Ocker Accountants & Consultants

10/26/2026

Starting in 2027, a new federal tax credit will allow eligible taxpayers to reduce their tax liability dollar for dollar by making cash contributions to qualifying Scholarship Granting Organizations that fund K-12 education. Unlike a charitable deduction, this credit directly offsets what you owe, with individual credits of up to $1,700 per year and up to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly. If you support education-focused giving, now is the time to understand how this new credit interacts with existing state programs and your overall charitable strategy.

Starting in 2027, a new federal tax credit will allow eligible taxpayers to reduce their tax liability dollar for dollar by making cash contributions to qualifying Scholarship Granting Organizations…

10/05/2026

The IRS has announced inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions for tax year 2026. These amounts generally apply to the federal income tax returns taxpayers will file in 2027. In addition, taxpayers should be aware of changes involving charitable deductions, the qualified business income deduction, energy tax credits, and several other areas. Here are some of the 2026 federal tax changes worth knowing about.

09/09/2026

Yesterday, September 8th was Brandi's 5th year with Ocker Accountants and Consultants. She is the Administrative Assistant at the McSherrystown office. Since joining the team, she has enjoyed getting to learn more about the tax return process.
Outside of work, you can find Brandi relaxing at the beach. She is also a huge fan of college football!

08/26/2026

Today we celebrate Teresa Jacoby!! Today marks her 41st year with Ocker Accountants & Consultants. She joined the Ocker team in 1985. As a Senior Accountant, Teresa specializes in providing clients with business and individual tax preparation, new business setup, and software installation and training. In addition to these functions, her responsibilities at the firm include payroll preparation, quarterly payroll tax reporting, financial statement preparation, estimated tax calculation, and the representation of clients in IRS matters. Teresa has been a certified Enrolled Agent since April of 2010.

08/24/2026

Higher wages, elevated borrowing costs, supply chain adjustments, and continued pressure on essential expenses have created a financial environment where careful budgeting is more important than ever. In times like these, relying on last year’s spending patterns as a budgeting baseline can lead to unnecessary expenses and crimped cash flow. Instead, many financial professionals recommend a budgeting method known as zero-based budgeting.

Higher wages, elevated borrowing costs, supply chain adjustments, and continued pressure on essential expenses have created a financial environment where careful budgeting is more important than ever.

07/14/2026

Selling a business, rental property, or other large asset triggers a range of tax consequences, including capital gains tax, depreciation recapture, and the net investment income tax, that can result in a significantly larger bill than most sellers anticipate. Tools like installment sale elections, deal structure adjustments, and strategic closing timing can reduce that exposure, but most of them require action before the transaction is finalized. A conversation with your CPA before you enter active negotiations is the most reliable way to protect your after-tax proceeds.

Selling a business, rental property, or other large asset triggers a range of tax consequences, including capital gains tax, depreciation recapture, and the net investment income tax…

06/24/2026

Hiring family members can create real tax advantages for small business owners, but the rules depend on entity type, relationship, age, reasonable compensation, and payroll compliance. Here’s what to know before putting relatives on payroll.

Hiring family members can create real tax advantages for small business owners, but the rules depend on entity type, relationship, age, reasonable compensation, and payroll compliance. Here’s what to…

06/08/2026

Getting married triggers significant tax changes that catch many couples off guard, from a new filing status that takes effect the moment you say, “I do,” to withholding gaps that can result in an unexpected tax bill in April. Beyond filing and withholding, newlyweds also need to address name and address updates, healthcare coverage decisions, HSA eligibility changes, and dependent-related credits before year-end. Tackling these adjustments proactively, rather than waiting until tax season, helps.

Getting married triggers significant tax changes that catch many couples off guard, from a new filing status that takes effect the moment you say “I do,” to withholding gaps that can result in an…

06/08/2026

Businesses that fail to regularly evaluate their compensation and retention strategies risk losing valuable team members to competitors offering stronger incentives, more flexibility, and clearer growth opportunities.

Businesses that fail to regularly evaluate their compensation and retention strategies risk losing valuable team members to competitors offering stronger incentives, more flexibility…

05/12/2026

The Ocker team had a wonderful time celebrating the end of tax season. We were able to get together with our spouses to enjoy a relaxing dinner this past Saturday.