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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𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?

Yes, IRA withdrawals can increase what the IRS calls your provisional income, which determines how much of your Social Security benefits become taxable.

The IRS calculates provisional income using:
• Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
• Tax-exempt interest
• 50% of your Social Security benefits

Depending on that total, your Social Security falls into one of three ranges: none of your benefits are taxable, up to 50% can be taxable, or up to 85% can be taxable.

But that doesn't mean you're paying an 85% tax rate on Social Security. Instead, up to 85% of the benefits you received could be included in your taxable income and then taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭: Even tax-exempt interest counts in this calculation.

For example, interest from municipal bonds may not be taxable itself, but the IRS still adds it when calculating your provisional income. That additional income could push you across a threshold where a larger portion of your Social Security becomes taxable.

The same thing can happen when you take additional taxable withdrawals from a Traditional IRA. A larger withdrawal raises your AGI, which can raise your provisional income and potentially make more of your Social Security taxable too.

𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦?
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𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?

Yes, IRA withdrawals can increase what the IRS calls your provisional income, which determines how much of your Social Security benefits become taxable.

The IRS calculates provisional income using:
• Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
• Tax-exempt interest
• 50% of your Social Security benefits

Depending on that total, your Social Security falls into one of three ranges: none of your benefits are taxable, up to 50% can be taxable, or up to 85% can be taxable. 

But that doesnt mean youre paying an 85% tax rate on Social Security. Instead, up to 85% of the benefits you received could be included in your taxable income and then taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. 

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭: Even tax-exempt interest counts in this calculation.

For example, interest from municipal bonds may not be taxable itself, but the IRS still adds it when calculating your provisional income. That additional income could push you across a threshold where a larger portion of your Social Security becomes taxable.

The same thing can happen when you take additional taxable withdrawals from a Traditional IRA. A larger withdrawal raises your AGI, which can raise your provisional income and potentially make more of your Social Security taxable too.

𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦?

Did you know...
• The IRS is navigating “significant workforce reductions”
• Only 21% of calls reached an IRS assistor during the 2026 filing season
• Taxpayers waited an average of 45 minutes just to reach someone on the Installment Agreement/Balance Due line

Before calling the IRS, see if you can find the answer on your IRS Online Account or the "Where's My Refund" tool.

If you do have to call, make sure you have all of the relevant paperwork right in front of you (𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘐𝘙𝘚 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘚𝘚𝘕/𝘐𝘛𝘐𝘕, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯).

Plan to call later in the week. Wait times are typically shorter Wednesday through Friday now that filing season is over.

Your best option, though, is to 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 for you.

We have access to practitioner-only IRS support lines and can often get answers and responses much faster.
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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

Your 2026 schedule is based on the payroll tax liability your business reported during an earlier four-quarter period, called the 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥. For businesses that file Form 941, it runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

To check which schedule applies to you in 2026, add up Line 12 on your Forms 941 for:
• Q3 and Q4 of 2024
• Q1 and Q2 of 2025

If the total is $50,000 or less, you’re generally a monthly depositor. If it’s over $50,000, you’re a semiweekly depositor.

If your schedule changed and you kept depositing on the old one, you may have incurred failure-to-deposit penalties.

Unsure which schedule applies, or already facing a penalty? Message us. We can check your filings and deposits, then review whether penalty relief is available.
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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

Your 2026 schedule is based on the payroll tax liability your business reported during an earlier four-quarter period, called the 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥. For businesses that file Form 941, it runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

To check which schedule applies to you in 2026, add up Line 12 on your Forms 941 for:
• Q3 and Q4 of 2024
• Q1 and Q2 of 2025

If the total is $50,000 or less, you’re generally a monthly depositor. If it’s over $50,000, you’re a semiweekly depositor.

If your schedule changed and you kept depositing on the old one, you may have incurred failure-to-deposit penalties.

Unsure which schedule applies, or already facing a penalty? Message us. We can check your filings and deposits, then review whether penalty relief is available.
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First State CPAs
& Associates
18 S. State St,
Dover, DE 19901
 (302) 736-6657
Business Hours
 
January 1st January 31st
Monday–Friday:8am–5pm
Saturday & Sunday:closed
 
February 1st April 15th
Monday–Thursday:8am–6pm
Friday:8am–5pm
Saturday:By appointment
Sunday:closed
 
April 16th December 31st
Monday–Thursday:8am–5pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday:closed