Tax Daddy - The Metro Business Service Blog

What to do with someone's blog when they die

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:44:15 PST

Well, here I am, back on my dad's blog after nearly a year, updating it once again.

On September 29, 2011, God and Jesus must've found it the perfect time for my dad to "go to glory" -- as he put it in emails we'd exchange before his death.

Both his death and my recent wisdom tooth removal complications scare had me thinking about what my family would do with all my many websites after I die.

Thankfully, my husband has the passwords to many of my accounts, and since he's done some blogging himself in the past, he could figure out how to put up a goodbye message on PaulaNealMooney.com if he wanted.

Other than that, he knows how to get to my PayPal account and other places -- but I gotta admit, I don't necessarily have all my website hosting passwords and logins and stuff printed out and in a safe place for him to find like I should. Perhaps this post will prompt me to do that.

Should you sell someone's blog after they die? Should you update it?

The answers to those questions could be yes and yes or no and no, depending on how organized and internet savvy those left behind are -- or other factors.

I've seen folks who've battled cancer blog about their journey, and then after they die, their family and loved ones have updated the readers about the person's death.

I smiled to myself when I saw that my dad had me start this blog back in 2007 -- two years after I'd put up my first blog post, and how even in his 80s he taught me about pay per click advertising and stuff.

"Don't be afraid to spend money on advertising," he'd tell me -- and I'd hustle off to Google Adwords, trying to get his blog traffic and stuff, not knowing what I was doing, but figuring it out along the way.

I wouldn't want to sell his blog for sentimental reasons. Plus, he actually willed it to me in the Legal Zoom will that he had done.

But Flippa.com is a hot place for people selling websites right now, so I could see how other folks may want to do that --- especially if the person they love who died had a profitable blog and if they need the money, and if they don't plan on updating the blog themselves, or don't know how.

In that case, they'd still need some basic information, like:

Where was the blog hosted?
Simply plopping the dot com name into a site like Who.Is will tell you some basic info about the website, like I did here with my main website, which you can see is hosted at DreamHost.

(Some main web hosting companies are DreamHost, HostGator, Blue Host, GoDaddy and others...)

Then you'd just have to go to DreamHost.com, for example, and plop in that person's email address that they likely used and choose their "forgot password" option to get a new one sent to you, only if you know the deceased person's email info and can access their email.

At least that might set you on the road towards finding the data you'd need to transfer over to someone who wants to buy the blog.

This is why insurance is a good thing...

All this complicated techie talk might be a lot for a less techie person to have to try to deal with during a stressful time of death -- and it's pricked me to get myself more organized in my self-employed business in case I leave this earth any time soon.

There has been talk of blogger's insurance and stuff like that I remember reading on Darren Rowse's ProBlogger.net -- so look more into it there.

The truth is that people making good, 6-figure livings online has changed the game and the way we think about this little profitable "hobby" that has transformed into a real career.

Either way, I felt good that my family would get $500k in the wake of my death because of insurance purchased years ago and continually paid for each month -- so even if they didn't want to try and continue any of the online endeavors I started, they'd be secure and able to replace my salary anyway.

And God would keep blessing them with all the rest...

Sell stuff online? You might pay taxes on it - PayPal now telling IRS about you

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:24:48 PDT

I just read a fascinating article that talks about PayPal and other online merchants that now have to tell the IRS about customers who used their credit cards and accounts to sell stuff online and collect funds that they don't report to the IRS.

Thank God I've been tracking my online income for years and have been filing taxes on it and recording my expenses and paying the IRS what I owe them every year.

And thank God that the IRS approved my installment plan payout and for my new CPA who really helped with all the organization and to save on taxes and to do them correctly.

Read about the IRS and PayPal telling the government what people might owe them here...

Taxes and single-member LLC taxes: How a blogger can save money on taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:45:23 PST

As soon as I publish this post, I plan to email my new tax CPA guy and reschedule the date I have to meet him for the first time.

Thank God for sending me tax help, because I've gone from earning $12k to $40k to $44k to over $50K per year and I'd love to pay a lot less than the thousands upon thousands I've paid the IRS from filling out a Schedule C and having them treat my writing business as personal income.

I've read a lot and learned that there are a plethora of ways that I can save money, whether it be through a Subchapter S corporation or filling out the required forms to have the IRS recognize my LLC as a corporation for tax purposes.

I knew I wanted help and bless God for sending it, so stay tuned for how much I save.

To that end, I've created a page selling Not Your Daughters Jeans to help add to the rising salary of this blogger -- and save 30% going forward as much as I can so as not to throw myself into a panic around every April 15th.

When you owe the IRS a lot of money...

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:04:06 PDT

I just read a great piece on what to do when you owe the IRS a lot of money on Black Enterprise (click the pic to read the article) -- and they gave great advice.

Believe me, I'm blessing God for my husband and the IRS' lovely installment plan payout option this year, seeing as though we owe a lot since I made money online last year, and when you make money online through Google Adsense, Amazon Associates, Kontera, etc. -- they don't take out taxes, which is actually great, thinking of the time-value of money and all that.

Now I'm getting more organized and lining up to save more money so that we can break even next year and owe nothing. I pray.

Step by Step Blogger Instructions - Watch this video teaching how to create your own free blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:58:40 PDT

I just found the below video detailing exactly how to create your own free blog on Blogger. It describes how to go to Blogger.com and get started posting. It took me back to that day in December 2005 when God showed me how to start my own free blogs -- now I've got more blogs than I know.

Anyway, it's been a lucrative journey, I must say. Even my 88-year-old father want to start this own blog, so I typed up some notes that I mailed to hin to go along with this quick teaching video:

Basically, to start your own free blog...

