Abacus! is excited to announce Riley Gatten and Gwynn Smail as recipients of the 2026 Abacus Values Award for Ownership. Riley is a Consultant in Traditional Tax, and Gwynn is a Senior Accountant in Traditional Tax. The Abacus Values Award for Ownership recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate pride in their work, a desire to succeed and [...]
Abacus! is excited to announce Paige Frealy and Tori Busby as recipients of the 2026 Abacus Values Award for People Focus. Paige is a Coordinator in Accounting Services, and Tori is a Marketing and Communications Associate. The Abacus Values Award for People Focus recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate respect, effective communication, compassion and cooperation. Paige and [...]
Abacus! is excited to announce Eddie Musani and Levi Stillwell as recipients of the 2026 Abacus Values Award for Integrity. Eddie is a Senior Consultant in Accounting Services, and Levi is a Consultant. The Abacus Values Award for Integrity recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate responsibility, trustworthiness and honesty. Eddie and Levi reflect those qualities through steady [...]
Abacus! is excited to announce MJ Lutz and Jenean Richardson as recipients of the 2026 Abacus Values Award for Positive Attitude. MJ is a Client Accounting Specialist in Accounting Services, and Jenean is an Administrative Assistant Specialist in Transportation. The Abacus Values Award for Positive Attitude recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate a coachable mindset, cooperation and [...]
An unexpected IRS letter can make anyone pause. A letter asking you to update bank information can feel especially unsettling. Recently, many taxpayers have been receiving IRS CP53E notices related to tax refunds and direct deposit information. The notice itself is real, but scammers appear to be taking advantage of the confusion by creating fake versions [...]
Springfield, MO – May 11, 2026 – Abacus! is proud to announce the promotion of 26 team members across the firm, recognizing individuals who continue to grow in their careers while making meaningful contributions to clients, colleagues, and the firm’s long-term success. The promotions were shared during Abacus!’s May AM³ retreat, a semiannual gathering focused on [...]
When your teen lands their first summer job, taxes probably aren’t top of mind until they are. Whether it’s a question about a smaller-than-expected paycheck or a form that shows up in January, many parents find themselves wondering: does my child actually need to file a tax return? The short answer? It depends. But in most [...]
You likely don’t walk in for the day, sit down, and decide to terminate someone out of nowhere. It builds over time. A few missed expectations here. A frustrating conversation there. Another issue the following week. Then suddenly the question isn’t just, “Should we terminate?” It becomes: “Can we terminate?” “Is this legal?” “What’s the [...]
Abe: It’s based on executed job duties and salary thresholds, not job title or job descriptions. Why it matters: Misclassification can lead to back pay for overtime and penalties. A: No. Hours doesn’t determine exemption; duties must meet FLSA criteria. Why it matters: Paying salary without meeting exemption tests creates risk. A: They should reflect [...]
A smooth audit or review starts long before fieldwork begins. The way your financial information is organized throughout the year plays a key role in how efficient and effective the process will be. Taking a few steps in advance can help reduce delays, avoid last-minute adjustments, and make the overall process more manageable for your team. [...]
