What people care about most politically often equates to what affects their personal lives the most, which means it often comes down to how things feel in your wallet. And the place we feel this the most is often the grocery store, seeing as it makes up a large piece of the pie when it comes to a household budget. And lately this piece has been feeling a little heavier – as food prices are up almost 3% from last year.

When that happens, we want something to blame. When things are getting more expensive across the board, there must be some reason as to why, right? In a way, the answer to this is yes, but it becomes complicated because the answer usually isn’t one thing but a confluence of many.

That is that situation we find ourselves in now as this recent CNN article speaks to how tariffs, deportation, and climate change are coming together to account for the current problems. Once you get some answers, though, how one interprets them can still depend on one’s political viewpoint. This article clearly isn’t shining the best light on the current administration, and there will certainly be some people out there whose future votes could be affected by this.

Others will not be swayed, though, and that’s not necessarily wrong. After all, an issue could be important enough to someone that they are willing to sacrifice a little more at the cash register to see that other believe taken care of.

What we need to do, however, is own the price of what our choices could mean. It is worth taking some time to understand the outcomes of policies and know where they’re likely to have you ending up. Such news as this article gives isn’t necessarily going to be bad news to everyone. Much like the recent tax bill passed by the Trump administration, some are happy about it, some are not.

In the end, let’s be aware, be measured, and be aware of what we support means.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ X

When I write these blogs, I promise that I want to discuss new things as often as possible. I think that the best use of this space is when it can tell you about new things of which you may have been unaware. Some old things don’t go away, however, and I feel compelled to mention them again.

This happens often when it comes to scams because the presence of people trying to slide into our lives and find a way to get some money is never going to stop. Also growing, however, is the presence of people who mean well but can also be steering you wrong.

Last week, the IRS announced that due to fraudulent tax schemes circulating on social media, mostly concerning the misuse of credits, thousands of taxpayers have filed inaccurate returns which have led to $162 million in penalties.

Granted, many of these start with bad actors looking to charge people for filing an inaccurate tax return illegally claiming these credits and then disappearing before the IRS catches on and comes back with potential penalties. They start on social media, though, so their victims often end up being heavy users of it, who can then drive others they know on social media to the scheme, exponentially growing it without realizing it was a fraud from the start.

And as an added warning, claiming credits for which you do not quality is one of the clearest red flags that can cause the IRS to look at a return and an easy one for them to determine if it is valid or not.

As with many things that seem too good to be true, a little caution serves you well here. A quick Google search could even be enough to let you know if claims are really too good to be true. Granted, tax law can be complicated, though, which is what this scheme is taking advantage of, so it’s understandable if what the internet feeds you in a search doesn’t help.

This is why it can be so important to have a trusted advisor on your side when it comes to taxes. Then if you hear something that sounds like you may qualify for, you have someone to ask for clarity and can be confident in the answer they give. Of course, this answer may not be the one you were hoping for, but it’s a better outcome than paying back the money you weren’t eligible for in the first place with added penalties.

Beyond that, it also increases the chances of getting to know about any potential new credits for which you may qualify when actually filing the first time.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ X

When one thinks of businesses that are perpetual mainstays on the landscape, McDonald’s must at least be near the top of the list. Even things that seem ubiquitous, however, must adapt to the times or run the risk of going the way of Kodak.

This week has seen the fast-food giant reintroduce Extra Value Meals to battle the perception that the restaurant has become too expensive. Of course, in this realm “expensive” is a relative term because we can think of many places to go eat that will cost multiples of what you pay at McDonald’s. Inflation, though, has pushed the cost of a fast-food meal close to that of a casual sit-down restaurant like Applebee’s or Chili’s, so its relative value seems to have shifted.

When you step back and look at the size of the differences here, we are talking a few dollars on either side of the scale. If a McDonald’s burger is only $2 less than Applebee’s, is that too close? Will we think it’s worth it at $3? Does it need to go all the way to $5? Any more than that starts to seem to be quite a gulf to me, though.

Heck, another view can even swoop in and say that if the price keeps you from eating 10 less McDonald’s burgers per year, then that’s just good for you.

The truth, though, is that this isn’t really a serious equation that consumers are going through. Such purchases tend to be quickly done for either craving or convenience. What rules there is the perception that McDonald’s can satisfy such things and remain a value.

As a business, it’s important to keep in mind what customers expect to receive from you. A fancy restaurant can charge much more for their products because of everything they provide along with it – the atmosphere, the service, etc. You don’t expect such things from McDonald’s, but you do expect to feel like it didn’t affect your wallet that much and that is why the company remains committed to providing ‘value,’ which essentially is like sticking to its own core values. There is a lesson in there for anyone making their own way through the business world. Know who you are and make sure your customers feel it.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ X

Just when it looked like we knew something …

Instead, it now seems like the staffing cuts the IRS was ordered to make may have been too much too soon. After dropping over a quarter of its workforce since Donald Trump again entered the office of president in January, the agency may be looking to bring some of the employees let go in that purge back into the fold.

I don’t want to get too deep into exactly what’s been happening within the agency since January, but if you are interested in it, please visit this story from Accounting Today.

What I do think is appropriate here, however, is to remind everyone how dangerous it could be to look at instances like IRS job cuts as chances to get away with something. I know there are people out there who felt a little excitement when the IRS was planning to have less workers around to carry out costly and lengthy audits, but just like that possibility came about quickly, now we see how it can be just as easy for things to swing back the other way.

If you are going to spend time thinking about taxes, it would be more worthy to look at how provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect your situation than looking into the nebulous future of the IRS. Those words have become the law of the land and will need further legislation to change, not just whims.

Because as always, the best way to handle your taxes is to submit the best return you can for your situation under the current rules. That is what we remain committed to as an organization for our clients and it can even give comfort that you won’t be in potential danger in the future.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ X