News and Events

December 2, 2019, began this year’s National Tax Security Awareness Week warning holiday shoppers to secure their computers and mobile phones. Open the link below to see how you can reduce the threat of identity theft. Shopping Tips Source: Internal Revenue Service

Are you maximizing your contribution to your retirement plan? We generally recommend that you do.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) increased contribution amounts for 2020, so read this article to understand your limitations. Submitted by: Frank Williams Source: Internal Revenue Service

For the most part, none of us like paying taxes. Unfortunately, it is something that must be done; therefore, it is in our best interest to make sure we get the most out of it.  Doing your due diligence on hiring an accountant, filing a 1099, or utilizing accelerated depreciation methods such as section 179 or bonus, […]

On Saturday October 26th, a group of 12 MSA employees, family members, and furry friends took part in the Hickory Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This is the fifth year in a row that MSA employees participated in the event that took place at the L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s event […]

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a draft of the 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Taxpayers are reminded that this draft is not for current use and that the final Form W-4 should be available later in 2020, until then, employers are encouraged to use the current Form W-4. The IRS recommends taxpayers […]

Each year during the second week of October, the downtown area of Hickory, otherwise known as Union Square, holds Oktoberfest to celebrate the strong German heritage in the area. This year brought about the thirty-fourth year for the festival. Street vendors and store owners brought out their finest wares for the occasion. There was everything from delicious food […]

Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. was recently named as one of the 2019 Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for, ranking 3rd in midsized firms across the nation who employ between 50 and 249 people.  Accounting Today has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify companies that have excelled in creating quality workplaces […]

During this time of the year, accountants all over the state are giving back to their communities as part of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants CPA Day of Service and what better way to serve the community than by appreciating those who are with our children five days a week! On October 1st, […]

On September 24, 2019, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) raised the standard salary level threshold for full-time workers from $455 to $684 per week. This means that employees making less than $35,568 per year will be eligible for overtime. Additional areas impacted by the DOL ruling are listed below: Total annual compensation levels for highly […]

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) introduced the new Tax Withholding Estimator last month. This user-friendly tool is designed to help retirees, employees and self-employed individuals check their withholdings. Take a moment and open the link below to test it out! Tax Withholding Estimator Tool Source: Internal Revenue Service