Messer Bookkeeping & Services

Messer Bookkeeping & Services Messer Bookkeeping & Services is a newly established company grown from over 10+ years of experienced professionals.

We provide bookkeeping, payroll, Federal and State Taxes, along with DOT Compliance services and business start-up solutions.

Have to brag alittle, I have AMAZING clients!! Thank you so much Jessica. I strive to build relationships, not just clie...
02/21/2020

Have to brag alittle, I have AMAZING clients!! Thank you so much Jessica.
I strive to build relationships, not just clientele!

Good Monday morning everyone!! Hope you guys are preparing for this crazy Amarillo weather they are calling for.For your...
02/10/2020

Good Monday morning everyone!! Hope you guys are preparing for this crazy Amarillo weather they are calling for.
For your Monday morning news updates our topic is Scammers... these people are relentless and go above and beyond sneaky! The new way to get you, since I’m sure they are aware of people now know the IRS doesn’t call, is sending letters.
Please if you receive a letter, questionable or not, allow a professional to take a look at it. That’s why they are here!

Are you DOT Compliant? Did you know...One of the most problematic areas of DOT compliance, next to hours of service and ...
01/29/2020

Are you DOT Compliant?
Did you know...
One of the most problematic areas of DOT compliance, next to hours of service and drug and alcohol testing, are driver applications (Part 391.21). Driver applications may be audited by state and federal agencies and surveyed by insurance companies. Missing information, missing pages, or blank lines can lead to DOT write-ups, fines, and a request (more like an order) from the DOT to fix the mess. Here are some common DOT “application for employment” error areas to avoid.
Driver Application— Common Error Checklist
• Has the applicant listed his/her address for at least the last three years?
• Does it show an out-of-state address? If yes— then this means that the carrier needs to get the out-of-state Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), for each state listed.
• Has the applicant listed at least 3 years of past employment, if new to driving as a job, or if the driver has obtained a recent CDL?
• Has the applicant listed at least 10 years of employment if he or she had a CDL over 3 years ago?
Has the applicant explained any gaps in employment in excess of one month?
• Has the applicant answered YES or NO to each question for every job:
» Was this job subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations?
» Were you subject to drug and alcohol testing under DOT rules?
Note: These questions apply to both interstate and intrastate drivers.
(It may help to ask the applicant if they even understand and know what these questions mean. In many instances the applicant does not know if they were subject to DOT regulations in their previous job(s) and will check off they were, when in reality were not or were DOT exempt.)
• Has the applicant listed a date of birth?
• Has the applicant answered BOTH of the following questions:
» Have you ever been denied a license, permit or privilege to operate a motor vehicle?
» Has any license, permit or privilege ever been suspended or revoked?
If the answer to either of the above questions is yes, has the applicant given details?
The applicant needs to fully answer each section:
• DRIVING EXPERIENCE
• ACCIDENT RECORD
• TRAFFIC VIOLATION RECORD
• Are there any “blank” answers?. If an answer is “none,” then the applicant must write “NONE.” (Not leave it blank or NA)
Has the applicant SIGNED and DATED the application?
Was the application completed by the applicant? The applicant, not a friend or family member, must fill out the application— in his own handwriting.
Are the Organization’s/Company’s Name and Address on the application??
The DOT driver application is an important document that forms the basis of the background investigation of the driver. Check your driver applications for these common errors. Don’t accept improperly filled out applications.
Applicants should be aware that improperly filled out applications potentially can lead to federal charges.

The IRS is becoming more vigilant in tracking down restaurants and other establishments that don't comply with tip repor...
01/29/2020

The IRS is becoming more vigilant in tracking down restaurants and other establishments that don't comply with tip reporting rules. Penalties can be assessed on both employees and employers. Using a professional payroll service like Messer Bookkeeping & Services can help ensure your business is in compliance with all payroll regulations.

Dot information of the day-The 2020 UCR registration is still not open, they are however giving you a 3 month grace peri...
01/28/2020

Dot information of the day-
The 2020 UCR registration is still not open, they are however giving you a 3 month grace period.

Carriers that transport passengers or cargo across state lines are generally required to obtain a USDOT number. This is processed through the FMCSA's Unified Registration System (URS). Once a carrier has received their DOT number, they are also required to update their registration bi-annually and whenever there are any changes to their registration information. In addition, 32 states require intrastate carriers to apply for and obtain a DOT number.

01/27/2020

Today!!!! Today is the day!!!

2020 Income Tax Season Opens as IRS Begins Accepting Returns
The deadline to file a 2019 tax return and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the April 15 tax deadline.

Jan 27th, 2020
Tax Refund1 10916239
The Internal Revenue Service has officially opened the 2020 tax filing season as of January 27, 2020, as the agency begins accepting and processing federal tax returns for tax year 2019.

The deadline to file a 2019 tax return and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the April 15 tax deadline.

The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new and improved Tax Withholding Estimator, designed to help workers target ...
01/24/2020

The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new and improved Tax Withholding Estimator, designed to help workers target the refund they want by having the right amount of federal income tax taken out of their pay.

The Tax Withholding Estimator, now available on IRS.gov, incorporates the changes from the redesigned Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate, that employees can fill out and give to their employers this year.

The IRS urges everyone to see if they need to adjust their withholding by using the Tax Withholding Estimator to perform a Paycheck Checkup. If an adjustment is needed, the Tax Withholding Estimator gives specific recommendations on how to fill out their employer's online Form W-4 or provides the PDF form with key parts filled out.

