Software Club 210: Light Red/Club_Software_210_Light_Red_Micro_Star_1997.iso/sba/f107.sbe

Text File | 1997-01-27 | 21KB | 473 lines

@065 CHAP 10

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        │USEFUL TELEPHONE HELP LINES AND INTERNET SITES:│
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TELEPHONE HOTLINES.  The SBA and several other government
agencies maintain toll-free telephone "hotline" information
services to assist businesses and taxpayers.  Some of the
more important ones to know about are the following:

    . SBA Answer Desk: 1-800/827-5722 (or 1-800-UASK-SBA)

      This is the toll-free number of a new small business
      information and referral service offered by the SBA,
      which you can call from anywhere in the continental
      United States, except Washington, D.C.  In the
      District of Columbia, call 653-7561.

      This answer desk is a system providing voice mail
      messages on a wide variety of small business subjects.

    . SBA On-Line:  The SBA has set up its first electronic
      bulletin board system, called SBA On-Line, to help
      distribute information about its services and
      publications.  There is no charge for this service.
      You can browse through various files remotely or
      download them, for free, to your computer.  Even the
      phone lines for this BBS are toll-free.  To log on,
      dial:

         -  1-800-697-INFO

    . Small Business Hotline: [phone]

      This toll-free line is a specialized free service
      offered by the Export-Import Bank to small exporters
      needing general information or problem-solving
      assistance relating to doing business abroad.  It
      provides information on export credit and on assistance
      available from other government agencies and the
      private sector.

    . Immigration and Naturalization Service:  1-800-755-0777

      This toll-free line is for information about your
      responsibilities as an employer under U.S immigration
      laws and regulations.

    . U.S. Department of Justice:  [phone]

      Call this hotline to hear prerecorded and taped message
      regarding the type of documents you can request from a
      new employee to establish identity and work eligibility
      under the U.S. immigration laws.

    . Interagency Trade Information Center:  1-800/USA-TRADE

      (For general information on exporting, provided by
      various U.S. government agencies.)

      NOTE:  For information on taxes and other aspects of
      doing business in various foreign countries, the
      accounting firm of Ernst & Young publishes a series
      of booklets for each of a large number of countries.
      To obtain one of these country guides, call or write
      the Ernst & Young office near you.  (Ernst & Young
      offices are located in most major cities and in
      almost every state.)


    . EPA Small Business Ombudsman: 1-800/368-5888 (or, if
      busy, try 1-703/305-5938)

      Like certain Scandinavian countries, the Environmental
      Protection Agency now has a "Small Business Ombudsman"
      to give you easier access to the EPA, help you comply
      with EPA regulations, and make sure you are fairly
      treated in any disputes with the EPA.

    . Internal Revenue Service National Toll-Free Line:
      1-800/TAX-FORM

      Use this number (1-800/829-3676) to obtain IRS tax
      forms, publications, etc.  The IRS also puts on free
      small business workshops nationwide.  To call for a
      reservation, use the IRS national toll-free number.

    . Americans with Disabilities Act information:  For
      information on ADA, call the U.S. Justice Department's
      information line:  1-202/514-0301

    . Social Security Administration: 1-800/772-1213

      If you want to find out what records the Social
      Security Administration (SSA) has of your earnings
      and your projected benefits at retirement age, you
      can file a simple form requesting a detailed printout
      of this information (and hopefully find they haven't
      lost your files).  This is something everyone should
      do once every few years, since, if the SSA has made
      a serious mistake in your earnings record, you have
      only a limited number of years in which you can
      contact them and have your record corrected.

      To obtain the request form, call the above toll-free
      number.  Or, if you prefer, you can write the SSA for
      this form at:

                      Consumer Information Center
                      Department 72
                      Pueblo, Colorado 81009

@CODE: CA
    . California Franchise Tax Board Information Center
      Phone Numbers:

      In California, call (toll-free):

      . From Area Codes 209, 408, 415, 707, and 916:
        1-800/852-7050
      . From elsewhere:   1-800/852-5711

      From outside of California call: 1-800/852-5711

    . California State Board of Equalization general
      information number:  1-800/400-7115

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@CODE: HI
    . Hawaii Business Action Center (One-stop center for
      all state permits at 1130 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite
      A-254, in Honolulu)

      From Oahu, call:   1-808/586-2545
      Neighbor Islands Toll Free Number:  1-800/225-6723

    . Hawaii Small Business Information Service
      (Honolulu):  1-808/586-2600
      Neighbor Islands Toll Free Number:  1-800/541-3289

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@CODE: WS
    . Wisconsin has announced an automated forms and
      documents retrieval system, "Fax-a-form," available for
      use by anyone with a fax machine.  The system provides
      access to a telephone menu that allows you to select
      Wisconsin tax forms and publications and have them
      faxed back to you, and is available 24 hours every day.
      The telephone number for Fax-a-form is [phone].

@CODE:OF

HELPFUL INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB SITES (MODEM AND
INTERNET ACCESS REQUIRED):

Many businesses, government and nonprofit organizations have
set up home pages (or "storefronts") on the World Wide Web
of the Internet, where you can browse through or download
information, view videos and catalogues, and place orders
for merchandise, in some cases.  Some of the more useful
sites for small businesses include the ones listed below.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

    . FED WORLD -- This is the central clearing site for
      Internet sites that are related to the federal
      government.  It's a good place to start to locate and
      review available information for a wide array of
      federal agencies and departments.  Its Web address is:
      http://www.fedworld.gov

    . SBA ONLINE -- The Small Business Administration has
      a Web site, providing tips for starting, financing,
      and expanding a small business, at the following
      Web address:  http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov

      It includes links to other Web sites, including a
      nifty new "U.S. Business Advisor" site that includes
      information on almost every subject for anyone who
      has dealings with the government.  The Web address
      of the U.S. Business Advisor site is:
      http://www.business.gov

    . IRS -- Even the Internal Revenue Service now has a
      Web site from which you can download tax forms and
      instructions and obtain other tax information.  You
      can download forms and other items to your computer
      and print them out later.  The IRS Web address is:
      http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/

    . EDGAR -- The SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange
      Commission) Web site contains corporate filings that
      have been submitted to the SEC under the securities
      laws, including 10K's, 10Q's and other forms.  EDGAR's
      address is: http://www.town.hall.org/edgar/edgar.html

    . SEC HOME PAGE -- The SEC LAW home page provides updated
      information on SEC actions, including a section on
      small business matters, proposed regulations, and SEC
      news tidbits.  Its Web address:  http://www.seclaw.com

    . THE WHITE HOUSE -- The Clinton Administration has set
      up