Stout Tax Strategies is based just up the shoreline on Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores, a short drive from Grosse Pointe Park and the Cabbage Patch area. We work with Grosse Pointe individuals, families, and business owners who want more than seasonal tax filing: real planning around investment income, retirement timing, and the property and estate considerations that come with higher-value Grosse Pointe real estate.
2026 Michigan Department of Treasury figures. General reference, not tax advice for your specific situation.
Grosse Pointe's higher median home values and concentration of investment, retirement, and business-owner income create tax situations that differ meaningfully from a standard W-2 return. Here's where we see the most value for clients in the Pointes:
Michigan taxes capital gains as ordinary income at the flat 4.25% rate, with no preferential state rate for long-term holdings the way the federal system applies. For households with significant brokerage, dividend, or rental property income, the planning question isn't just "what's owed this year" but timing: when to realize gains, how to sequence withdrawals, and how Roth conversions interact with Medicare IRMAA thresholds.
Michigan's Homestead Property Tax Credit caps out at a $165,400 taxable value for 2026, a threshold many Grosse Pointe homes exceed given the area's values. That doesn't mean property tax planning stops; the Principal Residence Exemption (18 mills off local school operating tax) still applies regardless of home value, and we make sure it's filed and current.
Many Grosse Pointe clients are physicians, attorneys, or business owners running S-corps or partnerships. We evaluate reasonable salary structuring, the Michigan FTE election, and whether your entity setup still matches your current income level, especially as service-business QBI deduction phase-outs can apply at higher income.
Michigan has no state estate or inheritance tax, but federal estate considerations and the coordination between retirement account withdrawals, Social Security timing, and Michigan's 2026 unified retirement income exemption ($67,610 single / $135,220 joint) still require real planning, not just annual filing.
Form 1040 + MI-1040 for W-2 income, investment income, retirement distributions, and rental property. We check the homestead credit, retirement exemption, and every applicable federal credit on every return.
S-corp, partnership, and sole proprietor returns for Grosse Pointe business owners and professionals, including FTE election analysis and reasonable salary documentation.
Capital gains timing, Roth conversion sequencing, quarterly estimated payment projections, and entity structure review, planned before December 31, not discovered in April.
Monthly reconciliation and financial reporting for Grosse Pointe-based businesses and practices, keeping books ready for both tax filing and lending or partnership decisions.
Payroll processing and Michigan withholding for businesses with staff, including the city income tax split for employees who live or work in Detroit or other Michigan taxing cities.
CP2000, CP14, audit letters, and Michigan Treasury notices reviewed and answered before the deadline, with transcript pulls so the response is based on what the IRS actually has on file.
| Service | Typical Range | Key Variables |
|---|---|---|
| Individual return with investment income | $250 – $500 | Number of brokerage accounts, capital gains transactions |
| Retirement income return | $200 – $400 | Pension, Social Security, IRA/401(k) distributions |
| Rental property reporting | $300 – $600 | Number of properties, depreciation schedules |
| S-corp / partnership return | $800 – $1,800 | Revenue, K-1 count, FTE election, reasonable salary review |
| Year-round tax planning engagement | $500 – $2,000/yr | Complexity of income sources, quarterly review frequency |
We confirm your exact price during a free consultation, before any work begins.
We review your prior-year return, income sources, and any planning gaps, whether that's an unclaimed credit, an outdated entity structure, or a missed retirement contribution opportunity.
A checklist tailored to your situation: brokerage statements, K-1s, property tax bills, retirement account 1099-Rs. We can also pull your IRS transcript directly if records are incomplete.
Returns are prepared and checked against every applicable deduction and credit, with planning opportunities flagged for the year ahead, not just the year behind.
Capital gains questions in October, a retirement decision in June, an IRS notice in August. We remain available throughout the year, not just during filing season.
Our office is at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores, a short drive up the lakeshore from Grosse Pointe Park and the rest of the Pointes. We work with clients throughout:
Most consultations and ongoing work are handled remotely with secure document sharing, with in-person meetings available at our St. Clair Shores office for clients who prefer them.
Our office is located at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores, a short drive from Grosse Pointe Park. We work with Grosse Pointe clients both remotely, with secure document sharing, and in person at our St. Clair Shores location.
No. Michigan does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Federal estate tax may still apply to larger estates above the federal exemption threshold, and proper planning around retirement accounts, trusts, and asset titling remains valuable regardless of the absence of a state-level tax.
Michigan taxes capital gains as ordinary income at the state's flat 4.25% rate, with no separate preferential rate for long-term holdings as the federal system applies. This makes the timing of when gains are realized, particularly around other income in the same tax year, an important planning consideration.
Yes. The Principal Residence Exemption (PRE), which exempts your home from 18 mills of local school operating tax, applies regardless of home value and isn't capped the way the income-based Homestead Property Tax Credit is. Filing form L-4013 with your local assessor secures this exemption if it isn't already in place.
Often yes, once net income exceeds roughly $50,000-$80,000, though service businesses like medical and legal practices face QBI deduction phase-outs at higher income levels that don't apply to other business types. We model your specific numbers, including the reasonable salary requirement, before recommending a structure.
Individual returns with investment income typically run $250-$500. Retirement income returns are $200-$400. Rental property reporting adds $300-$600 depending on the number of properties. A year-round planning engagement, beyond annual filing, typically runs $500-$2,000 per year depending on complexity.
Yes. We review CP2000, CP14, audit letters, and Michigan Treasury notices, pull IRS transcripts to confirm what triggered the notice, and prepare a response before the deadline, typically 30 days from the date on the notice.
Schedule a free consultation. We'll review your prior return, your income sources, and any planning opportunities you may be missing.
Schedule a Free Consultation Call 586-757-6116