(NAPSA)—The complex forms, the piles of records and receipts, and the possibility of being selected for an audit all contribute to the feeling of dread that the words “tax season” conjure up in many Americans. This year, however, one company has assembled a group of resources to help small businesses tackle the challenge of preparing for tax season. Throughout tax season, members of the Microsoft Professional Accountants’ Network will contribute to a growinglist of tips and informative articles designed to help small businesses identify areas where they can improve their tax readiness. Tax preparation experts from across the country will be providing their thoughts on everything from little-known deductionsto tips about software programsthat help users better manage the complex taxfiling process. Thetips, articles and other resources can be accessed at www.sba.microsoft.com/taxcenter. “Few things are as taxing for a small business as the time and effort put into preparing filing,” said Bob Lewis, senior manager of accountant relations at Microsoft. “This resource, coupled with innovation built into our Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting package, is designed to provide small businessesthe tools to managethiscritical aspect of their businesses.” Each week, the site will feature a set of new tips corresponding to each day of the work week and will provide access to content from pre- vious weeks. In similar fashion, a feature article written by a professional accountant will appear each week, discussing in detail valuable concepts that may require a more in-depth explanation. ey + % ; ? tax time assistance from a surprising source. The membersof Microsoft's Professional Accountants’ Network are familiar with the limitations and challenges commonly experienced by small business. Many small businesses may still rely on paperbased accounting methods and are forced to outsource a lot of the tax preparation process because they cannot weather the disruption to their day-to-day business. With such challenges in mind, Microsoft recently introduced one-yearfree, unlimited support and up to $100 in savings for its Small Business Accounting 2006 software at participating retailers for a limited time. The Microsoft Professional Accountants’ Networkis part of the Microsoft Partner Program, an industry-leading network of companies that use Microsoft software and provide services to small and medium-sized businesses. For more information about the Microsoft Professional Accountants’ Network, visit www.microsoft.com/mpan. For more information about Microsoft Small Business Accounting offerings, visit www.microsoft.com/ office/accounting/prodinfo/ default.mspx. Editors’ Note: This information is provided to you by third parties for informational purposes only and shall not constitute tax or legal advice. Microsoft Corp. has not checked or verified any of the information provided and makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy. Each individual’s tax situation is unique and you should check with your accountant or other tax professional for particular advice on your situation.
