The week ahead

Today

U.S. financial markets closed in observance of Presidents Day.

Tuesday

President Bush meeting with European Union leaders in Brussels to open weeklong outreach.

Economic indicators: February consumer confidence.

Wednesday

Federal Reserve releases minutes of its February policymaking meeting.

Economic indicators: January consumer price index.

Thursday

Economic indicators: January durable goods.

Friday

Sentencing of C. Gregory Earls, former chief executive of U.S. Technologies, convicted of swindling $13.8 million from investors.

Economic indicators: Fourth-quarter gross domestic product, January existing home sales.

Taxes

California to test ‘Ready Returns’

California’s tax agency is moving forward with a revolutionary — some people say disturbing — concept: having the government do your taxes for you.

Instead of getting blank forms in the mail this month, a small group of taxpayers selected for a pilot program will receive a tax return that’s already filled out. All they’ll need to do is sign it, enclose a check if they owe anything, and send it back to the state.

The “Ready Return” project puts the state in uncharted territory — and in the middle of the national debate about how to go about improving the way taxes are collected.

Experts are watching with great interest to see whether California is able to begin a system that is in effect in dozens of other countries but nowhere in the United States. It ultimately could be offered to more than 3 million Californians with uncomplicated returns.

“Ready Return” has sparked an outcry among conservatives and business groups across the country. Opponents call it Big Brother at its worst. They want a simpler tax system, they say, but they don’t want the government doing their taxes for them. They worry that if the program takes off here, it could spread nationwide.

Travel

Tips improve safety, comfort on the road

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you probably could use a few tips to make it easier. The Feb. 15 issue of TravelSmart offers these:

l When traveling abroad, take your own toothpaste. While most Americans have had fluorinated municipal water for decades, many other countries don’t add it to the water. This has prompted many foreign brands to put more in the toothpaste than many of the common U.S. brands. While not a health problem, excessive amounts of fluoride for children can cause brown spots on the skin.

l Gasoline usually costs less early in the week. Petrol peddlers are no dummies: We drive more on the weekends, so pump prices are boosted on Fridays.

l Reserve a compact or economy car, when possible. Rental fleets stock more larger cars than smaller, because of demand patterns, so you’re likely to get a free upgrade if all the smaller cars are gone.

l At hotels, the third through sixth floors are safest. Thieves tend to target ground and second-floor rooms, especially those with a balcony, patio, terrace or direct pool access. Also, if there’s a fire, you’ll have a longer walk down if staying on a high floor.

TravelSmart is based in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.