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Kevin Hagenliving in Miami, FL
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| TOTAL VIEWS: 311,049 | | | PUBLISHED CONTENT: 309 | | | FAVORITED BY: 4 | | | CONTENT PRODUCER SINCE: 06/09/2005 |
Born in Minnesota, USA in 1955; studied Business Administration - Accounting, graduating in 1977 and obtaining CPA license. Worked in corporate accounting environments, eventually becoming a technical translator while living in Chile. Married, one son. Education/Experience: B.A. Business Administration - Accounting Interests: Business, Finance, Tax, Latin American Culture, Environment URL |
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Severance pay is not required by federal law, but a few states require it in the case of plant closures. Normally severance pay is at the employer's discretion. You can negotiate, and you may be ask...
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The price-to-sales ratio is a metric used to see if a stock is under or over-valued. It allows you to compare similar companies in the same industry, and can be useful in evaluating companies with in...
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Under federal law, eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid family or medical leave. Benefits must continue during the leave, and the employee must be reintegrated with the sa...
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Plastic shopping bags are being banned in many parts of the world and in many cities and states across the U.S. Major supermarkets are selling reusable bags at a nominal price, and specialty retailer...
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The IRS imposes penalties for not filing a return, for filing late, for not paying the taxes due, for underpayment of estimated tax, and for inaccurate returns, among other reasons. Interest is charg...
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You can check the status of your income tax refund by using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website. Your refund may be delayed due to IRS corrections, change of address, wrong banking infor...
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Students from the University of South Australia designed and built the Trev, an ultra-light, electric-powered, 3-wheel, 2-passenger vehicle, as a prototype for urban commuters, based on the solar cars...
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When the IRS charges you a penalty for filing late or not paying your taxes on time, you can request an abatement of the penalty if you have reasonable cause. You must send the IRS a letter, clearly ...
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Your product may require certain modifications when you decide to go global. You should determine any specific requirements imposed by the country, and take into consideration technical standards, li...
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2-passenger Smart cars are 2.5 meters long, retail at $11,600, and get from 40 to 45 miles per gallon. With support from Greenpeace, the SmILE was designed and built in 1996, based on the Renault Twi...
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The Pension Protection Act of 2006 included stricter record-keeping requirements to claim a tax deduction for cash donations. Also, donated clothing and household items must be in good used condition...
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When you need a copy of the tax return you filed last year or for a prior year, you can obtain a photocopy from the IRS for a fee of $39. Or you can request a tax return transcript, free of charge, w...
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When you are missing a W-2, you still must file your tax return by the deadline. You should call your employer and ask them to re-issue your W-2. If that doesn't work, you can call the IRS. You can...
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Tax refund loans are a very expensive way to receive money in advance when you have a refund from your income tax return. The annualized interest rate can reach triple digits. With e-file and direct...
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The 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, with its sharp looks, powerful 4-barrel 289ci V8 engine churning out 271 hp, and a wide array of options and accessories, took the country by storm as the new pony car ...
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When you receive a notice from the IRS you should read it carefully to see why it was sent and what the IRS is expecting you to do. In the case of IRS corrections or proposed adjustments, you may agr...
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Overtime must generally be paid to nonexempt employees at time and a half their regular rate of pay. Compensatory time off may be allowed if it is one and a half times the overtime hours worked. Both...
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You should choose a paid tax preparer based on your particular needs. There are various different types of preparers, with different levels of qualifications and a considerable difference in fees. Y...
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A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that enables homeowners age 62 or older to use the equity in their home to obtain funds for any purpose they choose. The loan does not have to be rep...
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Dollar cost averaging consists of investing fixed amounts of money at regular intervals, building your investment position at an average price, and protecting yourself from price volatility. Diversif...
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Overtime pay for tipped employees must be calculated as at least one and a half times the regular rate of pay, which must be at least the applicable minimum wage, and not the cash wage, when the emplo...
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According to federal law, hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week must be paid at time and a half. The calculation of the overtime premium is based on the regular rate of pay, which in addition t...
