|  March/April 2000
 
 Avoid These Tax
        MistakesAn IRS Official Explains What to
        Watch For
 
            
              | Tax
                season is here, and if it's anything like the last few years,
                millions of taxpayers will inad- vertently make a mistake. 
                To help you avoid taxing mistakes, we talked to Steve Danish, an
                IRS spokesman, to find the six most common mistakes taxpayers
                make. Mistake
                #1:Incorrect
                Social Security
                number.  This is the most common mistake taxpayers make on
                their returns, according to Danish.  His suggestion: With
                electronic filing, computers can catch the mistake and eliminate
                human error."
 | Mistake #2:
 Dumping
                tax-related records.  You should keep all tax-related
                documents for at least five years including W-2
 forms, statements from financial institutions, and any
                paperwork relating to deductions that you have taken.
 
 Mistake #3:
 Writing down incorrect figures
                from the tax tables.  "Take your time and be sure your
                taxable income figure is correct," Danish advises.
 Mistake
                #4:Incorrectly
                taking tax credits.  "Tax filers need to be sure they
                meet income and other
 
                
 | eligibility
                requirements before claiming the Earned Income, Household, or
                Child and Dependant Care credits."
 Mistake #5:
 Claiming
                a child or dependent twice.  "In cases of divorced
                parents or a child away at college, be sure you know who is (or
                isn't) claiming a dependent," Danish said.
 Mistake
                #6:Filing
                too soon.  "Some people file their return early
                because they want to get their money.  However, they may
                not have received all of their W-@ and 1099 forms, so their
                income is not accurate," Danis said.
 |  | This newsletter
        provided by: 
 Dana C. SydneyClarence Barney
 
 
 
 
 CFA Asset
 Management, Inc.
 
 1801 N. Kickapoo
 Lincoln, IL 62656
 (217) 732-1528
 
 Securities offered through H.D. Vest
        Investment Securities, Inc., Member:  SIPC, 6333 North State
        Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, (972) 870-6000
   Are
        You Old Enough for Social Security? Many
        workers anxiously await the day they retire -- either completely or
        partially -- from work.  Increasingly, workers plan to retire
        early, but doing so could impact and reduce Social Security
        benefits.  Here's a look at the age which you can retire with full
        benefits. Year
        of Birth/FullRetirement Age
 
          
            1937
            or earlier / age 65
            1938
            / 65 and 2 months
            1939
            / 65 and 4 months
            1940
            / 65 and 6 months
            1941
            / 65 and 8 months
            1942
            / 65 and 10 months
            1943
            - 54 / age 66
            1955
            / 66 and 2 months
            1956
            / 66 and 4 months
            1957
            / 66 and 6 months
            1958
            / 66 and 8 months
            1959
            / 66 and 10 months
            1960
            and later / age 67 |