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NEW YORK, USA - MARCH 29: Times Square is seen empty in New York due to Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by ... [+] Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The federal governments new coronavirus payments to adults and children will provide much-needed cash to 90 percent of US households. Unfortunately, tens of millions of people who did not file federal income tax returns for 2018 or have not yet filed for 2019 are at risk of not getting the payments, authorized by the just-passed CARES Act.

But the government has a powerful, off-the-shelf way to encourage many of those households to file returns and get help paying their bills during the pandemicthe much-criticized Free File program.

The new law already calls on the IRS to inform individuals that they could qualify for the rebate and what they need to do to get it. As part of that effort, it could promote the underused and controversial Free File program. It is an easy way for low-income households with internet access to file a returnand become eligible for the payments without having to leave their homes.

The Tax Policy Centerestimates about 15 million households did not file returns in 2019, and the Joint Committee on Taxation found as many as 30 million individuals were nonfilers in 2011. Many non-filers otherwise would qualify for the financial support.

Recovery rebates

The new direct payments, called recovery rebates, are for up to $1,200 for adults and $500 per child under 17. They phase out for high-income households. The payment automatically will go to those who filed a 2019 federal income tax return. For those who have not filed for 2019, the payment would be based on their 2018 return.

This week, the Trump Administration extended the current filing deadline for tax year 2019 from April 15 to July 15. That will give people plenty of time to file without penalty, including those who ordinarily do not file. By not preparing a Form 1040, they not only will miss out on the new direct government payments, they lose the chance to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit.

In some cases, they even miss out on receiving tax refunds they are owed. One older study found that about 9 million people have income taxes withheld from their pay but do not file a return.

Non-filers are a diverse group. Many are not required to file. Non-filers include students, older adults living on Social Security, people on public assistance or Supplemental Security Income, and even working people whose incomes fall below the standard deduction amount of $12,000 for singles and $24,000 for couples filing jointly. Some immigrants may fear filing a government form, even if they are in the US legally. Some people, of course, dont file as a way to evade taxes.

Getting non-filers into the system

Getting non-filers into the system is a two-step process. First, they need to be informed that they are eligible for the new payments. The IRS public outreach program should advise people to file a return this year, even if their income is below the threshold for filing. But it also could direct them to Free File.

Free File is an IRS-sponsored program that allows those with incomes of $69,000 or less to file their income tax returns electronically at no cost, using online software. The agency farmed the program out to commercial tax prep software companies such as Intuits TurboTax, H&R Block, and many others.

However, some commercial firms have been accused of burying the Free File information and, instead, steering website users to their paid software. Under pressure from Congress, the IRS reformed the program to make it easier for users to find.

Coronavirus has made online software especially important for low-income households this tax season. Not only are people being discouraged from leaving their homes, but many of the usual sources of taxpayer information for low-income households are shuttered. Many local IRS offices and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are closed. Storefront tax prep firms likely are short-staffed (and may not be worth the expense for many non-filers).

This new direct government payments would be a terrific opportunity for commercial software firms (and the IRS) to rebuild their Free File reputations and perform an important public service for households that could easily become eligible for an important cash payment.

Go here to read the rest:
Free File Is An Easy Way For Government To Get Coronavirus Payments To Non-Filers - Forbes

The escalating COVID-19 outbreak has already changed the way we work and live in significant ways, with countries under lockdown, supply chains disrupted and businesses in the midst of an economic crisis. A plethora of tech companies havestepped up, however, to help in ways that only they can, whether its by supporting other businesses or the emergency services as they struggle to contain the crisis.

Be it security software to protect medical teams from cyber security threats, or providing access to workplace apps to ease employees working from home, tech companies are rising to the challenge. Weve rounded up some of the best offers that organisations and workers can take up today as the coronavirus crisis continues to escalate.

Non-profit organisation CompTIA is a trade association that trains, upskills and issues professional certifications for IT workers

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CompTIA is providing free 30-day licenses for the CertMaster Learn eLearning course for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) certification. This is a pre-career certification that helps students and those keen to switch careers understand whether or not they have the capacity to take on a career in technology.

The CertMaster Learn programme is a tool that can be tweaked to suit each individuals preferred method of learning, and includes a host of features tailored to suit different ways of learning. These span learning with flashcards, videos to outline key concepts and processes, as well as performance-based questioning, and analytics.

The Russian-based cyber security company Kaspersky develops enterprise security products and antivirus systems for organisations

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Medical organisations based around the world are eligible for six months of free product licenses for a swathe of B2B products that covers an array of security facets - from the cloud to Office 365 protection.

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For six months, the firms Endpoint Security Cloud Plus, Security for Microsoft Office 365, Endpoint Security for Business Advanced, and Hybrid Cloud Security platforms will be free for healthcare organisations. To obtain a license, representatives of medical organisations can contact local resellers or a local Kaspersky office directly.

