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Please try our wide variety of interactive financial problem solvers. Simply enter your criteria and you’ll get your questions answered with dynamic graphs and personalized reports. Calculators > Home and Mortgage How Much Home Can I Afford? When you’re buying a home, mortgage lenders don’t look just at your income, assets, and the down payment you have. They look at all of your liabilities and obligations as well, including auto loans, credit card debt, child support, potential property taxes and insurance, and your overall credit rating. Which Is Better: Fixed Or Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? It is a difficult decision to decide between a fixed and an adjustable-rate mortgage. Factors such as loan duration, the index used by the lender, the number and timing of rate adjustments, and your assumption about the increase/decrease of future interest rates all have an impact. Adjustable Rate Mortgage Calculator Unlike fixed rate mortgages, the payments on an adjustable rate mortgage will vary as interest rates change. How Do Closing Costs Impact The Interest Rate? If you choose to finance your closing costs, the monthly loan payments will be higher than if you had paid the closing costs out-of-pocket. In order to help borrowers compare loans, lenders use a standard calculation called annual percentage rates (APR) which takes into account the closing costs. Compare An Interest-Only Versus Traditional Mortgage An interest-only mortgage may be enticing due to lower initial payments than a traditional mortgage. However, when the interest-only loan begins to amortize after 5, 10 or 20 years then your monthly payments will be higher. How Much Can I Borrow From My Home Equity (HELOC)? Depending upon the market value of your home, outstanding mortgage balance, credit history and other factors, you may qualify for a home equity line of credit. Monthly payments on a HELOC are variable as they fluctuate with interest rate changes. Restructuring Debts For Accelerated Payoff Over the last couple of years with interest rates at a 40-year low, many people refinanced their mortgages. Even though rates have crept up over the last couple of months, refinancing may make sense for you. Comprehensive Mortgage Calculator The loan amount, the interest rate, and the term of the mortgage can have a dramatic effect on the total amount you will eventually pay for the property. Further, mortgage payments typically will include monthly allocations of property taxes, hazard insurance, and (if applicable) private mortgage insurance (PMI). Comparing Mortgage Terms (i.e. 15, 20, 30 Year) Different mortgage terms and rates can make the loan selection process confusing, especially if you don’t plan on keeping the loan for the full term. Should I Pay Discount Points For A Lower Interest Rate? In some cases, it may benefit you to ‘buy down the interest rate’ by paying extra money up front in the form of discount points. Should I Rent Or Buy A Home? With interest rates near 40-year lows, the decision to rent versus buy becomes difficult. Should I Convert To A Bi-Weekly Payment Schedule? It may surprise you that most banks and mortgage companies collect two to three dollars for every dollar that you borrow! However, there is a way to accelerate mortgage payoff using a method called Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments. Compare A ‘No-Cost’ Versus Traditional Mortgage Many lenders will offer a ‘no-cost’ loan in lieu of a traditional mortgage. ‘No-cost’ loans are generally priced at a higher interest rate than a traditional mortgage. The higher rate allows the lender to make enough money on the interest rate spread from the underwriter to pay for all your closing costs and provide them with their profit. What Are The Tax Savings Generated By My Mortgage? With the interest on a mortgage being deductible when you itemize deductions, it may surprise you how much you can save in taxes. |
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QuickBooks/ Bookkeeping Services
All of the financial information and data for your business should be organized and in one place so it is easy to access. With our bookkeeping services, we will organize and manage your financial information within the QuickBooks software so you can easily access it at any time. While we manage your financial matters on a daily and monthly basis, you will be in control as we will keep you updated and ensure you can access and monitor your finances. If you are applying for a loan, doing your taxes, or budgeting, having quick access to your financial information is important. We can assist large businesses and provide small business bookkeeping.Advisory Services
Our accountants can take on an advisory role with your company through our business consulting services. We will work with you to understand your financial goals and help you make the right decisions to reach your goals and help your business grow and become more profitable. Our business advisory services include advisement for investments, taxes, payroll, bookkeeping, administration, and more.Estate Planning
