Winchell CPA & Advisory Services PLLC

05/07/2026

44 years in Bellevue ❤️

What started with Jim’s vision 44 years ago has grown into a firm we’re incredibly proud of today. Through changing times, growing businesses, and generations of clients, one thing has always stayed the same — our commitment to serving this community.

This year is even more special as Jennifer celebrates 25 years with the firm! Her dedication, relationships, and care for our clients have helped shape who we are.

We’re so thankful for the trust and support of our clients, friends, and Bellevue community over the years. Being part of your stories, businesses, and families means everything to us.

Here’s to 44 years of serving Bellevue — and many more ahead!

05/06/2026

🚨 IRS SCAM ALERT

Scammers are sending 𝐅𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐈𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐏𝟓𝟑𝐄 notices to taxpayers in an attempt to steal banking and personal information. While 𝑪𝑷𝟓𝟑𝑬 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝑹𝑺 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, fraudsters are using the confusion to trick people into giving up sensitive data.

⚠️ 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞:
• QR codes to scan
• Requests for banking information by phone
• Threatening or urgent language
• Links that do NOT direct to IRS.gov
• Emails or text messages claiming to be from the IRS

✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝:
• Go directly to IRS.gov to verify any notice
• Check your IRS Online Account
• Contact your CPA or tax professional before responding

The IRS does NOT request banking information through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.

If you receive a suspicious IRS notice and are unsure whether it’s legitimate, our office is happy to help you verify it before you take action.

https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/irs-refund-letters-spark-confusion-over-fake-cp53e-notices

IRS notices about refunds and direct deposit information are confusing some taxpayers and raising concerns about scam letters.

04/16/2026

Hey Tennessee 👋 didn't file your taxes or your extension today? No problem.

The IRS has announced an automatic tax extension for all 95 counties due to the January ice storm.

📅 New federal tax deadline: June 8, 2026

No action needed—it’s automatic. Reach out if you need help!

04/15/2026

04/04/2026

🚨 𝗜𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀

The IRS has announced tax deadline relief for individuals and businesses impacted by Winter Storm Fern in Tennessee.

👉 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: May 22, 2026

If you’re in an affected county, this relief includes:
✔️ Individual income tax returns
✔️ Business tax returns
✔️ Quarterly payroll & certain excise tax filings
✔️ Estimated tax payments

✅ The IRS will 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 relief for eligible taxpayers in designated counties.

If you have questions about how this impacts your situation, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help!

02/06/2026

📣 Trump Accounts: Quick Update for Families

Trump accounts are new custodial traditional IRAs for children under age 18, owned by the child and managed by an adult.

✔️ The election and $1,000 government seed contribution are made on the 2025 tax return
✔️ Not just for newborns — children under 18 may be eligible
✔️ Some children under age 10 may receive funds based on ZIP code criteria
✔️ Accounts are expected to launch around July 4, 2026
✔️ Additional contributions up to $5,000 per year may come from family, employers, or charities. Contributions can be tax deductible to some.
✔️ No withdrawals before age 18; traditional IRA rules apply after

📊 Over 1 million accounts already elected, with 25+ million families potentially eligible.

More details to come as IRS guidance continues to roll out.

01/09/2026

📚💰𝟱𝟮𝟵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿💰📚

Bottom line: 529 plans are no longer just “college-only” savings accounts. They’re becoming a multi-purpose education and planning tool for families.

✨ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: 𝟱𝟮𝟵 → 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 (𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝟮.𝟬)
Beginning in 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, some unused 529 funds can be rolled 𝘁𝗮𝘅-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗥𝗔 for the beneficiary:
✔️ Lifetime rollover limit: $𝟯𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬
✔️ 529 account must be open 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀
✔️ Annual rollover capped at the Roth IRA contribution limit
✔️ No income (AGI) limits
❗ Contributions (and earnings) made in the last 𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 are not eligible
This provision is now 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁.

🏫 𝗞-𝟭𝟮 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 (𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)
The annual K-12 withdrawal limit doubles from $𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 $𝟮𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 — and it’s no longer just tuition!

🎓 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲?
You have options:
✔️ Professional licensing & exam prep (CPA, Bar, medical boards, etc.)
✔️ Continuing professional education (CPE)
✔️ Change the beneficiary to another family member
✔️ Use up to $10,000 to pay student loans (beneficiary or sibling)
✔️ Rollover to an ABLE account
✔️ Roll to a Roth IRA under SECURE 2.0 rules

01/07/2026

📢 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗽, 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!

Just a little note: There are 𝟭𝟬𝟰 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 this filing season! 😱 Talk about keeping up with the times.

As Einstein once said:
“The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax.” 💸🤯

Make sure you’re on top of it all! 📈 If you need help navigating these changes, feel free to reach out. Let’s tackle those taxes together! 💪