The Tax Office has repeated warnings to be cautious about bogus phone calls and other scams relating to the Government’s tax bonus payments.

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the Tax Office has had reports of people receiving phone calls about the tax bonus payment, claiming to be from the Tax Office or some other government authority, seeking bank account details, tax file numbers and other personal information.

“Under no circumstances should you give personal information including credit card or banking details to these callers or in response to unsolicited emails,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.

“If you are concerned please call us on 1300 686 636 to verify the legitimacy of the call and to report any suspicious phone calls or emails.

“If you have given your credit card or bank account information to an illegitimate source, we advise you to immediately report it to your credit card provider or bank.

“In most cases people who are eligible do not need to do anything to receive the tax bonus payments. The payment will be deposited into the bank account you nominated in your 2007-08 tax return or sent as a cheque to the address on that return.

“In addition the Tax Office does not charge a fee to provide the tax bonus payment.”

You can phone us on 1300 686 636 to update your bank account details any time or call between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday or 9.00am and 4.00pm Saturday to update your address details.  Details must be updated by 15 March 2009.

A tax bonus calculator is also available online to help you determine your eligibility and estimated tax bonus payment.

Intro to Business Planning   

Do you have a business plan? Are you guilty of working in your business but not on your business?

A good business plan will increase your chances of business success. It will help you identify your customers, market area, pricing strategies, financial and operational goals.

By completing a business plan you will better understand your competitive advantages, new opportunities, current weaknesses and longer-term objectives for the business. Having a business plan is also an important requirement for gaining finance from financial institutions.

The aim of this Workshop is to provide an overview of the business planning process and increase the skills of participants to enable them to complete a business plan for their business.  Business Plan templates will be provided. 

Time:  12 noon to 1.30pm 
Date:  Friday 20 March 2009
Cost:  $33.00 – light lunch included  
RSVP: Ring 42233100 or email itec@illawarraitec.com.au

Branding your Business 

Anita Mulrooney is the General Manager of Marketing and Communications at Peoplecare Health Insurance.  Anita specialises in services marketing and management and she has worked in senior roles both in Australia and South East Asia. She has played major roles in driving national marketing strategies in international health, health management, insurance and international students.

Anita will be the next speaker at the Shoalhaven Small Business Club meeting taking place on Monday 23 March 2009. 
Anita was a senior manager in the team which transitioned the former niche marketing fund (GEHF) into a national health fund competing in the open market.  She has experience in developing innovative methods of competing for market share on a relatively smaller budget than her competitors.
Anita holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Information Management and a Graduate Diploma in Commerce.
Peoplecare Health Insurance recently won Illawarra Business of the Year in recognition of its exceptional customer service and business practices.

Time:  5.15pm – 6.00pm for networking then presentations through to 7.30pm  
Date:  Monday 23 March 2009
Cost:  FREE to attend – finger food served   
RSVP: Ring 1300 650 058 or email bonnieshepherd@illawarraitec.com.au

Making Google PPC (Pay Per Click) pay for your business 

In a crowded advertising world how does small business compete with large business in getting their message heard?  Many small business owners today believe this feat is getting harder and harder.  In fact, new technology has enabled small business to compete on equal grounds as big business – if you know how! 

The next meeting of the Southern Highlands Small Business Club and Wollongong Small Business Club you will be able to hear David Caruso speak on how to Make Google PPC (Pay Per Click) Pay for your Business.

Those who are embracing new technology are now reaping the immediate rewards – those who aren’t are quickly falling behind. 

Google Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising brings immediacy, specific targeting and monitored results. Most people have heard of, or are doing Google PPC campaigns, either managed by a third party or self-managed. For those who are doing PPC campaigns – that is all that they are doing.  PPC is only one third of the overall equation in a successful online marketing equation. Learn what the other 2/3 of the equation is!

These Small Business Club meetings are open to all business owners / operators and are free to attend.

PLEASE NOTE:  New date due for Southern Highland’s meeting   

Southern Highlands Small Business Club

Time:  5.15pm – 6.00pm for networking then presentations through to 7.30pm  
Date:  Wednesday 1 April 2009
Cost:   FREE to attend – finger food served   
RSVP:  Ring 1300 650 058 or email itec@illawarraitec.com.au

Wollongong Small Business Club

Time:  5.15pm – 6.00pm for networking then presentations through to 7.30pm  
Date:  Tuesday 7  April 2009
Cost:  FREE to attend – finger food served   
RSVP: Ring 42274500 or email lee@rdaillawarra.com.au

Free advice on Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and Copyright

Do you have a new invention?  Do you need assistance with how to register a patent, trade mark, design or need information about copy right?  Then make an appointment to see one of our business advisors to discuss the above through the Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service. The Innovation Advisory Service is a FREE program and is supported through funding from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.

We also have the services of an Intellectual Property Attorney who provides free advice at our offices once a month.  Appointments are now being made for:

Time:  Half hour appointments
Date:  Friday 3 April 2009  Illawarra ITeC Wollongong
Cost:  FREE
RSVP:  Call 1300 650 058 to make an appointment

Free Business Advisory Services

The Illawarra ITeC has five Small Business Programs to help you get started and further develop your established business. All programs provide free and confidential business advice and are available free of charge in the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven areas: 

• Illawarra Business Advisory Service (IBAS)
• Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
• New Enterprise Development Scheme  (NEIS)
• Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service (IIAS)
• Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer (ADEO) Program

If you require further information please don’t hesitate to contact me on 4223 3100 or 1300 650 058.

Do you receive our weekly Illawarra ITeC Small Business News Newsletter?   If not, email Virginia today on ibec@illawarraitec.com.au and we will automatically send you a copy.  

This is only a brief outline of the types of small business advice and assistance that we can offer.  Want to know more?  Remember I am a FREE service and can assist you in developing your business in many ways.  Call me today on 4223 3100 or check out our website at www.illawarraitec.com.au