A state board is proposing a sweeping change to make computer software used in business subject to property taxes, a move that some business leaders contend could drive up costs and hurt job growth in Tennessee.
"This would be a significant chunk of change," said Hayes Ledford, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s director of public affairs.
Carl Hartley, a Chattanooga attorney representing some businesses, said the change could put a considerable tax bite on some companies whose businesses are heavily based on computer use, such as banks, finance companies, leasing firms and insurance businesses.
Officials at UnumProvident Corp., the Chattanooga-based insurer with 3,000 workers in the city, said the shift could add a substantial cost to doing business in Tennessee. Spokeswoman Mary Clarke Guenther said UnumProvident buys a lot of software.
"We have 600 software applications in use throughout the company," she said, adding that not all of its computer work is based in Chattanooga.
Currently, there is no consistent approach to determining what business software should be considered taxable, according to the executive secretary of the State Board of Equalization, which proposed the change.
However, software already is taxed as property in some Tennessee counties, said Kelsie Jones. He said county assessors have taken "varying approaches" in making distinctions about not only taxing software, but the kinds, as well. For example, Mr. Jones said, some tax operational software but not that which is applicational.
The new rule would provide a uniform standard across the state, he said.
"One of the reasons for the proposal comes down to consistency. The rule as proposed would quit worrying about distinctions," he said. "All software becomes assessable."
Hamilton County Assessor of Property Bill Bennett said his office has taxed operational software at companies where it has done audits for six or seven years. The proposed rule "would take the gray area out," Mr. Bennett said.
The board has set a Jan. 23 hearing on the change in Nashville. Mr. Jones said staff members will receive comments on the proposal, consider changes, and at a later date it could go back to the board for a vote.
Ray Childers, president of the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association, said the proposal has "serious implications" for businesses. Mr. Childers said he is concerned the change may be done administratively rather than legislatively.
"I understand there may be constitutional issues," he said.
State Sen. DavidDavid Fowler,Fowler R-Signal, R - Signal RSignal Mountain, said he is so concerned that he has asked that a bill be drafted to permit the Tennessee General Assembly to consider the issue.
"I do think it’s a major change in tax policy with economic ramifications that needs to be considered by the legislature," he said. "It may be the legislature agree... [ Read More (0.1k in body) ]

Proposed tax change worries businesses in TN

MAKE is thrilled to offer this free 35 minute film for download! - "Glimpses of How it's made" - a tour of how many things in our world are made, each segment is 6 minutes (hence the full name "Six-Minute Manufacturing Glimpses of How it's made"). Learn about, get inspired, and see how it's made: LectroSonics (wireless microphones), Rose's Southwest Papers (paper converting), Accurate Custom (Injection Molding), Mega Corp. (water haulage equipment), Earthstone International (recycled glass abrasives), Butterman Tool (tool and die), Eclipse Aviation (small jet aircraft), Optical Insights (optical equipment).

Glimpses of How it's made...

The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.
John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.
Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.
Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association -- a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association -- said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.
"We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren told the Times.

Theater owners want cell phones blocked

In what could hopefully (fingers crossed) become the next incident involving stolen footage of beautiful celebs baring all, Marc Antony (Mr. J-lo, not Mr. Cleopatra) has been the victim of a techjacking, with the New York Post reporting that the NYPD’s Computer Investigation and Technology Unit was recently dispatched to Antony’s pad to investigate the theft of his laptop. The reason that this story is more interesting than say, the recent theft of Kevin Costner’s laptop by a wedding employee, is because this thief is demanding a cool million bucks for the safe return of Antony’s lappie, leading people to hope and pray speculate that the notebook contains anything from “boudoir” shots of Ms. Lopez to full-on Pam/Fred/Paris-style shennanigans. As with all of the most important stories in consumer electronics, we’re gonna stay right on top of this one the whole way.

Marc Antony's laptop being held for $1 million ransom

A Blue Springs woman was taken to a hospital emergency room early today after a cell phone became lodged in her throat.The woman was in an argument with a boyfriend when the incident occurred, said Sgt. Steve Decker of the Blue Springs Police Department.Decker said police were told that the woman tried to swallow the telephone because she didn't want the boyfriend to have it. However the case is under investigation.Police responded to a call about a non-breathing person about 4:50 a.m. in the 3000 block of Southwest U.S. 40, Decker said. Police arrived and found that the 24-year-old woman was having trouble breathing. Her identity was not released.The woman was taken to the emergency room at St. Mary's Hospital in Blue Springs. She still had the telephone in her throat upon arrival at the hospital, Decker said.A condition report was not available.

Dumb....

Cell phone lodged in woman's throat

Patent Storm, currently in beta form, offers patents from the US Patent Office. Full-text patent search is offered for all US patents. Whether you are an inventor, a patent attorney, a patent agent or just curious about how things work, this site is for you.
Today, we have all patents from January 1990 forward. Soon, we will provide the most comprehensive source of free patent information on the web.
While you're here, be sure to check out our Patent Resources, which we hope to grow into the most useful and interesting collection of patent links and other patent information available anywhere. We plan to offer advanced search systems for all US patents as well.
Patent Storm is a beta product of Storming Media, a Washington, DC-based company that makes US federal government information more accessible.

Cool idea ....

Patent Storm: U.S. Patents

ABN AMRO Mortgage Group says it has recovered a computer tape that was lost last month while being transported by DHL Courier to a credit reporting service. The company is offering its customers one year of free credit monitoring.
The company said the tape included the names, account information, payment history and Social Security numbers of about two million of its customers. It was being shipped from ABN AMRO's Chicago data center to the credit reporting company Experian on Nov. 18 when it was lost. The company said today that the tape was recovered yesterday.
DHL said the package was found without the original airbill. DHL staff opened the package, found the return address on the tape, and repackaged the tape with a new airbill.
"We deeply regret that this situation

DHL Loses ABN AMRO Customer Data

Gray Line New Orleans will begin giving visitors a closeup look next month at Hurricane Katrina's damage in New Orleans. Like gawkers at a highway accident, tourists will get a first-hand look at America's worst catastrophe.
According to the company, participants will get an eyewitness account of the events surrounding the most devastating natural disaster on American soil. The company's promotional material promises...

Read on.... This is just sick ....

Gray Line to Offer Katrina Tours

Personal and financial information about 70,000 active and former Ford Motor Co. white-collar workers was stolen along with the computer holding the company information in November, according to the automaker.
The stolen data includes names, addresses and Social Security numbers.
Ford began notifying employees of the theft this week. There is "no evidence indicating that there has been any identity theft or misuse of employee information" according to a company spokesperson.
Ford plans to pay for a credit-monitoring service for the people affected by the theft and is offering them a range of services.
Ford has notified Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Identity Theft Task Force and the three major credit reporting agencies of the theft.

Ford Loses Data on 70,000 Workers

H&R Block has agreed to settle the latest in a series of lawsuits filed against it for its practice of "refund anticipation loans," or "payday loans."
The settlement was announced Dec. 21st, with a West Virginia Circuit Court judge scheduled to consider the agreement on Dec. 23rd.
The terms of the settlement would resolve claims in 22 states and the District of Columbia, as well as four class-action lawsuits in West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and Alabama.
Under the settlement, Block would pay claims to 8 million customers who took out payday loans between 1989 and 2005. The terms of the payout were not disclosed, but Block stated it would have to incur a third-quarter tax charge of $31 million to cover the claims.
The settlement would not affect a case pending in Chicago against Block and its partner, HSBC Financial Services, for racketeering charges in relation to their pushing of payday loans on customers. A previous settlement offer was rejected, and the case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2006

H&R Blocked, Again