Lesemann CPA PLLC

10/23/2026

📱This is worth a close read, but here are a few things you can do in 5 minutes to protect yourself.

✅ 1. Enable screen lock.

IPHONES: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode with phones that lack Face ID, such as the iPhone SE).
SAMSUNG PHONES: Go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Lock screen (or Device lock, depending on your device).

✅ 2. Lock your wallet.

IPHONES: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, then scroll down to Allow Access When Locked. Make sure the Wallet slider is toggled off.
SAMSUNG PHONES: Go to the Samsung Wallet app’s Settings > Verification Method.

✅ 3. Use extra authentication for other payments.

IPHONES: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Under Use Face ID For, click to toggle Contactless & Payments to the on position.
SAMSUNG PHONES: Go to the Samsung Wallet app’s Settings > Verification. There you can require a PIN or fingerprint for purchases.

✅ 4. Make your Venmo payments private.

OPEN THE VENMO APP: Go to Settings > Privacy. Then click on Private.

Apple Wallet. PayPal. Venmo. Tools like these can make paying easier, and often more secure. How to choose the right apps and avoid costly mistakes.

10/20/2026

⏳ Stop Wasting Time Doing Your Own Payroll!

Why settle for juggling between your payroll service provider and CPA when we can do it all?

Here’s why Lesemann CPAs is the smart choice:

✅ Cost-effective solutions that save you both time and money
✅ Seamless integration with our bookkeeping services for a complete financial picture
✅ Expert payroll tax filing—done right the first time
✅ Detailed reporting to help you control costs and make informed decisions
✅ Comprehensive quarterly & annual reporting you can rely on.

Simplify your business operations and leave the heavy lifting to the pros.

With Lesemann CPAs, payroll becomes one less thing to worry about.

10/16/2026

☕ If only working from Starbucks qualified as a home office.

Unfortunately, the IRS has a few more requirements than that.

Home office deductions can provide valuable tax savings, but the rules are more complicated than many business owners realize. Before claiming the deduction, make sure you actually meet the legal requirements.

We'll help you determine what's deductible and what's best left off your tax return.

10/13/2026

One of the easiest ways to hear from the IRS? Forgetting to report income.

Many people think an audit is the biggest tax risk. In reality, the IRS uses automated systems to compare the income reported on your tax return with the W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms it receives from employers, banks, and financial institutions. When the numbers don't match, it can trigger a notice asking you to explain the discrepancy or pay additional tax.

The takeaway is simple: report all of your income.

Whether it's a side gig, freelance work, interest income, investment earnings, or a forgotten 1099, taking a few extra minutes to verify that every source of income is included can save you a great deal of time, stress, and potential penalties later.

One of the best reasons to work with a CPA? We help you catch the details before the IRS does.

10/09/2026

Payroll shouldn't keep you up at night.

Between deadlines, tax filings, withholdings, and compliance requirements, there's a lot riding on every payroll run.

We'll handle the details, so you can focus on running your business.

10/06/2026

🤔 Curious about whether scholarships and fellowships are taxed?

Scholarships and fellowships can be tax-free, but it depends on who receives the funds and how they use the money. Generally, a scholarship helps a student pursue their studies, while a fellowship supports an individual pursuing study or research.

According to the IRS, a scholarship or fellowship is tax-free only when both of these conditions are met:

✅ You are a candidate for a degree at an eligible educational institution.
✅ You use the funds to pay qualified education expenses, such as tuition, required fees, books, supplies, and equipment.

➡️ Takeaway: The important words are “qualified education expenses.” How scholarship or fellowship funds are used can determine their tax treatment. Lesemann CPAs can help ensure the appropriate criteria are met and that any taxable amounts are properly reported.

10/02/2026

📚 Enrolled in a higher education program? You may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit, a nonrefundable tax credit that can help lower your tax bill.

💰 The Lifetime Learning Credit is designed to help offset the cost of qualified tuition and related education expenses. Unlike some education benefits, it isn't limited to undergraduate students or those pursuing a degree. It may also apply to graduate courses and classes taken to acquire or improve job skills.

