At Machen McChesney, we are committed to Returning Value to you through our monthly e-newsletter, The Value Report.

Here you'll find regular tips to help with your business and personal finances, as well as strategies to grow and run your organization more efficiently. 

Table of Content

1. Not All Business "Expenses" Are Tax Deductible
2. How Activity-Based Costing Can Improve Business Performance
3. What To Look For On Your Balance Sheet — and How to Strengthen It.
4. Is Your Business Ready for the Tax Deadline That's on Groundhog Day This Year?
5. Tax Filing Update for Pass-Through Entities
6. 2026 Outlook for the Real Estate & Construction Industry
7. Preparing Your F&A Team for Leadership Changes
8. IRS Makes Retirement Plan Changes for 2026
9. What's New at Machen McChesney

Not All Business "Expenses" Are Tax Deductible

With 2025 in the rear view mirror and the tax filing deadline on the road ahead, it’s a good time for businesses to start gathering information about their deductible expenses for 2025. But what’s deductible (and what’s not) might not be as clear-cut as you think. Continue reading.

How Activity-Based Costing Can Improve Business Performance

Your income statement indicates whether your business is profitable — but it doesn’t always explain why . For many small businesses, traditional cost accounting can mask where time and money are really being spent. Activity-based costing offers a practical way to understand the true cost of the work you perform, helping you make better decisions about pricing, profitability, and operational efficiency. Continue reading. 

What To Look For on Your Balance Sheet — and How to Strengthen It.

The balance sheet shows your company’s financial condition — its assets vs. liabilities — at a specific point in time. However, the balance sheet is more than a static report. It can also serve as a diagnostic tool for managers and other stakeholders to analyze historical performance and plan for future growth. Taking your balance sheet to the next level requires context, judgment and forward-looking analysis. Continue reading. 

Tax Filing Updates for Pass-Through Entities

Do you operate a business as a partnership, a limited liability company (LLC) treated as a partnership for tax purposes, or an S corporation? In tax lingo, these are called “pass-through” entities because their taxable income items, tax deductions, and tax credits are passed through to their owners and taken into account on the owners’ federal income tax returns. These entities generally don’t owe any federal income tax themselves. Here are some important things to know about tax filing for pass-through entities. Continue reading. 

2026 Outlook for the Real Estate & Construction Industry

The real estate and construction industry has weathered years of disruption, from supply chain chaos and natural disasters to labor shortages and interest rate volatility. As companies look ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be another year of change and challenge. Continue reading.

Preparing Your F&A Team for Leadership Changes

At the start of the new year, your finance and accounting (F&A) department is under a microscope. Budgets, forecasts, and strategic plans are top of mind, and internal staff may be working with your CPA to finalize year-end financial statements. This heightened attention often raises an important question: What would happen if your CFO suddenly left? Continue reading.

IRS Makes Retirement Plan Changes for 2026

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a release explaining changes in retirement plan limits for 2026. Below is a summary of this release. The provisions can be complex, so current and prospective plan participants should work with a financial professional. Continue reading.

What's New at Machen McChesney?

Sponsorships, new hires, announcements
Continue reading. 

We hope you found value in The Value Report you've received this month. We look forward to finding even more ways to Return Value to you in the future.