News and Events

MSA Named 1st Among Medium-Sized North Carolina Companies!

The winners of the Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina 2022 list by Best Companies Group, a BridgeTower Media Company, were recently released, and Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. (MSA)is honored to be ranked first among medium-sized companies in this awards program!  Best Companies Group’s annual award program identifies and honors the best places of employment […]

Tips for Hiring Family Members in a Small Business

There are many pros and cons to hiring family members in a small business. Below are some bullet points to consider before hiring a relative: All relatives are not made equal; The tax implications can work in your favor; Make sure they are up for the task; and Beware of the pitfalls. For detailed information on […]

IRS Chips Away at Their Tax Return Inventory

The Internal Revenue Service has been working diligently over the last several months to decrease their tax return inventory. As of June 10, 2022, more than 4.5 million of the more than 4.7 million individual paper tax returns received in 2021 have been processed! They are also reporting that the vast majority of tax returns filed this year […]

Series I Savings Bonds – Is This Your Next Investment?

Are you looking for an investment that could earn 9.62%? Maybe you should research purchasing Series I savings bonds; they have a high interest rate, inflation protection and the safety of government backing. These bonds could be just what you need for your portfolio! The interest rate on these bonds increases as inflation rises, ensuring that […]

Federal Student Loan Rates to Increase

Borrowing money for college just got more expensive! Interest rates on new federal student loans are set to increase this summer with the largest percentage jump since 2013. Due to the Treasury Department’s recent auction of 10-year notes, federal student loan interest rates will rise by more than a percentage point on July 1, 2022. These rates […]

BEWARE – IRS Warns Us About the 2022 Dirty Dozen Tax Scamsw

The Internal Revenue Service just published its’ “Dirty Dozen” list for 2022. The list includes possible abusive activities everyone should avoid. Unfortunately, criminals are still using the COVID-19 pandemic to steal our money and identity with fake emails, social media posts and unexpected phone calls. A few of these scams are listed below: – Use of Charitable Remainder […]

Mileage Rate is Increased by IRS

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rate for the last six months of 2022. These rates may be used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and certain other purposes. This new rate will be 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the rate […]

Welcome to MSA Lindsay!

Lindsay Turner, a native of Hickory, recently joined our team as a Staff Accountant. She was previously a Carrier Development Analyst after graduating from Appalachian State University with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance and Banking. Lindsay plans to pursue a master’s degree in Accounting in hopes of becoming a CPA […]

Should You be Paying Estimated Tax Payments?

What are estimated tax payments? Do you need to make estimated tax payments? How much should your estimated tax payments be? These are common questions an individual may ask their tax advisor.   Click here to read more about estimated tax payments. Submitted by: Frank Williams Sources: https://jmtaxlaw.com/article-on-estimated-tax-payments-by-denver-tax-attorney/ and https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/small-business-taxes/estimated-taxes-how-to-determine-what-to-pay-and-when/L3OPIbJNw

MSA Helps Student Learn About Budgeting

On May 23, 2022, employees of Martin Starnes and Associates, CPAs, P.A. (MSA) assisted other North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA) with a game of Making Cents in classes at Oakwood Elementary School. Making Cents is a game derived to teach students about budgeting and making sure their money lasts. The students were […]