Sunday, September 13, 2009

Deciding When To File A Tax Return?

April 15th – “The Day of Reckoning”! Every year, millions of Americans get ready to pay taxes to Uncle Sam, or get ready to collect a tax refund from Uncle Sam; when did this become the great day that it is for taxpayers, and when are we actually required to file a income tax return? Let’s take a look at the beginnings of the income tax date of April 15 and why it was chosen?

The first known income tax that Americans were legally required to pay was enacted during the early 1860s, and the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War was proving very costly to finance, and the President and Congress created the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and enacted a law requiring citizens to pay federal income tax. This could be considered the start of our modern day income tax. This income tax was based on principles of graduated or progressive taxation and of withholding income at the source. The commissioner was given authority to assess, levy and collect federal income taxes. The authority to enforce tax laws by seizure of property and income and by prosecution.

Originally, the deadline for completing and filing your individual income tax was not April 15th. In the beginning, it was first set for March 1st. Then, during 1918, Congress pushed the date out to March 15th. Then, in the great overhaul of 1954, the date was once again moved forward to April 15th, and this is where it remains today. Why April 15th? The main thought from most scholars say the reasoning is that the date gives the IRS more time to handle the work load and more time to hang on to your money before offering a tax refund. This date has only been set this way for a little over 50 years. That’s not very long, in historical terms, and it could possibly be changed again.

If you are an individual taxpayer, you are required to file either a return or an extension of time to file (Form 4868) by April 15th. Corporate and other legal entities are required to file their federal income tax return by March 15th, and if not, they also must file an extension of time to file. What this extension does not do, is to extend the amount of time you have to pay any taxes due the government. So, if you are unable to ready your personal or business financial information in a timely manner, and have no reasonable estimate as to the amount of tax you may owe, you can expect to pay some form of penalty.

In the years following WWII, the burden of tax responsibility was shared fairly equally by the corporate world and the individual taxpayer. Today, however, the shift has been toward more responsibility on the part of the individual, and less on the business backs. To demonstrate how special interests have begun to overtake American politics, during 1867, public opinion was so strong, and the outcry of the general public so loud, that the President and Congress abolished the income tax law in 1872, and from 1872 until 1913 almost all of the revenue for government operation came from the sale of liquor, beer, wine, and tobacco. Although the income tax did make a small come back in 1894, it was found unconstitutional in 1895 by the U.S. Supreme Court because it was not apportioned among the states in conformity with the Constitution.

An interesting time during the formation and eventual taxation of America occurred during 1918. Until that point in time, the vast majority of tax revenue for government funding came from alcoholic beverage sales and high tariffs. In 1919, Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution that made it illegal to manufacture or sell alcohol; what would replace the revenue? American federal income tax was the proposed solution, and we’ve been paying since. Although during the great years known as Prohibition, many “revenue agents” spent their days tracking down “moon shiners” not tax evaders, the American citizen, the individual taxpayer took on the heavy burden of supporting government revenue, and it has become heavier with each passing year. On a side note, although “moon shining” was illegal, the “moon shiners” still had to pay taxes on the moon shine so they were incarcerated for tax evasion and not “moon shining”. Taxes seem to always come into play when looking for a way to prosecute someone.

Then, during 1942, the Revenue Act of 1942 was passed and the “New Deal” era was begun. Since that point in time, government control, power, and expenditures has continued to increase at a phenomenal rate, and today the American taxpayer supports a trillion dollar giant known as the United States government. This ravenous beast consumes more than 10% of our earned income each year, and if the Social Security Administration has their way, will continue to consume even more of our weekly earnings. We can foresee no other relief in sight.

Currently, all the tax regulations for this country are the responsibility of the Internal Revenue Service, and there are four major divisions of this government office: the Wage and Investment, Small/Business Self-Employed, the Large and Midsize Business and the Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Each division has responsibilities as they pertain to their individual specialty.

There continues to be talk on the hill to change the way taxes are calculated and collected. The most common themes are the flat tax and the national sales tax. Until Congress actually has the courage to step up to the plate and change it, taxes will remain as cumbersome as always.

Keith Hoyng

Keith Hoyng is the web master and operator of http://www.quickcash2u.com which is an excellent source of financial, travel, remodeling, and more key information. Visit us at http://www.quickcash2u.com/TaxHelp.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

Filing An Income Tax Return

When the month of April rolls around most of America is preparing their income tax returns. Each year all individuals who made an income are required to report that income to federal and state governments by filing an income tax return.

Taxpayers must file two separate income tax returns. One income tax return goes to the federal government and the other goes to the state government that a particular taxpayer resides in. The majority of taxpaying Americans are able to fill out a Form 1040A: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Individuals that do not have any children or other qualifying dependents are able to file a federal 1040EZ form. This form is also referred to as the Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents. The 1040EZ is basically a shorter version of the 1040A form; however, taxpayers must meet certain requirements before filing a 1040EZ form.

The majority of taxpayers will have the federal income tax forms they need mailed to their home. The option to have federal income tax forms mailed to a taxpayer is given on the previous year’s tax forms. Taxpayers who do not wish to receive federal income tax forms but do need them can get the forms from a number of sources. Many paper forms are available for pickup at many local post offices, banks, and libraries. Taxpayers can also visit the website of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which is found at http://www.irs.gov. The Internal Revenue Service has a collection of federal income tax forms that can be downloaded and printed.http://www.taxhelpdirectory.com/federalincometax/

When a taxpayer reports their income earned to their state government they will also have to fill out a state tax return form. Each state has their own income tax return forms. The form numbers will all be different because they vary from state to state; however, some forms will have the same heading. It is not uncommon for a state income tax form to be known as the Resident Income Tax Return. As with federal income tax returns, the majority of states have a long income tax return form and a short one. Taxpayers who are able to fill out and file a short state income tax return are encouraged to do so because it saves many taxpayers a large amount of tax preparation time. As with most federal income tax forms, state tax return individuals are likely to have a packet of state income tax forms mailed directly to their home. It is also possible for taxpayers to find their state tax forms at their local post office, financial institution, or library.

In addition to the traditional taxpaying individual, there are others who have to report and possibly pay an income tax. All businesses and estate properties of an individual who has passed on are subject to an income tax. A small business owner or the executor of an estate property will have to file different federal and state income tax forms than the traditional taxpayer. These forms can be obtained at the same places where standard federal and state forms are available.

Gray Rollins

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for the TaxHelpDirectory.com. To learn more about income taxes, and tax filing, please visit our site.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Need A Copy Of Your Tax Return Information?

Taxpayers have two easy and convenient options for getting copies of their federal tax return information — tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts — by phone or by mail.

A tax return transcript shows most line items from the tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes you, your representative or the IRS made after the return was filed. In many cases, a return transcript will meet the requirements of lending institutions such as those offering mortgages and student loans.

A tax account transcript shows any later adjustments either you or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income and taxable income.

Request either transcript by calling 1-800-829-1040, or order by mail using IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts, which are available for the current and three prior calendar years. Allow two weeks for delivery.

If you need a photocopy of a previously processed tax return and attachments, complete Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Form, and mail it to the IRS address listed on the form for your area. There is a fee of $39 for each tax period requested. Copies are generally available for the current and past 6 years.

Richard Chapo

Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses for overpaid taxes. Discovery tax strategies and deductions in our tax articles section.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Who Must File a Tax Return

If you are a United State citizen, you must file a federal tax return if your income is above certain levels. Other factors such as age and type of income you receive are also taken into consideration. If you are unsure as to whether you are required to file for income tax return, you can find out more information from the official Internal Revenue Service IRS website, or you can consult professional efile tax service providers. If you wish to avoid getting into any kind of trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, it's always wise to file, whether you need to or not.

