With many thanks...

By Eloisa Herrero

Last Friday, during the United Way Day of Action about one hundred volunteers joined forces hoping to change somebody's  life for the better. Our volunteers worked very hard on a very humid Texas day. They delivered fans, did yard work, built an outdoor classroom, painted a fence and a playroom, did some home repairs, collected items, etc.

  

During the day, we heard stories about how much people appreciated the volunteers' hard work. One volunteer even said that for the first time she "experienced" United Way".

Today, at the GLUW office, we received a thank you note from one of the households where some home repairs were done. We would like to share this wonderful thank you note.

The impact of the day goes so much farther than simply mowing a yard or repairing a home. We join this homeowner and the hundreds of other lives touched in thanking the volunteers and local organizations who made such a huge difference in our community. 

That is what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Let’s Hear it for Team Spirit!

By Beckie Moore

Have you noticed that we spend an inordinate amount of time brainstorming about team building activities that could be implemented in order to generate unity within our organization and/or business and yet we fail to put the plans in motion?

Thanks to Barry Hamblett and his amazing company family at Bates Container, I was privileged to witness team building at its best! A generous dose of team spirit was alive and well throughout the day! All of this excitement took place at a company picnic. No fancy dinner or extravagantly appointed venue…simply people enjoying spending time with each other! 

At their invitation, I joined their picnic and had a blast shaking hands, playing games and “dressing” people in United Way gear. Thank you, Bates Container, for sharing your team spirit with me. After all, isn't that what it’s all about? Keep sharing your TEAM SPIRIT as you LIVE UNITED in our community! It is contagious!

Taxes 101 for students who take summer jobs.

 From IRS.gov

Many students take a job in the summer after school lets out. If it’s your first job it gives you a chance to learn about the working world. That includes taxes we pay to support the place where we live, our state and our nation. Here are eight things that students who take a summer job should know about taxes:

1.     Don’t be surprised when your employer withholds taxes from your paychecks. That’s how you pay your taxes when you’re an employee. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay estimated taxes directly to the IRS on certain dates during the year. This is how our pay-as-you-go tax system works.

2.     As a new employee, you’ll need to fill out a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Your employer will use it to figure how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill out the form.

3.     Keep in mind that all tip income is taxable. If you get tips, you must keep a daily log so you can report them. You MUST report $20 or more in cash tips in any one month to your employer. And you must report all of your yearly tips on your tax return.

4.     Money you earn doing work for others is taxable. Some work you do may count as self-employment. This can include jobs like baby-sitting and lawn mowing. Keep good records of expenses related to your work. You may be able to deduct (subtract) those costs from your income on your tax return. A deduction may help lower your taxes.

5.     If you’re in ROTC, your active duty pay, such as pay you get for summer camp, is taxable. A subsistence allowance you get while in advanced training isn't taxable.

6.     You may not earn enough from your summer job to owe income tax. But your employer usually must withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from your pay. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay them yourself. They count toward your coverage under the Social Security system.

7.     If you’re a newspaper carrier or distributor, special rules apply. If you meet certain conditions, you’re considered self-employed. If you don’t meet those conditions and are under age 18, you are usually exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes.

8.     You may not earn enough money from your summer job to be required to file a tax return. Even if that’s true, you may still want to file. For example, if your employer withheld income tax from your pay, you’ll have to file a return to get your taxes refunded. You can prepare and e-file your tax return for free using      myfreetaxes.com or let our VITA volunteers help you!

 For more information call 903-236-9211.