 Pregnancy Disability Leave

Effective January 1, 2012, all employers with 5 or more employees must continue to maintain and pay health insurance coverage under a group health plan for eligible employees who are on Pregnancy Disability Leave up to a maximum of 4 months in a 12 month period. SB299

 Notice of Pay Details

The Wage Theft Prevention Act goes into effect on January 1, 2012. Employers are required to provide non-exempt employees, at the time of hire, a written notice that specifies (1) the rate of pay and the basis, including any overtime rate; (2) allowances, including meal and lodging allowances; (3) the regular pay day designated by the employer as required under the Labor Code; (4) the name of the employer, including any “doing business as” names; (5) the physical address of the employer’s main office or principal place of business and any mailing address, if different; (6) the telephone number of the employer; (7) the name, address and telephone number of the employer’s workers’ compensation carrier. If any change is made to the information, employers must notify employees of the change in writing within seven calendar days after the time a change was made. AB469

 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

By January 31, 2012, most private-sector employers must post a new poster provided by the NLRB which provides information about unionizing and the employee’s right to strike. The poster must be displayed on an 11”x17” poster in a conspicuous location.

 Written Commission Agreement

By January 1, 2013, employers who have commission pay arrangements must have the arrangement expressed in a signed written contract and it must state the method of computation and payment. Therefore, employers have one year to be in full compliance. AB1396

信託的主要功用，是避免後人要通過法庭「認證」(Probate) 手續. 「認證」除了要花錢和花時間外，還會失去私隱權；此外，信託可指定將來透過信託，去保留夫婦各自遺產免稅額.

信託的好處包括:

• 避免法庭認證之手續，昂貴花費及防止遺產長期凍結之不便，可迅速分配遺產.
• 有隱密性，遺產資料不會像遺囑一樣成為公共記錄.
• 可以充分利用減免稅額之利，只繳納最低的聯邦稅和州稅.

要記得，　單單設立了生前信託是不夠的，　因為如果產業沒有放入生前信託，便取不到生前信託的好處.　將產業「放入」生前信託只要將房屋的契改為由信託的受託人身分擁有而受託人通常是即信託人.

有哪些財產要放入生前信託?

如果您想獲得設立生前信託的好處（避免遺產認證及節省聯邦遺產稅）您應該把大部份的財產放入信託.  通常包括不動產, 商業利益, 保險與年金, 退休帳戶, 基金, 股票以及金融機構帳戶.

生前信託有包含那些文件?

信託的規劃通常包括以下文件：可撤銷的生前信託, 傾注遺囑, 持久授權書, 以及醫療護健指示.

有了生前信託為什麼還要遺囑?

傾注遺囑是為了防止無遺囑或信托的財產.  萬一產業忘記「放入」生前信託, 傾注遺囑的作用是將没有放入生前信托的资產,將來都按生前信托條款處理.  傾注遺囑和生前信托是一致的, 就是把死者死時未能放入生前信託的某些財產「倒入」生前信託中, 根據生前信託的分配以及受託人管理.

生前信託需要更新嗎?

 您應該每隔幾年或在發生以下情況時修改生前信託:

• 結婚
• 離婚
• 生育或收養孩子和孫子
• 經濟鑽狀況有所改變

即使您沒有經歷過任何這些事件，加州和聯邦稅收法律也許有所改變影響您的規劃，所以還是每隔幾年應該重新評估您的生前信託計劃.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this handout is provided solely for information purposes and is considered attorney advertising.  The information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship between you and Chang & Cote, LLP or any of its attorneys or an offer to create such an attorney-client relationship.  The information contained herein is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up-to-date.  It should NOT be relied upon or construed as legal advice.  You should not act or elect not to act based upon this information.

IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLAIMER: To ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, any tax advice provided in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the recipient or any other taxpayer (i) for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the recipient or any other taxpayer, or (ii) in promoting, marketing or recommending to another party a partnership or other entity, investment plan, arrangement or other transaction addressed herein.

以下是幾個近期已生效或將在2011年生效的新勞工法侓

• Workers’ Compensation Notice Requirements

工傷通知更新

The posting and notice requirements were amended to require additional information about Managed Professional Networks (MPNs).  Employers with MPNS that provide treatment for workers’ compensation claims must display the required workers’ compensation poster as well as additional information about the MPNs the employer uses.

 加州工傷賠賞局已更新“工傷通知”Notice to Employees—Injuries Caused by Work DWC 7 (6/10).  所有加州的雇主從10月8日2010年必須張貼此更新的通知 “Notice to Employees-Injuries Caused by Work DWC 7(6/10)” 在一個顯眼又員工經常能看到的地方. 如果沒有遵守10月的期限, 能導致罰款高達$7,000.00. 提醒所有雇主記的遵守這10月8日2010的期限. 該通知附於本法侓訊息.  如有任何問題請和我們聯繫. 

• Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Leave

器官和骨髓捐贈假期

California employers with 15 or more employees must now provide the following paid leaves to employees who choose to donate organs or bone marrow:

• Organ Donors:  must be provided a 30 workday leave of absence in any one-year period.
• Bone Marrow Donors: must be provided a leave of absence up to 4 workdays in any one-year period.

加州雇主有15個以上的員工必須提供以下的帶新假期:

• 器官捐贈者：在任何一年時間雇主必須提供30個工作日帶新假期.
• 骨髓捐贈者：在任何一年時間雇主必須提供4個工作日帶新假期.

• Payroll Tax Changes for 2011

工資稅的變化

All California employers will be required to report the Unemployment Insurance, Employment Training Tax, State Disability Insurance contributions, and Personal Income Tax withholdings quarterly on Form DE-9 instead of annually on the Annual Reconciliation Statement (DE-7). 

 所有加州的雇主將被要求每一季報告失業保險，就業培訓稅務，國家殘疾保險金，和個人所得稅在表格的DE -9，而不是每年的年度對帳表（DE- 7）.

•  Heat Illness Regulations Revised

Effective November 4, 2010, Cal-OSHA revised its Heat Illness Prevention standards.  The revisions relate to shade and other safety standards, including changes to training requirements for both supervisory and non-supervisory employees.  More information can be found at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/HIP.pdf.

 從2010年11月4日開始，Cal-OSHA修改了Heat Illness Prevention的標準。這些修改涉及樹蔭和其他安全標準，包括對培訓需求的變化為監督和非監督人員。更多信息可在http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/HIP.pdf網站.

• IRS Standard Mileage for 2011

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 51 cents per mile for business miles driven.

 從2011年1月1日開始, 美國國稅局規定所有為公司運用汽車(包含客貨車以及卡車)的里程標準將為每英里 $0.51.

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this page is provided solely for information purposes and is considered attorney advertising.  The information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship between you and Chang & Cote, LLP or any of its attorneys or an offer to create such an attorney-client relationship.  The information contained herein is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up-to-date.  It should NOT be relied upon or construed as legal advice.  You should not act or elect not to act based upon this information.

IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLAIMER: To ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, any tax advice provided in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the recipient or any other taxpayer (i) for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the recipient or any other taxpayer, or (ii) in promoting, marketing or recommending to another party a partnership or other entity, investment plan, arrangement or other transaction addressed herein.

To obtain the visa, individuals must invest at least $500,000, creating at least 10 jobs. By investing in certain qualified investments or regional centers with high unemployment rates, the required investment amount is $500,000.

The Immigrant Investor Pilot Program was created by Section 610 of Public Law 102-395 on October 6, 1992. This was in accordance to a Congressional mandate aimed at stimulating economic activity and job growth, while allowing eligible aliens the opportunity to become lawful permanent residents. This “Pilot Program” required only $500,000 of investment in exchange for permanent resident status. The investment could only be received by an economic unit defined as a Regional Center.

A Regional Center is defined by any economic unit, public or private, engaged in the promotion of economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation and increased domestic capital investment. Prior law required the investment in the Regional Center to generate an increase in export sales, however statutory amendments in 2000 and 2002 no longer require this increase.

The individual receiving the visa is not required to actively manage the business invested in. For investors who wish to invest in a new or existing business, have an active role in the management of the operation (although simply being a Limited partner in the organization that owns the business qualifies as “AN ACTIVE ROLE.”), and have at least one million US dollars to invest ($500,000 if the business is located in certain areas deemed as Rural or with very high unemployment), then the traditional EB-5 visa is the best option.

The Startup Visa Act (projected EB-6 visa), introduced in Congress in 2010 and subsequently in 2011, is planning to use unallocated numbers from the EB-5 visa.

One of the approved EB-5 Regional Center projects is the California Military Bases (CMB) Geographic Area, covering former military bases located in San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, CA.  Allowed activities are redevelopment and rebuilding of former military bases.

The workshop will address legal issues for businessmen including employer/employee law, intellectual property protection for trademarks, copyrights or patents, and cost efficient alternative dispute resolution remedies such as arbitration and mediation. Personal issues include the benefits of estate planning such as creating a family trust, family law for divorce, support and custody issues, immigration for travel, work or permanent residency (green card), and real estate law including the perils of purchasing residential or commercial property, handling landlord/tenant disputes, pending foreclosures, and short sale strategies.

All questions and answers can be presented in both English and Mandarin.
For information about the speaking attorneys go to www.changcote.com.; www.Yarmoski.com;  www.dkriosfamilylaw.com.

Attorney Albert J. C. Chang speaking on the topic of How to Take Advantage of the 2011 New Estate and Gift Tax Law.

On February 19, 2011, Albert J. C. Chang of Chang & Coté, LLP and Tina Chiang, CPA joined a client appreciation dinner invited by Morgan Stanley.

During this appreciation dinner, Attorney Albert J. C. Chang, Tina Chiang, CPA and Sean Yu of Morgan Stanley chose the various topics including “How to Take Advantage of the 2011 New Estate and Gift Tax Law”, “2011 new tax regulations” and “Market Trend for 2011”.