There are situations where even if your income level falls below the stipulated level of income, you should still file your tax returns. For example, you may quality for certain income tax refunds. Such refunds will be credited to you only if you file for tax returns. Refundable credits include Earned Income Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, and Health Coverage Tax Credit.

Sometimes, it is difficult or cumbersome to try and determine whether you qualify for the refund credits or not. In this case, you can consider filing for tax returns online. This method of tax filing is commonly known as e-filing or efile.

E-filing is an electronic process that any United States citizen can use to file for tax returns. Of course, the assumption here is that whoever is e-filing should know how to operate a computer. Anyone who knows how to use the computer to surf the Internet will have no problems submitting tax return information using e-filing processes.

You should only e-file with Internal Revenue Service authorized websites. This is to ensure that security measures are implemented. Obviously, security measures are important because e-filing means submitting sensitive information through a public network. Therefore, it is only right to submit personal financial information through an IRS Internal Revenue Service authorized site.

E filing is simple. It can take a little bit of time though. But you can speed up the process by having your w2's and other information on hand. The entire process is guided in a step by step process. When you start submission, read the instructions carefully. There will be fields that are mandatory, and fields that are optional. These will be clearly indicated. As you submit, you may find that there are some pieces of information that you do not have at that moment. Don't worry about it. You can proceed filling in the rest of the information. You will then be allowed to save the submission, and come back at a later date to fill in the missing information.

Also, when you e-file, the system will automatically do the calculations to see whether you qualify for credit refunds. So you don't have to worry about changes or update to any policies.

Unless you are retired with no (or very little) income, chances are you must file a tax return. You may even end up with more money in your pocket!

Matthew Snelling

For more information on Filing tax returns and efile tax returns please visit e-file-tax-returns.org.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Filing Your Tax Return

We all work so hard for our money that the thought of parting ways often makes us restless, yet everyone knows that our government was designed to function with our tax paying dollars. Many of us out there feel as though the only thing you can count on is death and taxes. Often times we ask ourselves, "Would the government know if I didn't pay my taxes?" Yes, the Internal Revenue Department is adamant that we all do our part to keep the country economically viable. Ever heard of Al Capone? The FBI tried for years to convict him of his many heinous crimes. Who finally got him and trotted him off to jail where he died? Yes, the IRS tried him for income tax evasion and put him in prison. Finally, one of the most notorious criminals of the Twentieth Century went to jail because he didn't pay his taxes. Obviously, we all need to understand the basics of Income taxes or we can join all of those other criminals sitting in jail because they thought they could beat the IRS.

According to federal and most state laws, if you made some sort of an income last year, than you must file an income tax return. Income tax returns are required regardless if you had income tax withheld or not; while all businesses except partnerships must file an annual tax return. For the individual, when determining whether you must file or not, the IRS takes into account your income, filing status, and age.

We must understand that the requirement of filing an income tax return is not voluntary, rather mandatory and extremely important. The Internal Revenue Service has clearly stated out the requirements for filing in the following codes §§ 6011(a), 6012(a), et seq. If you fail to file an income tax return it is considered a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $10000 fine. While the penalty for filing a frivolous income tax return is only $500, the penalty.

Thanks to modern technologically we now have the option of filing our taxes faster than before. The fastest way for you to file is electronically or you may still prefer to file the old fashion way via the mail. Whether your return is complicated or easy, both these methods will work. The primary form for the income tax return is either the 1040 NR or 1040 NR-EZ. The average time to process an accurate tax return is between six and eight weeks. Your tax return is due on April 15th. If the income tax return is late (even one day), there is an automatic tax due of 25% of your tax return. If you know that you're going to be late, file an extension, taxpayers are granted an automatic six month extension for filing an individual income tax return.

Filing an e-turn can be very beneficial to you, especially if you are waiting to receive money back from the government. If you should choose to e-file your tax return you then have the option to use direct deposit, this allows you to receive your return in as little as 10 days. Even if you do not choose the direct deposit option, you will usually receive your tax refund in half the time by e-filing.

Keep in mind that one of the most important things when filing your federal or state tax return, if filing by mail, is remembering to sign it. In some cases you may need to get a hold of your previously filed tax return. You can obtain this information in a written request to the IRS.

It is extremely important to file an income tax return. There are several non-profit organizations with trained volunteers who provide basic income tax return preparation and free tax counseling for senior citizens. If you need help, contact the IRS or a tax service. Tax returns leave no room for mistake.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Do You Know When To File A Tax Return?

Every year, millions of Americans dread the inevitable; they have to gather all of their receipts and records and get ready to file their Federal Income Tax Returns. When was tax season first initiated? Here, we will take a look at that magic day of April 15 and why it was chosen as tax day.

During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency in the 1860’s, were first legally required to pay income taxes. The President and Congress created the Commissioner of Revenue and enacted a Federal Income Tax law in order to fund the costly Civil War.

The original deadline for submitting your income taxes was March 1, not April 15. It was in 1918 when the Congress pushed the date out to March 15. Then in 1954, the date was once again moved, this time to April 15, the date we still know as tax day.

If you are an individual taxpayer, you are required to file either a return or an extension (Form 4868) by April 15. Corporate and other legal group entities must file their tax return or an extension by March 15. The extension merely gives you extra time to file your tax return, not extra time to pay if you owe.

For some years after World War 2, the tax burden was shared relatively equally by the corporate world and the individual taxpayer. Today, the shift seems to be toward the individual carrying the load of the tax burden.

An interesting event that occurred during formation of income taxation laws in America occurred during 1918. Up until then, a lot of revenue for government funding came from alcoholic beverage sales.

Then came Prohibition. In 1919, Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution that made it illegal to manufacture or sell alcohol. In order to replace that lost revenue, income tax was the proposed solution, and despite the repeal of Prohibition, we’ve been paying income taxes ever since.

When the Revenue Act of 1942 was passed and the “New Deal” era was begun, government control and expenditures has continued to increase exponentially, and today the American taxpayer supports a multi-trillion dollar National Debt.

Currently, all the tax regulations for this country are under the management of the Internal Revenue Service, in which there are four major division: Wage and Investment, Small/Business Self-Employed, Large and Midsize Business, and Tax Exempt and Government. Each division governs the taxpayers and the laws as they are relevant to their particular department.

Ken Snowie

Discover more about tax and tax returns by visiting http://www.discover-tax.info

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Ins and Outs of Buying Your First Home Insurance Policy

How much would you say you know about home insurance? A lot? A little? Whichever camp you happen to fall in, if you're shopping for home insurance for your first house you better catch up quick! There's a lot that goes into making sure you get the best deal possible on your insurance coverage, and at a time when hundreds of homeowners are paying way too much for their insurance policy it pays to be in the know.

Types of Coverage

Your homeowners insurance policy is going to do three things:

  1. Protect your house from being flattened (or at least, rebuild it if it is).

  2. Pay to replace the contents of your house if they're destroyed or stolen.

  3. Protect you from the potential fiscal liabilities of people being injured on your property.

Structure Coverage

When you're determining the limits of liability you're going to need to protect your house from being destroyed you need to take into account the fact that your land probably isn't going to be destroyed by hail or fire. Yes, your grass might take a lickin', and it may or may not keep on tickin', but gardens and yards can be replanted for considerably less expense than you're going to pay to insure the land over the years. Check your appraisal and take out a home insurance policy for the value of the structure(s) themselves.

Property

One of the first things you should do when you get ready to buy your first home is take a careful inventory of the contents of your house. It's important to let your homeowners insurance company know if you've got jewelry or paintings of value that are going to need to be covered. It's not going to do you any good to try to file an insurance claims for them if you never declared them in the first place! Don't forget to include your electronics in this too. Televisions, radios and computers can get really expensive, really fast, so don't forget to make sure you're protected against a fire or a thief deciding to "liberate" them from the tyranny of ownership.

