Unpacking the New Tax Code: What Every Business Should Know

In case you missed it, we recently hosted a webinar, Unpacking the New Tax Code: What Every Business Should Know. This session highlighted the most significant updates in the tax code and how they may impact businesses of all sizes.

Our presenters walked through key changes, including business deductions, credits, compliance considerations, and strategic planning opportunities to help organizations navigate the new rules with confidence.

If you weren’t able to join us live, you can now watch the full recording anytime.

👉 Watch the Webinar Recording Here

As always, while this webinar covers important updates, every business is unique. We encourage you to connect with your CPA or tax advisor to understand how these changes affect your specific situation.

Unpacking the New Tax Code: What Every Individual Should Know

In case you missed it, we recently hosted a webinar, Unpacking the New Tax Code: What Every Individual Should Know. This session broke down the key changes in the new tax code and what they could mean for individuals and families.

From adjustments in deductions and credits to updates on filing strategies, our experts walked through the most important updates and provided practical insights to help you better prepare for tax season.

If you weren’t able to attend live, you can now watch the full recording at your convenience.

👉 Watch the Webinar Recording Here

And remember, while this webinar covers important information, everyone’s situation is unique. Be sure to reach out to your CPA or trusted tax advisor for guidance specific to your circumstances.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What every individual should know

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) makes sweeping changes to individual taxes. Key highlights include permanent lower tax rates, a higher standard deduction, and an increased Child Tax Credit. Seniors benefit from a new $6,000 deduction, while families gain flexibility through expanded 529 plans and the new Trump Accounts for children. Other provisions, like temporary deductions for tips and overtime, changes to the SALT cap, and updated rules for estate taxes, will affect households differently depending on income and circumstances.

Since these provisions touch so many areas, from families with young children to retirees, it’s important to understand how they apply to your situation. If you need help navigating the new rules, be sure to reach out to your CPA or Tax Advisor.

Click the image below for a downloadable PDF of all the key individual tax provisions:

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act affects Businesses

The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces several important tax law changes that directly impact businesses. From updated depreciation rules to new credits and revised deduction limits, these provisions may create both opportunities and challenges depending on your industry and structure. To understand how these changes apply to your specific situation and to make the most of potential benefits, be sure to connect with your CPA or Tax Advisor at H&S Companies.

We put together a downloadable PDF with all the key business tax provisions you should know about, click the image to download:

Will your taxes change in 2024?

Did you know that every year we put together a helpful summary of key changes that may impact your tax position in comparison to the prior tax year? Check out our table below highlighting the key tax changes in 2024 and how they compare to tax year 2023. Whether it’s adjustments to deductions, retirement planning considerations, or even the new mileage rate, it’s important to stay informed! That’s why we call it ‘Important Facts & Figures.’

Click the image below to view or download a PDF of our ‘Important Facts & Figures’ table!

Retirement Timeline Webinar Series

Our wealth management division, HS&C Wealth Management, is hosting a three-part webinar series on Retirement!

 

Webinar Schedule:

2025 Guide to Retirement – Thursday, March 6th at 4pm EST

Women, Wealth & Wisdom: Nearing Retirement – Tuesday, March 25th at 4pm EST

Social Security: Preparing for Retirement – Tuesday, April 22nd at 4pm EST

 

Details:

First up, the 2025 Guide to Retirement. This will be a dynamic discussion on effective retirement planning with Sharon Carson, Retirement Strategist from JPMorgan Asset Management.

Sharon will share perspectives on current and future retirement challenges and investment strategies to address them, including investing for long-term growth potential, enhancing risk-return potential and building a portfolio to match your retirement goals.

Hosted by: HS&C Wealth Management, A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial

Presented by: Sharon Carson, Retirement Strategist, JPMorgan Asset Management

When: Thursday, March 6th at 4:00pm EST

This seminar is virtual, a link to the event will be provided. 

Forward this invitation or invite a friend or family member to learn about this important topic from an industry professional. This virtual seminar is free. There is no cost or obligation to attend.

We hope you can attend and look forward to seeing you at this important event.

Please RSVP to Heather Young

Email: heather.young@ampf.com or call 616-456-6550

 

Stay tuned for more details to come on our next two webinars!

Tax Season Timeline Reminder

Dear Tax Return Clients,

This is a reminder about our upcoming March 15th deadline for receiving your tax documents in order to have your return completed by April 15th!

