Tax Services

TAX PREPARATION AND PLANNING SERVICES

Bertz, Hess & Co.’s tax services go beyond preparation and filing. Since effective tax management begins with recognizing that most financial decisions have tax implications, we continuously work with our clients so they can make smarter tax decisions that balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s goals.

In an ever-changing and increasingly complex tax-law environment, it is our obligation to work throughout the year to guide you in minimizing present and future tax burdens. We assist our clients by providing projections and counseling you on specific actions to take to minimize your overall tax liability. This allows you to move forward confidently with the decision that is best suited for you.

Our firm’s proactive approach starts by taking the time to understand your financial situation. We pursue every opportunity to decrease or defer taxes, while providing you with a thorough understanding of your tax reports – and what the numbers truly mean. We are experienced in handling complex tax matters, and if needed, we can represent you during IRS and State Department of Revenue Income and Sales Tax audits.

Bertz, Hess & Co. is committed to remaining up to date on the latest tax laws and regulation strategies; for this reason, we relay any changes that could potentially affect your end-of-year tax obligations when we learn of them – so that you aren’t caught with any year-end surprises.

ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

Estate planning services begin with identifying your needs in developing an estate plan and continue by monitoring changes in your estate and adjusting the plan accordingly. A proper estate plan helps eliminate the uncertainties of probate, and maximizes the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses.

An estate plan includes several elements or documents: a will, the assignment of power of attorney, the living will, and an inventory of assets such as investments, retirement savings, insurance policies, real estate and any business interests. Bertz, Hess & Co. can coordinate and evaluate the services of other planning professionals such as lawyers, trust officials, investment counselors and insurers to make sure the various documents are properly coordinated and expertly prepared.

Protecting your estate includes remaining current with federal and state estate tax laws. Our firm not only monitors these ever-changing thresholds, but we also work with you to make any necessary adjustments – so your estate may be preserved for your heirs. Additionally, because of our many long-term relationships with clients and their businesses, Bertz, Hess & Co. often serves as executor or trustee to bring all planning to a successful conclusion.

PAYROLL SERVICES

Our payroll services encompass a wide variety of options to suit your individual business needs.  Payroll processing and compliance can be complex, and for a growing business, can represent a distraction from the core activities that make a business successful.  Our full service payroll option can remove the payroll burden from your shoulders.  We handle all aspects of your payroll processing and reporting, from writing checks and remitting payroll taxes to preparing all the required quarterly and annual payroll forms and reports.  And with our service, we offer the flexibility and local presence that a national payroll company can’t provide.

If you feel comfortable writing the paychecks and paying the payroll taxes, but don’t want to deal with the headache of payroll reporting, we also offer our quarterly and annual payroll report preparation service.  We can use your paycheck information to prepare the required forms, giving you one less thing to worry about.   And even if you do handle all your payroll reporting but just need an answer or some guidance on a particular issue, our payroll tax experts are available to provide knowledgeable assistance.