As tax filing season gets underway, one of the most common questions we hear is simple:

“When will my refund arrive?”
While the IRS provides general timelines, the actual timing of your refund depends on how you file, what credits you claim, and whether your return requires additional review. Here’s what taxpayers should know as the season unfolds.

How Long Refunds Typically Take
If you file electronically and choose direct deposit, the IRS says most refunds are issued within 21 days or less.
If you file a paper return, refunds can take four weeks or longer, and even more time if corrections or manual reviews are required.
The IRS continues to encourage electronic filing and direct deposit, as those returns move through the system faster and with fewer errors.

Why Some Refunds Take Longer
Not all refunds are processed on the same schedule. Refunds may take additional time if:

• The return includes errors or incomplete information
• The IRS needs to verify identity or income
• The return claims certain refundable credits

The IRS also cautions taxpayers not to rely on a refund by a specific date, especially when planning major purchases or bill payments.

Refundable Credits Can Affect Timing
Even if you file early, refunds that include certain credits may be delayed due to required verification.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)Refunds that include the Earned Income Tax Credit are often held longer as the IRS confirms eligibility, income, and filing status.
Child Tax Credit & Additional Child Tax CreditTaxpayers claiming these credits may also see delayed refunds, particularly when the Additional Child Tax Credit is involved.
In many cases, refunds tied to these credits become available later in February or early March, depending on processing and banking timelines.

How to Check the Status of Your Refund
Taxpayers can track refunds using the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool:

• Available online or through the IRS2Go app
• Updates once daily (usually overnight)
• Typically shows status within:
  • 24 hours of e-filing, or
  • About four weeks after mailing a paper return

To check your status, you’ll need:

• Your Social Security number or ITIN
• Filing status
• Exact refund amount from your return

Who Qualifies for Key Credits?
The article also highlights eligibility basics for popular credits:
Child Tax CreditGenerally available to taxpayers with qualifying children under age 17 who meet income and residency requirements.
Earned Income Tax CreditAvailable to lower- and moderate-income taxpayers who meet earned income thresholds and filing requirements, with income limits varying based on filing status and number of dependents.
Eligibility depends on several factors, and claiming a credit incorrectly can delay processing.

What’s Different This Year
One notable change: the IRS continues moving away from paper refund checks.
Most taxpayers are now required to provide bank account and routing numbers to receive refunds via direct deposit. This shift is designed to reduce fraud, speed processing, and lower administrative costs.

A Final Word on Refund Expectations
A tax refund is not a bonus — it’s the return of excess taxes paid during the year. While refunds are welcome, delays can happen, especially for returns that require extra review.
At GLM Accounting & Business Advisory, we encourage clients to:

• File accurately
• Keep documentation organized
• Avoid relying on refunds for immediate financial obligations

Understanding the process upfront helps reduce frustration and surprises later.
If you have questions about refund timing, credits, or filing strategy, we’re here to help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence.

​In Part 1, we covered several new and enhanced deductions that may be available to individual taxpayers in upcoming filing seasons. In this article, we’ll focus on how deductions are applied, including standard versus itemized deductions, documentation requirements, and helpful IRS tools.
Understanding how these pieces work together is key to making informed tax decisions.

Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing: What’s Different Now?
One important change is that many of the new deductions may be available to both:

• Taxpayers who take the standard deduction
• Taxpayers who itemize deductions

This represents a shift from past rules, though income limits and eligibility requirements still apply.

Standard Deduction Amounts for Tax Year 2025
The IRS adjusts standard deduction amounts annually for inflation. For tax year 2025, the amounts are:

• $15,750 — Single or Married Filing Separately
• $31,500 — Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Surviving Spouse
• $23,625 — Head of Household

Most taxpayers continue to take the standard deduction, but itemizing may make sense if deductible expenses exceed these amounts.

