Holmes County hosts tax law update session

Paying taxes is an inescapable truth for Americans, and with that in mind, the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau invited its members together recently to hear updates, ask questions and glean from the professionals at Rea during the monthly chamber meeting that took place at Grace Church in Berlin.

According to Tiffany Gerber, chamber executive director, providing this type of venue during tax season from the chamber members is a valuable tool because it brings tax professionals to the members as a group.

Gerber said this annual event is always one of the most well-attended monthly meetings of the year for the chamber members because of the significance it represents.

“When we look at our programming, we want to home in on issues that are timely and useful to our members, and at the same time, we want to make the networking process fun for them,” Gerber said. “At the end of the day, we want to give our members the tools they need to make their organization or business stronger.”

Rea professionals Eric Biltz and Emerick Flinner presented plenty of food for thought as they hashed through changes and alterations for the new tax season.

Much of the discussion centered around changes that are taking place through President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed last year.

“There are a lot of changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that are kind of difficult to totally understand until you get in there and really look into everything that has changed,” Biltz said. “It’s a pretty significant change. I haven’t seen anything this size of change since I started.”

With so many changes and alterations in tax laws, from qualified tips and wages to senior deductions, car loan interest, overtime pay changes and many other areas where new taxes may be deductible, Biltz said it would benefit anyone doing their own taxes to dig into the changes and ask questions from professionals should they have doubts as to how their taxes may be affected.

He said Rea’s team is always willing to try to answer any questions people may have, and even if they can’t provide the exact information someone is seeking, they can point them in the right direction to where they can find the answers they seek.

He said one source of information to which many people are turning for answers about the OBBBA is Artificial Intelligence.

He said while AI can provide pertinent information, it is important to fact find the answers AI provides.

“The internet can be extremely helpful, but I’ve always been told to go read the instructions on the tax form,” Biltz said. “Everything you need is right there, although it can be difficult to find and understand at times.”

Biltz said many people do file their own taxes, but with major changes, if anyone has the slightest doubt, it is wise to seek professionals who can help sift through the often-confusing tax laws and changes.

One thing Biltz did recommend is people filing their own taxes do so via e-file if possible.

“Paper filing will be much slower,” Biltz said. “If you send in your paper return and you want your check sent to you, it may be a while until you receive that refund check because (the government) is backed up.”

He also suggested people register for an identity protection PIN because of the sheer volume of identity theft and scams taking place today. He said the identity protection PIN is an annual code the IRS sends out that changes from year to year.

He said that PIN creates a safe filing mechanism that protects people from fraud and identity theft.

Providing valuable insight is something Rea is pleased to do for the chamber members and for anyone in the county who may need guidance in filing taxes.

“We are a community firm, and we want to support our community any way we can,” Biltz said.

“Rea is so generous when it comes to providing professionals to share this important information with our members,” Gerber said. “They do such a terrific job of getting this mountain of information out to the people of our community, not just through us as a chamber, but through many other avenues.”

She said having chamber partners like Rea who are willing to serve and provide insight is something that makes Holmes County special.