How much should a tax return cost? The honest answer is every accountant’s favorite phrase: it depends.

In this episode of MKE Tax Dad, Steve pulls back the curtain on professional tax-preparation fees—possibly upsetting a few of his accountant friends in the process.

We look at what it actually costs to run a responsible accounting firm, including professional software, secure client portals, cybersecurity, insurance, continuing education, staffing, quality control, and the concentrated pressure of tax season. Steve also explains why pricing can vary by location, credentials, service level, organization, and the real complexity hiding behind the words “my return is pretty simple.”

The episode includes broad planning ranges for individual and business returns, why a business return is much more than a longer individual return, and how artificial intelligence may make parts of tax preparation faster without replacing professional review, judgment, or responsibility.

Plus, in Ask Your Tax Dad:

• Why do business returns cost so much?
• When should I schedule my tax-preparation appointment?
• If AI makes tax preparation faster, shouldn’t my return cost less?

The takeaway: compare more than the quoted number. Ask what the fee includes, arrive with complete and organized records, and choose the level of professional help your situation actually needs.

Have a question for Ask Your Tax Dad? Email steve@mketax.com or send a message on Instagram @mketaxdad.

Taxes. Coffee. Dad jokes. Actual answers.

MKE Tax Dad provides general tax education and entertainment, not individualized tax, legal, or financial advice. Preparation fees vary by provider, location, services, and individual facts. Pricing ranges discussed are broad planning estimates, not quotes or guarantees.

“Can I write that off?” may be the most popular tax question on the internet—and one of the least complete.

In this episode of MKE Tax Dad, Steve explains what a business deduction actually does, what makes an expense ordinary and necessary, and why a receipt alone does not prove that something belongs on a tax return.

We look at some of the most common write-off questions—including meals, clothing, vehicles, home offices, and year-end equipment purchases—before sorting out another source of confusion: what an LLC does, what it does not do, and why an LLC is not the same thing as an S corporation.

Steve also takes on tax advice he wishes people would stop taking, from “buy something before December 31” to “put your kids on payroll” to the persistent myth that forming an LLC somehow makes personal expenses deductible.

Plus, in Ask Your Tax Dad:

- Can I deduct clothes I bought for client meetings?

- Does an LLC protect me personally and give me more deductions?

- Should I buy equipment now just to get the write-off?

The short version: buy what the business needs, keep business and personal activity separate, document the purpose, and do the math before following a viral tax tip.

Have a question for Ask Your Tax Dad? Email steve@mketax.com or send a message on Instagram @mketaxdad.

Taxes. Coffee. Dad jokes. Actual answers.

*MKE Tax Dad provides general tax education and entertainment, not individualized tax or legal advice. Federal, state, and local rules may differ and may change.

Your side hustle made money. Unfortunately, the IRS would also like to hear about it.

In this episode of MKE Tax Dad, Steve explains what a 1099 actually does, why income can still be taxable even when no form arrives, and why independent contractors often face a bigger-than-expected tax bill.

We cover the difference between revenue and profit, common business expenses, self-employment tax, estimated payments, recordkeeping, LLC misconceptions, and when a hobby starts looking like a real business.

Plus, in Ask Your Tax Dad:

- Do I report side-hustle income if I never received a 1099?

- Can I deduct coffee or lunch while I work?

- When should I talk to a tax professional about my side hustle?

Whether you freelance, deliver food, resell collectibles, photograph weddings, sell handmade products, or earn money from a weekend gig, this episode will help you keep that extra income from becoming an April surprise.

Have a question for Ask Your Tax Dad? Email steve@mketax.com or send a message on Instagram @mketaxdad.

Taxes. Coffee. Dad jokes. Actual answers.

MKE Tax Dad provides general tax education and entertainment, not individualized tax or legal advice. Rules discussed are based on 2026 federal tax law and may change.

That “tax write-off” might not save you what you think it will.

In this episode of MKE Tax Dad, Steve breaks down the difference between tax deductions and tax credits, explains refundable versus nonrefundable credits, and gives practical examples of how each one affects your return.

We also talk about the Child Tax Credit cliff when a dependent turns 17...including why this is Steve’s final year claiming the $2,200 credit for his 16-year-old daughter and whether charging her rent might make up the difference. Spoiler: her Starbucks gift cards are not legal tender.

Plus, in Ask Your Tax Dad:

• How long can you claim a child who is in college?
• Can AI do your tax return?
• Why did your tax professional put you on extension?

School is starting, summer is ending, and this is your reminder to save those daycare and day-camp records. Because the difference between a deduction and a credit can be the difference between “that helped a little” and “that changed the bill.”

Have a question for Ask Your Tax Dad? Email steve@mketax.com or send a message on Instagram @mketaxdad.

Taxes. Coffee. Dad jokes. Actual answers.

MKE Tax Dad provides general tax education and entertainment, not individualized tax advice. Rules and dollar limits discussed are based on 2026 federal tax law and may change.

The new tax law comes with some big promises: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, a new car-loan interest deduction and additional relief for seniors. But what do those headlines actually mean for regular families?

In Episode 3, Steve breaks down several major provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act without the political noise or tax-law jargon. He explains who may benefit, what limitations apply and which records you’ll want to keep.

Steve also shares a Tax Dad warning inspired by a week spent untangling a business owner’s messy books—and explains why poor recordkeeping usually means a larger accounting bill.

Then, in Ask Your Tax Dad:

• Is all of your overtime pay really tax-free?
• Should your family adjust its withholding?
• And what kind of “business” would Steve’s friend Patrick need to operate before his new boat could become a legitimate write-off?

Spoiler: Naming it The Floating Conference Room probably isn’t enough.

Have a question for Ask Your Tax Dad? Email steve@mketax.com or send Steve a message on Instagram at @mketaxdad.

If you enjoy the show, subscribe, leave a rating or review and share it with someone who could use straight answers with a few dad jokes mixed in.

Taxes. Coffee. Dad jokes. Actual answers.

Your teenager’s summer job could come with a tax refund...or a surprise tax bill.

In Episode 2 of MKE Tax Dad, Steve explains when a teenager may need to file a tax return, why filing can still make sense when it isn’t required, and how to recover federal income tax withheld from a summer paycheck.

We’ll talk W-2s, side-hustle income, surprise 1099s, self-employment tax, the not-so-adorable kiddie tax, and why a Roth IRA could be one of the best gifts you give a working teenager.

Plus, Ask Your Tax Dad tackles dependent returns, Enrolled Agents versus CPAs, and the best time to begin tax planning.

Straight answers. Smart deductions. Zero jargon.

Welcome to The Milwaukee Tax Dad Podcast with Steve Hawthorne, EA. Settle in and hear what's to come!