The Blog

Believe it or not, 2019 is almost halfway over (!). We’re through the summer solstice, the days get shorter from here on out, and here at Team Emelia Mensa CPA we begin to turn our eyes more directly at 2020. We’re pretty thrilled by the opportunity, because it means we get that much more time to take advantage of all … Read More

I’m so old, I still remember the days when “hashtags” were only about a particular button on your phone. Yep, the world has shifted massively underfoot. You know it; we all know it. And one of the developments we’ve all seen is the proliferation of news feed gurus, ready and willing to help you start your new business — for … Read More

Do you know what the number one month is for weddings? Check today’s date and there it is: June. With that fact in mind, I’m not sure where you currently fall on the wedding spectrum… Are many of your friends getting married? Are your friends’ kids getting married? And if you or someone close to you is getting married soon, … Read More

No, the IRS is not shutting down their operations — there is still (and probably ever will be) a federal income tax. But states are a different story… This being travel season, and the season during which some of our clients turn their eyes towards making a move, I thought I’d give you some info on how state and local … Read More

I recently wrote about the cost of raising children, but there was one glaring omission: college. But imagine if you had sent your son to Morehouse College. Here’s what happened there this month… On Sunday, May 19th, investor and philanthropist, Robert F. Smith, shocked 400 graduating students from all-male Morehouse College when, in his commencement speech, he announced he would … Read More

To be clear, children are costly in the best way possible. Once the dust settles from changing diapers, sweeping floors, slapping bandaids on booboos, driving to sports practice, attending back-to-school meetings, saving for college, and buying countless goldfish crackers … you realize children are a lot of work. They’re also monetarily costly. Depending on your income, you could be spending … Read More

What, you think I’m on vacation? Yes, the tax deadline has passed. But we’re still available, and handling post-deadline matters for clients.   But moving along to today’s subject: figuring out how to pay for college tuition. Things are different from the days when I considered college… I’m talking to parents left and right who are scrambling to figure out … Read More

This has been one of the wildest tax seasons in recent memory. I saw a note from the IRS last Friday (the 12th) that as of that day, 50 million taxpayers had yet to file. LOTS of extensions happened out there, as all of the tax law changes caused a bunch of confusion. It’s our hope that our clients didn’t … Read More

Yep. This is the final week, and the personal filing deadline (April 15th) is *so* close. It’s officially the final week of tax season — and we are working our tails off for you and our other clients. But I’m still taking the time to step away for a moment and write to you, my friend. And if you have … Read More

Okay, that’s a joke. We’re so busy with our client work, we can’t really enjoy the college basketball or the new baseball season, but at least we still have April Fools. And yes, I know that day has already passed. More coffee please. But speaking of things getting past us — are YOU procrastinating with your taxes? If so, you’re … Read More