Windham Region Chamber of Commerce

Windham Chamber

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Hebron Maple Fest 2020 Vendors Apply Now!

We are excited to announce the dates of our 2020 Hebron Maple Festival will be Saturday, March 21, 2020 & Sunday March 22, 2020! The event held is rain or snow and starts at 10:00 am until 4:00 pm each day. Enjoy maple items, food trucks, arts & crafts, Sunday tractor parade, and maple syrup!! Free admission for everyone.

All guests should park at RHAM High School and take the shuttle bus to the downtown area. Parking downtown is minimal. 

Food & Activity Vendor Opportunities For The Maple Fest

If you are interested in being a vendor please complete the application  and send it to us asap.  Last year’s vendors have first priority. Vendors must be present for BOTH days of the event.

If you are serving food YOU MUST HAVE A MAPLE FLAVORED ITEM IN YOUR BOOTH!

Fees for our 2020 Maple Festival Vendor Participation are as follows:

  • $75 for activities, information, fundraiser, retail or snack items if you register before February 1st; after February 1st fee will be $100.
  • $250 for food items: hamburgers, fish, tacos, BBQ, fried dough pizza etc. if you register before Feburary 1st; after February 1st fee will be$300

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities For The Maple Fest

We also have many different advertising & sponsorship opportunities available for our 2020 event! Take advantage of this unique event to advertise your business to thousands of local customers!

Maple Festival Program Booklet Opportunities:

  • 1/4 page ad – $50 camera ready, horizontal or vertical
  • 1/2 page ad -$100 camera ready, horizontal only
  • Full page ad – $200 camera ready
  • Special Page ad – $400 inside cover full page or $500 back cover full page

Maple Festival Event Sponsorships:

  • Diamond Sponsor  – $1,000 includes full page ad in the maple festival program & a vendor booth
  • Platinum Sponsor – $500 includes 1/2 page ad in the maple festival program & a vendor booth
  • Gold Sponsor – $250 includes 1/4 page ad in the maple festival program & vendor booth
  • Silver Sponsor – $100 includes a listing in the program
  • Bronze Sponsor – $50 includes a listing in the program

OR

 

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Base Access Scam on Internet

Please let your all veterans know the DOD is not contacting them via the internet to submit personal information in order to receive base access.  We received a call from our Retired Activities Office (Paul Dillon) making us aware of this.  Please put the word out.  More to follow.

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The SHPO is Hiring – Museum Assistant!

Museum Assistant, Site Supervisor, Eric Sloane Museum, Kent, CT

 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development invites applications for the position of Museum Assistant located at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, CT. This position is best suited for someone who is self-motivated, can work in a rural environment, has an interest in American History and Art History, and who can work independently while building collaborations with the surrounding community, the Friends of Eric Sloane, the Town of Kent, schools, artists, etc. This position is 40 hours/week. The work schedule will include duty at special events and may require changing work stations, and starting and ending times. The position reports to the Director of Arts, Preservation and Museums for the Department of Economic and Community Development.

 

Applications must be received through the State of Connecticut Jobs portal and be received by December 30, 2019. The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

 

Click Here for Information & Application

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IRS and Treasury finalize Opportunity Zone guidance

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued  final regulations providing details about investment in qualified opportunity zones (QOZ).

The final regulations modified and finalized the proposed regulations that were issued on October 28, 2018 and May 1, 2019.

The final regulations provide additional guidance for taxpayers eligible to make an election to temporarily defer the inclusion in gross income of certain eligible gain. The final regulations also address, the ability of such taxpayers’ eligibility to increase the basis in their qualifying investment equal to the fair market value of the investment on the date that it is sold, after holding the equity interest for at least 10 years.

The statute permits the deferral of all or part of a gain that would otherwise be included in income, if corresponding amounts are invested into a qualified opportunity fund (QOF). The gain is deferred until an inclusion event or Dec. 31, 2026, whichever is earlier. The final regulations provide a list of inclusion events.  Further, the final regulations provide guidance to determine the amount of income that must be included at the time of the inclusion event or December 31, 2026. 

The final regulations also address the various requirements that must be met to qualify as a QOF, as well as the requirements an entity must meet to qualify as a QOZ business.  In order to provide clarity, the final regulations have modified the proposed regulations for QOFs and QOZ businesses.  Specifically, the final regulations provide additional guidance on how an entity becomes a QOF or QOZ business, and the requirement that a QOF or QOZ business engage in a trade or business.  The final regulations retain the general approach of the proposed regulations but provide additional guidance and clarity to the rules regarding QOZ business property. 

Related forms, instructions and other information taxpayers need to take advantage of this update will be made available in January 2020.

For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform

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ACCESS HEALTH CT EXTENDS 2020 HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD

 For Immediate Release

Contact: Kathleen Tallarita, Kathleen.tallarita@ct.gov, 860.757.5339

***Available in Spanish upon request***

 ACCESS HEALTH CT EXTENDS 2020 HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Extension ends January 15, 2020

  • Access Health CT extended the 2020 health insurance Open Enrollment period until January 15, 2020.
  • If customers are already covered by an insurance plan through Access Health CT for January 2020 and would like to pick a new plan starting in February 2020, they must pay their January monthly bill (premium).
  • If individuals choose a plan during the extension, the coverage will start on February 1, 2020.

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (December 16, 2019)—Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced an extension for the 2020 health insurance Open Enrollment period until January 15, 2020. Access Health CT customers who enrolled in a plan for 2020 now have the option to keep it or find a new plan; however if they make a plan change during this extension period, the new plan will have a start date of February 1, 2020 and they must pay the January bill (premium) for the original plan.

