The Internal Revenue Service announced a special telephone line for taxpayers affected by the Gulf oil spill. Individuals who have questions about BP payments or who are experiencing filing or payment hardships because of the oil spill should contact the IRS at 866-562-5227. The special services phone line will operate weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $30 million in funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations will be made available to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new technologies. The deadline for submission of applications is August 4 at 8 p.m. EST. For more information, click HERE.