After Busy Season, Accountants Get a Well-Deserved Tax Break

The Dallas news wrote up a great article on how those of us working in the tax industry get to finally take a sigh of relief, now that tax season is over. You can find a snippet of the post below, but the full story can be read here.

As we breathe a sigh of relief now that we finally filed our taxes, another group is also breathing easier:

The accountants and tax preparers who have worked all-nighters and weekends and skipped family functions to process the endless piles of tax returns.

For them, tax time is taxing.

Today, many are sleeping in, hung over or jetting off on vacation.

Before April 16, never ask accountants how they're doing, James A. Smith advises.

But today is a different story, a fresh start for tax preparers across the land who've scanned hundreds, if not thousands, of returns.

"You suddenly feel a little bit lighter," said Smith, a certified public accountant in Dallas. "Even though you're exhausted, you can breathe this big, deep breath and let it out there and let go of the stress and tension.

"You don't feel you weigh as much as you did five minutes ago."

Across the country, firms organize celebratory buffets, picnics and cocktail parties for their employees for a job well done and to mark the end of the so-called busy season.

Tax preparers polled by the National Association of Tax Professionals said they often take it easy for a couple of days after April 15.

One firm closes down at noon and employees rent a limo and go out for lunch. Many go on vacation, although one tax preparer said she takes a break before tax season so she can remember the beach when she's working late at night.

Last night, employees at Sibley & Co. in Dallas were planning to head out for hamburgers.

The firm will be closed today and Friday to help employees recover. They are "just flat tired," said Ken Sibley, the firm's founder. He's taking his wife to Florida for a week – and he plans to sleep on the plane.

"We have been working an average of 12 to 15 hours a day for six days a week and a lot more than I would want to on Sundays," Sibley said. "It's just been very, very intense."

During Tom Ochsenschlager's first tax season, a manager described the process as running an "intellectual marathon."

Top 10 Places to Visit in Hawaii

Over the past few weeks leading up to the election, I have been extremely busy doing media appearances about the candidate’s tax policies. Combined with the October filing extension, and a busy franchise-selling season, it has made for a very hectic few months. Fortunately, things should be slowing down over the next few weeks and I should be able to visit one of my favorite places in the world – Hawaii. As much as I love to go to the islands, I really love talking about them and telling those who are just about to make the trek on where they must go. So, below, please find my list of the top 10 places to visit in Hawaii.

1. Lanikai Beach

Translated into English Lanikai means "heavenly sea," which is exactly what it is. Locals and visitors alike marvel at the picture perfect white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. The beach is perfect for photography, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, or just relaxing and enjoying the magnificent view.

2. Hilo

Hilo is a coastal Hawaiian town with something for everyone. This town features multiple museums, a beautiful historic theatre, and downtown area filled with shops and attractions. The area also has dazzling waterfalls, and the only United States zoo situated within an actual rainforest (the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo).

3. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, situated on Big Island, is one of the most visited spot in the entire state of Hawaii. It has trails for hiking, beautiful sights to photograph, and two record holding volcanoes. Kilauea is the world’s most active volcano and Mauna Loa is the world’s largest volcano.

4. Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge

In a comfortable 203 acres of land on the North shore of Kilauea, the Kilauea National wildlife refuge is the place to go when you want to see and learn about Hawaii's exotic wildlife. You might see Hawaii’s state bird (the nene), or even catch a glimpse of a humpback whale off the shore.

5. Molokini

The Molokini island is widely known for having the clearest waters in Hawaii, and offers from 80 to 200 feet of crystal clear waters. This also makes Molokini the location for Hawaii's best and most beautiful snorkeling. You can either rent a boat to take you further out, or you can just snorkel off the coast. Either way you are likely to witness a beautiful display of sea life.

6. Waimea Canyon

Mark Twain once called this beautiful canyon in Koke's State Park the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Over 3,600 feet depth, a mile wide, and 10 miles long, this canyon is both inspiring and stunning in its mass and beauty. Besides the obvious size, the canyon also has brilliantly colored inner walls that play in the sunlight creating a truly spectacular view.

7. Waikiki

With beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and trails, Waikiki offers all the grander of nature that other Hawaiian islands boast. It also has great shopping opportunities including fine art, custom jewelry, designer clothing, and local music. Waikiki is the perfect place to find souvenirs for your friends back home, or to purchase beautiful Hawaiian décor for yourself.

