As part of its Dialogue 2013 series, the Chamber is reaching out to locals who live, work, play, and learn in Carson City via SurveyMonkey.

After meeting with the Leadership Institute Class of 2013, students at WNC, Chamber members, teenagers at the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada and the senior at the Senior Center, the Chamber is expanding its reach to allow residents to respond to two simple questions: Why do we live here and what do we see that our city will be like by the year 2020.

March gaming revenues for Carson City area casinos fell by about 2 percent from 2012 figures, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reports.

Statewide, Nevada casinos fared better, with an increase of 7.04 percent over March 2012 "gaming win" revenues. For the fiscal year, gaming win is in the plus at 2.79 percent.

Carson City area casinos include those in Minden, Gardnerville and all other areas of Douglas County except South Shore Lake Tahoe. Carson City and Carson Valley casinos in March took in $8,283,845 compared to $8,454,507 in March 2012.

The Carson High School "Cheer Me Up" cards are on sale now and feature 41 different Carson City businesses that are offering discounts on services, food and merchandise through April 2014.

The discounts are being offered at:

Carson City, NV – NxLeveL business planning course is coming back to Carson City after huge success with more than 30 business attendees in the March 2012 class. Western Nevada Development District has once again provided the funding for what has become the most popular and successful business planning course throughout countless Nevada communities. This award-winning program has provided the tools to start and grow a small business to more than 3,000 Nevadans.

Well we made it to spring again! I love spring! Another year into the history books. I looked at myself in the mirror recently and wondered who was the “old guy” staring back.

When money is withdrawn from an IRA but is planned to be repaid to that IRA custodian or a new IRA custodian (so it is not taxable), it is required to be repaid within 60 days of receipt.

IRS Letter Ruling (PLR) is not supposed to be relied upon by other taxpayers, but it does give some information and guidance about what IRS will do.

Let’s call her Ann, withdrew funds from her IRA on Dec. 22, 2011. In January 2012, she contacted a financial institution asking how to roll over the distribution to an account there. They emailed her instructions on how to do the non taxable roll over.

Cher Haack has been named Administrator at The Lodge Assisted Living and Memory Care Community in Carson City. She replaces Karen Perry who is relocating to Arizona.

Ms. Haack has worked at The Lodge for more than two years as the Wellness Coordinator.

Haack has extensive experience working with elders in the Carson City and Carson Valley areas. Prior to joining the Lodge she worked at the Carson Valley Residential Care Center in Gardnerville for many years and has also worked as a private in home caregiver. She believes that working with elders is a true calling.

Members of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, led by Chamber Director Ronni Hannaman, took a tour earlier this month through China. Here are some photos from the trip.

Forty-nine downtown Carson City businesses, 11 downtown property owners and many citizens have come together to form what is now known as the "Downtown 20/20 Action Advocacy Group."

Hot Diggity Dog! I missed pulling one of my favorite April Fools jokes on some folks, but then I got to thinking how many folks are “fooled” every day into thinking they are safe and secure in the way they use the internet.

Here are some bones to chew on.

Over the years, Congress has enacted many tax laws relating to education.
Those laws can be divided into two main categories: (1) items to help taxpayers meet the current higher education expenses and (2) laws to encourage taxpayers to save for future higher education expenses.

The Northern Nevada Development Authority will hear from the state's top officers and learn of five new businesses to the region during a breakfast Wednesday, 7 a.m., at the Carson Nugget in Carson City.

Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto will discuss Home Again Nevada and her Sex Trafficking Bill. State Treasurer Kate Marshall shares her new scholarship program for children entering kindergarten. 
Secretary of State Ross Miller will discuss the new Business Portal.

The third annual Austinpalooza was a night of food, music and festivities that culminated in over $8,500 in funds raised for Austin’s House and the Society of Women Engineers at University Nevada, Reno. The event, organized by GE’s Measurement and Control employees in Minden, was held Friday, February 22, 2013, at Jethro’s Bar and Grill in Gardnerville, Nevada. Both charities rely heavily on support from partners, like GE, to sustain operations.

