Seber Tans, PLC

Seber Tans, PLC The official page of Seber Tans, PLC in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, MI.

Educators may be able to claim 2 deductions for 2026 classroom expensesTeachers and other educators often spend their ow...
08/25/2026

Educators may be able to claim 2 deductions for 2026 classroom expenses

Teachers and other educators often spend their own money on books, supplies, equipment and other classroom needs. For 2026, eligible educators may have two ways to deduct qualifying unreimbursed expenses: A deduction of up to $350 is available whether or not they itemize, and a new deduction with no dollar cap is available to itemizers. Educators eligible for both deductions can first claim the above-the-line deduction and reap the benefits of reducing their adjusted gross income and, if they have eligible expenses in excess of $350, claim the itemized deduction for those excess expenses. (Educators can’t claim both deductions for the same expenses.) Contact us to see if you may be eligible.

Which fringe benefits are tax-free to employees?To attract and retain skilled workers, your small business needs to offe...
08/24/2026

Which fringe benefits are tax-free to employees?

To attract and retain skilled workers, your small business needs to offer more than competitive pay. Your benefits package matters, too.

Tax-free fringe benefits may be especially valuable to employees. Examples include many types of insurance (health, disability, long-term care and life), assistance plans (dependent care, adoption and educational) and transportation benefits, subject to certain limits. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also changed some fringe-benefit tax rules for 2026 and beyond.

Open enrollment is right around the corner for many businesses. As you review your 2027 benefits package, contact us for help evaluating your current offerings and fine-tuning them as needed.

Sometimes how much is in tax-deferred retirement accounts may be too muchCould your traditional 401(k) or IRA balance be...
08/18/2026

Sometimes how much is in tax-deferred retirement accounts may be too much

Could your traditional 401(k) or IRA balance be too large? Maybe!

Contributing as much as you can to tax-deferred retirement accounts can be a good idea. Contributions are pretax or deductible, and tax-deferred compounding can turbocharge growth.

But sometimes maximizing tax deferral is counterproductive. This may be true if tax rates increase by the time you pay tax on distributions. Also, retirement plan distributions are taxed at your ordinary-income rate, not your long-term capital gains rate. So you may pay a higher tax rate on dividends and growth than you would if you held the investments in a taxable account.

Fortunately, there are strategies that can help. Contact us to learn more.

Disability benefits may have income tax consequences you don’t expectDisability insurance is a valuable benefit provided...
08/11/2026

Disability benefits may have income tax consequences you don’t expect

Disability insurance is a valuable benefit provided by many employers. It replaces a portion of the insured person’s income — typically 45% to 65% of pre-disability earnings. But in some cases, income taxes can take a bite out of disability benefits.

Taxability usually hinges on who paid the premiums. If your employer paid them, the payouts from the policy generally will be taxed to you just as if the income were paid directly to you by your employer. If you paid the premiums, the payments you receive generally won’t be taxable. State tax treatment of disability benefits varies.

We can help you assess how much disability coverage you need depending on the tax consequences and other factors.

Tax essentials for sole proprietorsSole proprietors: Are you on top of your federal tax obligations? Even if your busine...
08/10/2026

Tax essentials for sole proprietors

Sole proprietors: Are you on top of your federal tax obligations? Even if your business is small, tax compliance and planning are a big deal.

In addition to reporting business income and expenses, you may owe self-employment tax and need to make quarterly estimated payments. You might also need an employer identification number (for example, if you hire employees). State and local income, sales, payroll, and other tax requirements may apply, too. Careful planning can help you maximize deductions and choose the right retirement plan for your situation.

Contact us to learn more about the tax aspects of being a sole proprietor, including the reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Tax tips for parents with kids heading to college this fallIf your child is heading to college this fall, tax breaks may...
08/04/2026

Tax tips for parents with kids heading to college this fall

If your child is heading to college this fall, tax breaks may be available. For example, you might be eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) of up to $2,500 per student for the first four years of college. But the AOTC is phased out for married joint filers with modified adjusted gross income between $160,000 and $180,000 (between $80,000 and $90,000 for heads of households).

If your child has a tax-advantaged education account, such as a 529 plan, tax-free withdrawals can be taken to pay qualified expenses. But expenses paid with tax-free withdrawals can’t be used to claim the AOTC.

Contact us to discuss these and other tax tips for your situation.

08/03/2026

Jodi K. Milks, CCIM of NAI Wisinski of West Michigan, welcomes Seber Tans, PLC, to their new office suite at Airview Center in Kalamazoo.

Partner Keith Hayden shared what the new office means for the firm:

"We’re excited to be settling into our new office and to continue serving our clients from this upgraded space, alongside our existing Battle Creek location. The new office provides our team with a more collaborative environment to work together, serve our clients, and continue growing in ways that support both our people and the work we do.

This move also gives us room to expand our practice and strengthen our presence in the community. We’re grateful for the trust our clients have placed in us over the years and for the relationships that have helped shape our firm. We look forward to welcoming longtime clients, new clients, and members of the community to our new location and continuing to serve them for many years to come."

Jodi Milks added, “Congratulations to the newest partners Keith Hayden, Ben Walker, and Carol Light along with legacy partners Kate Jefferson, Erin Gallagher, and Brian Krol. The Airview Center landlord is excited to have a stable, long-term local business that will serve as an anchor tenant for the building.”

Could the New Markets Tax Credit benefit your business?Recent tax law changes made the New Markets Tax Credit permanent....
08/03/2026

Could the New Markets Tax Credit benefit your business?

Recent tax law changes made the New Markets Tax Credit permanent. This program encourages private investment in economically distressed communities by offering federal income tax credits to qualifying investors.

If your business invests in a certified community development entity (CDE), you may be eligible for a credit equal to 39% of your investment over seven years. Alternatively, your business may benefit indirectly by receiving CDE financing for renovations, equipment, expansion or other eligible projects in qualifying low-income communities.

Contact us to learn more. We can help you estimate the potential tax or financing benefits and comply with the applicable requirements.

Be tax-smart with your mutual fund investmentsMutual funds offer an easy way to invest in a diversified portfolio. But t...
07/28/2026

Be tax-smart with your mutual fund investments
Mutual funds offer an easy way to invest in a diversified portfolio. But the tax treatment isn’t so simple.

One challenge is that certain mutual fund transactions are treated as sales even though they might not seem like it. Another is that determining your tax basis for shares sold can be complicated, especially if you dispose of only part of your interest in the fund and the shares were acquired at different times for different prices. Also, mutual fund capital gains distributions are generally taxable, even when reinvested in the fund.

If you have questions about the tax treatment of mutual funds, contact us. We can help you be a tax-smart mutual fund investor.

When an employee’s Form W-4 raises red flagsYour employees use Form W-4, “Employee’s Withholding Certificate,” to tell y...
07/27/2026

When an employee’s Form W-4 raises red flags

Your employees use Form W-4, “Employee’s Withholding Certificate,” to tell you how much federal income tax to withhold from their pay. Most forms are routine, but an altered certificate, unusual accompanying statement or IRS lock-in letter may require special handling.

Employers generally aren’t responsible for verifying the information employees provide on W-4 forms. However, you must reject invalid forms, apply proper withholding rules when no valid form is on file and follow IRS withholding instructions. Reviewing your payroll procedures now can help prevent costly errors. Contact us for guidance on W-4 compliance and other payroll withholding issues.

Address

2725 Airview Boulevard, Suite 300
Kalamazoo, MI
49002

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(269) 343-8180

Website

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