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purchasing mt equipment/filing taxes...& getting started, Help?

Posted By: newbieneedshelp on 2007-01-21
In Reply to: It is normal to have to purchase your own - equipment unless the company you work for

Thank you; I live somewhat remote so I appreciate your help! I am excited at the opportunity to get started in this business. I am just a bit concerned that I would make this huge financial investment up front, but its a risk I guess worth taking, because I want to do this. Can I ask, what tax form do you file, and do you find that the business balances itself out; in other words, do you have to end up paying a lot in taxes, or do the expenses balance it out? Also, anyone: advice for a newbie: how do you recommend starting out, when it is so slow in the beginning due to programming macros, auto texting, and looking up every other word when you're first starting out??


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Purchasing Lanier Equipment
I just purchased a Lanier Transcriber from Transcribe Solutions.
To get info regarding purchasing Lanier equipment
This was on the Classified board

Ranzy Luster ranzy@grandecom.net

Question about filing taxes- do I need W2
I got my W2 and accidentally shredded it. Tried to get from my company replacement and not getting anywhere there. My question is can I go back through my bank acct, find out exactly what I received and write it down and file or do I have to turn in an actual statement from the company? Anyone know? Thanks.
Anybody started their 2005 taxes yet? How many W-2s or 1099s
will you be getting?  Seven for me.  I hope they're all here within a reasonable amount of time.  My taxes are going to be difficult to do this year as we have a lot of itemized deductions we can take.
Before I started my own business, worked in a hospital in-house with taxes taken out & then went hom
was getting with shift differential 23.80 when I left. Your pay seems extremely low, you could make more as an IC seriously.
If I were you, I'd hold off on purchasing anything sm
until you find a position with a company as many (if not most) companies will supply you with the pedal and software. All you would need to do is plug the pedal into your computer. The companies usually will install the software for you via your phone line or will send you a CD, whatever.

USB is the type of "plug." It's small, about a quarter-inch wide and has a little design on it with a circle, an arrow that points to the plug, and a little square.

The other type of pedal outlet has the little pins inside. You will need to count the little pins to find out what kind you have.

Good luck to you!

When purchasing a used copy...sm

Be sure to have the person that sold it to you notify Textware Solutions that they are no longer using it and that you are now the license owner. This will allow you to take advantage of all the benefits of being the license owner such as discounted upgrades, free tech support, etc.


 


filing unemployment

Here is what I know of it.  I currently reside in FL.  My husband has been laid off off and on for the last year.  He called FL to file unemployment.  They walk you thru a whole interview to determine your work history.  It is called "opening a file." The majority of his work over the past 36 months was from when we lived in MI.  So right now, when he files unemployment it is filed in MI.  He was told when he called MI that he is covered there until April.  When you call YOUR state and talk to them, they will walk you thru the whole thing to determine where you actually file.  We were lucky that he was covered in MI because he had less than 9 months full time work in FL and was not eligible for unemployment here. 


I am sorry about being laid-off.  It is a struggle and it is something I deal with all too much with the hubby. 


Don't even THINK about purchasing Speedtype. There are absolutely no

medical words whatsoever and you have to add everything.  Why in the world would the AAMT support this product and not any of the others? I spent over 160.00 on this product and my productivity has increased by ZERO.


I emailed for a refund and have heard nothing. I just hope that when I go to "resell" it they allow me with their licensing regulations!


Now I have to spend an extra 200.00 for InstantText which I should have purchased in the beginning - Can you imagine? 500.00 in the hole just to find which expander is best for you??/ I am highly livid right now. 


 



How do you like the program? I am interested in purchasing it. *nm*
x
For that amt of $, I'd be filing suit. I can't believe you're going to

Filing as couple, pay over $400 per year
at H&R but the reason we have them done there is husband is union and the person doing them much aware of union deductions, lots doing them are not and also we itemize as before had 3 properties (2 rentals, 1 our living place) and we always got back quite a bit and then with my home office and work expenses I can take off, last year I think we got back close to $10,000 so worth it to us.
Computer Purchasing Suggestions!
I have posted this before, but not for a while. To me, one of my biggest hurdles to leave MQ was the computer issue. I had another one of my own, but it was a dinosaur relic. I absolutely had zero money to pay for one in full, and my credit cards were melted.  So, you have 2 very viable reliable options. QVC and HSN.  QVC specializes in Dell, HSN Gateway.  I have desktop PCs from both, and they all were great. I do not recommend laptops from either, though.  They both offer easy monthly payments on select computers. Sometimes the selections change daily, other times weekly. If you browse on line and see a computer you like, below the ad it will even say when a show may be running, and on that day there will be lots more choices. You can shop online and see which ones are on Easy Pay with QVC or Flex Pay with HSN.  They sell really nice models, and for usually around $600 to $800, you can get a fully-loaded great computer with flat screen monitor, printer/scanner, the works and they divide it into 6 to 8 payments for you. All you need is a debit card.  Even a brand new customer qualifies for these payment plans.  It saved me, literally, and enabled me to apply and get several IC jobs and get my life and happiness and freedom and money back again! Yet I could never have afforded to buy a computer any other way at that sad time in my life.  Just in case some are thinking this is an obstacle, please check this out. With both Dell and Gateway, you get your own personalized service # as well, not the one regular customers get, and the service was great, the rare times I needed help. We've purchased computers for the whole family this way. 
executor is responsible for filing the return.
As far as taxes due, no one else is responsible for those taxes - it should come out of the estate. I don't know how much money is involved, but if it is in any way significant, I would hire myself a tax attorney post haste.