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When you change jobs you could cash out your 401(k), leave it alone, transfer it to your new employer's 401(k), or roll over the balance to an IRA. It is important to understand the tax and other con...
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If you should have filed a tax return for last year or a prior year but didn't, you should file the return as soon as possible, to claim a refund or pay the tax you owe and avoid the interest that acc...
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The design and construction of a green building, or the renovation of an existing building to incorporate green aspects, helps the environment and also generates important advantages for your business...
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When you purchase a home, the costs you have to pay at closing can be significant. It needs to be clear how these costs will be distributed among the buyer, the seller, and the financial institution ...
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When you claim a deduction for business use of your home, you can prepare yourself for a potential audit by clearly separating your work area, having your business address at home, keeping a record of...
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You need to protect your credit in hard times, and should prepare in advance. Keep close track of your credit card charges and cash expenses to find ways to save. Prepare a strict but realistic budg...
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Knowing how to listen is essential in all communications, and when you listen effectively at work and in business you can open yourself up to other people's knowledge, different perspectives, experien...
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In preparing the budget you can combine the knowledge of different aspects of your business in order to coordinate all your activities and plan how they can contribute to achieving your business goals...
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There are many ways we can save energy at home, from buying energy-efficient appliances through changing some of our everyday habits. By knowing how to save energy and making a few adjustments, we ca...
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401(k) plans allow you to save for retirement with the contributions that are deducted from your paycheck before taxes, thereby reducing your income tax burden. Many employers make matching contribut...
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Even when your business is profitable and growing, you could face a lack of liquidity from time to time. By efficiently managing your income and disbursements, using practical methods for collections...
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By forecasting all your costs during the start-up and initial operating stage of your small business, you can plan when and how much financing you will need. There are different types of debt financi...
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By clearly defining your financing needs and aligning them with your business plan and strategy, and evaluating the capacity of your business to repay, you will be in a good position to obtain financi...
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There are various financing options available for small entrepreneurs, including business credit cards, lines of credit, term loans, and collateralized loans. By understanding the conditions of these...
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Identifying all your costs and determining which are direct or indirect, variable or fixed, will help you set prices, bid for jobs, and budget. You can use some basic principles of cost accounting to...
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When you lose your home as a result of a foreclosure, you no longer have to report the cancelled debt as taxable income, thanks to the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. However, you could...
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Asking yourself a few questions, before starting your own business, can serve to orient you with regard to what you want to gain from your business, the product or service you are going to offer, your...
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Starting your own business means dedicating a lot of time and effort, but there are various ways you can start planning and developing your business before leaving your present job.
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When you are starting your business from scratch, the entry to open your books is simple, but if you have been running the business for a while with personal resources, you need to reconstruct your ac...
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A bank reconciliation is a comparison of the entries that appear on the bank statement with the entries recorded in the bank account on the general ledger. The reconciliation serves to identify diffe...
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Benchmarking enables you to compare the performance of your business with that of your competitors, in order to close any gaps that may exist and improve your processes. Benchmarking also helps you t...
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The purpose of a management control system is to monitor activities and drive behaviors toward the realization of strategic objectives, by defining responsibilities and critical success factors and se...
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The purpose of the alternative minimum tax is to ensure that taxpayers who take advantage of tax benefits pay at least some tax. But in effect, the tax is increasingly affecting taxpayers with medium...
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Knowing how to correctly draw a check protects you and allows the payee to be able to cash or deposit the check. And when you receive a check, there are different ways you can endorse it, in order to...
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There are various U.S. federal government programs to advise and assist small exporters in all aspects of international trade. The state economic development offices and exporters' associations can a...
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When you want to export your products to a distributor overseas, it is important to have a written agreement that points out all the terms and conditions agreed upon with regard to the product, sales,...
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When you want to export the products or services of your small business and you need financing, there are government programs, such as through the Small Business Administration, that can help with loa...