8. Gardens of Kauai

The island of Kauai, known as the garden island, will leave you breathless from the moment you set eyes on it. Hundreds of flowers, trees, streams and water falls will all catch your attention simultaneously, making the visit a true experience of the beauty and spirit of Hawaii.

9. Haleakala

Haleakala is not only one of the largest mountains in the world, but it is also a massive dormant volcano. Seen from miles away, Haleakala is hard to miss, and even harder to look away from. Many locals suggest taking a sunset bike ride, or power walk, down the mountain for a healthy and stunning evening activity.

10. Polynesian Cultural Center

It should be no surprise that the Polynesian Cultural Center makes the list. Every visitor of Hawaii should visit this culture-rich center to not only learn about the island and local inhabitants, but the center also hosts one of most authentic luaus in Hawaii.

Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii

As some of you may already know, I “heart” Hawaii. However, like most other people working in the tax industry I have not been able to get away since tax season begun. So to help all the tax professionals and accounts that are planning their post-tax season vacation, I compiled the following list of the top 10 things to do in Hawaii.

However, just because you do not work in the tax industry do not think this article does not apply to you. May is just a few days away, and that means the IRS is going to begin sending economic stimulus checks shortly. If you are wondering what to do with this “free money,” or if you have not yet spent your tax refund, then consider taking a relaxing vacation to one of the most relaxing places in the world.

1. Go Surfing
It is probably no surprise to anyone who has seen my Halloween costume that I love surfing! Hawaii is the perfect place to surf as all of the islands get decent waves and some can be as large as 30 feet.

2. Relax on a Beach
Hawaii is known around the world for it’s beautiful sandy beaches and sapphire water. Although some of the beaches may get crowded during peak seasons, if you do a little hunting then you can probably find a quite place to relax on the beach.

3. Attend a Polynesian Luau
No trip to Hawaii is complete without attending an authentic Polynesian luau. Even if you do not like kālua pork, a luau is still an exciting experience as they often feature music and dancing in addition to a wide variety of authentic foods.

4. Go Snorkeling
When planning your trip to Hawaii, make sure you bring your snorkel and fins! Molokini is considered the most popular snorkeling site in Hawaii as it has clear water with swarms of beautiful fish. However, there are dozens of other good snorkeling sites if your prefer something more exclusive.

5. Play Golf
Hawaii is known all over the world for their top-notch golf courses. There are nearly 100 different courses on the Hawaiian Islands, with locations ranging from deep in the rainforest to coral sea cliffs.

6. Go Volcano Watching
The Hawaiian Islands are filled with both dormant and active volcanoes that are beautiful see and exciting to visit. The Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island and features the most active volcanoes and dozens of tour opportunities.

7. Take a Helicopter Tour
By taking a helicopter tour of one of the islands you will be able to experience it in an all-new way, from hundreds of feet above. You will be overwhelmed by the beautiful the scenery is and how much of the island you can see in a relatively short amount of time.

8. Visit Pearl Harbor
Honoring the lives of those who were lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor is a must for any one who visits the Hawaiian Islands. You can view the USS Arizona in her final resting place by visiting the museum and monument that allows you to look through the glass floor to view the sunken ship.

9. Dolphin Convocation
During the first week of May each year, large amounts of dolphins gather near Oahu Island, swimming in a gigantic wheel or spiral pattern. No one knows exactly why this happens. You can join Hawaiian marine biologists this spring as they venture out to observe and research this strange phenomenon.

10. Take a Bike Ride
There are plenty of good bike trails throughout the Hawaiian Islands and places you can easily rent a bike for a few hours. But always remember to pack ample water and diluted juices as the heat and physical activity can easily dehydrate the novice biker.

For more information, check out Go Hawaii.com.

Disney Planning New Resort in Hawaii

According to Radio New Zealand, the Walt Disney Company has announced plans to build a new resort on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu scheduled to open sometime in 2011. Disney has purchased over 21 acres of oceanfront property, where they plan to build a resort set to include 800 hotel rooms and villas. This new Hawaiian resort will help expand Disney’s Vacation Club, their new time share business.

Hawaii Hotel Occupancy Plunges

According to Pacific Business News, hotel occupancy has fallen below the two-thirds mark throughout the Hawaiian Islands. During a seven day period spanning May 5th through May 12th, Statewide hotel occupancy slid down to only 58.8%. This represents a staggering 16.9% dip from the same week last year. The last time the occupancy rates fell below 59% was back in December of 2004. Hotel occupancy in Hawaii was actually lower than the national rate of 64.8%.