For many Americans, tax season comes with spring.But for Ty Schatz, a certified public accountant with Michels & Schilperoot PS Inc. in Sunnyside, the season kicks off in mid-November.“Clients want to know where they stand tax-wise and what could be done prior to year-end to reduce their tax bill,” he...

Many people in the Mid-Columbia region donate to their favorite charities, especially during the holiday season.It feels good to help the less fortunate.But why not help yourself too by getting tax credits for giving?Darren Szendre, a certified public accountant and owner of Tri-Cities Tax in Kennewick, believes in the spirit...

Washington state has the highest cellphone tax rate in the country.That’s according to a recent study by the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit independent tax policy research group based in Washington, D.C.Taxes and fees on wireless consumers increased to a record high of 18.6 percent of the average U.S. customer’s monthly...

Katie and Wayne Jackson were both first-generation college graduates, earning their degrees in education. They met at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. and moved to the Northwest in 1968, when northern schools were seeking to integrate more African American teachers into their staff.[blockquote quote="Help everyone who walks through the...

In May of 2015, Priscilla Selden of Wenatchee and others passed an eight-hour licensing exam, moving one step closer to becoming the first Limited License Legal Technicians in the country. The state’s new Limited License Legal Technician is a new professional designation that authorizes them to advise clients and file...

Family is important to Scott Ashby, owner of Ashby Law. It’s the main reason he decided to leave a comfortable position as a high-stakes corporate litigator at an international law firm in Phoenix, Ariz. and move to the Tri-Cities to start his own practice.[blockquote quote="It’s not about how big we...

Dennis Gisi,John L. ScottDuring tax season my father, a W.W.II veteran used to say, “I am proud to be an American and have fought for its freedoms, but I could be just as proud for half as much.”I certainly agree and I am sure many of us feel this way.There...

Beau Ruff,Cornerstone Wealth StrategiesYou’ve likely heard finance experts say it. In fact, Suze Orman wrote about it in the July 2015 issue of the Costco Connection. It is this piece of estate planning wisdom: “A revocable living trust is a document all families should have.” Is this true? Do you...

Chris Neal,Columbia ConsultingThe vast majority of information necessary to properly comply with the new reporting requirements is found in 26 CFR 1.6055-1 Information Reporting For Minimum Essential Coverage.For those of you who would rather focus on your businesses here are the basic essentials for what you are required to provide.Every...