This week's guest on Women to Women Nevada is Liz Andrews-Booth, president of the Carson City Downtown Business Association and owner of Liz's Biz. She discusses with hostess Carol Paz, a bit about her background, including serving in the Marine Corps and the California Army National Guard, and the latest goings on in Carson City downtown plans.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has many employees. That one of them did not comply with the income tax laws is easy to imagine.

However, in the case of Jacynthia Quinn, Tax Court Memo 2012-178, the IRS employee was a tax compliance officer. She claimed dependency exemptions, medical expenses and charitable contributions that the Court found she was not entitled to claim.

Apparently the court testimony by others contradicted the taxpayer’s claim she was not aware of the documentation and other tax law requirements.

WE of the World, a business and professional organization for women, will feature Carol Paz, hostess of the TV program Women to Women Nevada, at its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 14. The luncheon will be at Sassafras Cafe in Carson City, from 11:30 to 1 p.m.

Normally when someone has not filed income tax returns for a few years, the IRS is willing to just get the returns filed and paid. It usually has no jail time involved. IRS will charge interest and some penalties.

However, a taxpayer named Laubly was sentenced to 96 months in jail for willful failure to file a tax return and for tax evasion. Perhaps it was the tax evasion charge that the court found as adequate reason for the jail time sentence.

Dick Campagni and Carson City Toyota Scion is challenging the Carson City community to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada. Carson City Toyota Scion will match all donations made to the Boys & Girls Club up to $10,000.

You can donate at www.bgcwn.org or at Boys & Girls Club of Carson City or mail your donations to 1870 Russell Way, Carson City, Nev., 89706. Call (775) 882-8211.

The Private Bank by Nevada State Bank released the fifth of its High Net Worth briefings today. The research prepared by local market research firm Applied Analysis estimated that recent changes in federal tax policy could cost Nevada’s high net-worth households as much as $1.8 billion annually. Changes analyzed included those sourced to higher marginal and capital gains tax rates, modifications to the alternative minimum tax, the reintroduction of deduction limitations for wealthy families (Pease limitation), new Medicare taxes and a permanent modification to the estate and gift tax.

NV Energy is sponsoring a workshop in Reno for small and diverse businesses interested in providing goods and services to Nevada’s largest electric utility. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the company’s Sierra Plaza Auditorium at 6100 Neil Road.

Partnering with NV Energy to present the Strategies for Winning Contracts workshop are the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC), the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Nevada Office of Economic Development.

CARSON CITY — Scott Parker has joined the Carson City branch of AAA as the branch manager. He will oversee the 10 employees and office operations related to insurance, travel and memberships of the century-old-plus company. He started on Jan. 14.

Parker, who hails from Medford, Ore., has a long history of management in the insurance industry. This includes a 26-year stint with Farmers Insurance Group in different capacities. He last worked as a district sales manager after serving as a reserve district manager and agency owner as an independent agent.

People are heading to the capitol from all over the state and that means they are spending money at restaurants and hotels.
It's day two of the legislative session and restaurants like Comma Coffee and Firkin and Fox are already seeing more traffic.

This Saturday, The Carson Mall in Carson City is hosting it’s FIRST monthly Small Business Expo. Join several local small business to learn more about the amazing businesses, services, and organizations in our community!

This event is FREE to the Public!

LAS VEGAS – The Private Bank by Nevada State Bank released the fourth of its High Net Worth briefings today. The research prepared by local market research firm Applied Analysis was specific to changes in the income and investment portfolios of Nevada’s higher income households during the past several years. The report suggests that Nevada’s higher income households were overly exposed to real estate investment risk prior to the recession and have rapidly shifted assets into low-yield bonds, transaction accounts and certificates of deposit.