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.
Educators may be able to claim 2 deductions for 2026 classroom expenses
Teachers and other educators often spend their own money on books, supplies, equipment and other classroom needs. For 2026, eligible educators may have two ways to deduct qualifying unreimbursed expenses: A deduction of up to $350 is available whether or not they itemize, and a new deduction with no dollar cap is available to itemizers. Educators eligible for both deductions can first claim the above-the-line deduction and reap the benefits of reducing their adjusted gross income and, if they have eligible expenses in excess of $350, claim the itemized deduction for those excess expenses. (Educators can’t claim both deductions for the same expenses.) Contact us to see if you may be eligible. ... See MoreSee Less
Which fringe benefits are tax-free to employees?
To attract and retain skilled workers, your small business needs to offer more than competitive pay. Your benefits package matters, too.
Tax-free fringe benefits may be especially valuable to employees. Examples include many types of insurance (health, disability, long-term care and life), assistance plans (dependent care, adoption and educational) and transportation benefits, subject to certain limits. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also changed some fringe-benefit tax rules for 2026 and beyond.
Open enrollment is right around the corner for many businesses. As you review your 2027 benefits package, contact us for help evaluating your current offerings and fine-tuning them as needed. ... See MoreSee Less
Sometimes how much is in tax-deferred retirement accounts may be too much
Could your traditional 401(k) or IRA balance be too large? Maybe!
Contributing as much as you can to tax-deferred retirement accounts can be a good idea. Contributions are pretax or deductible, and tax-deferred compounding can turbocharge growth.
But sometimes maximizing tax deferral is counterproductive. This may be true if tax rates increase by the time you pay tax on distributions. Also, retirement plan distributions are taxed at your ordinary-income rate, not your long-term capital gains rate. So you may pay a higher tax rate on dividends and growth than you would if you held the investments in a taxable account.
Fortunately, there are strategies that can help. Contact us to learn more. ... See MoreSee Less