however, and you didn't hear this from me...I wouldn't give Bush one more red cent.
purchasing computers with customer service in US?
okay.here it goes.  I thought it might be worth asking if anyone know of any companies that sell computers where you don't have to go through customer service outside of the US?   TIA. 
They should provide software. I can see purchasing pedals that
s
I'm talking corporate restructuring as in filing a new DBA soon, anticipating
bankruptcy and restructuring under a different corporate name.  It's done all the time in the corporate world. 
Combined filing jointly (2 incomes) over 150K. nm
x
Will filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and District Attorney do me any good if a sm
I live in a different state than her.  Also the amount is less than $100.  Thanks.
You have your W2 showing very clearly those taxes were paid. MQ is responsible for those taxes
because you were a statutory employee. That is the responsibility of the employer to pay those just as though you were an employee.
As an IC when paying taxes, are SS and fed taxes sent SM
to the same place?
THANK YOU! That is my point. She still pays taxes, her DH still pays taxes...

so who exactly is getting cheated?  And just who are you talking about when you talk about whether it is "fair" or not.  I don't give a crap how much taxes my neighbor pays.  It's none of my business.  And if I found out they were paying less in taxes than me, I would ask them how they heck are they doing it so I can do it too!


I just want ask, is it necessary to get personal and insult?  You disagree with me, fine.  But I've been called a liar, a cheat, a no-ingetrity thief, my intelligence has been insulted, and I have had my parenting skills questioned.  That is a little over the top.  If you cannot debate an issue without resulting to personal attacks, then YOU are the stunted one!


It is a very good thing that some of you work at home, ALONE!  You are sorely lacking in people skills and diplomacy.  Let me guess, when you worked in the office you were one of those girls who didn't like to share her desk, griped if someone dropped a crumb on your desk, and kept track of everyone's breaks, lunches, and line counts just so you could tattle to the supervisor!  I've worked women like you, it was like working with kindergarteners.  That's why I came home to work.  Do us all a favor, looking in the mirror, count your wrinkles, and realize that this isn't high school anymore!


If not in your state, try filing in THEIR state. Then they
nm
equipment

I have done some research and are willing to share if you want to E-mail me and maybe between the three of us we can figure this out as I have 3 different accounts that I want to switch over to digital.  So E-mail me and we can share info.


 


Patti -- pjsword@aol.com


Equipment
We currently use the Audioworxs system and have it hosted by Gacela Group for our tech support. I'd be happy to answer any specific questions about the system. For more information you might check out the website at www.gacelagroup.com.


Equipment
My doc wanted to go digital so I had him purchase the equipment. If you purchase you are responsible for repairs and such.
IC DO pay for their own equipment, etc.
Poster doesn't say what the situation is but you're wrong to state that you don't pay for your tools to do work--I'm an IC and it's my responsibility to have what I need to do the work.
Example of EMR equipment - what do you think? sm

Does anyone have a doctor who is already using something like this:  http://www.mdtablet.com/demo.asp


I have such mixed feelings about this (EMR).  On one hand, I think the technology is awesome, and I think it makes so much of sense to have our medical info. available electronically (pretty much immediately) instead of a doctor having to request a hard copy and wait for it to be mailed or whatever (like when you change PCP doctors or go to a specialist or whatever). 


On the other hand, is every doctor going to be running around with one of these handheld devices in his/her pocket, with all this medical info. on people?  What if they lose it?  How secure and accurate is the info. really?  And of course I won't even go into the effect EMR will have on our jobs as MTs. 


BTW, I saw this "MD Tablet" thing in the background when I was watching a story on Nightline.  The story was about how the super rich in America are pretty much oblivious to the state of the economy, and still carry on with their usual lifestyle, spending money lavishly.  No cutbacks for them to worry about.  The one rich guy they were showing is involved in this MD Tablet product. Ever feel like, as MTs, we are sooo on the wrong side of things?  LOL


equipment
Because QAs often have a better equipment.
Not because they know more, they HEAR it better. But not all of them.
The core problem in this profession are crappy dictations and not maintaining their equipment by doctors.
Then why don't you just buy better equipment???nm

Regarding better equipment
Even without better equipment, often when they start listening to your blanks they will be plain as day.

