They say a first-class education is its own reward.

But if you're a home based or small business operator, the HBO Tax Academy just upped the ante by offering a course of study that promises to put serious cash in your pocket every year.

Now THAT's rewarding.

Launched on Oct. 1 of this year, the HBO Tax Academy program is already garnering rave reviews. It's a unique seven-hour course designed to teach Canadian small business owners how to legally, morally and ethically maximize their tax position. This levels the playing field in the tax game by providing a playbook that no one has had before.

"Its not about how much you make, its about how much you keep… the more you know, the less you owe," smiled second-generation Calgarian Tom Birchall, one of the company’s first representatives and member of the HBO Tax Academy's Canadian launch team.

Tom Birchall says an investment in the HBO Tax Academy course will reap dividends for small-business owners.

"By taking our course and implementing the strategies, the average small business operator can increase his legitimate annual deductions by as much as $14,000 a year," he continued. "And that can translate to an additional $4,000 to $5,000 in pocket on an annual ongoing basis."

There are almost 65,000 small businesses operating in Edmonton and Calgary alone. These proprietors are experts in their chosen fields. But the vast majority of these energetic entrepreneurs tend to trust others to calculate their income taxes.

They dutifully report to their accountants each year, laden with a sheaf of records and receipts.

But how many such operators truly comprehend, and what is more, actually take advantage of the vast range of permissible deductions that can directly apply to their own tax return?

Mr. Birchall indicates, "what we find is the number is surprisingly small." That means it's time to head back to school, in the comfort of your own home or office.

Authored by one of only a handful of experts formerly certified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to train tax auditors, this program has been specifically tailored to province-specific Canadian tax law.

And it comes in seven, easy-to-digest bites: Each lesson, or module, is encapsulated on a
single CD or cassette, and summarized in an accompanying course manual. As students proceed through lessons, they can join the series of conference calls with HBO Tax Academy's national network of Certified Accountants.

Questions and issues pertaining to the lesson at hand may be raised with the experts.

This lends a personal touch to a one-of-a-kind learning experience.

Each module deals with a specific area of interest. Take the matter of entertainment expenses as an example. Were you aware that, under certain specific
circumstances, it is permissible under Canadian tax law to claim a 100 per cent deduction for employee entertainment expenses?

Mr. Birchall validates that it's so, while assuring you that countless such gems of information will be revealed in each module.

He and his colleagues at HBO Tax Academy believe small business operators make a serious error when they presume their accountant takes care of their taxes.

"Who is responsible for your health? Is it you or your doctor?" Mr. Birchall asked. "Who is responsible for the care of your automobile? Is it you or is it your mechanic?"

Clearly, the responsibility for tax-related education lies with you – the small business owner.

If you are looking for a way to save taxes, you definitely want to check out this program. Where can you find a product that pays for itself!? What’s more, if you are
looking for an additional profit centre that is non-competitive and complementary to what you are already doing, give this program a serious look as they are expanding.

Their compensation plan is very attractive and they are having a lot of fun educating people in the tax game. Either way, there is significant benefit for you!

The HBO Tax Academy program provides subscribers with a detailed diary, enabling them to maintain a firm grip on their bookkeeping procedures and business expenses on a day-by-day basis. It's accompanied by a user-friendly software package that allows users to organize and print their monthly reports. At the end of the year, it's a simple matter to drop off this concise bundle to your accountant.

“Out with the shoebox, in with an organized portfolio. What accountant would argue with that?” smiles Mr. Birchall.

But there's yet another service subscribers to HBO Tax Academy will find invaluable: free legal advice.

In the complex field of business and income tax, legal situations arise from time to time. When they do, a quick call to HBO Tax Academy’s national network of attorneys can save time, money and stress. The one-time fee is a fraction of the average yearly savings, by the way, and includes the legal program and future updates to the course material.

As your tax savings pile up in future years, this program will prove to be your shrewdest investment ever. To seek information on this unique Canadian program or inquire about their U.S. program, phone 403.731.7900, call toll-free 1.877.933.7900 or e-mail lesstaxes@telus.net.

Or take the time to browse the program website: www.lesstaxes.hboacademy.ca. (The sites are being administered and will stabilize by the end of the month.)

Remember, every tax dollar you save means another loonie to jingle in your jeans. And that's music to anyone's ears.