Eilts Buccola & Associates

08/19/2025

✨ Getting to Know Our Team – PTO Edition ✨

Meet Elven! He keeps our team smiling and the energy high. When he’s not working hard at EBCPA, you’ll probably catch him playing soccer or tennis, checking out a rooftop view, or hunting down the best tacos in town. 🌮⚽

A few fun facts about Elven:
🍽️ We’re taking you out—what are you ordering? Steak + wine if it’s a fancy night… tacos + margaritas if it’s casual.
🚗 Fast food fix: Loyal to Chipotle since they hired me in 2014. Still here for that guac. 🥑
🎶 Current jam: Die With a Smile by Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga
☀️ Summer favorite: Soccer, tennis, and soaking up the sun
💼 Best part of working at EBCPA: PTO!!! 😂 Just kidding... well actually it is nice! And definitely the environment and the amazing, supportive people.

We think Elven’s a total MVP — on the field and at the firm. 💪

P.S. Have a taco place he should
try? Let us know in the comments!

#️⃣

07/29/2025

💸 SALT just got spicier.

In other good news… we read the Big Beautiful Bill so you don’t have to😉

Turns out, tax season might actually be worth toasting this year 🍸
(especially if it means saving enough for a trip to a beach not bordered by Lake Michigan).

👇 Swipe to see:
✅ What changed
✅ Who qualifies
✅ How much you could save
✅ Why Illinoisans should especially care

Let’s make tax season a little less 😬 and a little more 💃.

🧾✨

05/01/2025

7 lasagnas. 96 cupcakes. 1 great cause.

Round two of dinner with the Study Buddy crew at Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook — but this time with a dream team: our client and dear friend Lynn Clary with The Dorger McCarthy Group (who’s crushing it in Chicagoland real estate), Bart Eilts (yes, the CEO himself), Laura Eilts (she never misses a good volunteer opp), and Lauren Buccola (team outing planner extraordinaire).

Lynn somehow found time to make 96 perfectly decorated cupcakes (overachiever energy), Laura made seven homemade lasagnas (fit for a restaurant), Lauren handled the unlimited garlic bread and salad (she’s our own personal Olive Garden), and Bart was right there serving alongside the crew. The kids? They brought the joy, energy, and very healthy appetites.

EBCPA is built on relationships, and giving back to the community that supports us feels like the best kind of ROI. Huge thanks to Lynn for joining us! We’re grateful to be part of this community — and even more grateful when we get to give back alongside our clients and friends.

To learn more about the Study Buddies program and the Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, check out their page: https://www.ysgn.org/study-buddies/

(Accounting Firm, of course)

04/01/2025

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜, 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐱 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞!

Need a little more time to file your tax return? You’re not alone—and it’s perfectly okay. In fact, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐑𝐒 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, even if it takes a little longer.

Here’s what you need to know:

● 𝐍𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞 to extend beyond April 15.
● 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟓 but have until October to file.
● 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 —it’s more common than you think.
● 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. With IRS processing delays, filing right the first time could save you time and frustration.
● 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝.

Bottom line? 𝐀 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐲. A little extra time now can save a lot of stress later.

03/18/2025

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 – 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! 💃🕺

If you’ve worked with our amazing accountant Ashley Catino, you know she’s thorough, thoughtful, and (a quality we appreciate in all our employees) fun! As the mom of Chloe (12) and Jaxson (7), Ashley is always on the move. When she's not crunching numbers, she’s keeping up with her busy crew – and trust us, there's never a dull moment!

Want to know what keeps her dancing through it all? Check out our Q&A to learn more about Ashley’s world beyond taxes! 🎉

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 – 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧? Justin Timberlake Can’t Stop the Feeling or ANYTHING Taylor Swift for Chloe!

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 – 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠? La Hacienda De Los Fernandez. I love a good jalapeno margarita and tacos!

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝? The Pitt! It was so good – I couldn’t turn it off.

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝? It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭? Smile by Morgan Wallen. Well, anything Morgan Wallen!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐁𝐂𝐏𝐀? The environment here is amazing. As a working mom I really appreciate the work life balance that Lauren and Bart provide. They really have a family first mentality which is so great as a working parent with young kids!

03/04/2025

🚨 Mid-tax season check-in! 🚨

We’re officially in the thick of it, and while we’re crunching numbers now, we’re also dreaming about the ultimate post-tax season celebration. 🎉🍾

Our usual go-to? A great dinner, drinks, and plenty of camaraderie. But this year, we’re thinking bigger. TopGolf? 🎯 Karaoke? 🎤 A Chicago River cruise? 🚢

What’s been your best work celebration? Drop your favorite team outing ideas in the comments—we’re open to inspiration! ⬇️

02/05/2025

Happy to be featured in this month's The Scout Guide North Shore newsletter! Check out our tax tips (spoiler alert - our favorite is the "treat yourself" advice for getting your tax info organized early!). Reach out if we can help!

