Mediaboss Marketing

06 March 2012

The South African Revenue Service has disclosed that a protocol to facilitate the exchange of tax information within the existing double taxation agreement (DTA) between South Africa and Austria has recently entered into force, as have tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) with Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and San Marino.

Signed on various dates last year, the TIEAs between South Africa and Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and San Marino were effective from February 27, February 23, February 26, February 29, and January 28, 2012, respectively. The amending protocol to the South Africa-Austria DTA (which was originally signed on March 4, 1996, and entered in to force on February 6, 1997) was effective from March 1, 2012.

The new TIEAs and DTA protocol, incorporating the internationally-agreed Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development standard for the exchange of information for tax purposes, will apply to taxes of every kind and description imposed in all of the countries.

They will give the tax authorities of all countries a greater ability to exchange taxpayer information, providing that a tax authority cannot refuse to provide information solely because it does not require the information for its own domestic purposes, or because the information is held by a bank or similar institution.

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South Africa Extends Its TIE Network

WESTPAC has sent more jobs overseas in a bid to boost profit levels.

The Finance Sector Union today warned that another 119 IT jobs were axed at Westpac as the bank sought to reduce costs.

Most of the jobs are based in New South Wales, with fewer than 20 positions in Victoria lost.

"Some of these workers have been in these jobs for years,'' FSU national secretary Leon Carter said.

"The only reason they are losing their jobs is because our most profitable bank thinks it can now get the job done more cheaply offshore.''

Mr Carter said the banks were involved in a race to the bottom, putting profits ahead of loyalty to skilled and long-standing employees.

A Westpac spokesman said today staff working in the affected parts of the bank were told last week their jobs would go.

The decision to axe those roles, which supported IT development and systems maintenance, came after a review that started in November 2011.

Those affected would be offered retraining for redeployment into roles in other parts of the bank, if possible, or receive their full benefits and entitlements.

"We are committed to retaining our core highly skilled technology workforce in Australia,'' Westpac head of group media relations Paul Marriage said.

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Westpac sends more jobs offshore

04-03-2012 20:38 How to Invest | http://www.DayTradingZones.com In this video you'll learn how to invest with proper diversification.... In the world we live in today there is no shortage of access to investment information. This in itself however, can be an enormous problem. Asking questions about how to invest, where to invest, and what to look for, can bring you many answers from lots of different sources. The trouble is diving through all the clutter to find relevant information to suit your needs. So when looking to invest in the stock market, where should you start? First things first, invest in what you know. If you are trying to evaluate a company, make sure you know how it works. The great Warren Buffett has often been criticized for not investing in technology during the dot-com boom. His answer was simple. If you don't know the business model, what the company does on a day to day basis, or how it generates revenue now, and in the future, then stay away from it. It is because of this that he has earned billions of dollars year after year for himself and his investors. Once you know the types of companies to look for, you'll need ideas. Message boards, newsletters, financial news shows, and stock screeners are all good places to find ideas. Stock screeners are especially useful, because in addition to finding ideas, you can narrow the search down as you go to fit your qualifications. I've personally had good luck using the screener at DayTradingZones.com So you've found some companies ...

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How to Invest | How to Invest In Stocks Market | How to Diversify Investment - Video

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Real Pro Systems (RPS) announced today that it has entered into an exclusive joint venture with Americas Home Rescue (AHR), the leading short sale training and certification provider for real estate agents and escrow officers. Under the terms of the agreement, the Real Estate Masters Guild division of RPS becomes the exclusive sales and marketing channel for the most comprehensive short sale training available. All of AHRs training products and services will be rebranded, and offered only under the Real Estate Masters Guild brand. RPS made the announcement at the RE/MAX R4 Convention underway in Las Vegas, NV.

In addition to its training courses, AHR offerings include monthly services that provide timely updates and materials to keep graduates current with changes in the market. Unlike some competitors, all coursework is developed by practicing REALTORS working short sales on a daily basis.

Real Estate Masters Guild (REMG) will maintain AHRs current offerings and add to them over time. These include courses and graduate designations for agents listing short sales (Certified Default Resolution Specialist, or CDRS), agents representing buyer of short sales (Certified Short Sale Buyer Representative, or CSSBR), and escrow officers responsible for closing short sale transactions (Certified Default Resolution Closing Specialist, or CDRCS).

There is simply no one in the country who knows more about how to successfully close short sale transactions than Americas Home Rescue, and especially the founders, Stacy and Michael Spickes, said Caine OBrien, general manager of Real Pro Systems. Every time we have heard them present, agents consistently comment that they learned more from the Spickes in one hour than in full certification courses offered by others. And when we reviewed their online training programs, the differential advantage of their training was obvious.

Were delighted to be joining forces with Real Pro Systems, said Michael Spickes, cofounder of Americas Home Rescue. Weve been big supporters of their Real Estate Masters Guild from the beginning, and think our offerings are a perfect fit with their overall program. With this transition, our team can focus on providing the best training programs available while Real Pro Systems takes care of all sales, marketing and administrative responsibilities.

While Real Estate Masters Guild (REMG) is a division of Real Pro Systems, a leading technology provider for real estate, it provides training, coaching and conferences for real estate agents of all skill levels, regardless of their choice of technology platform. In addition to now offering short sale training and certification, REMG offers Buyer Mastery University training for agents working with buyers, two national Mastery Workshops each year, agent and team coaching, and an upcoming Internet Marketing Mastery University course.

Additional information on the companys short sale training offerings is available at http://www.REMGShortSaleMastery.com, information on Real Estate Masters Guild at http://www.RealEstateMastersGuild.com, and on Real Pro Systems at http://www.RealProSystems.com.

Real Pro Systems provides the broadest selection of products and services available in the real estate market today. Its websites and internet marketing solutions feature the latest technology serving the needs of individual agents, teams and brokerages, and are backed by highly acclaimed customer service. The company's Real Estate Masters Guild offers agent coaching, educational programs including buyer mastery and short sale training, online services, and two national workshops per year.

Photos/MultimediaGallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50192850&lang=en

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Real Pro Systems and America’s Home Rescue Join Forces

To the Editor:

Here we are again. Winter in South Jersey, 2012, warmer than usual not that I am complaining about the mild winter rain predicted, with forecast lows in the mid-30s. Then the state highway department wastes more taxpayer money by brining the roads.

I am all about keeping our roads clear of snow and ice, nice and safe, but what the heck is going on? Who is being held accountable for such wasteful decisions?

I am sure that brine is cheap and effective, but what about the labor cost, the fuel wasted and the unnecessary hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere? Is it just me, or is this another careless waste of our money?

All that salt is going to be washed down into the street drains, right into local fresh water tributaries, not to mention all over our cars.

I know that some elected officials were caught off guard with some snow we got last winter, but make-up calls dont work in sports or highway safety.

I brought this up at work on Feb. 18, the last time there was useless brining, and I heard, If they dont use it up and spend the money, they wont get allocated enough next winter.

Really? Does salt have a shelf life that I was not aware of? Are the drivers going to quit their high-paying jobs because they did not get enough overtime your money, folks this winter?

It is that ideology that propagates such wasteful spending at much larger government levels. This waste must stop! This is why successful businessmen, not lawyers, should be elected.

I am sure if enough of us ask our elected officials why the roads are wastefully prepared for ice and snow, when the road surfaces are well above freezing and only rain is predicted, someone will have to answer.

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Get burned up over N.J. DOT's waste of road brine