The Firm of Gardner & Billing, CPAs PLLC

 You may have recently received a business mailing from the Montana Secretary of State.   In fact, you may have received multiple mailings containing activation codes for the new SIMS(be) online system.   So what exactly is SIMS and why is your code important?   What is SIMS (BE)? The new Secretary of State Information Management System (SIMS) Business Entity (BE) system allows online access to business documents and filings with the Montana Secretary of State.   What that means is, once registered, you can access your business entity documents (such as articles of incorporation) and submit your business report filings online.   Why register and why is the code important?     If you manage a corporation or LLC, you are required to file an annual report with the MT Secretary of State each year by April 15 th .   Previously, you could very simply file this report online via the SOS website by using your business ...

If you filed a 2015 tax return extension, the final filing deadline is October 17th, 2016.    The summer is slipping away and October will be here before we know it, so it's a good time to start thinking about your bookkeeping!  If we have not yet received your complete tax information, please start rounding it up now.  We need all information by October 1st (at the very latest) to ensure we have enough time to complete your returns.  If you have any questions or concerns related to your tax extension, please feel free to call our office, or stop by.  Following Labor Day, our office is back to regular hours and we will be open 5 days a week. 

Read the fine print to avoid devastating financial mistakes. By James Sullivan, CPA/PFS, and Melissa Towell July 25, 2016 Half of American families with student loan debt delay saving for retirement Student loan arrangements can have unforeseen, long-lasting implications for a family's financial future. To illustrate this point, let's look at a nightmare scenario that is based on a real-life situation. A few months before his eagerly anticipated early retirement, 62-year-old Tom was diagnosed with a terminal disease. Most patients with this disease live two to five years from the date of the diagnosis. Tom was always careful planning his family's finances. He prepared a monthly budget and began planning for an early retirement with his wife, Jo, when he was in his early 30s. His four children all went to college, which the family financed primarily through private student loans. But Tom missed a crucial detail included in the promissory note. If the student or the co-...

Come check out local events happening in Broadus for the Powder River Co Fair!

Each year, many people get a larger refund than they expect. Some find they owe a lot more tax than they thought they would. If this has happened to you, review your situation to prevent a tax surprise. Did you marry? Have a child? Change in income? Life events can have a major impact on your taxes. Bring the taxes you pay closer to the amount you owe. Here are some tips to help you come up with a plan: New Job. When you start a new job, you must fill out a Form W-4 , Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, and give it to your employer. Your employer will use the form to figure the amount of federal income tax to withhold from your pay. Use the IRS Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov to help you fill out the form. This tool is easy to use and it’s available 24/7. Estimated Tax. If you earn income that is not subject to withholding you may need to pay estimated tax . This may include income such as self-employment, interest, divi...

Release No. 0033.16 WASHINGTON, April 6, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Custer County in Montana as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from March 1, 2015, and continues. “Our hearts go out to those Montana farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation’s economy by sustaining the successes of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We’re also telling Montana producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood.” Farmers and ranchers in Carter, Fallon, Garfield, Powder River, Prairie and Rosebud counties in Montana also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. All counties listed above ...