You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2705 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 An Antidote To The ‘No Vacation Nation’ (NAPSA)—When it comes to vacationing, Americans have commitment issues. The vacation situation in America is looking dire. According to the U.S. Travel Association, on average, workers are leaving nearly five paid vacation days on the table—that’s almost an entire week of time spent with family and friends or investing in yourself. The situation continues to get worse. In 2000, the average worker took 20.9 vacation days. Today, workers are down to just 16, losing almost a whole week in just 15 years’ time. There’s a list of reasons Americans aren’t traveling, including tightened budgets, work responsibilities and school schedules. Some of these reasons, though, can be addressed simply by planning ahead and committing to taking time off each and every year. One great way to commit to travel is to purchase a timeshare. Becoming a vacation owner means you are planning on years of travel—which takes away some of the pressure of booking a trip. Many timeshare owners also report spending less on accommodations over the course of several years. The proof of this concept is in the stats. According to a study conducted by Phocuswright, 41.8 percent of vacation owners had taken a leisurely trip with the family, including children, in the past 12 months. Comparatively, only 30.4 percent of those who are not vacation owners had done so. If you’re looking to awaken your romantic relationship, vacation ownership can be the answer there, too. The study showed that approximately 63 percent of vacation owners had taken a leisurely trip in the past 12 months with Owning a timeshare can be a way to encourage your family to take the time off you need. one other individual or as a couple, which was higher than the nonowners at 55 percent. If you think that timeshare means you have to go to the same place every year, you may want to give the product another look, as ownership has become quite flexible. Most properties are also affiliated with a vacation exchange program, such as RCI, that lets you trade your time for resort stays in locations all over the world. Such vacation exchange programs prove to be incredibly beneficial if you are looking to explore new and exciting destinations. In fact, the Phocuswright study showed that vacation owners are more likely to travel internationally, with 57.8 percent of respondents reporting they had traveled abroad for their most recent trip, which is significantly higher than the 24.7 percent of non-vacation owners who reported the same. If you still have a fear of commitment, you can try out timeshare accommodations by renting them for one-off vacations through sites such as EndlessVacation Rentals.com. If you do decide that this type of accommodation works well for your family, don’t be afraid to commit. Adding Value (NAPSA)—Sports fans know the importance of a utility player: someone who adds a great deal of value to a team because he or she can play multiple positions well. In many ways, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation can be considered a home’s utility player, because it offers multiple benefits including lowering energy bills, eliminating dust and allergens and even reducing noise from outside sources. The versatility that spray foam offers Proper insulation makes your home more comfortable now and more attractive when it’s time to sell. comes from the fact that it serves not just as insulation but also helps seal air leaks. Some products can even act as moisture barriers. SPF is applied as a liquid and quickly expands into a high Rvalue foam insulation and air sealant. This process makes it highly effective at keeping cold air out by sealing cracks, seams and joints. By removing these drafts, SPF provides a major boost for improving energy efficiency—as approximately 40 percent of energy lost in buildings and homes is due to air leaks. A recent evaluation of weatherized homes by the U.S. Department of Energy found that homeowners could save an average of $283 a year in energy costs. In fact, although savings can vary, the DOE estimates the owners of the 440,000 weatherized homes it evaluated have collectively seen more than $1.4 billion in energy savings. To learn more about the benefits of spray foam insulation, visit www.whysprayfoam.org. How To Pick A Tax Professional (NAPSA)—If you’re like most taxpayers, according to the IRS, you hire a professional to help you file your tax return—after all, a mistake could mean fines, penalties, even prison. If you do hire one, you should know that no matter who prepares the form, you are legally responsible for what’s on it. Eight Hints On Tax Help Here are eight tips to keep in mind when choosing a tax preparer: 1. Check to be sure the preparer has an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Anyone with a valid 2015 PTIN is authorized to prepare federal tax returns. 2. Find out the fees up front. Avoid preparers who base theirs on a percentage of your refund or who say they can get larger refunds than others can. 3. Always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into your bank account, not the preparer’s. 4. Be sure your preparer offers IRS e-file and ask that your return be submitted to the IRS electronically. Any tax professional who gets paid to prepare and file more than 10 returns generally must file the returns electronically. It’s the safest and most accurate way to file a return, whether you do it alone or pay someone to prepare and file for you. 5. Make sure the preparer will be available. You should be able to contact the tax preparer after you file your return—even after the April 18 due date. This may be helpful in the event questions come up about your tax return. 6. Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts. They’ll ask you questions to determine your total income, deductions, tax credits and other items. Don’t rely on a preparer who’s willing to e-file your return using your last pay stub instead of your Tax return preparers learn your most personal information. It’s wise to find one you can trust. Form W-2. This is against IRS efile rules. 7. Don’t use a tax preparer who asks you to sign an incomplete or blank tax form. 8. Ask the tax preparer if he or she is an enrolled agent (EA), belongs to a professional organization or attends continuing education classes. A number of tax law changes can be complex. A competent tax professional needs to be up-to-date in these matters. EAs are the only federally licensed tax practitioners who specialize in taxes and have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years—90 to be a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). “Enrolled agents, America’s tax experts, make sure their clients take advantage of all the credits and deductions they’re entitled to,” explains NAEA President Terry Durkin, EA. “And, with the IRS’s increased emphasis on enforcement, it’s more critical than ever to have an EA making sure your taxes are done correctly.” Learn More For further facts about enrolled agents, including how to find one nearby, go to www.eatax.org.