Receiving tax documents shortly before the April 15th deadline places a tremendous strain on our team during an already busy season. Because we are committed to the health and wellbeing of our team members, we ask that you understand that if all requested tax documentation is not received by Saturday, March 15th, we may need to file an extension and complete your return after April 15th. If this occurs, we will provide you with an estimated payment voucher to remit payment by April 15th, as necessary.

If you need help submitting your documents, check out our previous posts with all the important information regarding our process for completing your 2024 tax return, including how to access and use SafeSend, our secure exchange portal. As always, you can call or stop by your local H&S office and we will be happy to collect your hard copies or assist you with the uploading process.

Click below to view a graphic describing our timelines for 2025:

Small Business Property Tax Exemption

If you’re a small business owner and typically file a Form 5076 – check out this news!

Small Business Property Tax Exemption

For a number of years, a Form 5076 has been available to Michigan businesses to claim an exemption from personal property taxes for the filing year if the value of their personal property was below a certain value.

Form 5076 is due by February 20th each year, which is the same deadline for those to report who are not exempt from personal property tax.

Originally, the Form 5076 had to be filed every year for eligible businesses to keep the exemption. This has recently been updated so that certain businesses need only file the Form 5076 a single time, and the exemption will remain in effect indefinitely until the company no longer qualifies. The rules are as follows:

  • Taxpayers with less than $80,000 of True Cash Value (TCV) of personal property are exempt from personal property tax in Michigan, and need to file a Form 5076 only once to claim an exemption from personal property tax. The exemption remains valid for so long as the company’s TCV of personal property assets remains below $80,000.
  • Taxpayers with less than $180,000 of TCV of personal property are also exempt from personal property tax in Michigan; however, the Form 5076 must be filed every year for the exemption to remain valid.

Essential Services Assessment (ESA) for Michigan manufacturers

In addition to exemptions from personal property tax for certain small businesses, Michigan manufacturers are eligible to elect in to the Essential Services Assessment rather than pay personal property taxes as assessed by their local authority. The Essential Services Assessment generally offers a lower tax rate than what would otherwise be assessed on personal property.

The ESA is a long-standing program, but was updated recently to reduce the reporting burden of Michigan manufacturers. Previously, a manufacturer had to elect in to the ESA program every year by filing a Form 5278 by February 20th of that year. The ESA tax return is then due by August 15th of the tax year.

Beginning with the 2024 tax year, a manufacturer carries over their election into the ESA program year-over-year until their personal property become ineligible for the exemption. This means that a manufacturer who filed an ESA tax return for the immediately previous tax year no longer has to file a Form 5278 to elect in to the ESA program for the current year. Therefore, a company with a valid ESA election no longer has a personal property tax filing by February 20th, and must only file a single ESA tax return by August 15th.

This is a considerable change for Michigan manufacturers, as it effectively cuts their personal property tax filing requirements in half if they have already elected in to the Essential Services Assessment. For eligible manufacturers who have not previously elected in to the ESA program, they must still file a Form 5278 by February 20th to establish the initial election.

Why SafeSend?

In an effort to streamline our process, make things more efficient for our clients and our team members, and most importantly, keep our clients’ data safe, H&S has invested in SafeSend for document uploading. SafeSend is a secure exchange portal that can be found right here on our website under Client Tools! – Click here to access the exchange site.

We understand that there can be a lot of questions around new processes and technology, which is why we have created a page dedicated to SafeSend Information and Frequently Asked Questions, also listed under the Client Tools dropdown – Click here to learn more!

As always, if you still have concerns, please reach out to us.

Happy Uploading!

In Case You Missed It!

Dear Valued Clients of H&S,

You should have received an email containing our annual H&S tax packet with our questionnaire, instructions for how to access and use SafeSend, our secure portal for uploading your tax documents, as well as a couple other pieces of information. In case you missed it, you can download all the pieces below.

We also have hard copies available in each of our offices if you prefer to view your documents that way – feel free to stop in and get what you need. If you are not local and prefer hard copies, please contact your H&S office, and they can drop one in the mail to you, along with a large, postage paid envelope if you wish.

When you submit your documents to us electronically, we ask that you please upload PDFs or Excel files only, NO jpegs.

H&S 2024 Tax Year Questionnaire and Checklist