In addition, if new customers sign up for health insurance plans through Access Health CT from now until January 15, 2020, their coverage will start February 1, 2020.

“We know there are customers who are automatically enrolled in a health insurance plan every year who do not notice changes in their out-of-pocket costs or premiums until they use their plan or get their bills,” said Chief Executive Officer of AHCT, James Michel. “There is a lot to think about when selecting a health insurance plan and we want to make sure our customers are able to pick the best plan for themselves and their families. We hope this extra time gives them the ability to make sure they picked a plan that fits their needs and gives them the best value in 2020.”

Access Health CT will continue to offer free help to all Connecticut residents during the extension:

  • Over the phone: 1-855-805-4325 (TTY 1-855-789-2428). Hours may vary.

*Closed December 25 & 28, 2019 and January 1, 2020.

About Access Health CT

Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace established in 2011, supports health reform efforts at the state and national level. AHCT provides Connecticut residents with resources for better health, and an enhanced and more coordinated healthcare experience, which results in healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier Connecticut. AHCT’s mission is to increase the number of insured residents in Connecticut, promote health, lower costs, and eliminate health disparities. Connecticut residents and small business owners can compare and enroll in healthcare coverage and apply for tax credits for individuals through AHCT. AHCT (or the Marketplace) also partners with the Dept. of Social Services for eligibility and enrollment with state Medicaid Insurance and Children’s Health Insurance Programs. For more information, please visit www.AccessHealthCT.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AccessHealthCT and follow us on Twitter @AccessHealthCT.

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Recent legislation requires tax-exempt organizations to e-file forms

The Taxpayer First Act, enacted July 1, 2019, requires tax-exempt organizations to electronically file information returns and related forms. The new law affects tax-exempt organizations in tax years beginning after July 1, 2019.

 

The following IRS forms are included in the mandate:

  • Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax.
  • Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private Foundation.
  • Form 8872, Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures.
  • Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income (if filed by a Section 501(d) apostolic organization).

Those who previously filed paper forms will receive a letter from the IRS informing them of the change. Filing deadlines vary by form type. The IRS will postpone the required e-filing of Form 990-EZ for one year, while optional e-filing continues to be available. Although Forms 990-T and 4720 will come under the e-filing requirement next year, the IRS will continue to accept these forms on paper pending conversion to electronic format.

Form 8872
The IRS will no longer accept paper Forms 8872 reporting on periods after 2019. Forms 8872 reporting information for periods starting on or after Jan. 2020, will be due electronically by Section 527 organizations. These include political parties, political action committees and campaign committees of candidates for federal, state or local office.

Among other requirements, most tax-exempt political organizations have a requirement to file semiannual, quarterly or monthly reports on Form 8872. To file electronically, the organization must have the username and password it received from the IRS after electronically filing its initial notice (Form 8871). Organizations can file electronically using the IRS website at IRS.gov/polorgs. To replace a username or password, please contact:

IRS
Attn: Request for 8872 Password
Mail Stop 6273,
Ogden, UT 84201 Fax (855) 214-7520

Form 990 & 990-PF E-filing

Under the legislation, most e-filings won’t be due before Dec. 15, 2020, from charities and other exempt organizations that generally file Form 990 or 990-PF by the 15th day of the 5th month after the tax year-end. In other words, Forms 990 and 990-PF with tax years ending July 31, 2020, and later MUST be filed electronically. Forms 990 and 990-PF filings for tax years ended on or before June 30, 2020, may still be on paper. In the case of a short tax year or certain other circumstances detailed in the 990 or 990-PF Instructions, the IRS will continue to accept paper filing as its systems are yet unable to receive these forms electronically. More information on software providers is available at https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/exempt-organizations-mef-providers.

Form 990-EZ Transition Relief

For small exempt organizations, the legislation specifically allowed a postponement (“transitional relief”). For tax years ending on or before July 31, 2020, the IRS will accept either paper or electronic filing of Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. For tax years ending Aug. 31, 2020, and later, Forms 990-EZ must be filed electronically. Generally, Form 990-EZ is for organizations with annual gross receipts less than $200,000 and total assets at tax year-end less than $500,000.

Paper Forms 990-T & 4720

In 2020, the IRS will continue to accept paper forms. These include Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, and Form 4720, Return of Certain Excise Taxes Under Chapters 41 and 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS plans to have these returns ready for e-filing in 2021 (reporting on tax year 2020).

Pre-existing E-file Rules

In effect, the legislation supersedes the pre-existing e-file regulation for large exempt organizations. Until tax years beginning after July 1, 2019, exempt organizations with total assets of $10 million or more at tax year-end that had filed 250 or more returns of any type during the calendar year were required to e-file Forms 990 and 990-PF. E-filing was also required of Form 8872 filers that had or expected more than $50,000 of contributions or expenditures in the calendar year. These prior rules will continue to apply to some e-filings made in 2020.

Form 1065 E-filing

For most Section 501(d) apostolic organizations which use Form 1065, the e-filing legislation won’t apply to returns due before Oct. 15, 2020. Generally, the Form 1065 deadline is the 15th day of the 3rd month after the tax year-end. Appropriate software is offered by the providers listed on the IRS 1065 MeF Providers web-site.

Taxpayer First Act

The Taxpayer First Act aims to expand and strengthen taxpayer rights and to reform the IRS into a more taxpayer friendly agency. The legislation requires the agency to develop a comprehensive customer service strategy, modernize its technology and enhance its cyber security. More information on the Taxpayer First Act is available at IRS.gov.