It is important to manage your estate to help protect its value and ensure that your assets are distributed properly between your beneficiaries. Our accountants can assist with your estate planning, including managing the taxes to preserve its value and ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Our estate accountants will identify ways to protect your estate from inflation and taxes and minimize what you are paying in taxes to maximize its value.Sales Tax / Nexus
Sales tax rates and laws are decided locally and differ between states and cities. This can make sales and use tax difficult to manage for businesses, especially those that operate in multiple cities and states. Our certified public accountants can help manage your sales and use taxes by ensuring that you are in compliance with applicable sales tax laws and identifying opportunities for refunds and exemptions. We have a thorough knowledge of sales tax laws and we can even help businesses that operate in multiple states with filing their taxes. Using Nexus tax analysis, we can help multi-state businesses stay in compliance with all applicable tax laws.Payroll Services
We provide payroll services to small businesses and international businesses that operate in the U.S. Our accountants will streamline your payroll process and manage the tax withholdings and benefit deductions from employee paychecks. We can also file the tax returns for your business that account for the tax withholdings.Call the CPAs of STE Corporation
Contact our CPA firm if you want to work with our accountants to help manage the finances for your business in Park Ridge, IL. You can call STE Corporation at (815) 836-0100 to talk to our professionals or schedule a free consultation.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For tax years 2018 through 2025 interest on home equity loans is only deductible when the loan is used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan. Prior to 2018, many homeowners took out home equity loans. Unlike other consumer-related interest expenses (e.g., car loans and credit cards) interest on a home equity loan was deductible on your tax return.
You may be able to take an immediate Section 179 expense deduction of up to $1,040,000 for 2020 ($1,020,000 in 2019), for equipment purchased for use in your business, instead of writing it off over many years. There is a phaseout limit of $2,590,000 in 2020 ($2,550,000 in 2019). Additionally, self-employed individuals can deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums. You may also be able to establish a Keogh, SEP or SIMPLE IRA plan and deduct your contributions (investments).
In 2020 (as in 2019), medical and dental expenses are deductible to the extent they exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income or AGI. If your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account or cafeteria plan, these plans permit you to redirect a portion of your salary to pay these types of expenses with pre-tax dollars.
If you’re planning to make a charitable gift, it generally makes more sense to give appreciated long-term capital assets to the charity, instead of selling the assets and giving the charity the after-tax proceeds. Donating the assets instead of the cash avoids capital gains tax on the sale, and you can obtain a tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the property.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US
“Everyone at STE has been amazing. As a small business owner it is essential to have people on your team that are experts in all areas. When it comes to finance and taxes Jim and the team at STE fill that need. Thanks for being great at what you do and always be there!”
“STE has been handling our personal, business accounting, and payroll for years. They are knowledgeable, easy to reach, and very welcoming. Would definitely recommend them.”
“I have had nothing but pleasant experiences at STE. They are knowledgeable and provide great service.”
“We have used STE Corporation for our payroll and tax service needs over the past 3+ years and extremely pleased with the partnership we have created.”
“My husband has operated his painting business since 2004, first as a sole proprietorship and later as an S corporation. STE has been instrumental in helping him grow his business and remain in compliance. I cannot thank Mike, Marybeth, Jim, and Lisa enough for helping him get organized and stay that way. They have truly been the business office he needed in order to focus on the part of his business he enjoys – painting and customer service Their professional staff literally have never let him down – payroll, state taxes, federal taxes, consultation, ledger reconciliation, profit and loss sheets, and probably lots of things I do not even know about! Hiring this firm was the best decision he could have made. He looks forward to visiting the office, everyone makes him feel like family. I appreciate their professionalism and efficiency. Thank you STE!”
OUR SERVICES
Accounting
- Statuary Accounts
- Management Accounts
- Bookkeeping
- Business Plan
Tax
- Tax Investigation
- Capitol Gains Tax
- Tax Advisory
- Corporation Tax
Consulting
- Registered Office Address
- Company Formation
- Company Secretarial
- Legal Helpline