To help workers more effectively adjust their withholding, the improved Tax Withholding Estimator features a customized refund slider that allows users to choose the refund amount they prefer from a range of different refund amounts. The exact refund range shown is customized based on the tax information entered by that user.

Based on the refund amount selected, the Tax Withholding Estimator will give the worker specific recommendations on how to fill out their W-4. This new feature allows users who seek either larger refunds at the end of the year or more money on their paychecks throughout the year to have just the right amount withheld to meet their preference.

The new Tax Withholding Estimator also features several other enhancements, including one allowing anyone who expects to receive a bonus to indicate whether tax will be withheld. In addition, improvements added last summer continue to be available, including mobile-friendly design, handling of pension income, Social Security benefits and self-employment tax.

Starting in 2020, income tax withholding is no longer based on an employee's marital status and withholding allowances, tied to the value of the personal exemption. Instead, income tax withholding is generally based on the worker's expected filing status and standard deduction for the year. In addition, workers can choose to have itemized deductions, the Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits reflected in their withholding for the year.

It is important for people with more than one job at a time (including families in which both spouses work) to adjust their withholding to avoid having too little withheld. Using the Tax Withholding Estimator is the most accurate way to do this. As in the past, employees can also choose to have an employer withhold an additional flat-dollar amount each pay period to cover, for example, income they receive from the gig economy, self-employment, or other sources that is not subject to withholding.

OFFERING Referral Incentives: Friends, Refer a friend and receive 20% off your total invoice - OR- Business to business ...
01/23/2020

OFFERING Referral Incentives: Friends, Refer a friend and receive 20% off your total invoice - OR- Business to business connections, Refer a business that sets up any new service and receive a month free! Also offering 20% to new clients that mention our FB post.

DOT tip of the day: What Does DOT Compliance Entail?DOT compliance spans a lengthy set of rules and regulations, and com...
01/23/2020

DOT tip of the day:

What Does DOT Compliance Entail?

DOT compliance spans a lengthy set of rules and regulations, and companies are expected to know them all. In general, DOT compliance can be broken down into two categories: fleet compliance and driver compliance.

Fleet Compliance
Fleet compliance applies to every vehicle in your fleet that is registered with the DOT. It’s helpful to keep a compliance checklist on hand that makes it easier to review requirements at a glance and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
A few general guidelines you might consider:
Keep a current copy of FMCSA rules at all times
Inspect all vehicles before and after each trip and document your findings. Start a routine vehicle maintenance program and document all activities. Make sure every vehicle is marked with its official DOT registration number. Keep a detailed record of any incidents that occur on the road

Driver Compliance
Driver compliance applies to every driver of DOT-registered vehicles. Just like with fleet compliance, it can be useful to keep a checklist for driver compliance requirements to ensure you’re hitting all points. Consider the following guidelines when pursuing driver compliance:
Make sure each driver has a copy of FMCSA rules
Collect a signed agreement from each driver that they have read and understood their responsibilities pertaining to FMCSA rules. Keep a record of driver qualifications and safety history. Record all hours of service (HOS) for each driver
Conduct pre-employment drug testing for each driver and retain documentation (if possible, include any record of previous drug or alcohol abuse). Conduct random drug testing of all drivers on a regular basis and record all results
Put all trainers and supervisors through drug and alcohol testing as per DOT regulations

Each of these checklists cover the basics of DOT compliance, but they shouldn’t be considered comprehensive. Companies should consider creating their own checklists that are more detailed and relevant to their operations.

With the start of the 2020 tax filing season near, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers to avoid unethica...
01/23/2020

With the start of the 2020 tax filing season near, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers to avoid unethical "ghost" tax return preparers.

According to the IRS, a ghost preparer does not sign a tax return they prepare. Unscrupulous ghost preparers will print the return and tell the taxpayer to sign and mail it to the IRS. For e-filed returns, the ghost will prepare but refuse to digitally sign as the paid preparer.

By law, anyone who is paid to prepare or assists in preparing federal tax returns must have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number, or PTIN. Paid preparers must sign and include their PTIN on the return. Not signing a return is a red flag that the paid preparer may be looking to make a fast buck by promising a big refund or charging fees based on the size of the refund.

Ghost tax return preparers may also:

Require payment in cash only and not provide a receipt.
Invent income to qualify their clients for tax credits.
Claim fake deductions to boost the size of the refund.
Direct refunds into their bank account, not the taxpayer's account.
The IRS urges taxpayers to choose a tax return preparer wisely. The Choosing a Tax Professional page on IRS.gov has information about tax preparer credentials and qualifications. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help identify many preparers by type of credential or qualification.

This little letter should mean everything to a taxpayer who is looking for a legitimate preparer!

01/23/2020

Think your CPA has you covered?

So do most business owners making over $200k. But if we sit down, in just a few minutes, you might DISCOVER you've been overpaying in taxes by $97,398. For 7 years.

That's what I see every single day.

Is it worth a few minutes of your time for your FREE tax assessment?

We’ll walk through….
-Which deductions you should be taking
-The legal entity structure most CPA don’t recommend
-The 2 retirement strategies even solid financial advisers miss
-Multiple Tax Savings Strategies Business Owners can do that others can’t

Ready to learn more? Schedule an appointment today!

Address

Amarillo, TX
79109

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

+18066403413

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Messer Bookkeeping & Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Messer Bookkeeping & Services:

Shortcuts

Share