Mary Lew Kehm CPA

02/03/2026

Did you buy a new car in 2025? If you financed it, the interest may be deductible -

02/01/2026

Do your accountant a favor and convert files to PDF format prior to uploading. And use their secure portal for anything with personal information.

01/22/2026

If you are planning to make a 2026 IRA or Roth IRA contribution, the limits have increased. Beginning in 2026, the IRA contribution limit is increased to $7,500 ($8,600 for individuals age 50 or older) up from $7,000 ($8,000 for individuals age 50 or older).

01/08/2026

I've seen a lot of "ads" and posts suggesting that you can get money by clicking on a link or filing with a certain preparer.

Those are either scams or misleading ads.

Right now, there are no stimulus checks, no tariff checks (including the $2,000 tariff checks that were proposed but not approved), and no early refunds (tax season has not yet opened).

Be smart. Don't fall for the nonsense.

If you have questions about whether something is legitimate, ask a trusted source.

12/31/2025

Happy New Year to all of my clients and friends. If you use a vehicle for business, remember to get an odometer reading December 31 (or as close as you can to the beginning of the year). The standard mileage rate for 2026 will be 72.5 cents per mile for business mileage.

11/26/2025

Reminder that if you do not itemize your deductions (most people do not), you may want to make your year-end charitable donations in January. In 2026 Married Filing Joint filers will be eligible for a $2,000 nonitemizer charitable deduction for cash/check/credit card gifts -- all other statuses will be eligible for $1,000. Since there is no deduction in 2025, if I normally give my church/charity $500 each December, I would only get a $500 deduction for 2026. If I give my December contribution in January, I can deduct $1,000 -- the January donation and the normal December donation.

09/23/2025

PA is warning about scam texts going around. Tax agencies do not text you about your individual account. Do NOT click on links or call numbers in the text. Many other states have been affected by this same scam.

Phishing Alert: Fraudulent Texts Target Pennsylvanians in Refund Scam

08/22/2025

Are you considering an electric vehicle, home energy improvements, or solar? These credits expire soon. The IRS has posted FAQ on the expiration dates. Be sure you don't miss the deadline!

FS-2025-05, Aug. 21, 2025 — This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to § 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code.

08/13/2025

FTC data show a large increase in people over 60 losing money to scammers. The 3 top lies scammers use are: 1. someone is using your account; 2. your info is being used to commit crimes; and 3. there is a security problem with your computer. What to do? NEVER transfer money to "protect it". ALWAYS verify anything with a direct phone number you know is good (for example, on the back of your credit card). Block unknown numbers if you can, or let numbers you don't know go to voicemail. And younger people can get scammed too; they just don't usually have as much money as older people.

New analysis from the Federal Trade Commission shows a more than four-fold increase since 2020 in reports from older adults who say they lost $10,000 or more—sometimes their entire life savings—to

07/31/2025

Another new provision of the law is the "no tax on overtime" which is a bit of a stretch on the name. OBBBA creates a new deduction for up to $12,500 ($25,000 in the case of a joint return) for "qualified overtime compensation" (defined as overtime compensation paid to an individual under Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act) -- and only for the premium amount (for example, if you get paid time and a half, only the half premium qualifies, and if your overtime is not required under the FLSA, you do not qualify).

The overtime must be reported on your W-2 in the future; for 2025 IRS will give us guidance since more than half the year has already passed.

You can take this deduction whether or not you itemize. The deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 ($300,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction is good for this year and will continue to 2028.

07/30/2025

I will be posting regarding various provision of the new tax law (OBBBA)-- many provisions are effective for this year. There is a New Senior Deduction (No Tax on Social Security, which is NOT what it does). OBBBA adds a deduction for all individuals who have reached age 65 before the end of the tax year. The deduction amount is $6,000 per individual. The senior deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction, which is allowed for the 2025-2028 tax years, is available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

07/15/2025

If you or a loved one are one of the very few Social Security recipients who receive paper checks (less than 1% of beneficiaries), you must convert to either direct deposit or payment card by September 30, 2025 due to a Presidential Executive Order. The IRS has not yet announced their rules. The tax professional community is monitoring this carefully and will let you know when guidance is issued.

Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments. This change is part of a broader government-wide initiative to modernize…