Yours, that is.

Personal Injury Liability

Did you know that if someone is injured on your property it's your fault, even when it's not your fault? For example, if someone you don't even know climbs over your back fence and into your pool without your permission, and they happen to be injured in your swimming pool, you're financially liable. That unpleasant nugget takes a lot of people by surprise.

You want your homeowners insurance coverage to be sufficient to protect you against the injury, property and potential lawsuit liabilities of owning a house, so it's important to make sure your levels are high enough. $100,000-$300,000 per incident is usually recommended, but that number may change as the cost of health care continues to rise so be sure to talk to your insurance agent before signing on the dotted line.

Buying your first house is exciting. Make sure it's protected by taking the time to do a little research and make sure you've got a homeowners insurance policy that will keep you protected no matter what life happens to throw your way.

Cliff Berman

Clifford F. Berman is CEO of QuoteScout.com. For more information on buying homeowners insurance for your new house visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

What You Need to Know About New Car Insurance

Isn't there something truly, truly awesome about a new car? There's an infinite amount of potential the minute you slip behind the wheel and put those keys in the ignition. But with great power comes great responsibility…in this case, the responsibility to make sure you've got the car insurance you need.

Many drivers hesitate to spend tremendous amounts of money on insurance coverage for their new car because car insurance rates for new cars are considerably higher than those for older models with a lower resale value. But before you make a decision about your coverage based solely on how much you're going to pay keep in mind that you're going to be responsible for paying off your car loan right along with buying a new car.

Do you really want to be paying for two vehicles when with the right car insurance coverage you could only be paying for one?

Most states require you to carry liability insurance on your car, regardless of how much you owe on it or how long you've owned it. It's sort of a pre-req to being able to take it out on the highways. Liability insurance will protect you from other drivers' damages and expenses if you cause an accident, but it's not going to do anything for you and your car. If you only had liability and you were in an accident you'd be left struggling to buy a new car out of pocket.

Collision insurance, on the other hand, will pick up the tab after you've been in an accident and pay for reparations to your car. That way you have money to pay off your car loan and/or buy a new one without breaking the bank. And your car insurance provider knows they're not going to be left trying to wrangle money out of you without any assets to use for collateral after the fact. Can you imagine trying to collect on a debt when you don't have anything to repossess?

Comprehensive insurance picks up the tab when Mother Nature decides to strike back for the pollution we're pumping into the atmosphere. "Acts of God", like hail, windstorms, ice storms, icicles and tree branches. Hey, accidents are the only things that leave us scrambling to file car insurance claims! And with comprehensive coverage you know you're going to be protected no matter what happens.

Finally, let's talk about uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance. It's no secret that today's economy is slipping. And if you don't know all you have to do is look at the number of layoffs and the businesses that are going to under to find out! With budgets having to stretch farther than ever and unemployment on the rise many drivers are choosing to travel without car insurance-at all. And those that do may not have enough coverage to protect them if they're in an accident.

Uninsured motorist insurance will pick up the cost of your repairs if you're involved in an accident with one of these individuals and get you back on the road instead of making you wait months or even years to get the money back in court.

New cars are great, but they're also a lot of work. But isn't it nice to know that your money is going toward something as important as car insurance that's going to help you and your family protect your financial assets instead of line someone else's pockets?

Mike McDonough

Mike McDonough is a National Account Representative for QuoteScout.com. For more information on buying car insurance for your new car, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Best Kept Secrets in the Car Insurance Industry When it Comes to Saving Money on Your Insurance Premiums

We all tend to put a tremendous amount of faith in those little questionnaires we fill out when it comes to saving money on our car insurance, but are we putting too much faith in them? There are literally hundreds of insurance discounts that you're never going to find on any car insurance company's quote questionnaire. In fact, the first time agent you talk to when you buy your policy may not even know about half of them!

That's why it pays to be in the know before you pick up the phone.

Car insurance companies base your insurance discounts on four basic categories: You, your car, your driving history and your insurance needs.

1) You

Believe it or not, you have NOT been reduced to a nameless, faceless number. Not completely, anyway! Who you are and where you live play a huge role in how much you're going to pay for your car insurance coverage. Teachers and engineers are statistically less likely to be in an an accident, so they get better discounts on their insurance. And car insurance companies love people who drive very little, live in rural areas and don't have to commute to work.

Not to mention you can save big bucks by being over 25. The number of insurance claims filed by drivers over 25 is 60% lower than those that are under 25, making you much cheaper for them to insure.

2) Your Car

The Highway Loss Data Institute keeps a record each year of cars involved in accidents and thefts. These are charted out by make, model and year and provide a very accurate representation of the risk your car represents. If your car is high risk you're going to pay more, if your car is low risk you're going to enjoy better discounts.

And if you're driving a Jag, Mercedes or other luxury car that's going to cost more to replace your premiums are going to be higher by default. There's nothing you can do about that.

3) Types of Car Insurance You Need

Needless to say, you're going to pay more for comprehensive and collision coverage than you would if you only had liability. That's why people with secondhand cars that have a $500 or less resale value don't usually bother with them. It's just not worth it! If you're driving a new car, or one with a lien on it, you're going to want full coverage. A full coverage package usually includes:

  • Liability

  • Collision

  • Comprehensive

  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

**Pro Tip: Higher Deductibles=Lower Premiums. Use that to your advantage.**

4) Your Driving History

You knew it was coming. Don't act like you didn't! None of the car insurance companies out there are going to willingly issue you a car insurance policy without first checking out your driving record, so the best thing you can do is stay as squeaky clean as possible. Accidents and traffic violations are going to count against you, as well as multiple speeding tickets. Keep your eyes on the road and your foot off the gas pedal and you should have no trouble saving money on your insurance.

Anthony Peck

Anthony M. Peck is the Senior Developer, Software Project Manager and Director of Business Development for QuoteScout.com. For more information on how to save on car insurance visit them at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Get Quality Cheap Auto Insurance by Shopping Online

It is challenging in the hard economical times to incur added expenses. As the discretionary income declines in some households it Is harder to maintain budgets and it is necessary to cut costs. It is important to keep insurance as it comes in handy in a time of need. Most states do require some type of auto insurance. Whether it be the minimum liability or something else, any licensed driver needs it. To assist with finding cheap auto insurance that can be affordable and fit into your budget, here are a few tips on how to shop for the best insurance companies.

The internet is the best source for shoppers who are looking for cheap auto insurance. There is not a cut and dry way to guarantee cheap auto insurance, but you can get affordable insurance based on your needs. When you start shopping around online, it may be a surprise to you, but there are hundreds of insurance carriers.

Trying to look through all of the companies and educating yourself on the products and coverage they provide can be a time consuming task. To make your job easier there are many online resources and user friendly tools available to cut to the chase and get the quotes you need to help you evaluate which company has the cheap auto insurance or the most economical that is affordable for your situation.

The best way to get quotes from a variety of companies so you can make a descent comparison is by using insurance affiliates or partners. These companies have a network of insurance carriers they work with. Many are the top providers and names you can trust. The way it works is you complete a simple questionnaire by providing basic information.

Usually you are asked your age, if you currently have insurance, the make and model of the automobile being insured, and your current residence. This is important so you will be matched with an insurance company that is licensed to provide coverage in your resident state.

Once your form is submitted, you will be instantly matched with insurance providers for your area. The list of companies will come up instantly. Each company will have a link to their website generally. You can review their website that will normally provide the different types of plans they have and the types of coverage along with the costs of the monthly premiums.

Having a list of carriers at your fingertips makes the search for cheap auto insurance fast and easy. There are ways to get cheap auto insurance. The lower the price of your premium depends on different factors. If you have maintained a good driving record, continue to do so. If your travel time to work does not add too many miles, your policy can be lower with some companies.