Founded ten years ago, ThousandEyes in a network monitoring company that develops software that analyses performance of local and wide area networks

A Global Internet Outages Map has been launched to provide a real-time visualisation for the state of the global internet health, based on ThousandEyes insights.

With more and more of the workforce working remotely, fears are rising that pressures on the internet - from streaming services to workplace apps - may become too great. Anyone can use the service to gain a broad understanding of internet usage patterns, as demand for services climbs, by indicating when outages may be occurring, where, and which services are affected.

The web security ImmuniWeb develops AI and machine learning-based tech for app security testing and attack surface management

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Businesses can apply for $500,000 worth of ImmuniWeb products to help migrate their employees to digital spaces. Eligible firms can use ImmuniWeb Discovery, ImmuniWeb On-Demand and ImmuniWeb Mobile Suite products to perform a host of tasks from assessing their attack perimeter to conducting audits of their web and mobile apps.

The offers been extended to international companies or government entities in Europe, Canada or the US, and solvent businesses that have existed for the last two years in these regions. Companies must have made 30% of less of their revenues from online sales in 2019, and must expect 70% or more of their revenues to shift online in the second quarter of 2020 due to coronavirus.

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Firms must email ImmuniWeb, describing their digital transformation demands, a list of their web or mobile apps, cloud or software as a service (SaaS) systems, and contact details. Governmental agencies fighting COVID-19, as well as suppliers of medical equipment and essential goods, can apply for fast-tracking.

Banyan produces a flagship remote access platform for businesses in thrall to hybrid and multi-cloud environments

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To help businesses through the global crisis, Banyan is offering companies free full access to its Zero Trust Security Platform. This product offers customers secure remote access for users and applications through a singular platform, which is also scalable.

The remote access system is designed to suit a multitude of environments, from on-premise to multi-cloud deployments. Newly-registered companies will be offered free usage of the Zero Trust system for a limited time to help them improve workforce productivity and reduce frustrations tied with virtual private networks (VPNs).

The multinational cyber security firm Trend Micro develops enterprise software for a wide range of systems including servers, containers and end points

Trend Micro has offered six months of free access to its internet security product Maximum Security for employees forced to work from home using their personal computers. This is in addition to a one-month trial for Maximum Security for mobile devices.

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The Work From Home Assistance Programme gives workers access to the comprehensive security and antivirus software, which includes features ranging from ransomware protection to anti-phishing tools. Businesses can sign up with Trend Micro website directly to receive product download URLs that can then be shared among employees.

The developers Q&A site Stack Overflow gives programmers and coding enthusiasts a forum to learn and share their expertise

The basic tier of Stack Overflow for Teams, a collaborative learning environment for development teams within businesses, is being made free for an unlimited number of users through to 30 June 2020.

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The tool helps people collaborate and share knowledge across their organisations, and empowers them to ask and answer questions directly relevant to the systems theyre building and maintaining. Organisations can apply to use the service through the Stack Overflow website.

The Leeds-based analytics company Panintelligence gives businesses insights, analytics and software to help with reporting

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Small businesses in Yorkshire, England can apply for a full version of Panintelligences flagship analytics suite for 90 days, which includes ten user licenses.

Eligible companies can use these intelligence, reporting and analytical tools to maintain a broad view of business performance, keep in the loop with key metrics like cash flow, as well as maintain communication between staff members. Businesses can leave their details with the Panintelligence website for a member of its software team to get back in touch with further details.

The workplace mental health and personal development platform Umind gives employees digital tools to manage their mental wellbeing

All 1.5 million NHS workers have been granted free access to Unminds workplace mental health platform to manage their concerns and wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis.

The platform will give any staff member with an NHS email address access to the suite of digital tools, which comprise learning and development programmes, relaxation tools, mental health assessments and insights, among other tools. Staff can register for free with the Unmind website, and no expiry date for access to these tools have been set.

The tech giant most known for its Windows operating systems also runs the Azure public cloud platform and develops enterprise and workplace software

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NHS staff can make use of Microsoft Teams to communicate with one another through audio and video calls, as well as chats, during the coronavirus outbreak to share advice and updates on patients.

The unified collaboration and communication platform, which boasts a staggering 44 million users, hosts a range of business centric tools, and boasts a solid range of app integrations. NHS Digital is rolling Teams out to all NHSmail users, with organisations not using the NHSmail system also eligible for free access if they apply directly to Microsoft. Theyll also have access to NHS Digitals NHSmail support platform for help with rolling out the platform.

RingVPN offers an unlimited encryption service for secure and anonymous web browsing for a range of devices

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RingVPN has made the first 90 days usage of its flagship service free of charge, and suggests it may extend this offer if the business disruption continues beyond.

