Tri County Bookkeepers & CPAs

Tri County Bookkeepers & CPAs Tri County Bookkeepers and CPAs is licensed in MI specializing in accounting and tax. Our Strength. Your Numbers. Accounting is what we do best.

Whether we like it or not, today's tax laws are so complicated that filing a relatively simple return can be confusing. It is just too easy to overlook deductions and credits to which you are entitled. Even if you use a computer software program there's no substitute for the assistance of an experienced tax professional. We're here to help you resolve your tax problems and put an end to the misery that the IRS can put you through. We will happily offer you a free consultation to determine how we can best serve you. We offer a broad range of services for business owners, executives, and independent professionals.

Does your business provide relocation benefits for employees? Under current tax law, employers can deduct payments to em...
12/19/2025

Does your business provide relocation benefits for employees? Under current tax law, employers can deduct payments to employees for relocation costs, such as moving services, storage expenses and transportation. But these amounts are generally taxable to employees, except for active-duty military personnel. That means employers are required to include relocation benefits in the employee’s gross income and withhold and pay applicable payroll taxes on the payments. 2025 legislation made this tax law provision permanent, but it added another exception for “intelligence community members” that starts in 2026. Contact us if you have questions.

Sure, 401(k) plans can help you save for a secure retirement. But they may offer another important benefit — hardship wi...
12/17/2025

Sure, 401(k) plans can help you save for a secure retirement. But they may offer another important benefit — hardship withdrawals. If you need emergency cash for medical bills, tuition or funeral costs (among other eligible expenses), you may be able to withdraw funds from your 401(k) account. Unlike loans, hardship withdrawals don’t have to be repaid. But you'll need to pay income tax and possibly a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Contact us (269) 926-2191 for details.

Looking to reduce your tax bill and benefit a family member? If you have appreciated or dividend-producing investments, ...
12/16/2025

Looking to reduce your tax bill and benefit a family member? If you have appreciated or dividend-producing investments, consider transferring them to an adult child in the 0% long-term capital gains tax bracket. Your son or daughter may be able to sell those assets and pay no federal tax on the gains or receive dividends free of federal tax. This strategy can be powerful, but it comes with some fine print. Let’s talk about how it could work in your situation. Contact us at (269) 926-2191.

A revocable trust (sometimes known as a “living trust”) can provide significant benefits. They include the ability to av...
12/15/2025

A revocable trust (sometimes known as a “living trust”) can provide significant benefits. They include the ability to avoid probate for the assets the trust holds and to facilitate the management of your assets in the event you become incapacitated. To obtain these benefits, you must fund the trust by transferring the title of assets to it. Assets not held by your revocable trust may be subject to probate and will be beyond the trustee’s control in the event you become incapacitated. Contact us at (269) 926-2191 with questions about the financial and tax aspects of your estate plan.

The new tax law introduced deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation. Specifically, for 2025 thr...
12/12/2025

The new tax law introduced deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation. Specifically, for 2025 through 2028, it creates a deduction of up to $25,000 for tips income in certain industries. It also creates a deduction of up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) for qualified overtime pay. Because employers and payors may not yet have adequate procedures to comply with the new rules, the IRS has designated 2025 as a transition period and is providing penalty relief. Notice 2025-62 offers relief to employers and payors for not filing correct information returns and not providing correct payee statements to employees and other payees. For more information, call us at (269) 926-2191.

Do you owe taxes you can’t pay? Don’t assume you’re out of options. We can negotiate with the IRS on your behalf to disc...
12/10/2025

Do you owe taxes you can’t pay? Don’t assume you’re out of options. We can negotiate with the IRS on your behalf to discuss the possibilities, such as a tax payment plan that works for you. Contact us at (269) 926-2191 for help.

College costs like tuition, books, computers and, generally, room and board have long qualified for tax-free 529 plan wi...
12/09/2025

College costs like tuition, books, computers and, generally, room and board have long qualified for tax-free 529 plan withdrawals, with no annual limit. For elementary and secondary school expenses, the limit has been $10,000 per year per student, with only tuition qualifying. Starting with expenses incurred after July 4, 2025, additional K–12 expenses like books and instructional materials also qualify, with the cap increasing to $20,000 per year in 2026. Also effective after July 4, 2025, certain credentialing programs qualify. Call us at (269) 926-2191 to discuss how to make the most of 529 plans.

Are you suffering from “retirement sprawl?” You might be if you’ve switched jobs several times and left 401(k) plan acco...
12/08/2025

Are you suffering from “retirement sprawl?” You might be if you’ve switched jobs several times and left 401(k) plan accounts behind. You may even have a few traditional or Roth IRAs out there. Over time, having many accounts can make managing and tracking retirement investments increasingly difficult. So it’s time to round up those accounts and consolidate them! Contact us at (269) 926-2191 for advice on avoiding negative tax consequences in the process.

The Social Security Administration said that Social Security benefits for 2026, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disabi...
12/05/2025

The Social Security Administration said that Social Security benefits for 2026, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, will increase 2.8%. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments based on inflation. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January. Increased payments to SSI recipients will begin on Dec. 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI.) The maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax (the so-called “wage base”) will increase $8,400, from $176,100 to $184,500. Have questions about the Social Security tax? Call us at (269) 926-2191.

Sponsoring a qualified retirement plan is a tried-and-true way to help attract and retain employees. Among the most popu...
12/03/2025

Sponsoring a qualified retirement plan is a tried-and-true way to help attract and retain employees. Among the most popular options is a 401(k). Your business’s contributions are tax deductible, and you may be able to use matching and a vesting schedule to encourage employees to stay with your company. But 401(k)s come in many varieties. Please contact us at (269) 926-2191 for help choosing the right one for your business (or another type of retirement plan).

Did you receive an IRS audit notice but believe you did nothing wrong? Some audits are random, and some can be resolved ...
12/02/2025

Did you receive an IRS audit notice but believe you did nothing wrong? Some audits are random, and some can be resolved by mail. Others are triggered by red flags that may put the IRS spotlight on your tax return. Keeping up with ever-evolving tax laws can be challenging, but one common red flag that may draw attention is a sudden, unexplained spike or drop in your reported income from one year to the next. While legitimate income changes do happen, it’s important to be prepared to justify them. Contact us for help with this matter at (269) 926-2191.

A qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) allows you to give your home to your children today while enjoying the right...
12/01/2025

A qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) allows you to give your home to your children today while enjoying the right to live there for a set number of years. The home is removed from your taxable estate at a reduced value for gift tax purposes (provided you survive the trust’s term). At the end of the term, your beneficiaries own the home. You may continue to live there beyond the end of the term if the trustees or owners agree and you pay fair market rent. Contact us at (269) 926-2191 with questions about QPRTs or other estate planning ideas for reducing taxes.

Address

2525 Lake Pine Drive, Suite A
Saint Joseph, MI
49085

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12699262191

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