✅ The IRS offers two primary education credits: The American Opportunity Tax Credit and The Lifetime Learning Credit

✅ Eligibility and the amount you can claim depend on several factors, including your income, enrollment, qualified expenses, and whether another education tax benefit is being claimed for the same expenses.

➡️ Takeaway: Education credits can provide valuable tax savings, but determining which credit applies (and which expenses qualify) is important. Lesemann CPAs can review your situation and help ensure you're taking advantage of the education tax benefits available to you.

09/29/2026

When Good Financial News Comes With Tax Questions

A scholarship is usually cause for celebration. But as a recent Wall Street Journal article points out, that good news can come with a surprisingly complicated question:

Is any of that financial assistance taxable?

✅ The answer can depend on how the money is used. Scholarship funds used for tuition and certain required educational expenses are typically tax-free, while money used for room and board, travel, or other nonqualified expenses may be taxable. Add 529 withdrawals, education tax credits, the kiddie tax, and timing considerations to the equation, and families can quickly find themselves navigating several overlapping tax rules.

✅ Even the tax forms you receive may not provide the complete picture. The Wall Street Journal notes that Form 1098-T reports tuition payments and certain scholarships and grants, but it doesn't necessarily tell families which portions of that assistance are taxable. Outside scholarships and other assistance may require additional recordkeeping as well.

✅ There can also be opportunities for thoughtful tax planning. For families using both scholarships and 529 funds, for example, deciding which funds pay which expenses can potentially affect the tax outcome. Scholarships may be most advantageous when applied to qualified tuition expenses, while 529 funds can cover certain expenses, including eligible room and board for qualifying students, that scholarship dollars generally cannot cover tax-free.

➡️ This is exactly why we believe working with a CPA should mean more than having someone prepare your return in April.

Tax laws are complex, and they continue to change. Our job is to keep up with those rules, understand how they apply to your particular circumstances, and help you see the tax implications of financial decisions that may not initially seem like “tax decisions” at all.

Whether your family is navigating college expenses, managing a business, making investments, or planning for the future, good tax preparation starts long before a return is filed. It starts with understanding the rules, asking the right questions, keeping good records, and making informed decisions along the way.

At Lesemann CPAs, that's the value we want to bring to the relationship.

Information about scholarship taxation and education expenses is referenced from The Wall Street Journal (7/24/26, Laura Saunders) and IRS Publication 970.

09/25/2026

Payroll isn't just an administrative task. It's a compliance responsibility.

Many business owners underestimate how much time and risk are tied to payroll. Between changing tax regulations, filing deadlines, withholdings, and state and federal requirements, one mistake can lead to penalties, frustrated employees, and hours spent fixing problems that could have been avoided.

That's time you could be investing in your clients, your team, or growing your business.

At Lesemann CPAs, we understand because we're business owners ourselves. We help clients take payroll off their plates so they can have confidence it's being handled accurately, on time, and in compliance with ever-changing regulations.

The best payroll system isn't the one that simply pays employees. It's the one that gives business owners their time and peace of mind back.

If payroll is becoming more of a burden than a benefit, let's have a conversation.

09/22/2026

Is payroll the best use of your time?

Payroll isn't just another administrative task; it's one of the easiest ways for a small mistake to become an expensive one.

Between IRS regulations, state requirements, tax filings, changing employment laws, and strict deadlines, payroll has become increasingly complex. Yet many business owners are still trying to squeeze it in between serving clients, managing employees, and growing their business.

At Lesemann CPAs, we believe your focus should be on running your business, not worrying about payroll compliance. As business owners ourselves, we understand the competing priorities you face every day.

When you outsource payroll to our team, you're doing more than handing off a task. You're reducing risk, reclaiming valuable time, and gaining the confidence that payroll is being handled accurately and on time.

That's time you can reinvest in your clients, your employees, and the future of your business.