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The company had been planning to launch its VPN service in May, but has brought forward the software following an explosion of questions and queries. RingVPN uses AES 265-bit encryption to protect connections across a range of devices and operating systems. Organisations can register to receive the initial three-month cost-free subscription through the RingVPN website.

The Singaporean firm Acronis develops on-premises and cloud software for backup, disaster recovery and secure file sync and share, and data access

The cyber protection firm Acronis has made its Cyber Files Cloud product free to all service providers until 31 July 2020, so they can help clients transition to remote working.

The enterprise-grade file sync and share platform can be deployed by service providers to their client organisations to reinforce the transfer of files and data as workers migrate to working from home. Partners who are keen to take up the offer should approach their account manager with Acronis.

The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) company 3CX develops unified communications (UC) software for organisations of all sizes

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All businesses and public sector bodies can take advantage of the standard edition of 3CXs flagship VoIP software free of charge for a staggering three years. Unlimited employees can be registered with the service, too.

The UC platform allows users to make and receive calls with a smartphone and web app, as well as communicate with colleagues. Firms looking to keep a clear line of communication with customers can also do so with a live chat plugin embedded into their websites. Organisations interested in registering for the free service can do so through a dedicated 3CX web page.

Selenity develops a range of cloud-based back-office software for organisations, spanning HR and finance to procurement and legal

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Selenity is offering free access to a segment of its ER Tracker software, an HR case management system, to help businesses track staff absences due to COVID-19 infections.

The platform is designed to help HR professionals improve case compliance and turn HR policies into effective actions. The system features a variety of tools from document capture, to real-time monitoring and workflow management.

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Large businesses with more than 500 employees can use ER Tracker CV-19 for a six-month trial period on a first-come, first-serve basis. The CV-19 addon is also being offered to its existing customers free of charge.

Lifesize is a video collaboration software developer that builds communication and productivity tools

Organisations impacted by the pandemic are eligible for an unlimited number of free licenses to use Lifesizes cloud-based video collaboration platform for six months.

The platform allows unlimited hosts, meetings and call duration for video conferencing so businesses can more easily transition their workers into remote working. Its compatible with iOS and Android as well as Windows and Mac devices, alongside in-browser functionality. Organisations of all sizes and all sectors are welcome to take up the offer, and can do so by singing up on the Lifesize website.

Qualys provides cloud security, IT and compliance services to businesses with real-time threat analysis

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Remote workers can keep their devices secure with a 60-day free trial of Qualys Remote Endpoint Protection service. The offer includes free instant security assessments, visibility and remote computer patching for corporate and personal PCs.

The Remote Endpoint Protection software identifies and inventories all remote endpoints with real-time visibility, ensures these devices are secure, and patches remotely with no impact to VPN bandwidth, among other features. Businesses of all sizes can apply for the 60-day trial by registering with the Qualys website.

The password and information security manager Dashlane builds a platform that doubles as a password repository and digital wallet

Dashlane is waiving the charge for the first three months of Dashlane Premium subscriptions for new individuals, as well as corporate accounts through Dashlane Business.

The service aims to boost personal and corporate security by storing passwords and other sensitive material including payment information in an online and desktop-based repository. Companies of any size or sector can use a Dashlane Business account for 90 days free of charge for an unlimited number of employees by registering with the website. Dashlane will also send discount codes for individuals who have already signed up to use the free version.

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These are the companies offering free software during the coronavirus crisis - IT PRO

As the current situation caused by COVID-19 remains fluid, managing the overflow of information has become a complex challenge. VuWall is looking to partner with those who are on the front lines working to keep communities safe and healthy by offering its VuWall2 visualization tool as a free download, allowing organizations to create a temporary video wall solution.

In this time of crisis, coordination teams within municipalities, newsrooms, and healthcare facilities are actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and managing response efforts. These decision-makers need to access all kinds of information in order to make fast decisions and share information with their colleagues and in some cases, the public, said Paul Vander Plaetse, CEO at VuWall. We hope that by offering our VuWall2 for no cost as a way to create a temporary emergency video wall control center, we can aid key organizations in managing this influx of data and help keep people informed. We want to assist as many organizations as possible, which is why we will be offering first come, first served setup and support.

By downloading VuWall2, any screen whether its a personal computer or a large-screen TV in a temporary emergency control center or a waiting room can become a command center. The software grants access to and integrates visual information from many different sources on one screen, including web pages, computers on the network, IP cameras, local applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), as well as collaboration and video conferencing tools (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.). It can be set up on a PC or as a make-shift video wall with up to four displays. Operators can intuitively arrange the content sources in any configuration they need for better visualization and run a ticker for emergency messaging. In addition, they can quickly create various layouts, save them, and recall them as the situation changes.

To set up a video wall, VuWall2 software only needs to be installed on the PC driving the display(s) and can then be controlled from any computer on the network. Setup time is about an hour.

