News and Events

In 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was created to assist for-profit and non-profit employers in maintaining their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program provides 100% federally insured loans for certain covered expenses and are normally forgiven in full if employees are retained at salary levels comparable to those before […]

Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund,  is the form employers use to correct errors on a previously filed IRS Form 941. There have been new laws and recent IRS changes making this form necessary. A couple of examples would be a missed tax credit related to COVID for sick […]

As we enter the one-year anniversary period of the pandemic, business as usual continues to be no such thing right now. Following the 2019 tax season, which required the most significant changes to our tax laws since 1986, tax preparers were met during the 2020 tax season with a pandemic and resulting economic crisis. As the […]

Bill Cathey is a North Carolina native, originally from Kings Mountain, but has lived in Hickory for about 10 years. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Charlotte but went back to school at Catawba Valley Community College to get a second degree in Accounting. For the past five years, Bill […]

Did you receive Economic Impact Payments (EIP) one and two from the Internal Revenue Service? It is very important to communicate the dollar amount you have received thus far with your tax preparer for the completion of your 2020 tax return. Sharing this information will save preparation time, help to expedite your return quickly, and […]

2020 was a tough year for many people who found themselves supplementing their income to survive financially. It is very important to not forget that this gig economy income must be reported on your tax return. Many of these types of jobs helped people to connect with customers providing goods or services, such as renting […]

MSA would like to welcome our newest Staff Accountant, Emily White. Emily was an intern for our company last summer and graduated in December with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Appalachian State University. She grew up near the mountains in Asheville, North Carolina, which is where she learned her love of hiking, fishing and […]

Millions of Americans received unemployment compensation in 2020. These are taxable benefits and withholding is voluntary. However, if taxes were not withheld, they may be owed on 2020 returns. By law, unemployment compensation is taxable and must be reported on a 2020 federal income tax return. Taxable benefits include any of the special unemployment compensation […]

Organizing your tax records is the first step to getting ready to prepare and file your 2020 tax return. Keeping all of your essential records (i.e. W-2s, 1099s, receipts, canceled checks and other tax support documents) together in one area will help you to be better organized when preparing your returns or sending them to your […]

A Hickory native and graduate of Elon University and Appalachian State University, Stacee Rash joined Martin Starnes and Associates, CPAs, P.A., in 2009 after two years with a national firm. Stacee is known for holding herself and others to high standards and taking pride in everything she does. She is an advocate for coaching, advising, and supporting […]