GET HELP WITH UNRESOLVED TAX PROBLEMS

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS, headed by the National Taxpayer Advocate.  The Taxpayer Advocate Service helps individuals and businesses resolve problems with the IRS by:

• Ensuring problems not 
  resolved through normal IRS
• Assisting taxpayers who 
  are facing hardships.
• Identifying issues that 
  compromise taxpayers rights, increase
• Recommending administrative and legislative changes

Pennsylvania has two local Taxpayer Advocates, one in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia.  Contact the Pittsburgh office at (412)395-5987.  Contact the Philadelphia office at (215)861-1304.

HOME BUILDING

TO REMAIN STRONG

Home construction is expected to keep builders busy next year thanks to a strengthening economy that will create more jobs, mortgage rates  remain historically low, despite a recent uptick.  Housing starts are expected to dip only slightly to 1.68 million next year from 1.7 million in 2003, but builders and suppliers will not notice.  (Source: The Kiplinger Letter, August 22,2003, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Washington DC)

ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW

UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE?

Pat Dumm has Residential and Commercial code books available for sale.  Also, Pat Dumm has applications for becoming a Certified Code Officer.  Call Pat at (814)495-4275.

2003 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP SPONSORS

January                no meeting
February              Kohl Building Products
March                  First National Bank of Penna.
April                    Builder Services Inc.
May                     none
June                     none
September           Dominion Peoples
October               The Long Barn
November            Penelec "A First Energy Company"
December            Christmas Party

If you would like to sponsor a general membership meeting contact Walt Freidhoff at 535-8371. If you would like to sponsor a Northern Cambria meeting contact Al Lieb at 948-9897

TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUMS

After selecting the PBA�s Workers� compensation program, the next step to reduce your workers� compensation premium is to control your experience modifier/merit rating (EM/MR).  Working safely, implementing return to work programs and aggressive claims management from the experience professionals at Eastern Alliance directly affects your EM/MR.  In addition, a claim will remain as part of your EM/Mr calculation and impact your premium for three years.  For more information about reducing workers� compensation premiums, contact the BSI insurance Service Center at 800-222-3160 for the name of the nearest authorized local agent.