Autrey & Toler AC

03/09/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱
𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

If you’re like most owners, at least one of these probably shows up every week.

The reality of running a business is that these issues never disappear completely.

But the more systems you put in place, whether for admin work, client communication, team management, or financial tracking, the more time you free up to focus on actually growing the business.

12/16/2025

The last few weeks of 2025 are here. Let's make sure your taxes and finances are driving you toward your future, not holding you back.

Try this exercise:
1. Write down your long-term vision (financial security, career shift, major purchase).
2. List three concrete actions you can take 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛 to move toward it.

Now, ask yourself:
A) Am I fully prepared for 2026?
B) Do I have a clear financial map?
C) Can I do this on my own to close the gap?

If you said "no" to any of these, reach out.

Year-end tax planning is essential to funding your future goals. Let's schedule a session to review your final 2025 numbers and strategize for 2026.

07/01/2025

Before sharing information about local small businesses on social media, please take a moment to be sure you have all the facts. Misinformation—whether intentional or not—can be especially harmful in today’s tough environment for small businesses.

Let’s continue to support each other and our local community with kindness, accuracy, and understanding. Every small business is someone’s dream, livelihood, and hard work. Do better.

03/04/2025

https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/cashless-statistics/ #:~:text=In%202022%2C%2011.0%25%20of%20Americanof%20their%20purchases%20in%20cash.

Over 60% of Americans think the country will go totally cash-less in the future. What’s your prediction?

05/30/2024

For anyone that is attempting to reach the Mullens office today, our telephone lines are out of service and will probably be until tomorrow. Please call the Oceana office at 304-682-6588 or one of our cell phones if you have any needs.

03/21/2024

Did you know companies excelling at performance management grow revenue 13% faster?

KPIs are your roadmap to success. They help you track progress, identify areas for improvement, and achieve your goals.

Here are the top three easy-to-track KPIs that can offer you a snapshot of your business health and momentum:

1. Revenue Growth:
KPIs related to revenue growth are essential for understanding the overall trajectory of your business. They should answer the question "Are you making more money than you were before?"

2. Conversion Rate:
Think of this as your reality check. It tells you what percentage of visitors (to your website, store, or through a campaign) are turning into paying customers. It's a critical measure of how effectively you're turning potential into profit. High conversion rates mean your marketing and sales strategies are on point.

3. Customer Satisfaction:
While this might seem a bit fluffy next to hard numbers, don't be fooled. Happy customers are repeat customers. Using a simple survey to gauge satisfaction or tracking repeat purchases can give you insights into how well you're meeting customer needs.

02/11/2024

The IRS does provide an outlet to answer important tax questions you might have. The problem? There is only a 3.5 month window for you to ask those questions. And picking up the phone to call the IRS is kinda like going to the beach without packing any sunscreen (i.e. "I probably know what's gonna happen here but maybe it won't be that bad"). Although touted as a "toll-free" service, the over-the-phone option is often hard to navigate and can lead to frustrating hold times. So what's an alternative?

SOLUTION: Work with a human. One you know and trust.

You can call us right this second with any questions you might have.
Important tax questions arise throughout the year ... not just in that 3-month window.

01/26/2024

The House of Representatives have been discussing a bill that could bring low income families some much needed tax breaks. It's called the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act and it proposes:

1. An increase to the maximum refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit annually to adjust for inflation: $1,800 per child in 2023,
$1,900 per child in 2024, $2,000 per child in 2025. This would mean more money in your pocket and no requirement to pay anything back.

2. Additional support for affordable housing by increasing the availability of safe and affordable housing options for low-income families. The bill will raise the low-income housing tax credit
(LIHTC) ceiling by 12.5% for 2023-2025. This lowers the bond-financing threshold for LIHTC projects, making it easier to develop affordable housing units.

3. Expands the EITC for workers without qualifying children, which provides additional tax relief to low-income working individuals.

This bill is still on its way through Congress, so things could change. But the progress is promising, and it's definitely worth keeping an eye on. We'll keep you updated.

01/22/2024

In the second half of 2023, the IRS became laser-focused on weeding out bad characters who falsely claimed the ERC. They stopped accepting ERC applications and have already examined hundreds of claims for discrepancies.

To avoid similar risks, if you claim the ERC, you’ll want to have clear documentation that proves you were qualified to claim it.
Self-auditing your eligibility now will keep you from facing some big penalties later.

And if you were one of those that were convinced by an ERC mill to file falsely, you can withdraw your ERC claim ( https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/withdraw-an-employee-retention-credit-erc-claim
), but there are parameters around who qualifies for this option.

If you willingly filed a false claim, know that withdrawing your claim doesn’t exempt you from being investigated by the IRS CI unit.

If you filed a claim requesting a refund for an Employee Retention Credit (ERC or ERTC) and would now like to withdraw your claim, this page will tell you whether you are eligible to withdraw and how to do so.

01/18/2024

So, last year, the IRS's CI (Criminal Investigation) unit focused on:

1. Tax compliance, scrutinizing documentation processes and industry regulations more than ever.
2. Employee Retention Credit (ERC), clamping down on fraudulent ERC claims, leading to several convictions.
3. Income reporting, eyeing unexplained incomes and inconsistencies (this trend is likely to continue).

Your takeaways?
- Keep your tax records in impeccable order and adhere strictly to industry rules. Good recordkeeping and transparent documentation are your best defenses against compliance issues.
- If you've claimed the ERC, make sure your documentation is bulletproof. And if you've been misled into filing a false claim, withdrawing it is an option.
- Ensure all your income sources, including those from gig economy jobs, are accurately reported and documented. Get your accounts in order and seek help if needed (we know someone).

01/15/2024

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - MLKJ

One of the things that should be a priority in life is helping others, both personally and in business. May we all take a cue from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today as we remember the impact of his life and words.

01/14/2024

Tax credits are on the rise for 2024, which should help offset rising costs for you.

1. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): This credit increases to
$7,830 for qualifying folks with three or more qualifying children (up almost $400 from 2023).
2. The Child Tax Credit (CTC): The CTC is up to $2,000 per qualifying child. The child must be 17 or under (or 24 if they're full-time
students) and living in your house for at least half the year to qualify.
3. Adoption Credit: The maximum credit allowed for adoptions in 2024 is up to $16,810, increased from $15,950 in 2023.
4. Estate Tax Exclusion: Estates of decedents who die in 2024 have a basic exclusion amount of $13,610,000, increased from $12,920,000 in 2023.
5. Gift Tax Exclusion: The annual exclusion for gifts increases to
$18,000 for calendar year 2024, up from $17,000 in 2023.