KLD Consulting LLC

04/15/2026

It’s Tax Day, it’s late, and apparently this is still the time of year when business owners act personally attacked by deadlines they absolutely knew were coming.

So I wrote a new blog post:
April’s Greatest Hits: What Business Owners Somehow Still Say at Tax Time

A few of the classics:
“Wait… my extension doesn’t mean I can wait to pay?”
“My spreadsheet was basically bookkeeping.”
“I’ll do better next year.”

A little sarcastic? Yes.
Wrong? Also no.

If April always feels more chaotic than it should, this one’s for you.

KLD Consulting LLC is a full-service accounting firm specializing in tax strategy, bookkeeping, accounting, controller, and CFO services. located in Lake Saint Louis, MO.

04/02/2026

You know that fun moment when tax season ends and you think you can finally breathe?

Yeah... about that.

Because the IRS loves a sequel, and this one is called estimated taxes.

If you owed more than expected this year, there’s a good chance estimated payments, withholding, or lack of planning had something to do with it. This new blog breaks down:

✔ who usually needs to pay estimated taxes
✔ why so many business owners get caught off guard
✔ common mistakes to avoid
✔ what to do now so next tax season doesn’t punch you in the face

Read the full post here: https://www.kld-consulting.com/blog.php?id=7

And if you want to get ahead of the surprises, grab my free Tax Strategy Toolkit here: https://www.kld-consulting.com/FreeToolKit.php

KLD Consulting LLC is a full-service accounting firm specializing in tax strategy, bookkeeping, accounting, controller, and CFO services. located in Lake Saint Louis, MO.

01/28/2026

Many businesses today outsource one or more of their IT functions to save money. Yet if you don’t manage the risks involved, you could end up spending more and getting less in return. For example, slow support times or services that don’t match your objectives or employees’ needs can undermine productivity. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 for help evaluating a prospective IT outsourcing arrangement or assessing the ROI of an existing one.

01/26/2026

One of the biggest challenges when buying a home is coming up with the down payment. But a traditional IRA can help. First-time homebuyers can usually withdraw up to $10,000 from their IRAs penalty-free. (Normally, withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% penalty.) But there are several rules you must follow to qualify, as well as downsides to consider. And the timing of your withdrawal will be critical. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 for more information.

01/23/2026

The employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave has been made permanent. (It previously had been scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2025.) The credit amount ranges from 12.5% to 25% of eligible wages paid to qualifying employees for up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Beginning in 2026, employers have the option to claim the credit for the same percentage of insurance premiums paid or incurred during the tax year for active family and medical leave coverage. You can’t claim the credit for both wages and premiums, however. Call us at (636) 210-4590 to learn more. We can help evaluate your options and implement a leave program that complies with the IRS requirements for the credit.

01/21/2026

Gifts that consist of hard-to-value assets, such as interests in a closely held business, can be risky. A defined-value gift may help you avoid unexpected tax liabilities. A defined-value gift is a gift of assets that are valued at a specific dollar amount rather than a certain number of stock shares or a specified percentage of a business entity. Structured properly, a defined-value gift won’t trigger gift taxes down the road. The key to this strategy is that the defined-value language in the transfer document is drafted as a “formula” clause rather than an invalid “savings” clause. Call us at (636) 210-4590 to learn more.

01/19/2026

If you expect to owe tax when you file your return and don’t think you’ll be able to pay the entire amount due, it may be tempting to put off filing. But remember, filing for an extension doesn’t extend your payment deadline. So consider filing on time and paying what you can. If you pay at least part of what you owe on time, you can reduce the interest and late payment penalty you’ll owe because your unpaid balance after the April 15 deadline will be lower. Then set up a payment plan with the IRS. Both short-term and long-term plans are available. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 to get your return filed on time.

01/16/2026

For 2026, the federal gift and estate tax exemption increases to $15 million (up from $13.99 million for 2025). That amount will be adjusted annually for inflation for 2027 and beyond. Without tax legislation signed into law in 2025, the exemption would have returned to an inflation-adjusted $5 million for 2026. The generation-skipping transfer tax exemption amount also increases to $15 million for 2026 and will be annually adjusted for inflation after that. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 to discuss how these changes might affect your estate plan.

01/15/2026

01/14/2026

A standard IRA makes an excellent retirement savings tool, so long as you’re satisfied with plain vanilla investments such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. If your tastes run spicier, you might want to consider opening a self-directed traditional or Roth IRA. These vehicles offer similar tax benefits but also accept investments in closely held business interests, commodities, precious metals and real estate. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 to learn more about the advantages (and a few risks) associated with self-directed IRAs.

01/12/2026

It’s common for small businesses to work with friends, relatives and affiliated companies. After all, they can be loyal workers and trustworthy business partners. But if related-party transactions aren’t handled properly, they can distort financial results, affect loan eligibility and even trigger IRS scrutiny. We can help you identify and record these transactions at market terms. Proper documentation supports compliance and provides clearer insight into how these arrangements affect cash flow and profitability. Contact us at (636) 210-4590 to keep your books accurate and transparent.