Wouldn’t be easier to just pay your company’s bills direct in your accounting software?

With Xero bill payments powered by Melio, you can do just that –

And for a very reasonable price: $0.50 per ACH and $1.50 per mailed check – you can barely get a stamp for that nowadays! (much less check stock and envelopes)

To learn more just reach out to our Design Team!

UPDATE on DC tax law snafu: The President signed the Congressional Joint Resolution overturning DC Council’s de-coupling from certain provisions of the OBBBA

What’s next? – DC hasn’t released a response since the signing, but indications are that we’re looking at least months for DC’s tax forms and systems to be re-written. In a letter written by the DC CFO prior to the Congressional vote, he indicated the DC tax filing season could even find itself extended into the fall.

We’ll continue to monitor updates as they’re available, but it seems pretty safe to say that DC returns will not be following a normal April 15 filing pattern this year.

A number of customers have asked about Trump Accounts during Tax Interviews so far this year –>

Couple tips:

• They become available starting July 5 this year

• You can proactively ‘opt in’ by using Form 4547 when you file your 2025 taxes

Check out the new official Trump Accounts website for new info and to sign-up for updates as they become available

DC Tax Law Update: Last week the U.S. Congress rejected the DC Council’s 2025 law de-coupling from many key provisions of the OBBBA tax law passed by Congress last year.

As of today, the provision is awaiting the President’s signature, but it does promise to complicate DC franchise/ income tax filings this tax season.

Have you heard the IRS is phasing out paper checks, both for refunds and for payments?

The transition isn’t complete yet, but the IRS just issued an updated FAQ on the hows and whens – Such as:

• " For now, checks and money orders will still be accepted. However, the IRS strongly encourages taxpayers to make payments using existing electronic options."

• “For all taxpayers with missing [refund bank account] information, the IRS will send letters to individuals using their last-known address on record, Once the taxpayer provides the direct deposit information or exception, the refund will be immediately released via direct deposit or paper check. If there is no response to the notice and there are no other issues with the tax return, the refund will be released as a paper check after six weeks.”

We’ve encouraged customers to consider online options for a number of years – For example, you can find links to pay your quarterly estimated taxes in our related Insights Blog post.

And just reach out to our Design Team if any questions!

❄️Office Snow/Ice Update❄️: Our offices were fully functional by the end of last week and happy to report all systems normal.

Tax Interviews begin this week and our tax filing season is off & running! 🏃‍♂️‍➡️ – Be sure to look for your Tax Interview appointments and other resource materials in your email and regular mail & just let our team know if any questions! 😀📧📬

Starting a small business in DC?

DC’s Department of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP) has released a new 4-step guide to make sure you get off the ground smoothly – Check out the graphic below, and let our team know if any questions!

❄️Office Snow/Ice Update❄️ – Like many in the region right now, we’re working our way back to 100% but aren’t there yet.

• The physical office is open as of today, but it’s icy and we wouldn’t recommend a visit. Our office internet also appears affected currently.

• We’ve been working remote at reduced capacity while our team also puts effort into digging out of their homes.

• Phones are working but email is probably best: because of the reduced capacity, look for a little more lag time.

• Please do let us know if you have urgent situations as we have the ability to focus resources to accomplish.

Thanks, hope everyone is staying safe & warm, and expecting things should be normalized by end of week/ Monday!

An unsettling number from a recent Gusto report:

Since 2019, the share of small businesses unable to make payroll on time has surged by more than 50 percent, rising from about 1.5 percent to 2.3 percent. That shift may sound small, but across roughly six million employer small businesses, it translates to about 774,000 in 2024—up from 543,000 six years ago.

Their extensive analysis points to a growing vulnerability, one we’ve anecdotally seen across various segments we work with as well:

Small businesses are the backbone of U.S. employment, accounting for nearly 60 million jobs. When they falter, the impact ripples quickly. Between 2020 and 2025, small firms faced overlapping pressures: pandemic disruptions, persistent inflation, and sharply higher interest rates.

Read their post for additional charts and breakdowns.

Our mission remains laser-focused on helping small business entrepreneurs continually design & update their business model and profit model so they can adapt to the changing landscape and build the strength to be successful for many years to come!

Gov. Moore released his proposed 2027FY Maryland budget this week, a first take at attempting to bridge the $1.4b deficit

With a stated intent to avoid any new taxes or fees this year (on the heels of notable ones last year), there’s a mixed bag on income tax policy:

• $100m in tax savings for businesses by allowing certain new federal deductions to also be claimed at the MD level (such as R&D expenses equipment expensing)

• But these are expected to be offset by $132m in disallowing certain new federal deductions to be claimed on the state return

Of course, the budget is now in the hands of the Maryland General Assembly, and there’s a 90-day run until session ends April 13, so we’ll be watching to see what happens.

(More info via Maryland Matters coverage)

📢To all Elements Circle Members:

• All of the Tax Interviews have been triggered via digital invite,

• All of the tax kick-off packets & checklists are in member e-Cabinets (saved to the ‘2026’ folder)

Hopefully you’ve seen yours and just let our team know if any questions – Tax season here we come! 😀