Thursday, October 27, 2016

Reducing Your Risk of Being Audited When You’re Self-Employed


For more than 10 years, Dave Chupp has been breeding and raising a wide range of puppies as the owner and manager of his own company in Indiana. Dave Chupp also has spent some time doing tax preparation work.

When you’re self-employed, you are significantly more likely to experience an IRS audit. The IRS knows what most people in your field make during the year. If you happen to make a lot more than the rest of individuals in your field, the IRS will start paying more attention to your returns. However, this does not mean you should actively try to make less. Instead, just be honest about the amount you make and keep detailed records of your finances in case there is ever a problem. Further, make sure your 1099 matches the W-2 forms they receive from clients and employers. Any discrepancies make you more likely to be audited.

Beyond income reports, be careful about what you deduct. For instance, if you deduct the cost of a home office, make sure that space is used only for work. If it is shared with anything else, you cannot deduct it. Similarly, large deductions can make your taxes seem suspicious to the IRS, especially if you have a relatively small income. If you make a deduction, make sure you have documentation and receipts to back up the expense. It may also be wise to avoid unusual deductions, such as non-work-related travel, strange entertainment expenses, and expensive meals.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Grooming a Lhasa Apso


Nappanee, Indiana, resident Dave Chupp breeds and raises puppies. Dedicated to ensuring that the puppies stay healthy, he and his family provide them with plenty of socialization. Dave Chupp breeds a wide variety of dogs, including French bulldogs, Havanese, and Lhasa Apsos.

A small and hardy breed, Lhasa Apsos require frequent bathing and grooming to ensure their coats stay healthy. Their coats should be brushed with a coated metal pin brush every day to prevent matting and tangles. Daily brushing sessions can be fairly quick, but a more thorough brushing is needed at least once a week. 

Detangling spray can help greatly when brushing through the dense fur or breaking up matting. Severe matting may need to be cut out with blunt-tipped scissors or broken up with a special mat-breaker brush. When brushing, attend to fur around the dog’s feet. Clipping a Lhasa Apso’s fur regularly will make brushing easier.

Beyond brushing and clipping, Lhasa Apsos need to be bathed every four to six weeks to keep their coat clean and soft. Shampoo should be applied and moved through wet fur in a downward motion to prevent tangling. Use a rubber curry brush to make it easier to get shampoo throughout the dog’s thick coat. Conditioner should be applied in a similar manner before the coat is completely rinsed and dried. 

Lhasa Apsos also require routine eye and ear care to remove stray hairs and prevent infections. Tearing stains can be removed using special eye washes or eye wipes found at pet supply stores, and long fur can be kept away from the eyes using a barrette.