Most of the tax decisions that affect your bill for the year have to be made before December 31 — not in March when you're handing over documents. Quarterly estimated payments, S-corp elections, retirement contribution timing, Michigan FTE elections, and IRS notices don't follow a filing-season calendar. Stout Tax Strategies provides ongoing tax support for Michigan individuals and businesses throughout Macomb County and Metro Detroit, year-round.
The tax return is a report of what already happened. The decisions that determine what the report says — those happen throughout the year. Here are the opportunities that close permanently once the calendar flips:
| Decision | Deadline | What You Lose If You Wait |
|---|---|---|
| S-corp election for the current year | March 15 (calendar-year businesses) | The self-employment tax savings don't apply until the following tax year |
| Michigan FTE election | Annual election, quarterly payments required once liability exceeds $800 | The SALT cap workaround doesn't apply retroactively |
| Solo 401(k) / SEP-IRA contribution | December 31 (plan must be established); April 15 for SEP contribution | Solo 401(k) must be established before year-end; can't be opened in April for the prior year |
| Equipment purchase under Section 179 | December 31 — must be placed in service before year-end | Deduction deferred; cash already spent but tax benefit delayed |
| Capital gains harvesting / loss offset | December 31 — trades must settle before year-end | Gains are taxed at ordinary income rate on Michigan return; no retroactive offset |
| Charitable contribution deduction | December 31 for cash; check must clear | Deduction shifts to following tax year, reducing current-year benefit |
| IRS notice response | 30 days from notice date — arrives any month | Proposed assessment becomes final; penalties and interest begin accruing |
This is the actual calendar we work through with ongoing clients — not a generic "we're available anytime" statement, but specific actions tied to specific Michigan deadlines:
The Michigan difference: Michigan follows the federal quarterly estimated payment schedule exactly — April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15. But Michigan adds one complication: if you're an S-corp or partnership owner who makes the FTE election, quarterly FTE estimated payments are also required when liability exceeds $800. Missing one triggers a penalty of 25% of the underpayment or 10% per quarter, plus interest at 1% above the prime rate.
Tied to the estimated payment calendar: April, June, September, January. Each review covers year-to-date income, estimated payment for the quarter, and any planning decisions that need to happen before the next window closes.
Federal and Michigan returns filed together — 1040 + MI-1040 for individuals, or the appropriate entity form for businesses. Homestead credit, retirement exemption, and FTE credit reviewed on every eligible return.
S-corp election analysis, Michigan FTE election filing, entity restructuring evaluation. These decisions have hard deadlines — March 15 for S-corp elections, annual for FTE — and can't be made retroactively.
Reconciled books delivered monthly, feeding directly into quarterly reviews and year-end filing. No January scramble to reconstruct 12 months of transactions.
Weekly, biweekly, or semi-monthly runs with Michigan 4.25% withholding, quarterly 941 filing, and annual W-2/W-3 preparation. Required for all S-corp owner-employees.
Identified, reviewed, and responded to before the 30-day deadline — whatever month they arrive. For clients we work with year-round, notice review is included.
| Engagement Type | Typical Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tax prep only | $150 – $1,800+ | Single filing per year, individual or business; priced by return type |
| Quarterly planning + annual prep | $500 – $2,000/yr | Four quarterly reviews + annual return; estimated payment calculations included |
| Full-service (prep + bookkeeping) | $2,400 – $7,200/yr | Monthly bookkeeping + quarterly reviews + annual returns; books feed into returns directly |
| Full-service (prep + bookkeeping + payroll) | $4,000 – $12,000/yr | Everything above plus payroll processing; per-employee cost varies |
Every engagement is scoped and quoted specifically during your free consultation — no hourly estimates that grow after work begins.
Our office is at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores. We provide year-round tax support for individuals, self-employed professionals, and businesses throughout:
Most ongoing clients work with us remotely via secure document portal, phone, and video — with in-person available at our St. Clair Shores office when preferred.
Tax preparation is a once-a-year service that reports what already happened. Year-round tax support is an ongoing engagement that includes quarterly estimated payment reviews, planning before key deadlines (March 15 for S-corp elections, December 31 for retirement contributions), IRS notice response, bookkeeping, and payroll — provided throughout the year, not just during filing season.
Michigan follows the federal schedule: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. S-corp and partnership owners who make the Michigan FTE election also owe quarterly FTE estimated payments when annual liability exceeds $800. Missing a quarterly payment triggers a penalty of 25% of the underpayment or 10% per quarter, plus interest.
Self-employed individuals and business owners with quarterly estimated payment obligations, S-corp owners who must run payroll and manage the FTE election, investors with capital gains events throughout the year, and any taxpayer who receives IRS or Michigan Treasury notices. W-2 employees with a simple return and no investments may need only annual filing.
Annual prep only ranges from $150 to $1,800+ depending on return complexity. A quarterly planning engagement with annual prep runs $500 to $2,000 per year. Full-service with monthly bookkeeping ranges from $2,400 to $7,200 per year. Adding payroll brings the range to $4,000 to $12,000+ annually. All engagements are flat-fee, quoted before work begins.
The Flow-Through Entity tax election allows S-corps, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs to pay Michigan's 4.25% income tax at the entity level, with members receiving a refundable personal credit. It functions as a SALT cap workaround. The election must be made annually, and quarterly estimated FTE payments are required once annual liability exceeds $800.
Yes. CP2000 notices (income mismatch) are commonly issued by the IRS between July and October for the prior tax year. We review the notice, pull IRS transcripts, identify what triggered it, and file a response before the 30-day deadline — regardless of what month it arrives. For ongoing clients, notice review is included in the year-round engagement.
No. We work with Michigan clients across Macomb County and Metro Detroit remotely: secure document upload, phone or video consultation, and e-filing. In-person appointments are available at 32008 Harper Ave in St. Clair Shores for those who prefer them. The full scope of year-round services is available regardless of whether you work with us remotely or in person.
A free consultation is the starting point. We'll review your situation, identify what quarterly support actually applies to you, and quote a flat engagement before any work begins.
Schedule a Free Consultation Call 586-757-6116