Annual Credit Report

www.annualcreditreport.com

Obtain one free credit report every 12 months from Experian, TransUnion, & Equifax which are the largest nationwide providers of consumer credit reports.

Credit Karma

www.creditkarma.com

Offers free credit scores, credit reports, and credit monitoring from the national credit bureaus TransUnion and Equifax

Debtors Anonymous
Debtors Anonymous General Services
P.O. Box 920888
Needham, MA 02492-0009
www.debtorsanonymous.org
Debtors Anonymous is a 12 step spiritual self-help fellowship, modeled upon Alcoholics Anonymous. For information about the DA program and groups in your area, contact the General Service Office, 781-453-2743 (all calls are confidential).

The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies
www.aiccca.org
The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) is the largest national association representing non-profit credit counseling companies. Our members provide consumer credit counseling, debt management, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and financial education services. All AICCCA members adhere to strict high-quality service standards. Our standards ensure that consumers with problem debt will receive expert help from experienced organizations they can trust.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling
(800) 388-2227
www.nfcc.org
As the nation’s largest financial counseling organization, the NFCC Member Agency Network includes more than 700 community-based offices located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. More than three million consumers annually receive financial counseling and education from NFCC Member Agencies in person, over the phone, or online. To locate an NFCC Member Agency in your area call 800-388-2227. Para ayuda en Español Ilama al 800-682-9832.

Educational Loans

For information on Perkins, Stafford, and PLUS loans, contact:

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue
SW Washington, DC 20202-0498
(800) USA-LEARN
www.ed.gov

To report harassment by debt collectors, contact the Deputy Director of Debt Collections at (202) 708-4766. If harassment continues, call the Policy Development Division of the Loan Branch of the Department of Education, (202) 708-8242.
Financial Aid Information

Federal Student Aid Information Center
– information about federal student aid programs
– help with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
– general information about your current federal student loans
1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
TTY: 1-800-730-8913
Spanish speakers are available (se habla español)

Defaulted Loans
– Borrowers whose loans are in default
– Debt collection services
1-800-621-3115 or
Federal Relay Service

Loan Consolidation
– Questions about loan consolidation before you apply
1-800-557-7392
TTY: 1-800-557-7395

For additional information, see the Federal Student Aid Contact Us page.

IRS
www.irs.gov
800-829-1040

Why should I keep records?
Good records will help you monitor the progress of your business, prepare your financial statements, identify source of receipts, keep track of deductible expenses, prepare your tax returns, and support items reported on tax returns.

What kinds of records should I keep?
You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes.

How long should I keep records?
The length of time you should keep a document depends on the action, expense, or event the document records. You must keep your records as long as they may be needed to prove the income or deductions on a tax return.

How long should I keep employment tax records?
You must keep all of your records as long as they may be needed; however, keep all records of employment taxes for at least four years.

How should I record my business transactions?
Purchases, sales, payroll, and other transactions you have in your business generate supporting documents. These documents contain information you need to record in your books.

What is the burden of proof?
The responsibility to prove entries, deductions, and statements made on your tax returns is known as the burden of proof. You must be able to prove (substantiate) certain elements of expenses to deduct them.

CNN and Money Magazine Debt Calculator
http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools

Bankrate.com Credit Card Calculator
http://aol1.bankrate.com/aol/calc/MinPayment.asp?nav=cc&page=calc_home

Kiplinger Credit Calculator
www.kiplinger.com/tools/index.html

CreditCalc Wizard
www.zilchworks.com/cgi-bin/calc/cardcalc.pl