Business Markets

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes were collected in California through the use of an automated message delivery system. The Newport Beach, California company MessageBroadcast completed a four week Revenue Recovery pilot for California’s Franchise Tax Board.

MessageBroadcast sent messages to taxpayers with unpaid tax bills. They used voice, SMC, email, and broadband to automatically send messages that let the taxpayer have immediate access to an FTB representative. They can also opt to visit a website or have someone call them back at a later date. The purpose is to remind taxpayers of their unpaid bills and give them access to someone who can help them instantly.

After four weeks of contacting taxpayers, the company says they were able to recover nearly a quarter million dollars in unpaid California tax. They also made 118 installment agreements which will lead to more tax payments over time. And an additional 197 tax returns were filed. T

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Panoramic Resources shares inched upwards after the nickel miner announced a significant resource upgrade and high-grade drilling results from its Lanfranchi nickel project near Kambalda.

The latest drilling results at Panoramic’s Cruickshank Resource, 6.5 kilometres northeast of Lanfranchi, lifted the total contained nickel in the project by 26 per cent to 33,560 tonnes.

The company also reported a 3 per cent increase in group production over the previous quarter, and a 10 per cent reduction in cash costs.

At close of trade today Panoramic shares had increased 2.5 per cent, to trade at $2.06.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 28 (UPI) — China, with its economic clout, can help formulate a unified currency in Asia that would boost trade, the Malaysian deputy finance minister told China Daily.

Lim Siang Chai spoke to China Daily as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Kuala Lumpur on a two-day visit.

Lim was quoted as saying a unified Asian currency would help emerging economies in the region boost trade and protect them from the risks of exchange rate fluctuations.

“Without China’s leadership, it’s hard for Asia to achieve the goal of having a solitary currency,” Lim was quoted as saying.

Lim said trade is already growing since China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area last year, and that a single currency would help reduce the cost of transactions for the settlement of trade.

The report said Malaysia, among the ASEAN countries, is China’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching $74.3 billion in 2010.

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BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers. Photo: AFP

AUSTRALIA’S export prices could stay at stratospheric levels for another two years even if the Chinese economy begins to slow, says BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers.

Mr Kloppers told BusinessDay the supply of new iron ore mines could not keep up with Chinese imports, which had grown at 16 per cent for the past seven years. ”Over the next two years, in all likelihood, profitability is going to stay high,” he said. ”Possibly even as high as it is.”

Iron ore prices are hovering around $US180 ($A168) a tonne.

Mr Kloppers said the resources boom would gradually end as demand growth slowed and massive mining investment pushed up supply. ”Halcyon days are never forever,” he said.

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The Good Guys Capalaba, Queensland is taking big steps in reducing their carbon footprint by aiming to become Australia’s first zero waste business.

With a strong focus on sustainable business practices, The Good Guys Capalaba has already made an impact on their carbon footprint by reducing their waste by 80% since 2006.

In store initiatives such as a polystyrene recycling program, which sees polystyrene being shipped overseas to make coat hangers and picture frames, helped reduce their waste by 75% alone.

Additional activities such as recycling plastics, plastic strapping, printer cartridges and wooden pallets, as well as shredding paper for use at the local pet store, have all made a positive difference to the amount of waste saved from landfill.

Winner of the 2010 Minister’s Award for ClimateSmart Leadership and proprietor of The Good Guys Capalaba, James Brockhurst believes the Zero Waste goal to be achieved by the end of 2011 is intended to motivate others to work together to find solutions for outstanding waste streams.

“The idea is to use the rubbish we generate more productively so that very little ends up in landfill. Hopef

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Its a time for joy – A time for tears – A time well treasure – Through the years – Well remember always Graduation Day (song- JAN-1991)

Congratulations on attaining your degree! A special time and a proud accomplishment You did it! Youre finished! With school that is – now its time to do some learning about the survival techniques in the World of Work in a competitive environment. Are you ready to take the next steps?

Hopefully you have a good resume prepared, if not, that will be your first priority! Need help? Many colleges have career centers that are willing to help you with your resume, but if you dont have that option try the resume help of the top job search engines or find a resume expert on Linkedin/Facebook. The aim of this resume is to create enough interest to garner you an invite for a job interview.

Start by doing research on job postings and companies that may interest you. There are

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A jury ordered a Texas businessman to pay $13.8 million for committing fraud against at least 700 Texans, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office announced the verdict against Robert M. Lindsey earlier this week. Lindsey failed to register his debt elimination companies including Jubilee Financial Management LLC, The Credit Card Solution (TCCS), and Freedom from Debt Alliance with state authorities and also made false claims that he would restore customers’ credit ratings and remove their debt.

According to a news release issued by the Texas Attorney General, more than 700 people paid an average of $3,000 for these fraudulent services. Jurors convicted Lindsey under the grounds that he violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Credit Services Act. Lindsey’s companies told consumers they would use loopholes in the credit reporting system to file lawsuits against debt collectors, eventually wiping away their debt and even getting them court-awarded damages. “Becaus

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