted services, security, mobility, and business management solution software. Farmington, CT - Thursday - May 3, 2007 Norwalk, CT Tuesday - May 1, 2007   Register Now Excel Tips & Tricks Common formulas for Excel Quickly add formulas to your worksheets with this list of the most commonly used formulas for Microsoft Excel. 5 great examples of Excel 2003 reporting Experience the power of Microsoft Office Excel 2003 dashboard reporting, a technique to visually present critical data in summary form.   More Excel Tips Give a Gift, Get a Write Off As the saying goes, it's better to give than to receive. But in the case of taxes, it's definitely better to give business gifts than personal gifts. Here's why: Business gifts can be deducted against your taxable income. And in some cases, what might be thought of as a gift might even be an ordinary — and fully deductible — business expense.   Read Full Article Trivia Tidbits Tax Firsts * World's first documented use of imprisonment for tax evasion: 306 A.D. by Emperor Constantine of the Holy Roman Empire. * World's first tax haven: 4th century B.C., a tax-free port built by the Romans at Delos. * World's first income tax: 1404 A.D. in England (it was so hated that Parliament later had all records of it burned) Interesting Things That Have Been Taxed * Bachelors (England in 1695 A.D., and Missouri in 1820 A.D.) * Beards (Russia, 1702 A.D.) * Urine (Rome, 1 A.D.) Besides taxing beards and souls, Peter the Great of Russia also taxed: hats, boots, beehives, basements, chimneys, food, clothing, birth, marriage, and burial.   More Tax Trivia About CAL Business Solutions CAL Business Solutions is a Gold Certified Microsoft partner focused on Microsoft Dynamics GP- Great Plains accounting software. Ask about our fixed cost implementations, in-house development team and 25 years of experience. CAL is a five time Microsoft Business Solutions Presidents Club Member – recognizing the top 5% of partners worldwide. www.calszone.com About Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains) is a full featured, cost- effective solution for managing and integrating finances, sales and purchasing, distribution, manufacturing, project accounting, field service and even human resources and payroll.   Contact CAL
	Financial Software Evaluation Kit Is your accounting software limiting your growth? If your software is slow and complex and your data isn't centralized, you may need a change. Learn how to address these challenges with a free evaluation kit. Request your Kit Today
Copyright (c) 2006 CAL Business Solutions Inc.. All rights reserved.   200 Birge Park Rd Harwinton CT 06791 us