Common Itemized Deductions
Taxpayers who itemize may deduct qualifying expenses such as:

• State and local income or sales taxes
• Real and personal property taxes
• Mortgage interest
• Charitable contributions
• Medical and dental expenses
• Certain casualty or disaster losses

These deductions are subject to dollar limits and substantiation requirements.

Documentation Still Matters
Regardless of which deductions apply, taxpayers must keep records to support what they claim, including:

• Receipts and statements
• Loan and interest documentation
• Proof of payment
• Accurate income records

Good documentation helps ensure deductions are applied correctly and reduces audit risk.

IRS Tools Available to Taxpayers
Several IRS resources can help taxpayers determine eligibility:

• IRS Free File for taxpayers under income thresholds
• Free File Fillable Forms for all income levels
• IRS Interactive Tax Assistant for deduction and credit eligibility

While helpful, these tools work best when paired with proactive planning.

Final Thought
Tax filing reports what already happened.
Tax planning helps shape future outcomes.
At GLM Accounting & Business Advisory, we help clients understand how changing tax rules apply to their unique situation — and how to plan with intention rather than react under pressure.
If you have questions about how these deductions may affect you, now is the right time to start the conversation.

Tax laws continue to evolve, and recent changes introduce several new and enhanced tax deductions that may impact individuals in upcoming filing seasons. While not every taxpayer will qualify, understanding what’s available — and how these deductions work — is an important part of proactive tax planning.
​
This first article focuses on what’s new, who these deductions may apply to, and why planning ahead matters.

What Is a Tax Deduction?
A tax deduction reduces the amount of income subject to federal tax.
Lower taxable income can lead to a lower overall tax obligation.
Deductions are different from tax credits, which reduce taxes owed dollar-for-dollar. While deductions don’t always provide immediate savings, they can significantly affect your tax outcome when used strategically.

New Deductions to Be Aware Of
Several new or expanded deductions are expected to be available in upcoming filing seasons. All are subject to income limits and eligibility requirements.

Additional Deduction for Seniors
Taxpayers age 65 and older may be eligible for an additional $6,000 deduction.
This deduction may be available whether you itemize or take the standard deduction, depending on income level.

Deductions for Tipped Workers
Some individuals who earn tips may be eligible to deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tips.
Because tipped income must be properly reported to qualify, documentation and compliance are essential.

Overtime Income Deduction
Individuals may be eligible to deduct:

• Up to $12,500 (single filers)
• Up to $25,000 (joint filers)

This deduction applies only to qualifying overtime income and phases out at higher income levels.

Passenger Vehicle Loan Interest
Taxpayers may be able to deduct up to $10,000 in interest paid on qualifying passenger vehicle loans.
Eligibility depends on the type of vehicle, loan structure, and other specific criteria.

Why Planning Ahead Matters
Many of these deductions phase out as income rises. In some cases, earning slightly more can significantly reduce or eliminate eligibility.
Understanding these rules early allows for better planning, smarter decisions, and fewer surprises at tax time.

Coming Next in Part 2
In Part 2, we’ll cover standard vs. itemized deductions, current standard deduction amounts, documentation requirements, and available IRS tools that can help taxpayers navigate these changes.

In today’s digital-first business world, your photo often speaks before you do. It shows up on LinkedIn, your website, Zoom calls, proposals, and marketing materials—sometimes all before a prospect ever meets you.

That’s why one of the smartest (and most overlooked) investments a business owner can make is a professional business portrait that actually feels like you.

This week’s Matching Ideas with Resources spotlight is on a colleague who has mastered that exact outcome.

After more than 35 years specializing in professional portraits, Jared has refined a process that removes the most common frustration people have with headshots: not liking the final image. His solution is simple—and surprisingly rare.

He retouches your photo with you, during the session.
Instead of waiting days and hoping the final result matches your expectations, you collaborate in real time. Adjustments are made on the spot, ensuring the finished image reflects how you want to show up professionally. The result? A business portrait you don’t just accept—you confidently use.
Even better, Jared backs this with a “Like It or Love It” guarantee, which is almost unheard of in this space.

