Local CPA answering tax questions with podcast

It's that time of year again – the one we all dread – tax season.

Before you begin the age-old tradition of paying Uncle Sam, you might want to listen to one CPA who is answering questions in a new format.

Mark Ashman and his team started the podcast this year after the big tax reform bill was signed into law at the end of last year. To keep this story PG, we will call it the "Stuff You Didn't Know About Your Taxes" podcast.

Ashman obviously knows paying Uncle Sam stinks. So this CPA got the idea for helping people with the taxing task of knowing the IRS code.

"I get 10 phone calls a week on the same questions," Ashman said. "Basically with the new tax law: they're asking how does it affect me and what's going on?"

The podcast is a way to answer those questions in-depth.

"The typical (question) I get is 'my neighbor told me I'm totally screwed because the tax law is going to get me,'" Ashman said.

But with that massive tax reform plan that was signed into law just last month, there is some good news.

"The big things for individuals is doubling the standard deduction," Ashman said. "Tax rates are lower so most will drop from the 25 percent down to 22 percent, or the 15 to the 12 percent."

Filing season begins on Jan. 29. This year, the IRS bumped the deadline to file returns to April 17 because the traditional date of April 15 falls on a Sunday and Emancipation Day, a legal holiday which will be observed on Monday, April 16.