Other factors that will earn you cheap auto insurance rates are the type of automobile you have. The rates are lower if your car has safety standards and features. The age, style, and model make a difference. If you have a sports or luxury car, chances are you won't find cheap auto insurance, but you can find the best rates by continuing your online search and comparisons.

Jim Bassett

Looking for car insurance for a 16 year old? Get comprehensive, cheap auto insurance quotes now.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

What Low Income California Drivers Need to Know About the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

Rising unemployment rates and the exorbitant cost of gas have left hundreds struggling to come up with the fund they need to keep their car properly insured. That's why over 15% of drivers on the highways today are driving uninsured, 3 million plus in California alone. In an effort to stem the rising tide of uninsured drivers California has implemented an insurance program designed especially for low income drivers known as the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program.

Unlike regular insurance programs, which are designed to work on a fixed rate premium depending on your circumstances, the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program (CLCA) works on a sliding scale determined by your income. Drivers that meet the definition of financial need established by the governing authority can aply to be admitted into the program and enjoy the benefits of a low cost insurance policy designed especially to meet their needs.

This isn't one of those low cost insurance programs designed to persecute the middle class just because they happen to make enough money to keep food on the table and pay their rent on a semi-regular basis. Instead, the program is designed to accommodate the bottom edge of the middle class, with a family of four being permitted to have a combined income of up to $50,000-considerably higher than the state poverty level.

With an income level this high the hope is that every driver will take the initiative and apply for the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program rather than choosing to continue to drive uninsured.

Because California has a mandatory liability requirement for its drivers the CLCA only offers liability coverage as part of its low cost insurance plan. Included in the plan is:

  • $10,000 Bodily Injury Liability per person.

  • $20,000 Bodily Injury per accident.

  • $3,000 Property Damage per accident.

As you've probably already noticed, this is significantly less than California's minimum liability requirements for drivers. State officials are willing to make a trade off in exchange for dramatically reducing the number of drivers they have out there driving uninsured. Auto insurance companies have no choice about offering this low cost insurance to their clientele, but they reserve the right to keep their coverage levels low to encourage drivers that can afford it to seek regular coverage.

Collision and comprehensive are not included as part of the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program. You can, however, purchase them separately from your insurance carrier without affecting your eligibility for the program. Most companies do offer you the chance to purchase additional medical coverage and uninsured motorist at a low cost through the program to protect yourself from the people out there who weren't as quick to pick up on this great deal as you were.

The California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program is an ideal solution for low income drivers who don't want to have to sacrifice their auto insurance coverage to keep dinner on the table. If you're struggling to pay your premiums but don't want to join the ranks of the uninsured contact the CLCA as soon as possible.

Cliff Berman

Cliff Berman is the CEO of QuoteScout.com. For more information about your auto insurance visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

Friday, August 14, 2009

How to Determine the Right Length of Term Life Insurance

Outside of how much term life insurance to purchase, the other key concern is how long or what term the insurance should be purchased for. These two factors really determine cost so let's take a look at the question of "how long?"

Term life terms usually come in fixed periods of time running 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years depending on carrier. One of the reasons that term life insurance is so much less expensive than whole life insurance is that the carrier is only at risk for a period of time. Whole life insurance can continue...well..for a person's whole life. The analogy of renting life insurance (term) versus owning (whole) is usually thrown out (most likely by someone selling whole life insurance!). Life insurance is quite different from home ownership (the basis for the analogy). One is an asset while the other is protection from risk. Whole life insurance can be 10 times the cost of term.

The key to term life insurance is that you use it to protect against a defined risk or to mitigate a defined financial responsibility. The most common goal is to provide for loved ones in case of the loss of an income provider be it the sole or partial provider. This is a common concern for families at all stages from newlyweds to older adults whose children have already left the house. Typically, people underestimate the financial strain a loss puts on the their families. If you were to imagine not only the stress of the loss but the financial impact of everything falling on the other family member(s), it becomes apparent pretty quickly how important sufficient term life insurance protection can be.

Let's look at some typical term considerations.

Newlyweds/families with young children.

The cost of raising children is estimated at a quarter of a million dollars from birth to college these days and that will only increase with time. Clearly, the concern for newlyweds or families with young children is to provide financial protection out to where the children are adults and ideally through college (another ever escalating expense). This would argue for a longer term period between 20-30 years. Keep in mind that for a given budget, the longer the term, the less coverage can be purchased for the same life insurance premium amount. There's a trade off and it's best to use the instant quote engine to run multiple combinations of term and term life amount to find the right "mix" for your budget.

Established family with/without older children.

As mentioned above, college becomes a key concern for this group. College is estimated at $20K-$40K and that amount will grow significantly into the foreseeable future. Paying off existing debt and/or assets also becomes a competing consideration. Mortgages, business debts, credit cards, and loans should be equally considered along with income replacement to get past the college years successfully.

Older adults

For adults who no longer have the intense financial responsibility of children, the shift is towards providing for debt/asset payoff and income replacement over a shorter period of time. Term is ideal here as well due to the significant price savings versus whole life for equivalent amounts of coverage. Age is the primary factor in determining cost so buiying term life insurance at an older age can be expensive. Whole life almost becomes out of the question for any amount of significant coverage as it's typically 10 times more expensive than term life insurance.

The best approach is to try multiple term limits when you run your instant term life insurance quote on our free engine to find the right "mix" for you.

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis is a licensed insurance agent concentrating on term life insurance. Shop, compare, and instantly quote multiple carriers with professional guidance and resources.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Understand Term Life Insurance Premiums

Let's take a quick look at the dreaded term life insurance premium. The first take-away is that, hey...it's not that bad! Term life insurance has become incredibly affordable especially compared with other types of life insurance such as whole or variable life. In fact, prices have dropped significantly over the past decade in an increasingly competitive market. Let's dig a little deeper into what affects term life premiums.

The term life insurance premium is just a fancy insurance word for the amount of money you pay to keep a term insurance policy in effect. It's your part o f the contract with the carrier. As long as you pay your policy, the coverage will remain in effect for your desired term regardless of health. It is guaranteed renewable in this sense for a fixed period of time. Depending on the life carrier, you typically have the option of paying premium in different ways and there can be a discount to paying for longer amount such as a year versus monthly. The rates given in the quote engine are usually the monthly amount but a discount can be applied for annual payments when you go through the application process. There are various ways to pay your premium depending on the carrier that range from billings to credit card/auto deductible options.

What factors affect the term life insurance premium?

There are three main factors that drive your term life insurance premium amount. Think of a triangle with age at time of enrollment, term length, and amount of coverage. You really can't control the page part (apart from not procrastinating) but keep in mind that there is a considerable cost to waiting to purchase term life insurance. You will end up paying more in total dollars by waiting. The key then is to find the right "blend" between term length and amount of coverage. You can play around with these variables when you run your instant term life insurance quote in our free engine.

Health condition at time of enrollment

Your general health and pre-existing conditions can affect both your ability to qualify but also your pricing. Factors such as smoking, being overweight, etc can have a bearing on your pricing as the premiums are usually set up among health class such as Preferred, Standard, etc. There may be options for you even with health issues although they might be for lesser amounts and different than the one listed in the quoting engine.

For those who are frustrated with the incessant rate increases from their health insurance carriers, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that term life premiums are fixed during the desired term length. This is why it's so important to purchase life insurance as young as possible. That fixed rate will be higher with each passing year of your life if you wait to purchase term life insurance.

Different carriers have riders available that affect your term life premium. These "riders" are essentially specific add-on benefits to your core life insurance coverage that cost extra premium. For example, you may be able to stop paying premium and keep the policy in effect if disabled. You usually pay an extra amount for each rider. This is really a question of personal preference. Our thought is to buy as much core term life protection (combination of length and amount) as possible with your available budget. An extra $10/monthly might buy you $100K more in coverage and that would be our recommendation. That being said, do not buy more than you can afford over the long haul or it defeats the purpose to lapse coverage when in financial hardship in the future due to over-insuring your life insurance needs. There's a middle ground there and that is where we recommend purchasing.

