Murtha & Flischel Certified Public Accountants

10/21/2026

New this year: if you take the standard deduction, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to qualifying charities ($2,000 if married filing jointly). For a lot of households, that's a first.

Also new: if you itemize, only the part of your giving above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income counts. And C corporations now face a 1% floor on charitable deductions.

Before you write the check:
✔️ The new standard-deduction break is for cash gifts to public charities. Donor-advised funds don't qualify.
✔️ Gifts need to be made by December 31 to count for 2026.
✔️ Keep the receipt. Every time.

Depending on your situation, it can make sense to bunch gifts into one year or spread them out. That's exactly what we map out in a Q4 planning meeting.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/20/2026

This is one of those reviews that gives us all the feels 🥰

"I had a great experience with Murtha & Flischel CPAs. Their pricing was very reasonable, the entire tax preparation process was efficient, and communication was excellent from start to finish. They kept me informed, answered my questions promptly, and made filing my taxes simple and stress-free. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for reliable, professional tax services." ~M. Brooks

We're grateful and feeling the love ❤️

10/19/2026

Not ghosts. Not clowns. These:

👻 A shoebox labeled "2026 maybe"
👻 "I'll do my own bookkeeping this year" (said in January, abandoned by March)
👻 A 1099 that shows up the day after you file
👻 "I think my cousin set up an LLC for me?"
👻 Receipts printed on thermal paper, now completely blank

Which one gave you chills? Tell us in the comments. We want to see which ones we missed. 👇

If your own records are looking a little haunted, there are about ten weeks left in the year to fix that together.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss's Day to every business owner who is also the HR department, the IT help desk, and (at 9 PM) the bookkeeper. 👑

Here's a gift you can give yourself: hand off the parts of the job you never signed up for.

We help local businesses with:
✔️ Tax planning, so year-end isn't a surprise
✔️ Bookkeeping, so your numbers are current when you need them
✔️ Business valuation, so you know what you've built

We're accepting new clients, and Q4 is a smart time to start. We get to know your business before tax season gets loud.

Be the boss. Delegate the books.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/15/2026

Today is October 15, the extension deadline for most individual filers. To every client who filed with us this year, early or right on the wire: thank you for trusting us with it.

We offer big firm knowledge, family firm relationships, and someone who picks up the phone when you have a question.

Not sure where you stand on your return? Call us. The sooner we talk, the more options you'll have.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/14/2026

To claim a Section 179 deduction, the property generally has to be placed in service during the tax year. Placed in service means ready and available for its specific use in your business. Not ordered. Not paid for. Not sitting on a truck somewhere in Georgia.

A few questions to ask before you buy:
✔️ Will it actually arrive and be set up by Dec 31?
✔️ Does the purchase make sense for the business, or only for the tax return?
✔️ How does this year's income compare with what you expect next year?

Buying something you don't need to save on taxes is still buying something you don't need. Let's run the numbers together first. Q4 is when this kind of planning pays off.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/13/2026

Why Do S Corporation Owners Have to Pay Themselves a Salary?

If you own an S Corporation, you have probably heard that you need to pay yourself a “reasonable salary”. What might not be explained is why.

The answer comes down to how you receive money from the business. Salary is payment for the work you perform, while distributions are payments you receive as an owner. The rule exists to distinguish what an owner earns from working in the business from what they receive because they own it.

Read more on our new blog:

If you own an S Corporation, you have probably heard that you need to pay yourself a “reasonable salary”. What might not be explained is why. The answer comes down to how you receive money from the business. Salary is payment for the work you perform, while distributions are payments you receive...

10/12/2026

Federal Holiday roll call. 🗓️

Closed today: banks, post offices, and most of our good intentions about organizing receipts.

Not closed this week: the October 15 extension deadline. It's Thursday. It does not care about your long weekend.

Also not closed: our inbox, which remains extremely ready for that one missing 1099.

If you filed an extension back in April, consider this your friendly nudge. If you're reading this with a slight feeling of dread, call us anyway. We can't promise we can help at this point, but we can sure point you in the right direction! We've seen worse. Much worse.

📞 (813) 991-1120

10/09/2026

Fun fact: December 31 is the last day of the year. Less fun fact: it's also the deadline for a lot of the moves that could lower your 2026 tax bill.

Year-end planning works best in October and November, while there's still time to act. That can mean timing income and expenses, reviewing estimated payments, checking your S corp salary, or getting your books clean enough to make real decisions.

We help individuals and business owners with:
• Tax planning and preparation
• Bookkeeping and accounting
• Business valuations
• Mergers, acquisitions, and succession planning

Big firm knowledge. Family firm relationships. Serving clients since 2010, and yes, we're accepting new clients.

Book your year-end planning meeting before the calendar fills up:
📞 (813) 991-1120

10/08/2026

Waiting until tax season to talk to your CPA can mean missed opportunities.

Good tax planning happens throughout the year. Changes in your income, business, investments or major life events can all affect what you’ll owe and what strategies may be available to you.

A conversation before year-end gives you time to ask questions, review where things stand and make informed decisions while there’s still time to act.

📅 If it’s been a while since you’ve checked in with your CPA, now is a good time to get a meeting on the calendar.