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QUESTION:
I have been contacted by my local city government to say that my business is scheduled to be audited to determine if I owe any sales tax from items purchased on the Internet. Can they really make me pay this tax? I thought you could buy things online tax free? -- Katie R.

ANSWER:
I hate to burst your internet bubble, Katie, but they are within their rights to audit your business and demand payment of sales tax on items purchased on the Web.

Internet sales taxation has been a topic of contention even before Amazon sold its first book and Priceline booked its first flight.

One of the more controversial points is that no one, including our own government, seems to have a clue how to implement a fair and logical Internet taxation process.

With over 7,500 different local, county and state taxation systems in the United States, you can understand the controversy. In 1998, Congress did what it usually does when faced with a potentially explosive issue like Internet tax collection -- it decided to put off making a decision. Congress enacted a three-year moratorium on the collection of taxes to give an appointed advisory board time to come up with an acceptable solution.

That moratorium ended last year and opened the door for municipalities to begin collecting sales tax on their own.

Here in Alabama the sales tax collection department is airing radio spots asking Alabamians to step up to - and toss dollars into - the proverbial collection plate. The commercial kindly suggests that if I have purchased anything from an online retailer, I am honor-bound to proclaim such purchases and submit the appropriate sales tax to the collection department right away. They thank me in advance for my cooperation.

So, Katie, when the auditor shows up at your door the best thing you can do is smile politely and be totally forthcoming. The sales tax that you pay is a small price for the convenience of shopping online.

Now where did I put all those Amazon.com receipts?

Tim Knox
Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Radio Host
Check Out Tim's New Radio Show! =>http://www.timknoxshow.com
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Bats in your attic can be a health hazard to you and your family. Bats must be removed by a qualified professional that has the necessary training and equipment to remove the bats and the guano they leave behind.

Bats often get inside a home when they are infesting an attic. If a bat were to enter a home, the occupants could be bitten and rabies transmitted through a bite. Rabies shots are not something you want to experience!

So what do you do when bats are in your home?

The first step is to choose a competent company to resolve this issue. There are many (pardon the expression), "Fly by Night" companies out there who want to make a quick buck in the Wildlife Control industry. Choose a company that has experts on their staff who have been trained in bat control and removal. Ask them for their certifications and credentials. Ask them if they have any training at all other than the "School of Hard Knocks".

Bat removal is complicated at times and only a Pro really knows all the ins and outs of total control and providing the best protection for you and your family. Hennepin and Ramsey are counties that commonly experience bat problems. If you suspect bats in your attic or have noticed small mouse like droppings on your roof, walls or ground, call and expert to inspect the property.

Your safety is important. Bat guano or bat waste is dangerous if inhaled and you should take precautions to make sure this guano is removed from your home after the bats have been removed.

A bat control expert will have the proper tools and training to fully resolve your bat problem and provide answers to all of your questions.

If you suspect your home has been invaded by unwanted guests, have a Wildlife Professional inspect it as soon as possible.

All articles may be freely re-printed or shared as long as the name of the author and their websites are included.

Mark Dotson, a 20-year Wildlife Veteran helps people interested in working with wildlife to fulfill their dream. Author of the "King of Cages!" book and ebook. Sign up for a regular e-newsletter about working in the field of Wildlife Management at our website, http://www.wildlifefranchise.com Need help with a wildlife problem or want to start your own business, visit this site http://www.aallanimalcontrol.com/franchise.cfm

Pepper spray and stun guns are two of the best options available for making sure you are prepared for anything. But this is not a one-size-fits-all world. We all have our own tastes in music, food, clothing, and lifestyle. Your choice of how you are going to defend yourself if faced with an attacker is just as personal.

When choosing between pepper spray and a stun gun, you must consider three things: Your personality, your geographic location, and your physical strengths and habits.

Personality

Do you go into panic mode fairly easily or do you stay steady in the face of a potential threat? People who tend to panic will be a better match with a stun gun than their braver counterparts. This is because with a stun gun, you do not have to hit a certain spot simply zap your attacker anywhere on the body. Pepper spray, on the other hand, must be sprayed directly into the face and eyes to be effective.

Geographic Location

Do you live in a particularly windy area? If so, a stun gun will be more useful to you than pepper spray. Not only does spraying into the wind make it likely that youll miss your target, but it could also blow back into your own face. Rainy areas can also pose a problem for pepper spray use. A stun gun will zap just the same in windy and rainy weather as it does on a sunny day bathed in calm air.