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis is a licensed insurance agent concentrating on term life insurance. Shop, compare, and instantly quote multiple carriers with professional guidance and resources.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Term Life Versus Whole Life Insurance

How is term life insurance different from whole and which is the right selection for you? That's a key question to answer right away before going any further. Let's compare the two in layman's terms and see why term offers many advantages over whole life...the primary one being considerable lower premiums.

"You get what you pay for" doesn't really apply when comparing term life and whole life. Or maybe it does. Whole life is a very different animal in that the carrier will definitely pay out some amount of money as long as you keep the policy in effect. There's usually a smaller amount of life insurance benefit from the start and then you start to build "cash value" as an add-on to the base term life benefit. Whole life is very expensive when compared to term life insurance so the amounts a person is able to afford is typically much less. Unless you are willing to pay quite a large amount in premium, purchasing enough protection can be an issue for most people. As we addressed in our article on how much life insurance coverage to purchase, the financial responsibilities and income replacement needed for most families would be hard to address with a whole life policy unless you are willing to pay a significant amount in premium.

The reason for this cost is that whole insurance doesn't really fit the model of insurance. Insurance, by definition, is a device to spread the improbable risk that might wipe one individual and spread among a larger number of people. When done correctly, each person pays a premium to offset the total risk for the group. Whole life is not this. With whole life, every member of the risk group will trigger their benefits, albeit at different times. The carrier basically needs to invest the premium amount and make enough money for a long enough average period to pay out the benefit to everyone and make a profit. This structure is probably more akin to a mutual fund with some added life benefit up front in case. It's hard to make an argument for this. A better approach is to buy a much larger term life benefit at a fraction of whole life cost and invest the difference if you like. That's essentially what the whole life carrier is doing but with an added margin at your expense. It's hard to see how whole life benefits anyone besides the brokers and carrier when you analyze the dollars over the long term.

Term life insurance is true insurance. At it's core, you are protecting against the risk of death for a fixed period of time and for a fixed amount. We address the concerns to look at when choosing your term length period of time but the key is to address the years that financial responsibility falls hardest and "replace lost income" during that period and/or address financial/debt liabilities such as mortgages, loans, credit cards, etc. This method is significantly less expensive than that of whole life insurance.

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis is a licensed insurance agent concentrating on term life insurance. Shop, compare, and instantly quote multiple carriers with professional guidance and resources.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Term Life Insurance Underwriting Process

The terms "underwriting" and "underwriter" are typically heard when discussing the enrollment process for term life insurance. Aside from the ominous sound, what do these terms really mean? Let's take a quick look at the underwriter's role in applying for term life insurance.

Underwriting is essentially the process by which a carrier determines if you are eligible to qualify for term life insurance coverage and at what health class (which directly translates into "what rate"). The underwriter, in this sense, is the person who reviews your information based on carrier guidelines and practices (called underwriting guidelines in keeping with the theme). Your part of the process typically consists of completing the life insurance application and taking the paramedical exam. The evaluation of this information then falls to the underwriter, an employee of the carrier.

The bulk of factors that affect your eligibility status are pretty well spelled out in these guidelines. For example, these carriers will usually have an explicit height to weight ratio chart that determines health class along clear lines. Smoking (including type, for how long, and at what volume) is also pretty well delineated. These same guidelines will list a range of health issues with parameters for contributing facts such as how long sing/symptom/treatment free. Cancer is an example where type of cancer, severity (state in the case of cancer), treatment results, and time cancer-free will all be factored in.

Not everything is so black and white and the underwriter is the person that has to determine the shades of gray for an applicant's health status and history. Think of all the combinations of health issues and you see how a person needs to be involved. A person could only have high blood pressure which obviously is a concern, but much more so if found in conjunction with high cholesterol, obesity, and a family history of heart attack/disease. The underwriter is the person who tries to align your personal mortality risk with the carrier's health classes.

The underwriter uses information from your health questionaire on the application, family medical history listed, the results of your paramedical exam, and even outside information such as from the MIB (Medical Information Board). The MIB is an reposit of medical information shared and created by life carriers that they each access to verify information or use to detect potential fraud. For example, if you had a history of heart disease or left off information relating to this disease with another carrier, it might appear at the MIB. The underwriter may use all these potential sources within the framework of the carriers underwriting guidelines to establish your eligibility.

As the applicant, it's important to present all your information in an honest, complete, and direct manner. It does not serve your you well to get a better rate and/or approved with missing/false information only to have your coverage rescinded or benefit declined. We have seen this occur and it a horrible position to be in.

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis is a licensed insurance agent concentrating on term life insurance. Shop, compare, and instantly quote multiple carriers with professional guidance and resources.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Smoking And Term Life Insurance Eligibility

A common question from people applying for term life insurance is how smoking will affect their rates. Smoking is such a concern that it's typically listed right in the quoting tool. Let's look a little closer at how smoking will affect the outcome of your term life enrollment.

Why is smoking considered when applying for life insurance?

Smoking has a very significant effect on your term life rates for good reason. Life insurance is primarily concerned with mortality rates and risk. Smoking has been shown to directly correlate to this risk...especially over the long term which usually falls under the range that term life insurance handles. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), smoking claims 430,000 lives in the U.S. Compare this to 41,000 for automobile accidents, 19,000 for homicides, and 17,000 for AIDS. Approximately 3 million people have died prematurely since 1980 due to smoking. This is the type of information that most interests a life insurance company since its decision are based on mortality risk. There are also the other diseases associated with smoking that impact mortality risk such as heart disease, cancer, and cardio-vascular disease.

The net effect to this risk is that your rates will likely be higher for term life insurance due to smoking and/or tobacco use.

Are there differences between types of Tobacco use?


Yes and no. Depending on the carrier, they might differentiate between smoking, chewing tobacco, and even cigar smoking. It partially depends on years of use, how often used, and other health factors. Conservatively, it's best to expect a higher rate when applying for coverage when you use any tobacco products. You want to plan your life insurance budget based on conservative information so you allow for enough coverage.

Can stopping tobacco use help?

It might. Each carrier will have different guidelines regarding how long you smoked and how long ago it has been since you stopped. As a rule of thumb, a past smoker who has not smoked in 5+ years might qualify for a Preferred Plus tier. 2-3 years would likely be Preferred and finally, if you have not smoked in the last 12 months, the Standard rating might be an option. So not only is cessation good for your health, it can benefit you financially. The simple explanation for this is that mortality risks decline if you stop smoking and continue down the longer your stay away from smoking. You can ask a life insurance carrier to re-evaluate your rates after a period of not smoking.

Honesty about smoking on the term life insurance application.

It's critical to be honest on your application regarding smoking history. The money you save on premium won't mean much if your policy is jeopardized later on...especially if the unforeseen happens and if you have no benefits paid out. The smarter approach is to list your accurate smoking history and then aggressively work to stop smoking with the intent of re-evaluating your rates and/or applying again at a better term life health class soon after the first policy goes into effect. Lying on a term life application is fraud and it defeats the purpose of getting coverage to begin with.

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis is a licensed insurance agent concentrating on term life insurance. Shop, compare, and instantly quote multiple carriers with professional guidance and resources.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

4 Ways to Get Student Loan Debt Relief

Student loan debt relief can seem like a hassle to find. It can be well worth the energy however to look in to the different programs available to you.

