Welcome to First State CPAs & Associates

Full-Service Accounting, Tax Preparation, Tax Planning and Bookkeeping for Individuals and Businesses Nationwide

At First State CPAs, we make YOUR life less taxing!

First State CPAs & Associates specializes in providing first-rate business accounting, tax preparation, and advisory services. Our team of dedicated professionals has the experience, insight, and business acumen to identify the best accounting solutions and tax strategies for maximizing deductions and credits, as well as improving overall business performance.


First State CPAs, Dover DEWe specialize in bookkeeping, payroll, income tax return preparation, and retirement planning, and serve a nationwide clientele consisting of individuals and businesses of all types and sizes (LLC, partnerships, C & S Corporations), as well as trusts and estates. As financial problem solvers, we provide practical advice and proactive solutions with personalized service. We are affordable, experienced, and friendly, and we tirelessly study and research the ever-changing world of tax law and regulation so that we can help every client realize the greatest possible savings and return on investments. Our office is conveniently located in Dover, Delaware. Please contact us today to find out more about how we can make YOUR life less taxing!

Tax
Services

First State CPAs, Dover DE - Tax Services
A comprehensive approach to both business and personal taxes that leverages veteran expertise with a passion for client satisfaction.

Accounting
Services

First State CPAs, Dover DE - Accounting Services
An uncompromising commitment to the most reliable accounting techniques and practices for both individuals and businesses.

Software
Services

First State CPAs, Dover DE - Software Services
Installation, setup and training for all versions of Quickbooks from in-house Advanced Certified Quickbooks ProAdvisors.

Retirement
Planning

First State CPAs, Dover DE - Retirement Planning
Invaluable guidance from in-house Certified Retirement Counselors with investments, risk management, estate planning and more.

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How do you choose the right payroll software?

You might be inclined to go with what's cheapest, but the "cheap" payroll software might be your most expensive mistake.

The monthly base fee is often the least important number. The real cost shows up later in the hours spent on manual work or fixing filing errors.

If youโ€™re shopping for a new system, check these three things first:

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ "๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ-๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜†๐—ฒ๐—ฒ" ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†:
Does the price spike the moment you hire your next contractor? Some plans are affordable only until you actually start growing.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—™๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—•๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป:
Is year-end reporting actually included, or is it a surprise add-on that hits you in January?

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ "๐— ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ถ-๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ" ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ:
If your team grows across state lines, can the software actually automate those specific compliance rules?

If you want our more detailed 5-step process for choosing payroll software, comment "๐—ฃ๐—”๐—ฌ๐—ฅ๐—ข๐—Ÿ๐—Ÿ" below.
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How do you choose the right payroll software?

You might be inclined to go with whats cheapest, but the cheap payroll software might be your most expensive mistake.

The monthly base fee is often the least important number. The real cost shows up later in the hours spent on manual work or fixing filing errors.

If youโ€™re shopping for a new system, check these three things first:

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ-๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜†๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†:
Does the price spike the moment you hire your next contractor? Some plans are affordable only until you actually start growing.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐˜… ๐—™๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—•๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป:
Is year-end reporting actually included, or is it a surprise add-on that hits you in January?

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐— ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ถ-๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ:
If your team grows across state lines, can the software actually automate those specific compliance rules?

If you want our more detailed 5-step process for choosing payroll software, comment ๐—ฃ๐—”๐—ฌ๐—ฅ๐—ข๐—Ÿ๐—Ÿ below.

The IRS may still be short-staffed, but that doesn't mean your tax issues are on pause.

Right now, getting a straight answer from them can eat up your time. If youโ€™ve been sitting on a letter or an unresolved question because you dread the confusing jargon once you finally reach an IRS agent, we can take that off your plate.

We handle the correspondence and the phone calls so you can stop worrying about what's sitting in your inbox and get back to your work with some peace of mind.

If youโ€™re ready to have this resolved, send us a DM. Weโ€™ll let you know exactly what the next steps are to get it cleared up.
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๐™’๐™๐™ฎ ๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ข๐™ฎ ๐™ง๐™š๐™›๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ ๐™จ๐™ค ๐™ก๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™œ?

The short answer: Your return likely triggered a manual review. In 2026, the second a human has to verify a math error, a filing status, or a tax credit, the automated process stops. Between new fraud filters and the "deadline crush," the IRS simply canโ€™t move at its normal speed when a real person has to step in.

Check these three things first:
๐Ÿ”ข ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ต... Even a tiny discrepancy pulls your return out of the automated line.
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†... The IRS is pausing millions of returns just to verify you are actually ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ.
๐Ÿฆ ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ธ... Your bank might take an extra 48 hours to post the cash after it's released.

๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด:
The IRS will never text or email you. If thereโ€™s a real issue, an official letter is already in your physical mailbox. If your status hasn't moved in weeks, itโ€™s time to stop guessing.

Stuck in "Processing" limbo?
Drop a comment or DM us to get help figuring out if you need to take action or if youโ€™re just stuck in the queue.
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First State CPAs
& Associates
18 S. State St,
Dover, DE 19901
 (302) 736-6657
Business Hours
 
January 1st January 31st
Mondayโ€“Friday:8amโ€“5pm
Saturday & Sunday:closed
 
February 1st April 15th
Mondayโ€“Thursday:8amโ€“6pm
Friday:8amโ€“5pm
Saturday:By appointment
Sunday:closed
 
April 16th December 31st
Mondayโ€“Thursday:8amโ€“5pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday:closed