TCBRN Blog

Choosing Domain Names

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Mark Giambruno, Binary Arts

Choosing a domain name (like mycompany.com) is one of the first steps in building a website. The domain name is the "address" for your online site, and is usually purchased from a domain registrar like Namecheap.com at a cost of about $8-10 per year.

I used to use GoDaddy.com, but between their horrible interface, spammy hard-sell way of doing business and their SOPA support, I finally got disgusted and transferred my domains to Namecheap; doing business with GoDaddy just wasn't worth the dollar or two per year it saved.

To determine if a domain name is already taken, try typing it in at Network Solutions' WHOIS site or the handy SWAMR site highlighted in the next section. Generally speaking, you want to have a domain name that reflects the name of your business or site. For example, my site is binaryarts3d.com because the name of my business is Binary Arts. I would have chosen binaryarts.com but that was taken. It is possible to have more than one domain name that point to the same site, though, so many businesses select something that contains likely search terms related to what they do.

For example, suppose I had a company called Giambruno Plumbing, located in Sacramento. The first thing I would check is if giambrunoplumbing.com was available, and grab it as my domain name. However, since I know that people in the area who might be searching for a plumber are likely to search for the words "Sacramento Plumber" or something similar, I can use that to create another domain name in the hopes of coming up near the top of the results for someone doing that search. Here's where a domain name search tool called SWAMR can help.

Shortly after putting together this video, the creator of SWAMR, Sindre Sorhus, removed it from his site. When I inquired about it, he very generously sent me the code, so I've hosted on Binaryarts3d.com.

mark-giambrunoABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Giambruno is the owner of Binary Arts, a Sacramento-based company providing website design, art direction and 2D/3D graphics services, and has worked on projects that range from corporate marketing campaigns to video games. He has also authored or adapted around 40 technical books and Japanese graphic novels.

 

Death and (No) Taxes

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Patrick J. Rooney, CPA

IRS Form 8939 Required by January 17, 2012.

Tax year 2010 quashed the saying “There is no sure thing but death and taxes”. Death yes, but taxes no. 2010 was the year that the estate tax went away, but only for one year. Anyone who died in 2010 paid no estate tax unless they made an election to do so. This included some billionaires like George Steinbrenner.

On the flip side, however, the decedents’ heirs could have substantial tax to pay on their inherited assets. With the estate tax gone, there was no step up in basis to fair market value at date of death. Without that step up the heirs could have large capital gains to tax upon sale of the inherited assets.

To soften the blow, Congress chose to allow a $3 million step up in basis to surviving spouses and $1.3 million to non spouses. For most estates, this is an adequate amount to avoid the capital gains tax to heirs.

Executors of the estates have to make an election to increase the basis of the assets. There is a form they need to complete, Form 8939, that is due by January 17, 2012. The form lists the assets that have appreciated as well as the assets that have gone down in value. The form goes through a step by step process to arrive at the final basis adjustment and asset values.

Right now there no extension for this form so if you had a relative or friend pass away in 2010 notify the executor of this requirement. Without the election, there will be no step up.

patrick-j-rooneyABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pat Rooney is a CPA specializing in tax preparation. You can contact him through his Fair Oaks office at (916) 961-4119 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


 

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