Schaffer Zeigen CPA PLLC

08/25/2025

Apparently there’s a single ChatGPT prompt that “unlocks 100% of GPT-5’s power.” 🤯

https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/chatgpt/this-chatgpt-prompt-unlocks-100-percent-of-gpt-5s-power-and-its-so-easy-to-use

Pretty cool… but let’s be real: there’s still no magic prompt for filing your taxes.

Make GPT-5 efficient and effective

08/22/2025

You filed an extension back in April so you could “deal with it later" ... Well, “later” is almost here.

𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟭𝟱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱.

Here’s the thing:
• The IRS clock has been ticking on interest this whole time.
• Late filing penalties can add up fast.
• And if you’re already dreading your return, waiting until the last minute just makes it harder.

7 weeks might sound like breathing room, but it’ll disappear quickly. Let’s get this off your plate now.

08/21/2025

Every day you wait to finalize your Sept 15 return, the greater the risk of you making critical errors on your return.

Rushed filings = missed deductions, overlooked details, and IRS letters down the line.

As a business owner, you know: time is money. And running out the clock on this deadline will cost you (especially if you owe and haven't already paid).

📌 Less than 4 weeks left—handle it now, not at midnight on the 14th.

08/20/2025

When we sit down with you, we’re not just looking at numbers on a return. We’re asking about your life:
• What’s working.
• What’s keeping you up at night.
• Where you want to go next.

Because money isn’t just math—it’s tied to your family, your peace of mind, and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Here’s how we help:
• Work through family financial challenges so they don’t derail your future.
• Ease money conflicts and stress that show up in everyday life.
• Clarify what “living well” means to you... and build a plan around it.
• Protect the legacy you’re creating, making sure your hard work lasts.

This is serious work, and we don’t take the responsibility lightly. Our role is to stand in your corner—not just during tax season, but in the decisions that shape your financial life.

08/19/2025

If you’ve been separated from an abusive or absent spouse, tax season can feel like another trap.

Right now, many survivors are forced to file taxes as “married,” which can mean losing out on credits and deductions—or being pushed into unsafe contact with an abuser.

The proposed 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗦. 𝟮𝟭𝟮𝟵) would change that by letting survivors file as single, protecting both their safety and their finances.

The bill has been introduced but has not yet passed. Our team is monitoring it closely, and we’ll keep you posted as it moves forward.

The SAFE Act intends to empower survivors by enabling them to file their tax returns independently.

08/18/2025

Pulling from your retirement fund early =
💸 10% penalty
💸 Ordinary income tax
💸 Less for your future
💸 More stress now

It’s your money, yes. But using it the wrong way can cost more than you think.

08/15/2025

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 “𝗡𝗢 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁” 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸.

Not every client is the right client.
Not every job is worth the money.
Not every trend deserves your time.

Write it down:
• The services you 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 offer
• The clients you 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 work with
• The marketing tactics you’re 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 chasing

That’s how you protect your energy—and your margins.

📌 What’s one thing that’s going on your “No List” this week?

08/14/2025

“I’ll start saving when I make more.”
“I’ll get organized after this next thing.”
“I’ll figure out my finances next year.”

The truth? There’s 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 another thing.

Peace with your money doesn’t come when everything’s perfect. It comes when you decide to take one small step... even in the middle of the mess.

This isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽?

08/13/2025

If you’re relying on a year-end revenue sprint to save your books…

That’s not a plan. That’s a 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦.

Let’s get honest about your cash flow 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 the holidays hit.

Things to check 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸:
• Are you pricing high enough to stay profitable?
• Are you collecting payments fast enough to stay liquid?
• Are you spending too much trying to “grow”?

Cash flow is the lifeline.

Not sales. Not marketing. Not fancy software.

We can clean this up now—𝘰𝘳 clean up the mess in January.

Your call.

08/12/2025

Freelancers. Landlords. Business owners.
Your next IRS due date is creeping up.

𝗤𝟯 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟭𝟱.

Miss it? You could get hit with penalties, even if you pay up later.

Not sure what to send (or if you should send anything at all)?
• It’s not too late to adjust
• We’ll make sure you’re not overpaying OR underpaying
• We’ll save your future self a ton of stress

DM us if you want to talk.

08/11/2025

Nothing feels worse than realizing you’ve been overpaying taxes all year.

With OBBBA’s higher standard deduction and increased child tax credit, many people are due to pay less tax overall, but if your W-4 isn’t updated, you won’t see those savings until next April.

How to do that?

A mid-year check + Adjusting your W-4 = Bigger paychecks this year instead of waiting for a refund.

Ready to check your withholding? Drop a ✅ below if you'd like to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and see what needs adjusting.