Step One- Loan Forgiveness

The first thing you need to look in to when looking for student loan debt relief is a forgiveness program. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was put in place to help people who go in to careers in public service pay down their debt without causing financial hardship. The program recognizes that many service fields that require a college degree don't always start out with high wages. Paying these loans back can cause problems for people later on. If you've gone to work for any public service such as legal aid, nursing, non-profit organizations, or have devoted yourself to volunteer work through AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, you may qualify to have part or all of your loans forgiven.

Step Two- Forbearance

If you are experiencing a temporary hardship and need student loan debt relief right away but don't foresee this being a long term situation, then a forbearance may be a good option. This will basically freeze the loan without penalty for a short period of time. This will allow you time to pay down other bills without having to worry about your student loan defaulting. This is not a long term solution, but it can offer relief temporarily.

Step Three- Deferments

If you need extra time to pay your loans, you can get student loan debt relief by deferring the payments. This won't reduce the amount the of the loan, it will simply push back the final payment date to allow you a few more months without having to worry about the loan. To find out more about deferments consult your loan provider.

Step Four- Income Based and Contingent Repayment Programs

These programs are great ways to offer student loan debt relief to anyone who feels they can't afford the payments. The income based repayment program will allow you to make payments based on your income. The amount of your loan repayment will be based on a sliding scale, and will never require you pay more than 15% of your income, even if you make more than 150% of the national poverty level. If you fall under the 150% mark, your payments would be $0.

The income contingent program is similar to this. This is based on your adjusted gross income from the previous year. Your loan amount will be adjusted yearly based on this. You will generally not be required to pay more than 20% of your expendable income towards your loan. You can also use the contingent repayment program for up to 25 years beyond your graduation date.

Justin R Stewart

Learn more ways to get student loan debt relief. If you are trying to consolidate student loans, visit our site to learn how to save money starting today!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

How to Terminate Student Loan Debt

Dealing with student loans is an unpleasant part of receiving an education. Here are some simple ways you can learn how to terminate student loan debt.

First- Be Proactive

If you can think about how to terminate student loan debt before it gets out of hand you will be much better off. If you're still attending college look in to the work programs they offer. Often you can reduce your overall debt in the long run by taking advantage of these opportunities.

If you've already entered the work force you can easily pay down your loans much faster by sending extra money each month towards your loan payments. Create a budget and figure out what your expendable income is. With that figure in hand you can avoid spending money on unnecessary expenses. Putting that extra money towards your loans will go a long way in helping to reduce the overall debt. If you pay over your loan amount each month, generally that extra money will go to the principal amount of the loan. Not only will you pay off the loan faster, you reduce the overall amount that you pay interest on.

Second- Research Consolidation

While consolidation can be a great money saving tool, it may or may not be a good option in looking at how to terminate student loan debt. Before you opt for consolidation, be sure you research it thoroughly. Make sure the company you've chosen for consolidation isn't just extending the length of time you have to repay the loans. This will lower your monthly payment, but will end up costing you more in the long run because of interest. Consolidation can make your life much easier however by taking several small loans and lumping them in to one easy payment.

Third- Payment Activity

One of the most important ways in learning how to terminate student loan debt is understanding how your payments work. Most loans will have provisions that additional money is applied to principal. However, some also have penalties attached to overpayment. This won't help you pay down the loans at all. You also need to understand how the interest itself works. Often times making a payment late, or missing a payment can jump the interest rate. Some times the jump can be considerable. This will add on to the amount you are paying over time and will take you longer to pay the loan off. Always make sure your payments are made every month on time. Set up a direct debit program to help with this if the lender offers it.

Justin R Stewart

Find out how to terminate student loan debt. If you are trying to consolidate student loans, visit our site now to learn how to start saving money today!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Top 3 Ways to Eliminate Student Loan Debt

The ability to eliminate student loan debt is at the forefront of a lot of graduates minds. There are ways to accomplish this. Follow these simple steps and you will have a good way to pay the loans off without much of a hassle.

Step One - Payment Schedules

The first step to eliminate student loan debt is to have a realistic payment schedule. Understand the terms of your loan, and make a schedule for payments that fits within your means. Try to stay with a standard schedule instead of deferring the loan or taking forbearance options. These may be enticing since they will lower your monthly payments, it will eventually cost you more and prolong the amount of time you will be paying on your loans. Only use these options if it becomes absolutely necessary.

Step Two - On Time Payments

To eliminate student loan debt you must make your payments on time monthly. There is no bending this. Skipping a payment or forgetting to make it on time can and will cause your interest rate to increase. Often times the increase is great. This will cost you a lot more money in the long run. Once the interest rate increases, you will continue to pay that increased rate until you are able to negotiate a lower rate. This can cost you thousands of dollars over the term of the loan. Most lenders will offer a direct payment, or direct debit program. Enroll in this if it's available. The money will just automatically be withdrawn from your checking account each month around the same time. You will never have to worry about a payment posting late, and never have to worry about forgetting a payment all together.

Step Three - Know When To Negotiate

If you've been making your payments on time without fail, you can help eliminate student loan debt by understanding the interest rates. Interest rates are never set in stone. Congress will determine the rate cap each year at the beginning of July. Once you know what the new cap is, look at your loans and the interest associated with them. It never hurts to call the lender and see if you can negotiate a new rate. If you can lower the rate, even by half a percentage point, this will translate in to savings that will be noticeable over the life of the loan. If the lender tells you they are unable to offer a lower rate, find out why. If you've made a late payment or two in the past, they may be able to negotiate the rate at a later time. Follow their directions, and you should be able to shave valuable money off your loan.

Justin R Stewart

Learn more ways to eliminate student loan debt once and for all. Expert advice is available for anyone looking to consolidate student loans.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Student Loans - Online Student Loan Consolidation

Over the years, student loan consolidation has taken the advantage of internet and started to offer its service online. Although filing your loan consolidation online can seem convenient, it is your responsibility to understand the pros and cons of online student loan consolidation.

The pros

The first advantage when you are consolidating your student loans online is that you can do it at your own convenient. With that being said, you can file your application whenever and wherever you are. You can even do it when you are in the office. Of course you shouldn't do that. It was merely an example to show you the convenience of doing this online.

During the older days, the client and the agent have to meet up face to face for loan consolidation and that take a lot of time and effort. But with the help of the internet nowadays, you can most of the things done over the internet. You can fill in the application and attach the documents online, discuss further progress through email and you can even pop a question through the messenger. This can save a lot of time and traveling hassle.

And to make your life easier, many loan consolidators are moving toward online payment and you can earn some incentive when you join this service. This is certainly a win-win situation where the consolidators will get their payment on time by charging your credit card and you can save some money in the process.

The cons

As you might have guessed, all good things always come with flaws and this goes the same to online student loan consolidation. There are a lot of scammers online trying to take your money even though you don't have much money as a student or fresh graduate. Their logic might be that fresh graduates are easy prey and it is easier to get money from you all.

So, when you got an offer that seems to be lower than the market rate, don't be too happy about that. In fact, you have to be cautious about the offer and check the legitimacy of the website with the Better Business Bureau.

Besides that, some online loan consolidators might ask for advance payment in excuse as processing fee and this fee might not be significant. Please don't believe in that because the application for student loan consolidation should be free.

And to be sure that you know this, you should never review your credit card and social security number to any online loan consolidators before you agree on their service. They might claim that these details are to use for your credit check. Again, these are just excuses scammers made up to steal your identity. Legitimate loan consolidators will only ask for these details when you have decided to adopt their service.

Michael Wai W

To learn much more about student loan consolidation, visit StudentLoanConsolidationHowTo.blogspot.com where you will find this and much more including student loan consolidation comparison.


Sunday, May 31, 2009

Card to the Chase: Credit Card Company That You Can Trust

If you are looking for a credit card company to give your business to, but are unsure of which one to choose, then you may want to consider Chase. They are known for being one of the best credit cards around. They make applying for one of their cards very simple and there are no hidden charges.

