Tax 2006: In Case You Can't

Your 2006 taxes are due by midnight of Tuesday, April 17, 2006. In case you are not prepared to submit yet, here are some useful information:

Individual Extension: You can now use Form 4868 to obtain a single automatic 6-month extension -- until October 15th. Perhaps you are aware that the Form 2688, which was meant for getting a second extension, was eliminated after 2005. By filing for an extension you will avoid the late filing penalty (5% per month with a maximum of 25%), but you will still be subject to interest and late payment penalty in case you owe any taxes.

Business Extension: Starting January 1, 2006, all eligible business taxpayers can use form 7004 to request an automatic 6-month extension to file returns. In prior years, non-corporate business taxpayers had to request an initial 3-month extension, and then another 3-month extension, if needed.

It's better to make a good estimate of how much you'll owe to IRS for your 2006 tax and send a check with your extension form if you file by mail, or authorise the I.R.S. to automatically withdraw the amount from your bank account on April 17 if you file electronically.

If, however, you owe nothing, or much better, Uncle Sam owes you, there is no penalty. You do not have to apply for extension. File as soon as you can depending on how fast you wish to get back your money from Uncle Sam.

Here is the link to all kinds of Forms and Instructions from IRS website.

Free Mammograms

Last week, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential aspirant John Edwards and the mother of two young children, appeared with her husband on the campaign trail and confessed to having failed to get a mammogram. She was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly four years ago. The cancer went into remission after chemotherapy and radiation, but resurfaced and has spread to her ribs. It is incurable.

"I do not have to be in this situation," she told an audience in Davenport, Iowa. "I am responsible for putting myself, this man, my family and frankly, putting you all at risk, too, because I think you deserve the chance to vote for this man."

Currently, "Images of Health: Mammograms for a Million Moms," a public education campaign, is helping to save lives by encouraging women to visit www.imagesofhealth.com and pledge to get a mammogram. The site allows visitors to share their breast cancer stories, search for mammography centers and view video of the mammography process

If your insurance company does not cover mammogram and/or you cannot afford to pay for this important test, here is some advice. Not all insurance companies pay for mammograms, and not every woman is eligible for the government's program intended for low income families. The following organizations can help you identify free and low cost mammograms in your area:

1) The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org 800-ACS-2345. Contact their local office.
2) YWCA's Encore Plus program: Contact local office. The National office at 800-95-EPLUS .
3) National Cancer Institute: 800-4-CANCER www.nci.nih.gov .
4) State Office of Breast and Cervical Cancer: Contact your state Dept of Health.
5) October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month: Many mammogram facilities offer their services at special fees during this period. So, In September, you may call and see what kind of deal you can get or check online at www.nbcam.org .
6) Medicare coverage of mammograms: 800-MEDICARE.

Airline Quality Report

The Airline Quality Rating Report has been compiled annually since 1991. This year, the study looked at 18 airlines and was based on Transportation Department statistics. The study is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Wichita State University and examines 15 things important to consumers.

Those factors include on-time performance, mishandled baggage and consumer complaints. As expected, the report tells that hassles like missed connections, delayed flights, lost luggage, are on the rise for the third straight year.

When it came to rating the airlines, the top 3 on the 18-airline list were Hawaiian, JetBlue and AirTran. The bottom 3 were, from worst to best, Atlantic Southeast, American Eagle and Comair. Among the findings, united and US Air tied for the most consumer complaints in 2006. Southwest had the fewest. Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance. Atlantic Southeast had the worst, with those same results in the baggage-handling category.

The Air Transport Association, which represents the major U.S. airlines, released a statement calling many of the problems out of the airline’s control, they said, “The annual study once again focuses on the symptoms rather than the root causes of passenger and airline frustrations. The vast majority of customer service issues arise from weather and congestion flight delays." The study did not include information on recent weather-related delays.

You may read the full report here: Airline Quality Report.