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Meseret Y. Zeleke, CPA

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El Cerrito, CA
Meseret Y. Zeleke, CPA

With over 20 years of experience we’ll ensure you always get the best guidance we’re with you every step of the way

01/28/2026

When you file your 2025 income tax return, you can deduct your charitable donations only if you itemize deductions. But beginning with donations made in 2026, people who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing can claim a charitable deduction of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). Only “cash” donations qualify, but the definition may be broader than you think. It includes gifts made by debit or credit card, check, ACH, online payment platform and payroll deduction. Call us at (510) 527-1910 to discuss what you can deduct on your 2025 return and your donation strategy for 2026.

01/27/2026

Bookkeeping software helps small businesses track income, reconcile accounts and generate reports. But technology can’t replace professional judgment or real-world experience. An outside bookkeeping or accounting professional adds context and clarity to your company’s financial data. We can help you interpret results, stay compliant with changing tax laws, manage cash flow and make smarter business decisions. Contact us at (510) 527-1910 to turn your financial data into a strategic plan that drives growth.

01/26/2026

The IRS considers a paper return that’s due April 15 to be timely filed if it’s postmarked by midnight. Sounds straightforward, but let’s say you mail your return with a payment on April 15, and the envelope gets lost. You don’t figure this out and refile until a couple of months later. Despite your efforts to timely file and pay, you can still be hit with both failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties. One way to minimize this risk is to use certified or registered mail or an IRS-approved private delivery service. A better way is to work with a tax professional who’ll e-file your return and help ensure you claim every break you’re entitled to while staying compliant with tax law. Contact us at (510) 527-1910 to start your 2025 return.

01/23/2026

Not everyone is eligible to make tax-deductible contributions to a traditional IRA. For example, for 2026, deduction eligibility for single taxpayers who also contribute to a workplace retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan, phases out with income between $81,000 and $91,000. For joint filers, the phaseout range for a spouse who contributes to a work-based plan is $129,000 to $149,000. For a spouse who doesn’t contribute to a work-based plan, the phaseout range is $242,000 to $252,000. Also for 2026, Roth IRA contribution eligibility phases out as follows: $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers, $242,000 to $252,000 for joint filers, and $0 to $10,000 for married separate filers. Contact us at (510) 527-1910 if you have questions.

01/21/2026

Your first “real” job, living on your own, meeting new people … all of this can make young adulthood exciting but stressful. Accumulating a sizeable retirement nest egg doesn’t have to be. Contribute as much as you can (up to $24,500 in 2026) to your employer’s 401(k) plan. Then watch as time and the compounding power of reinvesting earnings do their work. The longer your time horizon, the better! Contact us at (510) 527-1910 for more advice on planning for your financial future.

01/20/2026

Writing a comprehensive business plan is an absolute imperative when launching a business. But it’s also important for running one. Why? Because your business plan can help you see into the future. As long as it’s properly structured, adheres to sound strategies and contains accurate data, a business plan should spell out in black and white what your company will accomplish and how it will get there. Contact us at (510) 527-1910 for help determining whether your business plan is still the crystal ball it needs to be.

01/19/2026

Credits provide powerful tax savings potential because they reduce taxes dollar for dollar. (By contrast, deductions only reduce the amount of income subject to tax.) A wide variety of credits are available to businesses. You may be eligible to claim some on your 2025 tax return. And you can take steps this year to increase your eligibility for credits when you file your 2026 return next year. We can help identify the credits you’re entitled to for 2025 and plan your business’s tax strategy for 2026. Call us at (510) 527-1910 to set up an appointment.

01/16/2026

The employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave has been made permanent. (It previously had been scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2025.) The credit amount ranges from 12.5% to 25% of eligible wages paid to qualifying employees for up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Beginning in 2026, employers have the option to claim the credit for the same percentage of insurance premiums paid or incurred during the tax year for active family and medical leave coverage. You can’t claim the credit for both wages and premiums, however. Call us at (510) 527-1910 to learn more. We can help evaluate your options and implement a leave program that complies with the IRS requirements for the credit.

01/14/2026

Many of the major tax provisions signed into law in 2025 start taking effect in 2026. How has the tax landscape changed for you or your business since last year? Contact us at (510) 527-1910 and we’ll give you the lay of the land, including how you can potentially claim tax credits and deductions.

01/13/2026

The cost of goods sold (COGS) drives your company’s bottom line, but its accuracy hinges on how well you track inventory. Even small miscounts and misclassifications can distort your margins and cloud decision-making. That’s where we come in. We can review your inventory methods for consistency, reconcile physical counts to your books and verify proper cost allocations. Identifying discrepancies early can help you catch errors and shrinkage before they escalate. With dependable COGS data, you’ll gain clearer insight into product performance, pricing strategy and cash flow. Contact us at (510) 527-1910 to learn more.

01/12/2026

Creating a well-thought-out estate plan can significantly reduce current and future tax liability. Incorporating strategies such as gifting assets during your lifetime, placing appreciating assets in trusts and ensuring proper beneficiary designations can help minimize taxes for you and your family. Contact us at (510) 527-1910. We can review your plan to ensure you’re using the most tax-efficient tools to protect your wealth and pass it on according to your wishes.

01/09/2026

Legislation in 2025 made 100% bonus depreciation permanent for businesses that purchase and place into service qualified new or used property after Jan. 19, 2025. However, when you file your 2025 income tax return, you can choose to use the old 40% bonus depreciation rate. Why would you do this? You may want to save more tax in 2025 than you would following normal depreciation but preserve some deductions for the future. For example, if you anticipate being in a higher tax bracket in 2026, deductions will be more valuable. Another reason is to prevent large net operating losses, which 100% bonus depreciation can create. Call us at (510) 527-1910 for help determining which tax breaks will be most beneficial to claim on your 2025 return and which ones might make sense to forgo.

Address

521 El Cerrito Plaza. Suite 521
El Cerrito, CA
94530

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15105271910

Website

http://www.mezicpa.com/

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