IRS eases access to resources online

NEW YORK -- The Internal Revenue Service has been revamping its website and has created pages to help small business owners quickly find information and forms they need.

One page, called Recommended Reading for Small Businesses, is a compilation of links to IRS publications on complex topics like starting a business, retirement plans, business expenses and depreciating property. You can access the page at http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Recommended-Reading-for-Small-Businesses .

The second page, Small Business Forms and Publications, has links to forms and publications frequently used by businesses, covering topics including employment and income taxes and publications that are aimed for specific types of businesses, such as retailers, construction companies and farmers. There are also links to publications in Spanish. You can access it at http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Small-Business-Forms-and-Publications .

The IRS home page for small businesses and self-employed people is http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed . It also has information on a variety of tax and small business management topics.

HELP FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
The Small Business Administration is holding four online chats for women business owners during October — which is National Women’s Small Business Month. The chats, which will be hosted by SBA officials, will be on topics including starting and funding a business and getting contracts with the federal government.

Here is the schedule for the chats and links to join each one. All times are Eastern Time.

—Oct. 11, 4 p.m.: Finding Capital, http://tinyurl.com/cgrtkaj

—Oct. 16, 3 p.m.: Contracting with the Federal Government, http://tinyurl.com/d88l4hu

—Oct. 25, 2 p.m.: Business Opportunities for Young Women, http://tinyurl.com/cb44wjj

OVERCONNECTED TO WORK?
Do you send emails to your employees during non-work hours? If so, they may be feeling less satisfied with their personal lives. More than one-third of U.S. adults surveyed by Harris Interactive on behalf of management consultancy Working Simply say that constantly checking their email during their personal time prevents them from fully engaging with people or activities.

Very few people are eager to be connected to the office when they are off the clock, the results show. When asked if they were excited to remain in contact with their work during their personal time, just 7 percent strongly agreed with that statement, while 43 percent strongly disagreed.

Working Simply surveyed 2,262 adults who are employed full-time, part-time or are self-employed.