Recession Resources

We recognize the magnitude of the economic crisis and for us, the key lies in helping you while keeping an eye to the inevitable economic recovery and opportunities it will provide. This area of the W&D site is designed to serve as easy reference to a variety of valuable recession resource articles, updates, links, recommended reading and more.

Type	Item	Full Article
e-Alert	Health Care Reform Legislation. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the core piece of legislation that overhauls the health care system in this country. On March 30, the President signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, a shorter piece of legislation that amends several provisions in the Patient Protection Act. This article provides details of the legislation including a timeline and tax implications.
e-Alert	The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act. Congress left a lot of unfinished business at the end of its last session. As a result, it is currently working on a wide variety of legislation that could have a significant impact on your tax situation. The important issues are the "HIRE" jobs creation bill, health care reform, the estate tax, and the extension of various tax provisions that expired December 31, 2009.
e-Alert	President signs bill into law allowing 2010 Haitian relief contributions to be deducted on 2009 returns. On January 22, President Obama signed into law H.R. 4462, a bill that allows donors to accelerate the income tax benefits of charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
e-Alert	Extended and liberalized homebuyer tax credit rules. H.R. 3548, the ''Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009'' extends and generally liberalizes the tax credit for first-time homebuyers, making it a much more flexible tax-saving tool.
Publication	The Bottom Line - Year-End 2009. Annual Tax Planning information including: > New Rules Provide Tax Savings Now, Benefits Later > Your Investments: Tax Rules Offer Upside to Stock Market Declines > Retirement: Plan for Next Year's Roth IRA Change
Special Report	Surviving the Recession Stronger Than Before. Even though times may be tough, it's important to recognize that this is a period of tremendous opportunity. This Special W&D report discusses strategic considerations vital to performance and profitability in recessionary times.
Article	Top 10 Business Survival Tactics. During times of recession some businesses have what it takes to weather the storm of uncertainty and are able to adapt and maintain their presence in the market, while others don’t. Tough times call for a re-examination of fundamental business principles which on the surface may seem obvious, but are often overlooked. The following back-to-basics suggestions can aid you as you recession proof your business.
Article	Why Smart Inventory Management Keeps the Cash Flowing. Good inventory management is a key aspect of managing cash flow. Too much inventory depletes your business’s resources, tying up cash in the form of goods, as well as insurance, storage and interest charges on those goods. On the other hand, too little inventory can result in lost sales, delays and customer aggravation - free gifts to your competitors.
Article	Taxpayers need to act fast to take advantage of temporary tax breaks—Tax changes year-to-date; anticipated tax changes to come. If the first half of 2009 is any indication, both business and individual taxpayers have their work cut out trying to keep up with available tax breaks and potential tax pitfalls of 2009. In February, Congress passed the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package offers significant tax incentives; however, many of the incentives, as well as other tax breaks, are temporary.
Article	Business Experts Recommend Running Lean, Getting Back to Basics in '09. "Regardless of whether your business is thriving or feeling the pinch, there are many valuable enterprise improvement techniques that can help anyone proactively position their business for today's challenging environment."
Article	Be Prepared for Tax Changes in 2009. With President-elect Obama's inauguration on 1-20-2009 and his urging fast action on his proposed economic stimulus plan, change is on the horizon.
Legislation	American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. President Obama has signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Moving through Congress in less than four weeks, the $787 billion new law, which contains nearly $300 billion in tax relief, sets in motion a wave of direct spending and tax incentives intended to jump start the U.S. economy out of recession.
Legislation	The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This landmark legislation gives the Treasury $250 billion immediately, and requires the President to certify if an additional $100 billion is necessary. An additional $350 billion may be disbursed subject to Congressional approval. The Treasury Department is required to report on the use of the funds and progress made in addressing the crisis. An oversight board and a special inspector general will also be created to watch over the Treasury Department. In addition to the financial markets rescue plan, the Act also includes an AMT Patch, Extenders, Disaster Relief and more.
Legislation	Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 Enacted. President George W. Bush recently signed the sweeping Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221 Housing Act of 2008) into law. The Housing Bill is designed to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, spur home buying and prop up struggling mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill takes several approaches to curing the ailing housing market.