When you sign up, they will give you all of the information about any charges that they may charge you. They do not have annual fees and offer a 0% interest introductory rate. Also, Chase offers fraud protection, which is a very important thing to have these days.

It is so easy to apply for a Chase credit card. Applying on their website is simple, too. Their website is also a great place to learn more about their credit cards including the interest rates and pictures of each kind of card.

You can also pay your credit card bill online. This is a fast and secure way for you to pay your credit card bill. If you do not have a Chase credit card, but have heard great things about the company, you can sign-up on their website. If you fill out the form correctly, then you could be a Chase member in just a few days.

Chase offers individual accounts and small business accounts. This is great for those of you who are looking for a credit card to start your small business.

Chase credit cards are accepted all over the world, so you do not have to worry about being able to use it on a trip abroad. Chase also gives their customers air miles for every dollar, so you may be able to take a vacation much cheaper than you think.

Recently, Chase has went through some bad press – mainly aimed at their customer service practices, but they have made strides to make their customer service better and to lower their interest rates. If you are looking for a credit card with a proven track record, then you will want to consider Chase.

Nicholas Tan

Friday, May 29, 2009

Chase Credit Cards Online

Online credit card applications seem to be the in thing and Chase too offers online credit card application facility. Here, 'Chase dot com credit cards' refers to the chase credit cards that can be applied for online. Just for those who don't know, 'Chase' is a brand that is owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a leading global financial services firm).

By 'Chase dot com credit card offers', I mean the credit card offers that are available at chase dot com. Obviously, 'Chase dot com credit cards' would be regulated by chase. Again, as with any other credit card supplier, 'Chase dot com credit cards' on offer would be changing too.

Anyways; one night, before going to bed, I thought of just checking the chase dot com credit cards section. Here is what I found:

There is a separate Chase dot com credit cards section. As I browsed through the Chase dot com credit cards section (the online application ones), the first one I encountered was called 'Chase Cash Plus' or the 'Chase Cash Plus Rewards'. These promise faster rewards and offer 5% earnings on gas and on purchases made at grocery-stores/drug-stores. For other shopping venues, it offers 1% earnings. These earnings can be in the form of gift certificates or cash.

The next on the Chase dot com credit cards section was the 'Flexible rewards Visa signature card'. Here you earn a point for every purchase of $1. You can keep collecting these points and then finally redeem them for your choice of things (like cash, travel, gift certificates or some kind of merchandise). The redemption can start at 2500 points (and you get a bonus of 1000 points once you make the first purchase). Moreover, this one doesn't have any annual fee either. So that was the second one in the Chase dot com credit cards section.

Moving on in the Chase dot com credit cards section, I found 'Free Cash Rewards Platinum Visa card'. This one, as the name goes, offers cash rewards. You can get a $25 check or a gift certificate on redemption of 2500 points. Since there is one point earned for every $1 spend, this mean that you effectively get 1% cash back on these cards.

I had started loving browsing through the Chase dot com credit cards section. So I moved on to the next one in the Chase dot com credit cards section. The next one on the Chase dot com credit cards section was 'Chase Perfect Platinum MasterCard' which doesn't limit you to getting rebates only on a particular brand of gasoline; instead, you get rebates everywhere. '

Chase Platinum MasterCard' was the next one in the Chase dot com credit cards section. This one offers online account management i.e. monthly statements, bill payments etc can all be done online (also you don't have any annual fee on this one).

There were few more cards on Chase dot com credit cards section and one especially caught my attention. This one was at the bottom of Chase dot com credit cards section and was called 'Check Gallery Platinum Visa Card'. Here you could choose the design of your card from those available e.g. cowboys, smileys etc.

By now, I was so sleepy that I really had to shut down my computer and go off to sleep.

Note: The information given in this article was correct at the time it was written. However, the author does not guarantee the correctness and completeness of this information at any time.

Online credit card applications seem to be the in thing and Chase too offers online credit card application facility. Here, 'Chase dot com credit cards' refers to the chase credit cards that can be applied for online. Just for those who don't know, 'Chase' is a brand that is owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a leading global financial services firm).

By 'Chase dot com credit card offers', I mean the credit card offers that are available at chase dot com. Obviously, 'Chase dot com credit cards' would be regulated by chase. Again, as with any other credit card supplier, 'Chase dot com credit cards' on offer would be changing too.

Anyways; one night, before going to bed, I thought of just checking the chase dot com credit cards section. Here is what I found:

There is a separate Chase dot com credit cards section. As I browsed through the Chase dot com credit cards section (the online application ones), the first one I encountered was called 'Chase Cash Plus' or the 'Chase Cash Plus Rewards'. These promise faster rewards and offer 5% earnings on gas and on purchases made at grocery-stores/drug-stores. For other shopping venues, it offers 1% earnings. These earnings can be in the form of gift certificates or cash.

The next on the Chase dot com credit cards section was the 'Flexible rewards Visa signature card'. Here you earn a point for every purchase of $1. You can keep collecting these points and then finally redeem them for your choice of things (like cash, travel, gift certificates or some kind of merchandise). The redemption can start at 2500 points (and you get a bonus of 1000 points once you make the first purchase). Moreover, this one doesn't have any annual fee either. So that was the second one in the Chase dot com credit cards section.

Moving on in the Chase dot com credit cards section, I found 'Free Cash Rewards Platinum Visa card'. This one, as the name goes, offers cash rewards. You can get a $25 check or a gift certificate on redemption of 2500 points. Since there is one point earned for every $1 spend, this mean that you effectively get 1% cash back on these cards.

I had started loving browsing through the Chase dot com credit cards section. So I moved on to the next one in the Chase dot com credit cards section. The next one on the Chase dot com credit cards section was 'Chase Perfect Platinum MasterCard' which doesn't limit you to getting rebates only on a particular brand of gasoline; instead, you get rebates everywhere. '

Chase Platinum MasterCard' was the next one in the Chase dot com credit cards section. This one offers online account management i.e. monthly statements, bill payments etc can all be done online (also you don't have any annual fee on this one).

There were few more cards on Chase dot com credit cards section and one especially caught my attention. This one was at the bottom of Chase dot com credit cards section and was called 'Check Gallery Platinum Visa Card'. Here you could choose the design of your card from those available e.g. cowboys, smileys etc.

By now, I was so sleepy that I really had to shut down my computer and go off to sleep.

Note: The information given in this article was correct at the time it was written. However, the author does not guarantee the correctness and completeness of this information at any time.

Jenna Sawin

Want to find out about growing lavender and pruning lavender? Get tips from the Plants And Flowers website.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Chase Credit Card-home Page

The current Chase Bank was created through a variety of historical mergers. Chase Banks most successful acquisitions was in the 1930's when it acquired the Equitable Trust Company. John D Rockefeller, of the influential Rockefeller Family was one of the most influential stockholders in the trust company and his influence helped make the Chase bank the largest bank in the United States in 1955 when the Chase National Bank and the Bank of the Manhattan Company merged.
The Chase Credit Card is really a Visa card offered by the Chase Bank.

One of the features found on the Chase Credit Card home page is a section for their financial resources. Chase offers a variety of sources ranging from educational planning tool, mortgage tools, and advice and planning. The educational tool is information about all sorts of educational loans; loans for medical students, loans for private students, loans for parents of students, and information about the Stafford loans. The mortgage section offers a mortgage calendar and a home equity calculator. The mortgage calculator answers questions like; what type of home is in your budget, and wether you should take a short term or long term mortgage. The home equity calculator provides the answers to questions like; how long it will take to pay off a line of credit and if you should consider consolidating your loans. The advice planning section provides advice on topics such as; financial planning, retirement planning, and an educational resources library.

