Barter Industry Fortunate To Have IRTA�s Whitney Working On Their
Behalf
IRTA Executive
Director Ron Whitney continued his efforts to alleviate the IRS
non-matching TIN problems many trade exchange owners are currently
suffering through. Meetings with IRPAC (Information Reporting
Program Advisory Committee) resumed on January 26 in Washington (DC)
where he continued to push for implementation of the recommendations
that were presented at the October 24, 2007, meeting.
Recommendations from last year�s meeting report stated that:
�
New language be
considered for the B-Notices that are specific to the barter
industry, and or;
�
Publication 1281 be
amended to reflect the issues unique to the barter industry.
Additionally,
Whitney met with Nina Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, alerting
her to a systemic problem the barter industry is currently
experiencing. Many exchanges have reported that they have been hit
with civil penalties for non-matching TINs without ever receiving a
972CG Notice of Proposed Penalty Letter.
Rather, these
exchanges have received a CP-2100 notice that simply notifies
exchanges of the accounts that have non-matching TIN problems, but
does not assert a penalty will be forthcoming. Exchanges should
receive a 972CG Notice of Proposed Penalty letter after they receive
the CP-2100 letter, but in many cases this is not happening, and the
cases are going directly to penalty and collection.
Whitney
received assurances from Olson that this problem would be �looked
into� by the National Taxpayers Advocates office with the hope that
it will be corrected soon.
For an update
on third-party record-keeping for barter exchanges,
click here.
Bartercard Launches New Mobile
Text Service
Beginning in January 2008, Bartercard members
can now take advantage of instant transactions and access to their
Bartercard Account via SMSPOS text message. Not only can members
check their balances instantly, but they will also benefit from
instant confirmation of transactions.
As soon as they sign up for the exclusive
SMSPOS service, members can take advantage of this new benefit,
spending less time on paperwork and more time running and growing
their businesses.
SMSPOS offers Bartercard members:
-
The ability to process transactions immediately with funds being
transferred into their account at point of sale.
-
A time saving alternative, eliminating the need to wait for
vouchers to be posted and then processed.
-
A balance request to your mobile, via text message.
-
Freedom to
transact/trade whilst out and about...perfect for industry
members on the go.
�Almost all of our members use mobile phones
and are familiar with texting. Our members deserve and need instant
access to their Bartercard accounts, and this groundbreaking service
does just that,� stated Tim Sparks, Joint Managing Director,
Bartercard United Kingdom
For more information visit
www.bartercard.co.uk.
People Disillusioned With State-Of-The-World
Doing well by
doing good is no longer just a smart strategy�it's becoming an
imperative for corporate survival, according to futurist Faith
Popcorn and her branding consultancy, BrainReserve.
But hyping
good works isn�t going to cut it. In fact, Popcorn maintains that
obvious hype of any kind is anathema�that success will increasingly
hinge on companies finding subtle, quiet ways to achieve trust and
intimacy with consumers.
Popcorn�s
premise is: The public�s deep disillusionment with the state of the
world, �the establishment,� and consumption is causing working women
and men to �cash out��opting for simpler, less cluttered lifestyles
and fleeing from ubiquitous marketing messages.
At the same
time, heightened awareness of social responsibility and corporate
behavior means that people are recognizing that every purchase has
consequences beyond the transaction.
The transition
from a consumer to a citizen mentality in turn means that �bringing
on a dash of corporate social responsibility� is no longer good
enough, in Popcorn�s view. To compete, companies will have to go
beyond symbolic gestures and even beyond commitment of money to
causes, and weave �goodness� into their cultures as a fundamental
intent.
Furthermore,
they�ll need to �whisper,� rather than shout, their brands� value to
customers and prospects. How? By helping to improve the community
and simplify life through their services.
Popcorn also
stresses that while disdain for hype, and a yearning for simplicity
and core values are pervasive, women are even more fed up than men,
according to BrainReserve�s studies.
All of which,
says the consultancy, underscores the �eight truths of marketing to
women� as laid out in Popcorn's 2000 book, EVEolution.
Here are some
of those points, with added comments from Popcorn:
�
Everything matters.
You can�t hide behind your logo.
�Trust happens
when you�re open about your actions and act with a conscience,�
asserts Popcorn. �Companies today need to add a fifth �P� to the
marketing mix�policy. Marketing to women isn�t just about value.
It�s about values. There is enormous power in communicating your
ethical ingredients.�
�
Market to her
peripheral vision, and she will see you in a whole new light.
�Women don�t
bond with brands that market to them in an overly aggressive way,�
she reemphasizes. �Women tune into multiple channels...scanning,
hearing and seeing the world on all levels. A brand needs to appear
on the periphery, in the natural settings of her daily life�showing
up unexpectedly, helpfully.�
�
If she has to ask,
it�s too late.
"In this world
of prolific consumerism, if a product is disappointing, another,
more satisfying option is immediately available,� observes the trend
analyst. �If women have to go out of their way to track you down,
and your attitude is take-it-or-leave-it, they�ll leave it.�
�
Go to her, and secure
her loyalty forever.
�The watchword
is convenience,� Popcorn stresses. �Look not only at what your brand
offers to her, but in terms of how, where and when it�s offered to
her. Provide a service in going to her, not just a solicitation.�
Hotel
General Managers
Work With Audio/Visual
Vendor On Barter
Collect cash, as usual, from the guest accounts staying at
your facility that require the use of professional AV
services. And rather than shouldering your ongoing employee
costs, or your current vendor�s cash agreement for AV
services, here�s a much better alternative:
Work with a proven national vendor (a sterling 25-year track
record) who will provide all of the AV services for your
hotel on a 100% TRADE BASIS! (Payment to be in the form of
trade dollars.)
Your hotel�s annual AV billings must be a minimum of
$200,000, and this offer is available only in the
continental United States.
For a confidential introduction contact Bob Meyer via
e-mail:
bmeyer@barternews.com.
Attention Trade Exchange Owners:
If your member hotel(s) have a minimum of 10,000 sq. feet of
meeting space and annual billings of at least $200,000 for
AV services this is a great opportunity to earn substantial
cash service fees on the hundreds of thousands of trade
dollars your hotel member will be paying the vendor. Contact
Bob Meyer at the above e-mail. |
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