GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – According to tax data released today by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (CVB), April was the seventh consecutive month in a recent trend of increased taxable lodging and retail sales figures for the Pleasure Island area. April 2011 lodging figures reached $19.2 million, which is an 8.4 percent increase over $17.7 million in April 2010. Similar growth was seen in the retail sales figures, which were 19.7 percent higher in April 2010 than the previous year.

“The figures show just how loyal our customer base is,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the CVB. “They supported us in full force during the tough times, and thanks to their loyalty and an intense marketing campaign, we saw October 2010 numbers come in on the positive side, a trend that we can happily say continued for the next seven months.”

On Lodging Figures
Winter season (December through February) finished 5.1 percent higher than the previous year, and with two months (March and April) reporting for the spring season, the area is currently 9 percent ahead of last spring.

“It’s important to point out that our winter season reached $20.7 million, which is higher than the winter season of our previous benchmark year of 2007, which was $17.5 million,” Malone said. “To beat our previous benchmark year, even if it’s only for one season, is a testament to the synergism of this island.”

On Retail Sales Figures
Retail sales figures for the seven month period included several noticeable spikes such as February’s 16.9 percent increase and April’s 19.7 percent increase.

“These numbers show that both our winter guests and families on spring break supported our restaurants and attractions across the area and took advantage of the great value that our destination offers,” Malone said.

May lodging and retail tax figures are expected to be released next month.

(ARA) - Wondering where that small increase in your paychecks came from? Take a closer look at your pay stub and you'll see that your Social Security taxes are 2 percent lower this year. The employee and self-employed portion of the FICA-OASDI Social Security taxes has been reduced to 4.2 percent for employees and 10.4 percent for self-employed.

The tax cut, also known as the payroll tax holiday, was part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 passed in December 2010. Employers had until Jan. 31, 2011, to implement the cut.

There is a $106,800 income-earned limit, which means the maximum amount a worker can receive by the end of 2011 from the 2 percent reduction is $2,136.

The payroll tax holiday replaces the Making Work Pay Credit that expired at the end of 2010 that was also distributed in paychecks but through reduced federal withholding. The credit was worth 6.2 percent of your modified adjusted gross income, up to $400 ($800 for joint filers).

Whether your 2011 paychecks are bigger depends on your earned income and whether you received the Making Work Pay Credit last year. Taxpayers making $20,000 or more this year will receive larger paychecks this year because 2 percent of income exceeds the $400 Making Work Pay Credit. On the other hand, paychecks for lower income taxpayers earning less than $20,000 will be smaller because the $400 credit exceeds the 2 percent payroll tax holiday.

"Regardless of whether your paycheck amounts have changed, you should do two things," says Jessi Dolmage, spokesperson for TaxACT. "First, review your federal withholding. Since the Making Work Pay Credit expired, you may need to adjust your withholding. If you're self-employed, review your estimated tax payments.

"Second, if you received the Making Work Pay Credit last year, you still need to claim it on your federal return that's due by April 18, 2011," Dolmage continued. "Claiming the credit cancels out the reduced federal withholding in last year's paychecks."

The Making Work Pay Credit amount is figured on Schedule M for Forms 1040 and 1040A. If you're filing Form 1040-EZ, use the designated worksheet to figure the credit. The economic recovery payments and government retiree credit that factored into the Making Work Pay Credit on last year's return expired, so figuring this year's amount is easier.

Free tax preparation solutions, including TaxACT Free Federal Edition, guide you step-by-step through the Making Work Pay Credit and all tax law changes to help you maximize your credits and deductions. They can also help you figure your federal withholding and even complete a new Form W-4 that can be printed and turned in to your employer.

For more information about the payroll tax holiday and Making Work Pay Credit, visit www.irs.gov, where you can also find a free withholding calculator. To take advantage of free tax preparation, printing and filing with TaxACT Free Federal Edition, go to www.taxact.com.

(ARA) - Every year, taxpayers miss out on hundreds or thousands of dollars in tax breaks simply because they don't know the benefits exist.

"Figuring out what tax breaks are available, whether you qualify, and what forms you need can be tricky," says Jessi Dolmage of TaxACT, makers of tax preparation software. Dolmage offers some tips for taking advantage of commonly missed deductions and credits:

* If you paid for child care in 2010, you may be eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Day care, pre-kindergarten, before-school and after-school programs and summer day camp for children 13 or younger qualify. The care must have been provided so that you, and your spouse, if filing jointly, could work or look for work (exceptions apply for full-time students and the disabled).

The credit amount varies based on filing status and adjusted gross income, but the maximum benefit is 35 percent of expenses for joint filers with an adjusted gross income of $15,000. Eligible expenses are reduced by dependent care benefits provided by your employer that you deduct or exclude from your income. Payment for care cannot be paid to a spouse, a dependent on your return, or to a child who will not be age 19 or older by the end of the year even if he or she is not your dependent; thus, care provider(s) must be identified on your return.

* 2010 is the last year to claim the Nonbusiness Energy Credit, worth up to 30 percent of the costs for many energy-efficient home improvements. Up to $1,500 for 2009 and 2010 combined can be claimed, but only for the year during which the improvements were made. Other green improvements like solar hot water property, geothermal heat pumps and wind energy property may qualify for the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit.

* If you travel in order to provide services at charitable events, you may be able to take a miscellaneous deduction. Deductible expenses include transportation costs, out-of-pocket expenses for your car, taxi fares or other costs of transportation between the airport or station, and your hotel, lodging and meals. The trip should include little to no personal recreation or vacation. Be sure to keep receipts and detailed documentation.

* Be rewarded for contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement plan or an individual retirement arrangement (IRA). The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is worth up to $1,000 for taxpayers born before Jan. 2, 1992 ($2,000 for joint filers). The non-refundable credit is a percentage of the qualifying contribution amount minus distribution amounts, with the highest rates given to lower incomes.

* If you spent money looking for a job in the same field during 2010, you may qualify for a miscellaneous deduction. Employment agency fees, resume printing and postage costs and travel to and from the area (if the travel was primarily to look for a new job) are eligible. You aren't eligible if you're looking for your first job or there was substantial time between the end of your last job and the time you looked for a new one.

"Affordable, do-it-yourself tax software and online solutions make getting all your credits and deductions easy and fast," Dolmage says. "The program walks you through each credit and deduction, and completes the necessary forms. Solutions like TaxACT also guarantee your biggest refund and make getting every credit and deduction you deserve easy."

Details about these and other 2010 tax breaks can be found at www.irs.gov. TaxACT Free Federal Edition, available at www.taxact.com, guides you through these tax benefits, and allows you to prepare, print and e-file your federal return free.