For a limited time, he’s also offering a Valentine’s Day Professional Business Portrait Special, which includes:

• A professional business portrait session
• A personal photo session on the same day (if booked before 2/20/26)
• A relaxed, guided experience designed to produce images you’ll actually want to share

At GLM, we often talk about clarity, confidence, and credibility in business. How you visually represent yourself plays a bigger role in all three than most people realize.

If updating your professional image has been sitting on your to-do list, this is a great opportunity to finally check it off—with confidence.
​
👉 View the details here:
https://app.signtechsupport.org/location/XdDDCurEqlWNm5tc67Gr/page-builder/0Co0fKg0DSjRgYDAZAMv/versions

Election seasons often make business owners want to tune out. Politics can feel divisive, time-consuming, or disconnected from day-to-day operations. But the reality is this: many policy decisions being discussed right now directly affect small businesses.

From regulations and compliance costs to healthcare, taxes, and trade policy, these decisions shape how small businesses hire, invest, and grow. Staying silent doesn’t stop change—it just removes the small business voice from the conversation.

Engagement Doesn’t Have to Be Political
Getting engaged doesn’t mean arguing online or taking extreme positions. The most effective advocacy is practical and grounded in real experience. Business owners bring something policymakers often lack: firsthand insight into how policies actually work in the real world.
Even small efforts can make a difference:

• Attending local forums or town halls
• Asking thoughtful, business-focused questions
• Sharing real examples of how policies impact operations

Leverage Your Local Chamber
One of the easiest and most effective ways to engage is through your local chamber of commerce. Most chambers have a Government Affairs or Public Policy Committee designed specifically to gather input from business owners and advocate on their behalf.
These committees help:

• Monitor legislation that affects businesses
• Communicate concerns to elected officials
• Amplify small business voices as a group rather than individually

You don’t have to do it alone—and you don’t have to be an expert to participate.

Why It Matters Now
Policies move forward whether small businesses engage or not. The difference is whether those policies reflect real-world business realities—or assumptions made without them.
At GLM Accounting & Business Advisory, we encourage business owners to approach engagement the same way they approach financial strategy: be informed, be intentional, and think long-term.
This is an important moment for the small business community. Now is the time to be part of the conversation.

Learn more at the Daily Herald: www.dailyherald.com/20260131/business/perfect-opportunity-for-small-business-community-to-get-engaged/

​Get involved: https://www.smallbusinessadvocacycouncil.org/

Tax season already brings enough stress. Unfortunately, it also brings a predictable surge in scams—and this year is no exception.

According to the Better Business Bureau, fraudsters are expected to return in full force during tax season, using phone calls, emails, texts, fake websites, and even “ghost” tax preparers to steal personal information, refunds, and money. In fact, taxpayers lost over $5.5 billion to tax scams in 2023 alone.
At GLM Accounting & Business Advisory, protecting our clients goes beyond preparing accurate returns. It includes helping you recognize red flags before a scam turns into a costly mistake.

Common Tax Scams to Watch For

Tax Identity Theft
This occurs when someone files a tax return using your Social Security number to steal your refund. Victims often don’t realize it until their legitimate return is rejected.
Scammers obtain information through:

• Phishing emails or texts
• Fake tax preparation services
• Data breaches or malware downloads

IRS Impersonation Scams
These usually start with a call, email, or text claiming to be from the IRS.
Red flags include:

• Threats of arrest or legal action
• Demands for immediate payment
• Requests for payment via wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or cryptocurrency
• Requests for sensitive information over the phone or email

Important reminder:
👉 The IRS will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask for credit card or debit card information over the phone.

Email & Text Phishing
Scammers send messages that look like official IRS communications, often directing you to:

• “Update your IRS account”
• “Fix an issue with your tax return”
• “Claim a refund”

These links lead to fake websites designed to steal your personal information.

“Ghost” Tax Preparers
These are unqualified or fraudulent preparers who:

• Set up temporary offices during tax season
• Promise unusually fast or large refunds
• Don’t sign your return
• Disappear if issues arise

Once the damage is done, they’re gone—leaving you responsible for errors, penalties, or lost refunds.

