Moses Lake Chamber holds tax workshop

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce sponsors a workshop Wednesday for business owners and others interested in knowing what 2013 and 2014 will bring in terms of taxes and regulations. The workshop will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the chamber office, 324 South Pioneer Way.

A certified public accountant will talk about the new rules and regulations coming with the Patient Affordable Care Act, as well as other federal and state regulations coming into effect in the next 18 months. The CPA "is apprised on all of this," said chamber Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez, and will give an overview of current tax policy and regulations and which records businesses should retain.

Business owners who don't provide health insurance could be subject to fines under the ACA, and the presenter will talk about the possible impacts, including fines and fees.

The presenter will detail some of the data business owners need to maintain, what needs to reported and what doesn't, how the laws and regulations will impact planning.

"They're going to go over all that," Doran-Martinez said.

The CPA will spend part of the meeting answering questions from the audience.

The CPA works with SCORE, a volunteer organization that provides business and financial professionals to mentor business owners trying to negotiate the thickets of regulation and tax law.

Admission fee is $10 per business. Doran-Martinez requested advance registration due to limited seating.

The SCORE program also sponsors biweekly counseling sessions for business owners. Volunteers are available every other Friday, Doran-Martinez said.