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In order for an export transaction to be successful, it is fundamental to have all the paperwork in order. The documents required depend on the regulations in the destination country, the mode of tra...
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The Harmonized System of the World Customs Organization is a system for classifying products traded internationally. It is important to know your product's code in order to determine the tariffs that...
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When your company exports its products, you want to ensure that the buyers pay you on time. There are different ways to collect with different levels of security. One of the most commonly used ways ...
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In setting the pricing strategy you use for exporting your products, you should take into consideration how you want to enter your target market, the demand for your product, and your competition, and...
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When you want to export your company's products, it is important to qualify the potential buyers, representatives, or distributors in your target country. There are U.S. government programs to help y...
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When you open a bank account it is important to choose the type of account that is right for you, according to your needs. You may be able to avoid unnecessary charges. And when you clearly understa...
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The free trade agreements that the U.S. has signed with various countries and regions of Latin America and the rest of the world offer many opportunities, benefits, and guarantees for small companies ...
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When a small company is just starting to export, it can benefit from the systems, know-how and contacts that an intermediary has. To export directly, there are various ways of approaching customers a...
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When you are evaluating the possibility of exporting the products of your small business, you should do some research on potential markets overseas and learn about the various aspects of exporting. T...
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A freight forwarder can provide various services that are fundamental for exporting, including packaging your products, contracting the most appropriate mode of transportation, customs clearance, and ...
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The breakeven point serves to determine the sales volume required to cover the fixed and variable costs of your business. Once you determine this point, you can use it as a tool in setting prices, al...
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When you have your own services business, you can determine the price you should charge based on a formula that takes into account the value of your time, all your fixed and variable expenses, and a p...
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When your employer has a retirement plan, you may have the option to set aside part of your salary to contribute to the plan. By deferring part of your salary you can reduce your federal income tax. ...
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When you need more time to file your federal income tax return, you can request an extension. Normally this does not mean an extension of the deadline for paying the tax you owe. U.S. citizens and r...
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When you have filed your federal income tax return and later find that you need to make a change on it, you can file Form 1040X to amend the return and request a refund for the tax you overpaid, or pa...
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Changes in the law on pension plans could mean new decisions you will have to make regarding your 401(k) plan. By evaluating your options, and taking into account your own personal situation, you can...
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Mutual funds are pools of money from many individual investors that are managed by professional fund managers who make investments in stocks, bonds, and other instruments according to the fund's defin...
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When you select a mutual fund you should consider your own investment objectives according to your personal financial situation, your preferences as an investor, your risk tolerance, the need for dive...
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In order to know your tax liabilities for the payments you make to the people who work in your business, you need to understand the working relationship between your business and each worker, and whet...
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The payroll tax obligations of your small business consist of withholding income, social security and Medicare taxes from your employees' salaries and wages, depositing them along with the employer's ...
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The accounting system you set up for your small business must enable you to meet your fiscal obligations, generate the necessary financial reports for all interested parties, and help you to manage yo...
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When you have an overpayment when you file your federal income tax return you can request a refund. The refund can be a check, direct deposit, to more than one account if you like, or you can apply al...
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When you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you can elect to take a deduction for state and local sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes. You can deduct your actual sa...
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A nonresident foreign person in the U.S. can claim certain deductions when filing a federal income tax return. Some are the same as the deductions that a U.S. citizen or resident can claim, but in ot...
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Third party liability insurance protects your company against the risks of damages that third parties could suffer as a result of an accident in your place of business, due to your product, or because...
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When you find that you cannot pay your taxes, you have options. You must file a return, in order to avoid a penalty, and then request a payment plan from the IRS. By estimating your tax obligation a...
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In order to be valid, your federal income tax return must be signed. There are special rules that apply in certain cases when the taxpayer cannot sign. Third-party designees, representatives, and pa...
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Types of income that are not reported on a specific line of your federal income tax return are included in the line for "Other Income". There are different rules that apply for determining the amount...
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For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) could be treated as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation, depending on the number of members and the election ...