You can download and setup VuWall2 as a temporary emergency video wall control center here. Organizations who need setup support should contact VuWalls technical support team.

Originally posted here:
VuWall2 Visualization Tool Offered As Free Software Download - Facility Executive Magazine

Now that millions of people are working from home to stop the spread of Coronavirus, severalvideo conferencing appsare witnessing a sudden surge in traffic.

The huge demand is also creating space fornew tools to further smoothen the process of telecommuting. One such tool is Screen, which makes screen sharing easier and hassle-free.

The free screen sharing tool shares the computer screen with other people in the meeting while stacking video calling boxes on top of another on the side of the screen.

The best thing about this screen sharing app is that it gives everyone a cursor. Other members of the meeting can use it to navigate, draw, or even code on the shared screen. The latency rate is between 30ms-50ms, so it is undoubtedly faster than other screen sharing software like Teamviewer.

Users can share their screens fromMac, Windows, and Linux. Meanwhile, smartphone users and people who havent installed the app can join meetings from the web browsers.

Once you are connected, other people can bring their cursor and type on the shared screen while sitting in a different location. Of course, the meeting host can control who can put their inputs. Apart from that, users can also draw on a shared screen. The doodles fade away in a few seconds unless you have Caps Lock turned on.

People can also send ephemeraltexts if they are in a noisy environment. The screen sharing software features Slack and Google calendar integration as well.

Under normal circumstances, Screen is free for joining meetings and is $10 per month for hosting a meeting. But given the pandemic and a large population working from home, the screen-sharing app is entirely free to use.

There are several screen sharing tools andremote desktop softwarethat can make telecommuting easier. A prominent one isTeamviewer, which is a one-stop solution for remotely accessing other PCs, mirroring, and sharing screens.

A free screen sharing app similar to Screen isJoin Me, where users (including iPhone users) can collaborate on virtual whiteboards.

Other than that, there are popularvideo conferencing apps such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, where users can share their screen; however, in such apps, other people cannot interact with the screen.

Read more here:
How To Control Each Other's PC With This Free Screen Sharing Software? - Fossbytes

A growing number of companies are offering their online tools, classes, and resources at no costin response to the impact on small-business owners from the coronavirus. Below is a list that Inc. is curating andcontinuously updating.

Ad credits and grants

Google is donating more than $800 million to support small businesses, health organizations, governments, and health workers impacted by Covid-19. The amount includes $340 million in Google Ads credits for small and midsize businesses with active accounts in the past year.

Telecom giant Verizon isdonating $2.5 million to nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation for its Small Business Covid-19 Recovery Fund, which will use the funds to provide grants of up to $10,000 to struggling businesses.

The James Beard Foundation, the national nonprofit culinary arts organization, has launched the Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund. The organization will draw support from corporate, foundation, and individual donors to offer micro-grants to restaurants, bars, and other independent businesses in the industry.

Legal and employment issues

Marketing

Business Warrior, the software platform for small businesses, is offering 12 months' free access to its software and support, including personalized recommendations to drive new customers and improve profitability during this uncertain time.

Gift certificates, gift boxes, and more ways to support small businesses

Verizon has launched Pay It Forward Live,a weekly charitable entertainment series, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on March 26, to supportsmall businesses affected by Covid-19. Dave Matthews will be the first among other artists to perform concerts from their homes that will stream live on Verizon's Twitter accountand on Yahoo Entertainment and encourage viewers to support their favorite local businesses.

Keep Your City Smiling, born out of the Covid-19 crisis, sells gift boxes of products to benefitstrugglinglocal businesses. It is currently focused on Seattle small businesses, but it's expected to expand toLos Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon--with more cities to come.

Social media services

Search engine optimization

Moz, the SEO software company, is offering free access to more than a dozen of itsMoz Academy SEO coursesthrough May 31, covering everything from keyword research to backlink basics and more.

Presentations design

E-commerce

Cloud storage

WFH skills and tools

Igloo Software, a digital workplace solutions provider, is offering its Business Continuity Bundle for free through July 6, which includes digital workplace tools to keep employees productive and supported through the crisis.

Team videoconferencing

Dialpad, a communications platform, is offering businesses its cloud-based phone systemDialpad Talk Proand its videoconferencing toolUberConference Businessat no charge for two months.

Cybersecurity

Video content

Wellness

Fitness startup ClassPass has launched livestream classes for studios, with all proceeds going back to studios through June 1.The fitness startup is encouraging members to donate to their favorite studios, andit plans to match those donations upto $1 million. ClassPass also offers free access to 2,000 on-demand workouts.

Published on: Mar 30, 2020

Excerpt from:
Free Tools, Resources, and Financial Help for Business Owners Hit by Covid-19 - Inc.