Current News
Dia de los niños event at Midnight Garden
This year we had the amazing opportunity to showcase our business and support our local community at the dia de los niños event at Midnight Garden. We had a craft table, wheel of fortune, and lots of fun toys for kids to take home.
We are increible grateful for this opportunity and hope to work again with Luisa Ortega!
April, 26, 2026
New team member!
We are excited to welcome Perla Núñez as the newest member of the Wanatee Accounting team! 🎉
Perla is a 2024 alumna of Iowa State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, along with a Professional Sales Certificate and a Minor in Spanish for Languages and Cultures for Professions (LCP).
She is joining our team as our Bilingual Client Relations Manager, where she will help strengthen client relationships and provide support to both our English- and Spanish-speaking clients.
Perla, thank you for joining our team! We are so happy to have you on board and look forward to the knowledge, creativity, and enthusiasm you will bring to Wanatee Accounting 😁
Janurary, 2026
2025
Holiday Hope
December, 13th 2025
This year, we had the chance to give back to the community in the most sincere way possible!
We partnered with Luisa Ortega, the Midnight Ballroom director in Marshalltown, along with other local businesses, to bring holiday cheer to low-income families in the surrounding area.
We had lots of fun handing out candy and small gifts for children, and we look forward to continuing this tradition for our business in the years to come!
New team member!
We are excited to welcome Emma Pfantz as the newest member of the Wanatee Accounting team! 🎉
Emma is joining us as a Junior Accounting Intern while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Buena Vista University.
Emma, thank you for joining our team! 🤩 We’re thrilled to be part of your professional journey and honored to help you build the foundation for a successful career in accounting. We look forward to seeing all that you accomplish and are excited to have you on board!
August, 2025
2025 Best of the Best Times-Republican in Marshalltown
August 1, 2025
THANK YOU, MARSHALLTOWN!
We are beyond honored to announce that Wanatee Accounting has been voted 2025 Best of the Best in Marshalltown in 3 categories!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to our amazing clients, friends, and community for your support and your votes. Your trust means everything to us, and we’re so proud to serve such a wonderful community.
Here’s to another great year of working together—thank you for making us feel like the best, because we truly have the BEST clients around! Furthermore, We would like to congratulate all the other business that serve the Marshall County Area!
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Why Our June & July Hours Have Been a Little Different
July 9, 2025
We want to take a moment to speak honestly and vulnerably with you—our valued clients and community—about why our office hours, response times, and phone availability have been a bit off this summer.
The truth is, life has been happening behind the scenes in big, sometimes difficult, and very human ways.
Lisa has been navigating the side effects of cancer treatment, focusing on healing and regaining strength day by day. Brendan and his family welcomed their baby earlier than expected, and while the little one is doing well, it’s been a whirlwind of adjustment and care. And Genesis has been managing major home renovations that have required time, energy, and presence.
Because of all this, there have been times we haven’t been in the office or able to answer the phone as promptly as we normally would—and we know that can be frustrating. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we find our rhythm again.
We’re still here. We’re still committed to supporting you. And your kindness during this season means more than we can say.
With gratitude,
Lisa and Staff
As of June 2025, several significant tax changes have occurred at both federal & state levels in the United States.
Here's an overview of the most impactful updates:
June 2, 2025
🏛️ Major Federal Tax Legislation:
1. "One Big Beautiful Bill Act:"
President Donald Trump’s comprehensive tax and spending bill is currently under Senate consideration after passing the House in May. Key provisions include: The Washington Post+2Barron's+2Reuters+2
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) Extensions: The bill proposes making the individual provisions of the 2017 TCJA permanent, which would decrease federal tax revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034 (Tax Foundation).
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New Deductions: Introduces deductions for overtime pay and auto loan interest. Reuters
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Medicaid Spending Cuts: Proposes significant reductions in Medicaid spending, raising concerns among moderate Republicans (New York Post+4The Washington Post+4Barron's+4).
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SALT Deduction Cap Adjustment: Extends the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions but introduces a new $40,000 cap for certain taxpayers, phasing down at a 30% rate for individuals making over $500,000 (Bipartisan Policy Center).
