Memo 3/3/08

Small business sessions offered March 13

The Southeast Missouri State University Small Business Development Center will offer small business counseling March 13 at sessions in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Mo. Gil Degenhardt will provide the help, which is by appointment only. The Perryville session will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 13 at the Southeast Regional Planning Commission offices, 1 W. St. Joseph St. For an appointment, call 573-547-8357. Degenhardt's Cape Girardeau sessions will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce building, 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road. For an appointment, call 573-335-3312.

Subsidized insurance deadline set at March 17

Farmers have until March 17 to sign up for federally subsidized crop insurance, the National Crop Insurance Services announced. The insurance can protect farmers hoping to capitalize on this year's high grain prices in case of weather-related disasters such as drought or storms. For information on premiums and crops eligible for insurance, contact a local crop insurance agent.

Dates for tax returns changed for farmers

Farmers who electronically file their Missouri income tax return, federal income tax return and federal Form 4136 for the credit for federal tax paid on fuels will have extra time to file their Missouri tax returns. The federal IRS announced that taxpayers filing Form 4136 must wait until today to electronically file the revised form. The new deadline is March 10. Those eligible are farmers who would typically file their Missouri income tax return by March 1 to receive an exclusion from making estimated tax payments. Farmers who are not filing Form 4136 or who file a paper return must file by today.

-- From staff reports