A small business return is more than plugging numbers into software. It means matching your bookkeeping records to the right tax form, applying every deduction your structure allows, and filing both your federal and Michigan returns correctly the first time. Here's exactly what that process looks like at Stout Tax Strategies, and what it costs.
2026 federal and Michigan figures. General reference, confirm specifics with your preparer.
The form your business files depends on its structure, but every business return draws from the same underlying records. Here's what we need, and why each piece matters:
| What We Need | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Reconciled bank and credit card statements | Unreconciled accounts mean unreliable income and expense figures. This is the single most common cause of delayed filings. |
| Categorized profit & loss statement | Maps directly to your tax form's line items. Uncategorized "miscellaneous" expenses get scrutinized or simply missed as deductions. |
| Payroll records (if you have employees) | W-2 totals, employer payroll tax payments, and quarterly 941 filings must reconcile with what's reported on the business return. |
| 1099s issued to contractors | Any contractor paid $600 or more during the year requires a 1099-NEC. Missing this is a common, penalized oversight. |
| Equipment and asset purchase records | Determines depreciation schedules and whether Section 179 or bonus depreciation applies to write off the full cost in year one. |
| Prior-year return | Carryforward items (depreciation schedules, net operating losses, prior elections) need to flow through correctly. |
The most common delay we see: business owners arrive in March with a folder of receipts and no reconciled books. We can still prepare an accurate return, but it takes considerably longer and increases the risk of missed deductions. Businesses with clean, reconciled monthly bookkeeping typically have their return ready in 1-2 weeks; those starting from raw receipts often need 4-6 weeks for cleanup before preparation can even begin.
| Business Type | Federal Form | Michigan Filing | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor / single-member LLC | Schedule C (with Form 1040) | MI-1040 | April 15 |
| Partnership / multi-member LLC | Form 1065 + K-1s | MI-1040 (individual) + FTE option | March 15 |
| S-corporation | Form 1120-S + K-1s | MI-1040 (individual) + FTE option | March 15 |
| C-corporation | Form 1120 | Michigan CIT return (6% flat) | April 15 |
All deadlines extend by 6 months if a federal extension is filed, but payment of any tax owed is still due by the original date.
Schedule C, Form 1120-S, Form 1065, or Form 1120, prepared and filed alongside your Michigan return. We work with sole proprietors, LLCs, S-corps, partnerships, and family-owned businesses across every industry.
Every return is checked against the full set of applicable deductions: equipment depreciation, vehicle expenses, home office (if applicable), professional services, software, and the QBI deduction for pass-through entities.
If your records aren't ready for tax prep, we reconcile and categorize transactions first, building the clean baseline your return needs. Most cleanups finish in 2-4 weeks.
We confirm your quarterly 941 filings, W-2 totals, and payroll tax payments match what's reported on your business return, catching discrepancies before the IRS does.
We identify every contractor paid $600 or more during the year and prepare the required 1099-NEC forms, filed with the IRS by the January 31 deadline.
If your business receives a CP2000, audit letter, or Michigan Treasury notice after filing, we review it, pull transcripts, and respond before the deadline.
| Entity Type | Typical Price Range | What Drives the Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor (Schedule C) | $300 – $600 | Expense volume, depreciation, home office calculation |
| Single-member LLC | $300 – $650 | Same as sole proprietor; treated identically for federal tax purposes |
| Partnership (Form 1065) | $700 – $1,600 | Number of partners, allocation complexity, K-1 preparation |
| S-corporation (Form 1120-S) | $800 – $1,800 | Revenue, K-1 count, FTE election, payroll reconciliation |
| C-corporation (Form 1120) | $900 – $2,000+ | Revenue, CIT calculation, depreciation schedules |
| Bookkeeping cleanup (if needed first) | $1,000 – $3,000+ | Months behind, transaction volume, number of accounts |
Every quote is fixed before work begins, based on your actual books and entity type, not an hourly estimate that grows as we go.
We review your entity type, the state of your bookkeeping, and any prior-year issues. You leave with a fixed price quote, not an estimate.
We provide a checklist specific to your entity type. If your books need reconciliation first, that work starts here before tax prep begins.
Your return is prepared, cross-checked against payroll and 1099 filings, and reviewed for every applicable deduction before you see a draft.
Once approved, we e-file federal and Michigan returns together. We remain available afterward for notices, estimated payment questions, or mid-year changes.
Our office is at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores. We prepare returns for businesses throughout:
Most Macomb County businesses owe no local city income tax on top of the state's flat 4.25% rate. If any part of your operation, employees, or contractors falls within a Michigan city that does levy one (Detroit, for example), we account for that in your filing.
Reconciled bank and credit card statements, a categorized profit and loss statement, payroll records if you have employees, any 1099s issued to contractors, equipment purchase records, and your prior-year return. If your bookkeeping isn't current, we can reconcile it first as a separate step before preparing your return.
For businesses with clean, reconciled monthly bookkeeping, returns are typically ready within 1-2 weeks of document submission. If your books need cleanup first, that adds 2-4 weeks depending on how far behind they are and how many months of transactions need reconciling.
Sole proprietor and single-member LLC returns typically run $300-$650. Partnership returns range $700-$1,600. S-corp returns run $800-$1,800. C-corp returns start around $900 and can exceed $2,000 for more complex filings. Bookkeeping cleanup, if needed before preparation, is quoted separately at $1,000-$3,000+ depending on backlog.
Yes, if you paid any individual contractor $600 or more during the year for services. The 1099-NEC must be issued to the contractor and filed with the IRS by January 31 of the following year. Missing this requirement is one of the more common and penalized oversights among small business owners.
S-corporations and partnerships file by March 15. Sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, and C-corporations file by April 15. A federal extension grants an automatic 6-month extension for filing, but any tax owed is still due by the original deadline.
Yes. We handle bookkeeping cleanup as a first step, reconciling bank statements and categorizing transactions to build an accurate baseline before preparing the tax return. Most cleanups for businesses a few months behind are completed in 2-4 weeks.
Yes. We calculate your quarterly estimated payment obligations based on actual year-to-date income, not a flat estimate from last year, so you're not caught off guard at filing time.
Tell us your entity type and the state of your books. We'll give you a clear quote and timeline on the call.
Schedule a Free Consultation Call 586-757-6116