Chase Credit Card also has a page dedicated to financial tools which includes credit information, student credit and a innovative section called smartscents. Smartcents is a place customers can go to learn how banking works from budgeting to borrowing. Smartcents even has a section designed for kids.

The Chase Credit Card home page features the Visa Freedom card. The Freedom card features a three percent cash back bonus for every doller spent at grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and gas stations. It also features a one percent cash back bonus every time you spend a doller every where else. If you stock up two hundred dollars worth of rewards on your Freedom card Chase will send you a check for two hundred and fifty dollars.

The Chase Credit card website offers customers four ways to apply for a card. They can choose by category. The company will help them choose the best card. They can shop by comparing card features. I all else fails clients can simply browse through Chase's list until a card catches their eye.

Once you have gotten your chase card you can take advantage of Chase's paperless accounting by receiving your credit card statement online instead of through the postal service.

Two features somewhat unique to the Chase Credit Card are their fraud detector and payment protection plan.

The Chase Credit Card website is simple to use and full of clear concise instructions for navigation. It lacks the bells and whistles of some of other credit card sites but the simplicity is refreshing. The one feature that would benefit the site is information about their customer service department.

Mario Churchill

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written many articles on various subjects. For more information on blue american express or to get a american express blue card checkout his websites.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Why You Should Get A Chase Credit Card

Credit cards indeed have become one of most indispensable tools in managing finances nowadays. Aside from being an effective way of obtaining credit, credit cards also make it easier for people to spend their money the right way. That is why making the crucial decision of choosing the right credit card should be paid more attention.

One of the most popular brand names of credit cards in the market today is the Chase credit card. Like any other credit cards, Chase credit card is a brand name of credit card like MasterCard or Visa that is accepted worlwide. Aside from Chase credit card, the company also offers travel cards, Auto & Gas cards and student cards. Indeed, there are a number of ways in which Chase credit card can be advantageous and beneficial. Probably, the best feature Chase credit card has is the convenience it offers to busy and working people. A Chase credit card is also perfect for customers who are comfortable online. Aside from making it easy for the customer to maintain their account online, Chase credit card lets you check your balance and pay your bills through a secured web site.

Having a chase credit card is quite convenient for the customer because it lets the credit card holder purchase goods easily and quickly whether they buy it directly, over the phone, or even on-line. Since Chase Credit cards are international cards, it is beneficial for people who travel a lot because they can use it all over the world wherever they see the Chase credit card logo.

More and more people are choosing a Chase credit card because it offers a lot of credit card processing alternatives. Because Chase credit cards offers a wide array of processing options, many people appreciate it compared to other brands. One of the most enticing offer Chase credit cards has is that it is available in numerous places. Chade credit cards also offer many deals and promotions like lower introductory APRs and waived membership fees that allow the holder to save more money.

There are alos many types of Chase credit card that offer reward programs for every purchase the holder makes. For instance, one type of Chase credit card allows you to earn travel miles for every dollar spent using your your Chase credit card. Another type of Chase credit card also allows you to earn reward points for every dollar you spend. These points will then enable you to purchase from a Chase credit card catalogue and they will have your chosen item shipped to right next to your doorstep! These reward options you get from using a Chase credit card are great because it will give your tangible gifts and rewards, free trips and wonderful merchandise without spending a single cent. A Chase credit card is handpicked by many people because its company makes sure that they give good customer service to its customers. Aside from getting all the great deals the card offers, having a Chase credit card can also give the holder instant access to customer support around 24/7. This will enable the customer to contact someone if his or her Chase credit card is stolen. Apart from this round-the-clock feature, Chase credit card also protects its customers from identity of thieves.

When you apply for Chase credit card, some of the benefits include 0% intro APR on all purchases and balance transfers you make for up to six months. Chase credit card does not charge any annual fee so it will fit your budget and, a Chase credit card have interest-free grace period as long as you pay your bill in full each month. Having a Chase credit card also allows the holder to earn cash rewards on purchases and cash rewards. Apart from these, chase credit card has no balance transfer fee for balances transferred during the introductory period and you have the privilege to apply online over a secure server.

Although it offers a lot of advantages, bear in mind that a chase credit card it is still a credit card. And like any other credit cards, there are also a number of ways in which chase credit card usage can be less positive.

Julia Sinan

Information on buckeye nuts can be found at the Types Of Nuts site.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Chase Credit Cards Available for Many Interests

No matter what your financial needs or the benefits you are looking to get from your charge accounts, Chase credit cards have a variety of products to meet those needs. Different people have different credit needs and may want cards depicting their interest as well as a card for general purposes. Some are geared towards travel and some offering reward and rebates as well as student and business Chase credit cards.

Offering both Visa and MasterCard brands, Chase credit cards for general purpose include its flexible rewards card as well as the flexible rewards select Visa along with free cash rewards and freedom point and its Platinum MasterCard. None of the Chase credit cards come with an annual fee for US customers and many offer unique card designs.

Rebate cards under the Chase credit cards names include special rebates for select retailers such as BJ’s Wholesale Club, AOL, Sony, Starbucks and many others. For most rebate card purchases you will receive rewards for using that name card at the retailer and lesser rewards when used at other retailers. For example, you earn one and a half percent reward for using your BJ’s card at the wholesaler, and one percent for using it at other retailers. Most offers come with limitations, placing a limit on annual rewards.

Show Your Spirit With Sports Brand Cards

Chase credit cards can be obtained for many sports teams, offering special offers on merchandise and sports gear for that team as well as college teams. For example, the University of Kentucky offers one point for every dollar charged to your University of Kentucky card. You redeem your earnings, beginning at 1,000 points, in cash back in the form of a check, airline tickets and hotel rooms, merchandise and gift cards to major retailers.

Special interest cards can also earn rewards for you through Chase credit cards. If you use the ASPCA card for instance, you will earn a point for every dollar charged to the card. While the points can be used for merchandise, travel rewards and gift certificates, many people will use their rewards to receive cash back, in the form of a check, and make a donation to the ASPCA.

Regardless of what your credit needs or interests, you will find Chase credit cards to meet your needs. To learn more a bout all the cards, as well as current interest rates and qualifications, visit www.chase.com.

Roland Parris Jefferson III

Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. Need more details and expert advice on Credit Cards? Then please visit our Chase Credit Cards Resource.

Friday, May 22, 2009

How to Get Easy Money For Teens Online Without Spending One Single Dime

As a teenager maybe you ever talked to your self, when can I get a job? Well, in the real world surely you will get a job when your age is enough to do a job (about 17-21 in my country, I don't know yours). But here's something interesting about online job. As a teen you get full access to most make money online program, even if you are still 15 years old, YES, you can make money online.

Personally, I knew someone who makes $1000 a week working only 1 hour online and he's still 15 years old. This all about learn and information. If you got enough information to get you on the right track, then likely you will make money soon.

I will share my simple strategy here for you. This way you will get easy money online for your living.

All right now the very first thing to do is you make a blog about something that you like, I don't know what are your hobby, the ones who know about yourself of course is you! If you like swimming, then make a blog about swimming, if you like motorcycle, makes a blog about motorcycle, and so on. By the way, you can make your blog free on the internet.

After you finished posting to your blog, go to payperpost.com, it is a website that dedicated for people who loves blogging. The minimum requirement is at least you already have 30 posts on your blog and the other requirement can you read on their website. This will make you easy money, the better your post, the bigger you will make money, make your blog post original, don't just copy paste on the internet. If you feel can't make a good blog post writing, you can visit my website to get my secret trick to write any blog topic without being an expert on the topic itself.

This simple strategy will makes you hundreds dollar per month, if you can reach thousands dollar then it is good, you can help your parents with the money you get from the internet.

Jordan Jones

He is owner of http://www.gepulse.com - a website dedicated to make money online strategy. To get advanced in depth online video traffic strategy visit my website http://gepulse.com/teens_make_money.html

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