Business

The failure to file a federal tax return can be costly.

The IRS recommends that taxpayers file their return as soon as possible and offers help, even with late returns. Some things to consider:

• Penalties and interest. A delay in filing may result in a late filing penalty, as well as a late payment penalty and interest charges. The longer the delay, the more these charges grow.

Roane County’s 7.4 percent December unemployment rate may be slightly higher than reported last month, but it’s still lower than it was during the same period in 2010, according to statistics released late last week from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The state’s figures indicate the most recent posting is up 0.1 percent over November’s rate.

That means 26,080 workers in the county’s 28,160 labor force were employed in December.

Austin Dickson of Farragut understood the educational benefits of Roane State Community College’s Advanced Materials Training and Education Center when he signed up for the courses.

He wanted to learn new skills and broaden his résumé, and the AMTEC program’s classes — including Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety certification and computer skills — fit his goals.

The AT&T Authorized Retailer in Pinnacle Pointe shopping center at 1828 Roane State Hwy., Harriman, is among the stores included in a merger between Thompson Wireless and We’re Wireless.

The new company, NewWave Link, is one of the largest groups of AT&T Authorized Retailers in the U.S., with more than 80 locations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas and Virginia.

Thompson Wireless was founded in 1993 and headquartered in Hernando, Miss. We’re Wireless was founded in 1990 with headquarters in Jackson.