Tarbell & Co., PLC

Tarbell & Co., PLC Established in 1978, we provide tax, accounting, and consulting services to individuals and business actually delivers. provides to you and your business.

While many firms talk about their service to clients, Tarbell & Co., P.L.C. For more than 30 years, we have served as a trusted business partner to clients throughout the State of Iowa. Established in 1978 by Arvin Tarbell, we've been providing services to individuals and businesses of all sizes. Our policy is to give our full attention to you and your tax, accounting, and business needs. Your que

stions are always welcome; there's never a question too small for which we don't have time. Not only are we available and accessible to you when you need us, but we also initiate conferences when we see arising opportunities or potential problems for you or you business. The personal attention and time we give to our clients has resulted in numerous referrals of our services to other businesses and organizations. We are confident that you will be please with the attention Tarbell & Co., P.L.C. We're big enough to provide the services you need yet small enough to be concerned with your success.

IRS or state tax problems don’t have to derail your business. Many issues can be resolved when they’re addressed promptl...
08/28/2026

IRS or state tax problems don’t have to derail your business. Many issues can be resolved when they’re addressed promptly and strategically.

If you or your business receives a tax notice from the IRS or a state agency, don’t ignore it. Be mindful of the notice’s deadline and work with your tax advisor to prepare supporting documentation and an appropriate response. If you owe back taxes that you can’t pay in full, explore potential relief options, such as a temporary delay in collection due to hardship, an installment agreement or payment plan, or a settlement plan.

We can help you communicate with tax authorities and create a plan to get your business back on track. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Certain “small” businesses have a choice of using cash or accrual accounting for tax purposes. If you’re one of them, wh...
08/07/2026

Certain “small” businesses have a choice of using cash or accrual accounting for tax purposes. If you’re one of them, which route should you take?

Cash-basis businesses recognize income when received and deduct expenses when paid, providing greater flexibility in the timing of income and deductions. In contrast, accrual-basis businesses recognize income when earned and deduct expenses when incurred, regardless of the timing of cash receipts or payments.

Even if you meet the eligibility requirements, the cash method isn’t right for every business. And switching methods adds administrative costs. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

What’s the right entity type for your new business? Two popular options for closely held businesses with multiple owners...
07/24/2026

What’s the right entity type for your new business? Two popular options for closely held businesses with multiple owners are LLCs taxed as partnerships and S corporations.

Both offer pass-through taxation, meaning tax items pass through to the individual owners and are reported on their personal returns. But they differ in important ways, such as self-employment tax, loss deductions, ownership flexibility and eligibility requirements. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Do you operate a side gig in addition to your regular job? The way the IRS classifies that activity can have a significa...
07/03/2026

Do you operate a side gig in addition to your regular job? The way the IRS classifies that activity can have a significant impact on your taxes.

If the IRS treats the activity as a hobby, you’re required to report the income but can’t deduct most related expenses. If it’s treated as a business, you can generally deduct ordinary and necessary expenses — even if that results in a net tax loss. The IRS considers several factors when evaluating profit motive, including how you operate the activity, the time you invest, and your history of profits and losses. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

LLC and LLP owners: Can you deduct your business losses this year? The answer may depend on whether your activity is con...
06/05/2026

LLC and LLP owners: Can you deduct your business losses this year? The answer may depend on whether your activity is considered passive according to the IRS’s passive activity loss rules.

Under these rules, you generally can use passive losses only to offset income from other passive activities. If you meet certain “material participation” criteria, however, you may be able to offset LLC or LLP losses against nonpassive income, such as wages, interest, dividends and capital gains — but the rules can be complex, especially for limited partners.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

How you capitalize your C corporation isn’t just an accounting matter — it’s a tax-saving opportunity. You can set up fu...
05/27/2026

How you capitalize your C corporation isn’t just an accounting matter — it’s a tax-saving opportunity. You can set up funds supplied by shareholders as either capital contributions (equity) or loans (debt).

Future withdrawals by equity investors may result in double taxation. Conversely, repayments of shareholder loans are generally tax-free, while interest payments are taxable to the shareholder and deductible by the corporation. This setup provides a more tax-efficient way to get money out of your company. However, the IRS may reclassify shareholder loans as equity if not properly structured and documented. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Most businesses close their books on December 31 because it aligns with the calendar year. And it may seem easier for ta...
05/15/2026

Most businesses close their books on December 31 because it aligns with the calendar year. And it may seem easier for tax filing purposes.

But this approach isn’t right for every business. Some entities — such as construction companies, accounting firms and snowplowing operations — may have valid reasons for adopting fiscal year ends. Aligning a company’s tax year with its operating cycle can streamline reporting and support better planning. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Many businesses offer flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health care and dependent care. One potential drawback is th...
03/27/2026

Many businesses offer flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health care and dependent care. One potential drawback is the use-it-or-lose-it rule. Under IRS cafeteria plan rules, unused amounts generally are forfeited after any applicable grace period or permitted health care FSA carryover. Employers may retain forfeitures, often to offset plan costs. If not retained, the funds may be used to reduce the employee contributions that would be required to reach certain FSA balances for the next plan year or returned to employees, provided these amounts are allocated on a reasonable and uniform basis. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Your nonprofit receives donations of tangible property (clothing, household goods, artwork, etc.). Great news! Then come...
03/13/2026

Your nonprofit receives donations of tangible property (clothing, household goods, artwork, etc.). Great news! Then comes the challenging part: assigning the right value to these noncash donations. Most tangible property donations are recorded at fair market value (FMV). Some factors considered in an FMV estimate are property condition, comparable sales, use restrictions and replacement value. Understanding the basic rules and navigating specific requirements helps support accurate financial reporting and donor tax compliance. Contact us for help assigning values with greater confidence and consistency. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Tax credits reduce tax liability dollar-for-dollar. So, they can be more valuable than deductions, which reduce only the...
03/06/2026

Tax credits reduce tax liability dollar-for-dollar. So, they can be more valuable than deductions, which reduce only the amount of income subject to tax. One tax credit that hasn’t been getting much attention lately but that can still be valuable for certain small businesses is the credit for providing health insurance to employees. Although it’s been available for more than a decade and generally can be claimed for only two years, some small businesses may still be eligible. These may include newer businesses as well as older ones that only recently have begun offering health insurance. The credit can equal as much as 50% of health coverage premiums paid. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Address

1466 28th Street
West Des Moines, IA
50266

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+15152820200

Website

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