Starting on July 1, 2010, you can recycle that old, second fridge and turn it into something cool.

Did you know your second refrigerator or freezer costs up to $150 a year to run? Why not save that money and spend it on something you really enjoy. Recycle that old second refrigerator or freezer in your garage or basement. We’ll pick it up for free and give you a $30 rebate. You’ll save energy, money and help keep these materials out of landfills.

To qualify you must be a National Grid electric customer in Upstate New York and own the units for pick-up. In addition, your refrigerator or freezer must be:

• Between 10 and 30 cubic feet using inside measurements.
• For refrigerators, must be the second refrigerator and not the primary refrigerator.
• Clean, empty and in working order at the time of pick-up.
• Accessible with a clear path for removal by contractor*.

Each participating household is limited to pick-up and rebates for two units. The refrigerator or freezer must be picked up at your National Grid electric service address.

Enroll online or call 1-877-691-0021 to schedule a pickup.

Effective January 1, 2010, the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit[1] is available to eligible employers who employ no more than 25 full-time[2] equivalent employees and pay at least 50% of health insurance premiums for their employees under a “qualifying arrangement”.[3] Rates of credit for years 2010-2013 for small businesses and nonprofit organizations are 35% and 25% of health insurance premiums that the employers pay for their employees, respectively. Starting in 2014, the credit for small businesses and nonprofit organizations will increase to 50% and 35%, respectively.

This credit is subject to two phase outs:

i) Between 10 and 25 full-time equivalent[4] employees;

ii) Average annual wages[5] of employees between $25,000 and $50,000.

Each qualified employer[6] may claim this credit for four years starting with its tax year beginning in 2010. For tax years beginning after 2013, small employers must purchase health insurance coverage for their employees through an exchange in order to claim this credit for an additional two consecutive years. The IRS will be providing further guidance for nonprofit organizations to claim this credit.

New Tax Incentives for Employers

he recently enacted HIRE Act provides two new tax incentives to employers^[1] to encourage hiring certain unemployed individuals, “qualified employees”, in 2010.

Payroll Tax Exemption

Employers who hire qualified employees between February 4, 2010 and December 31, 2010 will be exempt from the employer’s share of Social Security taxes (the 6.2% on wages paid) for these qualified employees for the period of March 19, 2010 to December 31, 2010.  Employers will claim this payroll tax exemption on the new IRS Form 941 starting with the 2^nd quarter of the year.

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