It’s already a month into 2025—you’re sticking to those workout goals, maybe sneaking in a quick getaway for some sun, and now, it’s time to focus on your financial wellness.…

01/29/2025

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
As planners, we accountants like to stay ahead of the game. That's why we reached out to our client, FlowersFlowers, to get our Valentine's Day orders in early. Their breathtaking floral arrangements designed in their signature lush English garden style are as beautiful as they are whimsical. We recently chatted with owner Amanda Ault about what makes this charming Evanston flower oasis tick. From theme songs to dramatic dahlias, here's a peek into what makes Amanda and FlowersFlowers so unique:

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
La Vie En Rose

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲?
The summer dahlias are textured, vibrant, and live for such a short time. They are divas, but worth the brief bit of beauty we see!

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝?
Nothing comes to mind, but it is touching to get a tiny insight into people's lives with the two- to three-sentence card messages that are enclosed.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭?
There are so many grand installations and gorgeous trends, but I love the simple creativity when people choose a flower that has a connection to their childhood or that honors a loved one.

If you're a planner like us (and we hope you're sending us your tax info soon), consider reaching out to FlowersFlowers for an unforgettable bouquet for your Valentine!

01/15/2025

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦: 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

If you’ve ever thought, “Wow, that voice answering the phone sounds incredibly professional,” you’re not imagining it—it’s because Karen, our fabulous office manager, is a professional singer! By day, she keeps the office running like a well-tuned symphony, and the rest of the time, she’s dazzling audiences with her operatic talent. Get to know the voice (and star) behind the scenes!

𝐐: 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚/𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠?
A: I sure did! I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music and my Master’s Degree in Operatic Performance from The Curtis Institute of Music.

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠?
A: I’ve been singing my whole life, thanks to my musical family! I started in church and joined the Chicago Children’s Choir at 12, which inspired me to pursue classical music. Since then, I’ve performed with organizations like the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Ravinia Festival just to name a few!

𝐐: 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?
A: One of my favorite songs, particularly during the holidays is the Wexford Carol. It’s a stunning tune that’s both joyful and ethereal. I recommend listening to Bryn Terfel’s version—it’s magical.

𝐐: 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 - 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 (𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨)?
A: My mom and I took a cruise to Iceland in 2023—it was unforgettable. The landscapes are like something out of a fairytale, and the people are so welcoming. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚—𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞?
A: For first-timers, I’d recommend a light and funny opera like The Marriage of Figaro or a beautifully orchestrated one like La Bohème.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 at Eilts Buccola & Associates?
A: The snacks! Haha. But seriously, it’s the people. Everyone here is so kind and supportive—it’s a joy to come to work every day, and that’s something I truly treasure.

Karen, you’re a star both in and out of the office!

01/08/2025

We’ve Been Training for This All Year!

You might think the most wonderful time of the year just ended, but for us, it’s just beginning. Tax season is our marathon, and we’ve been gearing up to tackle it head-on. New tax updates have officially dropped—just like the New Year’s ball—and if your resolution is to get ahead on tax planning, we’ve got your back.

Let us help you navigate the complexities and maximize the deductions you didn’t even know you could take. Ready to crush 2025 tax planning? Drop us a DM or give us a call—we’re here to make it easy!

12/11/2024

🎉 Client Spotlight: Lee Allison – Style Legend and Friend

We’re lucky to work with clients who make life (and work) more fun—like Lee Allison! Since 1995, his designs have brought style, creativity and personality to men’s fashion. If you’ve ever seen Bart Eilts in a bowtie or his sons, Jack and Nick, wearing ties made from the finest English and Italian silk - you’ve already admired Lee’s handiwork. And you may have noticed a subtle, often funny, hidden message or double meaning in the design.

Lee’s creations are more than just the height of fashion—they’re fun and always start a conversation. We’re proud to call him a friend and grateful for the joy he brings to his work and ours (and extra grateful for the fashion tips!).

Want to see his designs and grab an unforgettable holiday gift? Check out https://www.leeallison.com/

12/03/2024

This , we asked partners Bart Eilts and Lauren Buccola to share some of their favorite organizations in the North Shore, where they live and work, and in Chicago where they got their start. As the mom of two little ones, is passionate about groups helping kids in our community. shared that his wife was Executive Director of Chicago Cares for many years which helped them see the need in Chicago and commit to making a difference throughout their lives. Check out some of their favorites!




up.rosies

We’re so grateful for these organizations (and so many others) for their tireless dedication to our communities. 🙌 Who are you supporting today and throughout the year? Let us know in the comments!