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When you are planning for your retirement, you can refer to the statement you receive from the Social Security Administration, which includes a record of your earnings during your working life, and an...
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There are different methods for calculating depreciation on your business assets for book purposes, including units of production, straight-line and declining balance. The rules could be different fo...
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The earned income credit is a tax benefit for people who work and earn less than a certain limit amount. If you have qualifying children the credit is higher. This is a refundable credit and you mus...
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Persons temporarily in the U.S. under certain classes of visas are exempt from the social security tax. Other persons may be exempt under international agreements. There is a way of recovering taxes...
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Investing in shares of foreign companies offers the opportunity to diversify your portfolio and possibly earn significant returns. There are different ways to do it, such as mutual funds, exchange tr...
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Federal income tax aspects to take into account after a divorce or separation include your filing status, the exemptions you can claim for dependents, and the taxability of support payments. It may b...
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Generally you do not have to pay income tax on the proceeds you receive as a beneficiary from a life insurance policy upon the death of the insured. There are special rules for installment payments, ...
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Through a commitment to the environment, alignment of the entire organization, a philosophy and strategy of reduce, reuse, and recycle, and investments that are recovered through cost savings, the Sub...
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In a tenancy in common, each co-owner owns a percentage of the overall real estate property, and participates in the management of the property. The co-owners can sell their individual shares of owne...
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Form 1099-MISC is a tax information return for certain payments made in the course of your business or occupation that have to be reported to the recipient and to the IRS. It includes rents, royaltie...
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The labor law requires you to pay time and a half for overtime hours. Certain classes of workers are exempt from this requirement, based on their duties and responsibilities. It's important to revie...
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By purchasing the most efficient vehicle you can, limiting the use of the vehicle by planning your way of life and the trips you make, keeping the vehicle in optimal condition, and driving efficiently...
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When you're thinking about refinancing your mortgage loan, it's important to know the costs of refinancing, clearly understand the terms of the new loan, and to evaluate your personal situation, such ...
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SPDRs are negotiable instruments traded on the stock exchange that represent a basket of stocks that follow the S&P 500 index, or a sector. They are part of the indexed funds, or ETFs. SPDRs offer d...
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Global warming means big challenges for businesses, where they will have to adapt their strategies in order to face significant changes in supply and demand, in costs, in regulations, and in order to ...
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Incluso cuando su negocio es rentable y está creciendo, puede enfrentar una falta de liquidez de repente. Al gestionar sus ingresos y egresos en forma eficiente, usando métodos práctic...
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Hay distintas opciones de financiamiento para el pequeño empresario, incluyendo tarjetas de crédito del negocio, líneas de crédito, préstamos a plazo, y préstamos garanti...
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Empezar un negocio propio significa dedicar mucho tiempo y trabajo, pero se puede empezar a planificar y desarrollar el negocio antes de dejar el empleo que tiene. Se puede aprovechar su experiencia ...
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El diseño y construcción de un edificio verde, o la renovación de un edificio existente para incorporar aspectos verdes, ayuda al medio ambiente y también genera importantes ventaj...
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Cuando se diseña para la manufacturabilidad se puede facilitar el proceso de producción, ahorrando costos al eliminar errores y fabricando productos que cumplen los requerimientos de los cli...
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Al estar consciente de la elasticidad de la demanda, puede saber cómo un cambio en los precios de su producto va a afectar sus ingresos de ventas y así puede tomar decisiones en su estrategi...
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Al abrir una cuenta corriente bancaria es importante elegir el tipo de cuenta que sea la más adecuada, según sus necesidades. Es posible que puede evitar cargos innecesarios. Y al tener cl...
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Cuando quiere exportar sus productos a un distribuidor en el extranjero, es importante tener un acuerdo por escrito que señala todos los términos y condiciones convenidos acerca del producto...
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El Sistema Armonizado de la Organización Mundial de Aduanas es un sistema de clasificación de los productos que se comercian internacionalmente. Es importante conocer el código para de...
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