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.

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

Did your business make repairs to tangible property, such as buildings, equipment or vehicles, in 2025? Such costs may b...
02/20/2026

Did your business make repairs to tangible property, such as buildings, equipment or vehicles, in 2025? Such costs may be fully deductible on your 2025 income tax return, if they weren’t actually for “improvements” that must be depreciated over a period of years. Some IRS safe harbors can help: 1) the routine maintenance safe harbor, 2) the de minimis safe harbor, or 3) the small business safe harbor. However, improvements might also be eligible to be deducted immediately in certain circumstances. Contact us to discuss what you can deduct on your 2025 return and to start planning for tax-efficient repairs, maintenance and improvements in 2026. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

If you own a business or are self-employed and haven’t set up a tax-advantaged retirement plan, it’s not too late to est...
02/03/2026

If you own a business or are self-employed and haven’t set up a tax-advantaged retirement plan, it’s not too late to establish one and contribute for 2025. You can set up a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and make 2025 contributions as late as the due date (including extensions) of your business’s income tax return, either March 16, 2026 (Sept. 15 if extended) or April 15, 2026 (Oct. 15 if extended), depending on entity type. SEPs are easy to set up, and contribution limits are generous, potentially providing a large deduction. If you have employees, you’ll generally have to include them and make contributions to SEP-IRAs on their behalf, which are also deductible. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

S corporation structure provides most of the tax benefits of a partnership plus the liability protection of a corporatio...
01/02/2026

S corporation structure provides most of the tax benefits of a partnership plus the liability protection of a corporation. But because of the strict requirements that apply to these entities, preserving S corporation status requires due diligence. To avoid inadvertent termination of S corporation status, among other things, you should continually monitor the number and type of shareholders, scrutinize the terms of any trusts that hold shares, and include provisions in buy-sell agreements that prevent transfers to ineligible shareholders. Also, avoid actions that may be deemed to create a second class of stock, such as making disproportionate distributions. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

If your business has employees or independent contractors, you’re subject to various information reporting requirements....
12/26/2025

If your business has employees or independent contractors, you’re subject to various information reporting requirements. Some significant changes to these rules will go into effect for the 2026 tax year (forms that will be filed in early 2027 to report 2026 amounts). Specifically, new reporting will be required to help employees and others claim tax deductions for qualified tips income and qualified overtime income. But there also will be some reporting relief for businesses. Effective for payments made after 2025, the reporting threshold for filing Form 1099-MISC and Form 1099-NEC will increase to $2,000 (from $600 for 2025), with inflation adjustments for payments made after 2026. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Using independent contractors can save nonprofits money. There’s no long-term commitment, and the contractor pays self-e...
12/12/2025

Using independent contractors can save nonprofits money. There’s no long-term commitment, and the contractor pays self-employment tax rather than your organization having to pay the employer portion of employment taxes. You can also save on benefits and administrative burdens. But if the DOL, IRS or other government agency finds you’ve misclassified an employee as a contractor, it can be costly. In general, no single rule or test is determinant. Factors such as your degree of control over the worker and the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss are considered. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

New for 2025, 100% first-year depreciation is available for nonresidential real estate classified as qualified productio...
12/05/2025

New for 2025, 100% first-year depreciation is available for nonresidential real estate classified as qualified production property (QPP). QPP generally means factory buildings. Normally, nonresidential buildings must be depreciated over 39 years. QPP 100% first-year depreciation is available for property whose construction begins after Jan. 19, 2025, and before 2029. The property generally must be placed in service in the U.S. or a possession before 2031. Also, the original use of the property generally must commence with the taxpayer. Additional rules and limits, as well as some exceptions, apply. IRS guidance is expected. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Does your nonprofit plan to give gifts or host a holiday party for staffers and volunteers this December? Be sure you kn...
11/28/2025

Does your nonprofit plan to give gifts or host a holiday party for staffers and volunteers this December? Be sure you know the tax rules. For instance, recipients of cash-equivalent gifts (such as gift cards) generally must pay income tax on them. This means your nonprofit would need to report the gifts as compensation and withhold taxes. It’s easier to give gifts of nominal value (for example, food or a plant). To reduce tax risk for attendees and preserve deductibility for your nonprofit, keep party expenses “reasonable” and limit the guest list to staffers and volunteers. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kyyaK7

Thoughtful business gifts are a great way to show appreciation to customers and employees. They can also deliver tax ben...
11/21/2025

Thoughtful business gifts are a great way to show appreciation to customers and employees. They can also deliver tax benefits. Unfortunately, the IRS limits most business gift deductions to $25 per person per year, a cap that hasn’t changed since 1962. But there are exceptions. Here are three: 1) gifts to a company for use in the business, 2) incidental costs of making a gift, such as engraving or shipping, and 3) gifts to employees (though other limits apply and they may be treated as taxable compensation). Be sure to properly document gifts. Record each gift’s description, cost, date and business purpose, and the relationship of the recipient to your business. 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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