If I have a blank toward the beginning of my report and go back to listen after finishing the report, I will many times understand it as well. There is something about hearing it out of context that makes it understandable.

This isn't always the case, (obviously sometimes it's just plain not understandable), but it happens more than you think.
Equipment
What companies provide equipment?
To all MTs, keep your equipment sm
current, same with software, keep up on today's transcription standards, don't end up like this person above who has stayed comfortable all these years and suddenly needs to find a job.
Help on equipment board please. nm
NM
There is no equipment involved.
I use my own computer. I don't use any of their stuff.
Lightning and Equipment
Had a bolt of lightning melt the components in my Dictaphone several years' ago. Had it plugged into an expensive surge protector. Dictaphone rep said I was very lucky I did not have the headphones on when it struck. Also told me if lightning strikes close enough, no surge protector can handle it.
does anyone have backup equipment?

I have a second computer available, but I'm seriously considering getting a second Dictatphone system. I've already had headsets and foot pedals go on me.


Anyone else?


Back-up equipment
I have a back-up laptop, just in case.  Good thing, too.  Just a couple of months after I got laptop, PC had to go to the shop, lol.  I don't use a call-in system but if I did, I would probably get back-up. I figure if you have the back-up stuff, just in case, you will usually never need it.  If you don't have it, you will wish you did.
Equipment For Lease
Hi! I would be doing part time transcription for two months and would need micro casette transcriber. Does anybody know if there is any company that lease transcription equipment. Thanks in advance.
Lease Equipment
Part-Timer.

Do you need a cassette transcriber. I bought one from ebay that works great. Think it was about $80.00 and never used it. Will sell it to you for the same. Or you can try EBAY.
my email:
ray-m3comsys@cox.net

Hope this helps.

ray
Equipment Donation
Does anyone know of a tax charity to donate Lanier transcription equipment?
e-bay, equipment board here, probably any

transcription equipment company. 


yes, they provide equipment. NM
x
Need help on equipment board..
/
See equipment board...
//
Basic equipment

I know I am of the "old school" but I think that you do need to have some basic equipment on hand when you are advertising to do transcription.  You don't have to have everything but a basic microcassette is not that much money.  Any account that I have gotten -- though it was years ago -- asked me what equipment I had and if I did not have what they needed --they searched elsewhere.  That is why I invested in my transcribers starting with the micro, then standard and then mini.  All accounts had me start within a week of talking with them.   Last year when I was thinking of expanding and had a couple of inquiries when they found out that I was not immediately set up to do digital -- though I told them I would buy the equipment and get set up -- did not hear back from them.  So I think you need the basics so that you are ready to go when they ask.  Since she has been working for a national already, she has her foot pedal and can do digital, just get a transcriber for the tapes --most of the smaller offices still go with the tapes.  But again, I am of the old school and have not looked for new clients for a while.  But I sure would not advertise or attempt to get accounts without the equipment and being ready to go at a minute's notice since they might use me for overflow and I could get my foot in the door.  A client does not like to hear,  I will be set up in a week for you or ten days.   Though they can say it, when they want your service and you are solicting for the business you had better be ready to do it.  Just me.


 


Equipment help -URGENT

Is anyone using the Voice Solutions DA-128?  If so, could you look at the power source and tell me the input and output voltage specs?  I recently moved and lost my transformer!  I need to find a replacement in order to work! 


Equipment question
I am about to start an internship. I am very excited but need some equipment. I would like to know if there is a good free word Expander that I could download from the internet. Also I need a foot this is the brand - Start Stop PEDAL POWER for EMDAT Inscribe®pedal. Does anyone know where I could find a good used version of the footpedal? As I have said I am just getting started and I really don't have extra funds right now to buy these but I want to be able to do my job and do it well.

Thanks.
One last equipment question. :)
Does anyone do their transcription on a laptop?  .... using a cordless keyboard, maybe?  I want to get a laptop so I can work when I travel.  This seems like it would be possible as long as I don't need a C-phone or Lanier and all work is done over the Internet.  I'm wondering what I would need to look for when shopping for a laptop, since most transcription techies seem to have no idea!
Should provide equipment for doc?sm
Am IC who does transcription for local MDs -- want to go digital - Should I purchase the equipment or should ask MD to do this??  help
Need special equipment
I did some overflow for a company that did this and it was terribly hard to hear, reception was very poor.  But I do know that you need to play the tapes onto the digital player or whatever it is called and then download to your computer, upload to the FTP site.   And the sound quality is  not good at all, at least to me it wasn't.  But good luck.