Smart Ways to Protect Yourself This Tax Season

• File early. Filing as soon as possible reduces the chance that a scammer can file before you do.
• Work with a trusted tax professional. Always verify credentials and reputation.
• Be cautious with emails and texts. Never click unexpected links claiming to be from the IRS.
• Verify websites. Make sure you’re on the official IRS site when filing or researching.
• Ask about security. Your tax preparer should be able to explain how they protect your data.
• When in doubt, pause. Scammers rely on urgency. Taking a moment can save you thousands.

How GLM Helps Keep You Safe
At GLM Accounting, we take data security seriously. Our processes are designed to protect your information while ensuring your tax filings are accurate, compliant, and handled with care.

If you ever receive a suspicious tax-related message—or just aren’t sure if something is legitimate--reach out to us before responding. A quick conversation can prevent a costly mistake.

Most business plans are built on a simple assumption:

Things will go roughly as expected.

Revenue will grow. Expenses will stay in line. Clients will keep paying. The economy will behave. Your team will stay intact. And in the real world? None of that happens consistently.
The strongest businesses aren’t the ones with the most optimistic plans — they’re the ones that expect disruption and build around it.

At GLM, we see this every day. The difference between companies that survive tough seasons and those that panic comes down to one thing:

Did they plan for reality, or did they plan for a perfect year?

Your Business Is Not a Straight Line
Spreadsheets love smooth projections:

• 10% growth every year
• Stable margins
• Predictable cash flow
• Neat, clean charts

Real businesses don’t work that way.
Instead, growth looks like:

• A great quarter followed by a slow one
• A big client leaving unexpectedly
• A key employee moving on
• A vendor raising prices
• A market shift no one saw coming

These aren’t failures — they’re the normal operating conditions of running a business.
If your plan doesn’t account for them, it isn’t a plan. It’s a wish.

What “Planning for the Unexpected” Really Means
This doesn’t mean being negative or pessimistic.
It means being prepared.
Smart contingency planning answers questions like:

• What happens if revenue drops 15% for three months?
• How long could we cover payroll if sales slow?
• Which expenses could we cut quickly without hurting the business?
• Where could we get short-term cash if we had to?
• Which clients or revenue streams are too risky to rely on?

These aren’t fun questions — but they are the difference between calm decision-making and financial panic.

Cash Flow Is Your Shock Absorber
Most businesses don’t fail because they aren’t profitable on paper.
They fail because they run out of cash.
When things go off-plan — and they will — cash flow becomes your safety net:

• It gives you time to adjust
• It gives you leverage with lenders
• It lets you make decisions instead of being forced into them

One of the most powerful things we do with GLM clients is build cash flow forecasting into their planning — not just “how much money will I make,” but when will the money actually hit the bank?
That visibility changes everything.

Flexible Plans Beat Perfect Plans
The best business plans are not rigid.
They are living documents that adapt as conditions change.
At GLM, we encourage clients to think in terms of:

• Base case: What we expect to happen
• Upside case: What happens if things go better than expected
• Downside case: What happens if things go worse

When you have all three mapped out, surprises stop being emergencies. They become decisions.

Planning for the Unexpected Is a Competitive Advantage
Most of your competitors are operating without:

• Cash flow forecasts
• Scenario planning
• Expense prioritization
• Real-time financial insight

That means when things get tight, they react late — and often in the wrong ways.
You don’t need to outwork them.
You need to out-plan them.

Where GLM Fits In
At GLM Accounting, we don’t just prepare tax returns or financial statements.
We help business owners answer the questions that actually matter:

• “What happens if this doesn’t go the way I hoped?”
• “How much risk can I safely take?”
• “What do I need to see in my numbers before making a big move?”

If you’ve never built a financial plan that includes real-world uncertainty, now is the time.
Because the only thing you can count on in business…
is that it won’t go exactly as planned.