Welcome to Seber Tans, PLC
Choosing the right accounting firm is one of the most important business decisions you will make. Any firm can add up the numbers and tell you where you’ve been, but Seber Tans will help you focus on where you want to go. In Southwest Michigan, the firm that unites professional expertise with creativity and vision is Seber Tans. With a team of experienced professionals on our staff, we can provide the capabilities of a large national organization, plus the personal attention of an independent firm. Clients choose us because we offer much more than off-the-shelf solutions. We will listen, ask questions, and learn all we can about your current situation. From that input, we’ll find creative solutions to help you focus on your opportunities rather than your obstacles. Join us and see why our clients trust us for their accounting, tax, and business advising needs.
Discover if you qualify for “head of household” tax filing status
When preparing your tax return, we’ll check one of the following statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household (HOH) or qualifying widow(er). Filing as HOH is more favorable than filing as single. To illustrate, the 2025 HOH standard deduction is $22,500, while it’s $15,000 for singles. To be eligible, you must maintain a household that, for more than half the year, is the principal home of a “qualifying child” or other relative of yours whom you can claim as a dependent. The IRS considers you to “maintain a household” if you live in the home for the tax year and pay over half the cost of running it. We can answer any questions about your situation. ... See MoreSee Less
Are you a tax-favored real estate professional?
For federal income tax purposes, rental real estate losses are generally considered passive activity losses (PALs), which can only be deducted against passive income from other sources. If you don’t have enough passive income, excess PALs are suspended and carried forward to future years. They can be deducted later when you have enough passive income or sell the property. But there’s an exception for real estate professionals. If you qualify, rental losses can be treated as non-passive, allowing you to deduct them currently, regardless of passive income. This can provide a significant tax break if you’re eligible. You may also be eligible for other exceptions. Contact us for help. ... See MoreSee Less
Deduct a loss from making a personal loan to a relative or friend
Suppose your adult child or friend needs to borrow money. You may want to help by making a personal loan. But there are tax implications that you should understand. You want to be able to prove that you intended for the transaction to be a loan rather than an outright gift. That way, if the loan goes bad, you can claim a non-business bad debt deduction for the year the loan becomes worthless. You should have a written promissory note. It’s best to charge an interest rate that equals or exceeds the applicable federal rates set by the IRS. They potentially change each month. For April 2025, they range from 4.09% to 4.52%, depending on the loan length. Contact us if you have questions. ... See MoreSee Less