Strengths and Habits

Think about your strengths and weaknesses. Pepper spray can be sprayed from a distance of eight inches to around ten feet from your own face some brands and types may spray even further. To use a stun gun, you must actually press the device up against your attacker. Can you do that? And since stun guns are harder to hide than small canisters of pepper spray, think about your typical attire. Do you layer your clothing or often go without a coat? Do you wear loose outfits or do you prefer skintight threads? You must think through how you are going to carry your personal defense weapon. The newer stun guns are more compact but pepper spray is still the smallest and lightest form of self-protection on the market today. Stun guns are heavier and more awkward to keep secret.

The reality is that both pepper sprays and stun guns will help you to effectively defend yourself. However, like so many other things, some will work better for one person but not the other. Think your decision through before making your purchase. As inexpensive as they are, you may find it to be convenient to buy both. Carry a pepper spray on your key chain or in your purse and have a stun gun ready for quick access in your vehicle. That way, you can increase the odds that you will be prepared to fight back effectively according to the circumstances. The choice is up to you.

Fred Cheney

Pro-Tech Products

Fred Cheney is the owner of Pro-Tech Products at: http://www.citizensfightingback.com

Pro-Tech Products specializes in providing personal security products and other self defense items. They carry a wide range of security products to help you to protect yourself and your family. If you would like to know more about how pepper spray and stun guns can help protect you from harm, check out: http://www.citizensfightingback.com/runtstungun.htm

Whether right out of college, graduate school or coming in from another company, managing personal success in any corporation is challenging. Globalization, downsizing and outsourcing all have made that challenge even greater. There are steps that anyone coming into a corporation can take that will guarantee a degree of success, if not the CEOs desk (or perhaps cubicle for some companies today).

1. Learn your new job inside out. Know more about your job than anyone in your company. And once you know everything about your job, learn all you can about the functional jobs that intersect with yours. Also learn all you can about your boss's job. But first, be the expert in your job, not just in your company, but in your industry.

2. Meet people. Meet people of all titles, functions, organizations and roles in your company. Build you network. But do not stop there. Join one local and one national professional organization. Get to know others outside of your company in your field. This is more important than most people realize. Your network outside of your company is even more valuable than that within your company although it takes more effort and care and feeding.

3. Get your credentials. If you do not have an MBA and those around you or above you have them, get one. Hopefully your company will pay for it. It you need other advanced degrees or professional certifications, get them. Do not wait. This is important too. If the company pays for it, great. If not, it is an important investment. And make sure those you are working with are aware of your on-going academy and professional work not just you boss but co-workers and your bosss boss too.

4. Look up. What are the people one and two layers above you doing? Talking about? Wearing? If you aspire to success you need to look up not just at your peers. Are the bosses golfers? Then learn to play golf and learn to play well. Or tennis. Or whatever. These things will be increasingly important for expanding your network and at functions such a conferences, retreats and forums.

5. Take on more than you are assigned. Once you know your job inside out, offer to take on special assignments. This can be work on committees, task forces or other additional work items. While the old military adage is not to volunteer, in the corporate world, volunteering to do more will get you attention. Of course it is a given that you will do a superb job with whatever you take on.

6. Be the first one in your department in each morning. Get a head start on everyone else. Not just some days but every day. And working a half day without being asked on either Saturday or Sunday is a good idea to stay ahead of the curve too. Does that mean you should be the last one to turn off the lights each night? No! While being in early is an advantage. Being the last one in, unless working on a special group or team deliverable can have the opposite effect. Those who work last consistently are view as slow, overwhelmed and it begs the question of what did they do all day.

7. Work and friendship can be a dangerous thing. Whether its buddies or dating. Keep office relationships professional. The end.

8. Stay sharp. Work out. Get enough sleep (unless you are one of those fortunate very few like Henry Kissinger and Martha Steward who do not require much sleep). Read. When not in the office, do not be a slug in front of you television or your computer. Being fit and mentally sharp are vital for the marathon of corporate success.

9. Do not get stale. If you have been in a specific job for two years you have three options: find a lateral job, find out how close you are to a promotion in your department or look for another job outside the company. This is firm. After two year you are a lifer in any position. And that is NOT a good thing.

While there is no guarantee for success in the turbulent world of corporations due to takeovers, bankruptcies, downsizing and off-shoring, the steps outlined above will give those who consistently follow them a significant advantage over their co-workers and in many cases, over their bosses too.

George F. Franks, III is the founder and CEO of Franks Consulting Group, a Bethesda, Maryland based management consulting and leadership coaching practice. He is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Institute of Management Consultants. George can be contacted at gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com Franks Consulting Group is on the web at: http:franksconsultinggroup.com George's weblog is: http://consultingandcoaching.blogspot.com