R&A CPAs blog
No More Paper Tax Refund Checks
Paper tax refund checks ended September 30, 2025. Learn about direct deposit, digital payment options, and how to ensure faster refunds with electronic filing.
Meet Brenda Hays – Senior Human Resources Coordinator and Payroll Specialist
Brenda Hays is R&A’s Senior Human Resources Coordinator and our payroll specialist. She has been a member of the R&A team since 2012. Her role has expanded over the years…
What Home Improvement Tax Breaks Are Set to Expire and Which Remain in Effect?
If you’re thinking about making upgrades to your home, you may have an opportunity to claim valuable tax breaks. While not every improvement qualifies, there are a few exceptions, such…
Time to Renew Transaction Privilege Tax License
You have likely received notices from Arizona Department of Revenue and the City of Tucson that it is time to renew your TPT license. License renewals apply and are valid…
Business Fraud Case Study: How to Detect & Prevent Fraud
On June 25, 2025, Elizabeth Gutfahr, former Santa Cruz County Treasurer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzling and laundering approximately $38.7 million of public funds. Ms. Gutfahr,…
2025 End-of-Year Tax Planning is Crucial
Master 2025 tax planning with OBBBA strategies: charitable deductions, SALT caps, wash-sale rules & crypto tips. Minimize taxes before year-end.
Upcoming Changes to Tip and Overtime Income Tax and Reporting
In July 2025, H.R.1, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law. This Act provides deductions for tips and overtime compensation for 2025 through 2028. As a result,…
Setting Your Children Up for Financial Success
Parenting can be a challenge. You know this if you have lived through the “terrible twos.” If you haven’t yet had that experience, the “terrible twos” is a colloquial term…
Stepped-Up Basis: How It Affects Inherited Assets
An asset’s basis is its original purchase price, which determines how much tax will be owed when the asset is sold. When an asset is inherited, the so-called stepped-up basis…
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What You Need to Know About Paying Household Employees
When you hire someone to do work in your home, they may be considered a household employee, and you might have some tax withholding responsibility when you pay them. You may have heard of this tax referred to as the “nanny tax.” These taxes are actually employment taxes and include social security, Medicare, and sometimes…
Update on Trump Accounts – Automatic Enrollment
Do you have a child under the age of 18? They most likely have a Trump Account now, whether or not you signed them up for one. The US Department of Treasury recently began automatically enrolling eligible children in the program rather than waiting for parents or guardians to apply. Even though your child may…
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Suppose your business hires an outside person to complete a task. What is your tax withholding responsibility when you pay this person? The answer depends on the business relationship between you and the person doing work for you. Types of workers There are two kinds of workers: employees and independent contractors. (We know this is…
Payroll Security Best Practices for Small Businesses
Payroll systems handle large volumes of sensitive personal data, making them vulnerable to breaches. To safeguard this data, organizations need integrated security measures that minimize the risks of errors, fraud, and operational disruptions. AI can support these efforts by identifying processing issues and suspicious activity, but it is not a standalone solution. Effective payroll security…
Checking Your Federal Tax Withholding – Why, When, and How
If you are an employee, you know that various taxes are withheld from your paychecks. While you generally can’t change the amount of social security and Medicare taxes withheld, you can change the withholding amounts of federal and state income tax. In fact, the IRS encourages taxpayers to review their income tax withholding at least…
R&A Named a 2026 Top 500 US Accounting Firm
R&A is very pleased to share that we have been recognized as a Top 500 Firm in the US for 2026 by INSIDE Public Accounting based on US net revenue. INSIDE Public Accounting is a leader in practice management and CPA firm resources for the public accounting profession. Of this recognition, Phillip C. Dalrymple, CPA, CFE, and R&A Managing Partner said, “We are proud…
Trusts Can be Powerful Estate Planning Tools
You’ve probably had a check-up with your doctor or dentist in the last year as part of your routine practice of self-care. Preventive visits like this can detect and address potential health issues in their earliest and most treatable stages. We think of estate planning as preventive care for your life and loved ones. No…
Promises of Tax Settlements for “Pennies on the Dollar” are Often Too Good to be True
At R&A CPAs, we often find ourselves counselling individuals or businesses that are overwhelmed by large tax liabilities or mired in IRS bureaucracy. Like you, we see ads promising amazing “pennies on the dollar” settlement deals with the IRS touted by “professionals,” backed up by dramatic testimonials of success. These settlements refer to the IRS’s…