...I told my dad to take the first steps. Fill out all the information they ask of you and publish your first post.

Of course, some things are confusing and trial and error -- but you'll be amazed at how far you may go if you stick with it, plus if writing floats your boat and if you're passionate about it.

Don't get bogged down by what to name your blog or the template. You can always choose another design later -- and if you find another niche topic blog that you'd like to start, for example, elderly people who love computers, you can always start a new free blog that focuses on that topic.

Or, you don't need a topic at all

You can just name your blog your own name if you want, and if it's available.

Write about anything. But don't forget to be prepared for the world to see it. These Blogger blogs are indexed by Google -- and eventually, anyone could find it.

Blogging is so fun and rewarding.

Dive in.

Make Money on the Internet - Then Pay Taxes on the Money You Make on the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:35:12 PST

Make Money on the Internet - Then Pay Taxes on the Money You Make on the Internet

If you make money on the Internet, or want to learn how to make money on the Internet, read these articles about making money on the Internet.

When you start making money on the Internet, track the money you make on the Internet at least every six or eight months so that you'll have a heads-up as to how much money you'll owe the IRS out of the funds you made online.

For example, now that I know I made $20,000 (minus $4,000 or so for advertising) this year, I can now save for the money to pay Uncle Sam his share.

Buy i touchLabels: Make Money on the Internet, Make Money Internet, Cash, Online,How to,Make Cash

Haven't Received Your Stimulus Check?

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:45:19 PDT

If you are still eagerly waiting for that IRS stimulus check to arrive in the mail, you aren't the only one. In fact, one of the most common phrases being Googled right now is "where is my stimulus check." Furthering this confusion is the fact that the government reportedly started sending out stimulus payments four days early. There are several possibilities why your stimulus check has not arrived yet, including the following.

It Isn't Your Time Yet – Only people who opted for a direct deposit received their stimulus checks early. If you are expecting one by mail, it is possible that it simply hasn't been mailed according to the official schedule. If the last two digits of your Social Security number is higher than 18, you may not see the check until June or July, so sit tight.

You Haven't Filed Your Taxes – Oops! Hopefully, you have filed your taxes on time. Given the fact that you are reading a tax blog, you probably don't forget that sort of thing. Keep in mind that if you have made the mistake of forgetting about your taxes, you have until October to file and still qualify for the stimulus check.

You Filed Late – Again, you won't be disqualified for the stimulus payment if you file late. However, it will possibly delay your check, so don't rely on that payment schedule anymore.

You Don't Qualify – Sadly, some people may be expecting stimulus payments that they simply don't qualify for. The IRS has laid out some very simple qualifications and the most important factor is that you filed a 2007 tax return.

You Owe the Government Money – If you owe the government any money for things like taxes or back child support, this debt will likely be deducted from your stimulus payment. This, of course, means that you probably won't receive a check at all! A letter from the IRS will arrive to alert you of this, however, so don't expect to be left in the dark.

Still expecting a check and feeling a bit anxious? Well, you may be in luck, as the IRS has just instituted an official Stimulus Report Status checker. Simply fill in your Social Security number, your filing status and how many exemptions you had on your 2007 tax return. Mind you, your status will only be available if your check is expected to be cut within the next week or two. If your status is not available, simply call the phone number provided to find out more.

By-line:
This article is contributed by Heather Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of small business finance. She invites your questions and writing job opportunities at her personal email address: heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.

Today Show Video Tax Tips: You've gotta file and pay on time in order to get the 2008 tax rebate check, if you qualify for it...

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:50:09 PDT

Most Common Tax Scams Revealed by the IRS

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:26:39 PDT

The IRS 'Dirty Dozen'

The IRS has given us their dirty dozen -- the 12 most common tax scams that Americans are experiencing this year, 2008.

Internet phishing scams appear on the list, along with other heads-up tax scams to avoid.

I can see why some people fall for some of those phishing scams.

Heck, some of those emails I get from "PayPal" supposedly -- they are just so close to the real thing, you've gotta check twice.

Better to be on the safe side when it comes to folks approaching you thru email and the like that you don't know.

God will guide us into all truth...even tax truth.

2008 Tax Breaks

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:03:37 PST

Yahoo has a cheat-sheet-for-Tax-Breaks article up that might help some folks find deductions they didn't know they could take.

Skim it and see if there's anything you've missed.

Every good dollar we can get in our hands in 2008 will help...

Create a niche website and wait...

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:03:37 PST

Sometimes creating a good niche site around a particular topic is all about waiting.

For example, my site about Noel Gourdin was created last summer.

Only now is it getting more traffic levels due to Steve Harvey playing the singer's song called "The River" on his morning show.

So, while we all love the websites that gain immediate popularity, others may take time to grow.

Secrets of Swiss Banking Book

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:53:54 PST

Now here's a book that looks interesting.

It's called The Secrets of Swiss Banking: An Owner's Manual to Quietly Building a Fortune.

I don't know if it works -- in fact, I here about people with Cayman Island accounts -- where's that book?

But we'll see if The Secrets of Swiss Banking: An Owner's Manual to Quietly Building a Fortune helps anyone and becomes a hit.

2008 Tax Rebate Check Mail Dates: I could use an extra $1,600

noreply@blogger.com (Paula Neal Mooney) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:03:37 PST

According to CNN Money, we could get tax rebate checks mailed to us as early as the end of June 2008.

Of course, the up to $800 for single folks and up to $1,600 for married people figures being kicked around have not been finalized nor confirmed by President Bush.

But here's praying they will be -- and that a nice fat check will grace our mailboxes this year and go straight to our credit card debt.

Amen.

Tax Brackets for Self-Employed Folks...