2. "No Tax on Tips Act:"
In May 2025, the Senate unanimously passed the "No Tax on Tips Act," eliminating federal income tax on tips for workers earning under $160,000 annually. While intended to boost take-home pay for service workers, critics argue it may widen pay disparities between tipped and non-tipped employees (San Francisco Chronicle+1Wikipedia+1).
3. Child Tax Credit Adjustments
The bill proposes increasing the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,500 from January 2025 through the end of 2028, reverting to $2,200 in 2029 with inflation adjustments (BakerHostetler).
📊 IRS Inflation Adjustments for 2025:
The IRS has made several inflation-related adjustments for the 2025 tax year:
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Standard Deduction:
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Single filers: $15,000 (up from $14,600)
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Married filing jointly: $30,000 (up from $29,200)
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Head of household: $22,500 (up from $21,900) (IRS+2City National Bank+2U.S. Bank+2).
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Tax Brackets: The seven federal income tax rates remain at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, with income thresholds adjusted for inflation (NerdWallet+1Tax Foundation+1).
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Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Maximum credit for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children increases to $8,046 (up from $7,830) (IRS).
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Foreign Earned Income Exclusion: Rises to $130,000 (up from $126,500) (IRS).
🌱 Energy Tax Credit Changes:
The proposed budget bill aims to phase out federal tax credits for clean electricity, including wind and solar, starting in 2029. Projects must begin construction within 60 days of the bill becoming law and be operational by 2028 to qualify for existing subsidies. Critics argue that these subsidies have become permanent fixtures, distorting the energy market (New York Post).
🏛️ State-Level Tax Changes:
As of January 1, 2025, several states have implemented notable tax changes:Tax Foundation
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Income Tax Cuts: Nine states, including Iowa, Indiana, and Louisiana, have reduced individual income tax rates (Tax Foundation).
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Flat Tax Adoption: Iowa and Louisiana are transitioning to single-rate income taxes.Tax Foundation
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Other Changes: New Hampshire has repealed its tax on interest and dividends income. Tax Foundation
2024
Lisa Anne Buhr
Recognized for Contributions to the Field of Financial Services
August 20, 2024
Congratulations to our Senior Accountant & Founder!
Best of the Best Times-Republican in Marshalltown
July 31, 2024
We’re overjoyed to announce that your votes have propelled us to the top in two categories of the Best of the Best! Best Accounting Firm and Best Tax Service! Your unwavering support and enthusiasm are truly what make us shine. I promise to only offer the Best of the Best!
A heartfelt thank you for making this milestone possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Lisa & Team
Wanatee Accounting Services
Marquis Who's Who 2024
Our office is honored to receive this national recognition.
30 years in the making!
Lisa & Team
Wanatee Accounting Services
July 29, 2024
Marshalltown Times-Republican Spotlight
July 29, 2024
Thank you Times Republican for the spotlight! I feel honored to serve this community and want to give my appreciation to my loyal clients!
Lisa
Wanatee Accounting Services
Best of the Best Times-Republican in Marshalltown
July 16, 2024
Dear Valued Clients,
I am thrilled to share that we have won an award, and it’s all thanks to your unwavering support and trust in us. Your loyalty and partnership have made this achievement possible, and I am truly grateful.
Thank you for believing in us and for being an essential part of our journey. We look forward to continuing to serve you and striving for excellence together.
With sincere appreciation,
Lisa & Wanatee Accounting Team
Promotion!
January 2024
We are excited to announce that Genesis Wanatee has successfully completed her degree in Financial Decision Planning & Accounting and has been promoted to Junior Accountant! 🎉
Lets take a moment to wish her well in her future endeavors! We are excited to have you and your expertise on board here at Wanatee Accounting Services.
Welcome to the family business, Genesis! ⭐
New Staff Member & New Services Offered!
February 2024
Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Taylor Wanatee, who joins us today as the marketing director here at Wanatee Accounting Services.
We are thrilled to have you on board and look forward to your contributions to our team. Taylor brings with them social media marketing and management as well as website design, which will undoubtedly add tremendous value to our projects and goals. We are excited to see where your expertise brings us.
Welcome to the family business, Taylor! ⭐
