OH Tax & Accounting Services
Kurt Simmons CPA provides comprehensive tax and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout Ohio (OH). With its diverse manufacturing base and growing tech sector, we understand the unique financial landscape that comes with doing business in Ohio.
Under the CPA Mobility Act, our CPA — licensed in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida — is authorized to provide the full range of attestation, tax, and advisory services to Ohio clients without the need for an additional state license. This means Ohio individuals and businesses receive the same comprehensive service as our home-state clients: financial statement audits, tax strategy, IRS representation, virtual CFO services, and every other service we offer — delivered through our technology-forward, virtual-first practice model.
CPA Services Available in Ohio (OH)
OH Individual Tax Preparation
Comprehensive federal and Ohio state tax return preparation, including complex returns with investments, rental properties, and self-employment income.
Learn More →OH Business Tax Services
Tax preparation and planning for Ohio-based businesses including S-Corps, C-Corps, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships.
Learn More →OH Cryptocurrency Tax
Specialized crypto tax services for Ohio investors and traders. DeFi, NFTs, staking rewards, and exchange reporting handled with expertise.
Learn More →OH Trader Tax Services
Mark-to-market elections, wash sale tracking, and tax optimization strategies for active traders in Ohio.
Learn More →OH IRS Resolution
Professional representation before the IRS for Ohio taxpayers facing audits, collections, liens, levies, or offers in compromise.
Learn More →OH 83(b) Elections
Equity compensation planning and 83(b) election filing for Ohio startup employees and founders receiving restricted stock.
Learn More →OH Financial Statement Audits
Full-scope GAAS-compliant financial statement audits for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations requiring independent assurance.
Learn More →OH Review Engagements
Limited assurance engagements providing meaningful confidence in financial statements for lender requirements and stakeholder reporting.
Learn More →OH Compilations
Professionally prepared financial statements from management-provided data for internal reporting, small business needs, and bank presentations.
Learn More →OH Agreed-Upon Procedures
Targeted, customized engagements designed to address specific areas of concern with flexible scope tailored to stakeholder needs.
Learn More →OH Employee Benefit Plan Audits
DOL-compliant audits for 401(k), pension, and employee benefit plans meeting ERISA filing requirements and fiduciary obligations.
Learn More →OH Tax Strategy & Advisory
Proactive, year-round tax planning that identifies savings opportunities. Entity structure optimization, multi-state planning, and strategic initiatives.
Learn More →OH Cost Segregation Studies
Engineering-based analysis to accelerate depreciation deductions on commercial and residential rental properties, maximizing cash flow.
Learn More →OH Virtual CFO Services
Fractional CFO capabilities including financial modeling, cash flow management, KPI dashboards, and strategic financial leadership.
Learn More →OH Business Consulting
Operational assessments, process improvement, internal control design, and strategic planning to drive efficiency and profitability.
Learn More →OH Estate & Succession Planning
Comprehensive estate planning, business succession strategies, and wealth transfer optimization for business owners and high-net-worth individuals.
Learn More →OH Capital Markets Advisory
Securities compliance, FINRA regulatory guidance, and capital markets advisory for businesses navigating public offerings, private placements, and broker-dealer requirements.
Learn More →Ohio Audit Services in Detail
Ohio businesses, nonprofits, and benefit plan sponsors typically need an independent audit when state law, federal rules, lenders, grantmakers, or boards require external assurance. We perform GAAS-compliant attest engagements scoped to the specific assurance need — most commonly:
Ohio Nonprofit & Charitable Organization Audits
Ohio does not impose a statewide audit requirement on nonprofits under its Charitable Trust Act, but audited financial statements are routinely required by major Ohio funders — including the Cleveland Foundation, the Columbus Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, the Lincoln Electric Foundation, the United Way affiliates, and federal subrecipient grantors. We deliver nonprofit audits that meet major funder expectations and Form 990 supporting requirements.
Ohio 401(k) & Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Ohio plan sponsors filing Form 5500 generally require an ERISA-compliant audit when the plan has 100 or more participants with account balances at the start of the plan year — the participant-counting rule effective post-SECURE 2.0. We perform full-scope and §103(a)(3)(C) limited-scope benefit plan audits for 401(k), 403(b), and defined-benefit plans across Ohio, including plans sponsored by Ohio manufacturers (Honda Marysville, GM, Ford, P&G in Cincinnati, Goodyear in Akron), Cleveland Clinic and other Ohio healthcare systems, insurance (Nationwide in Columbus, Western & Southern in Cincinnati), Wright-Patt AFB defense contractors, and Marcellus/Utica Shale energy operators.
Ohio Single Audits (Uniform Guidance)
Ohio nonprofits, municipalities, school districts, and pass-through subrecipients that expend $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year (the OMB threshold for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2024) are subject to the Single Audit requirements of 2 CFR Part 200. We perform Uniform Guidance Single Audits, including major-program testing, internal control work, and preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).
Ohio Lender, Bonding & Investor Audits
Ohio banks (Fifth Third, KeyBank, Huntington), surety companies, and Ohio-based private equity, venture, and growth investors frequently require audited financial statements as a condition of credit facilities, surety capacity, or capital raises. We deliver audited financials on the timeline lenders, bonding agents, and institutional investors need.
Ohio Reviews & Compilations
Where a full audit is not required, we deliver review engagements (limited assurance) and compilations (no assurance) — both routinely accepted by Ohio lenders, by acquirers in OH M&A diligence, and by stakeholders requiring CPA-prepared financial statements.
Ohio (OH) Tax & Business Landscape
Key Ohio Tax Numbers. Personal income tax: graduated, with a recently simplified bracket structure — 0% on the first ~$26,050 of taxable income, 2.75% on income up to ~$100,000, and 3.5% top rate on income above $100,000. Municipal income tax: most Ohio cities and villages impose 1% to 3% on wages and net business profits earned in the municipality (collected by RITA, CCA, or directly). Commercial Activity Tax (CAT): 0.26% gross receipts tax — but with major recent reform: businesses with $3 million or less in Ohio gross receipts are exempt for tax year 2024, and businesses with $6 million or less are exempt starting tax year 2025. Sales and use tax: 5.75% state plus local; combined typically 6.5%–8%. Estate tax: none (repealed 2013). Pass-through entity (PTE) elective tax: available since tax year 2022 via Form IT 4738.
Filing Mechanics. Individuals (residents and nonresidents and part-year residents) file Form IT 1040. Pass-through entities can elect into the PTE tax via Form IT 4738; pass-through withholding is on Form IT 1140. Commercial Activity Tax is filed quarterly or annually with the Ohio Department of Taxation. Municipal income tax returns are filed with RITA (Regional Income Tax Agency), CCA (Central Collection Agency), or the municipality directly — depending on jurisdiction. Returns are due April 15.
The CAT Reform & Municipal Tax Web. Ohio's recent dramatic increase in the CAT exclusion threshold (from $150K to $3M in 2024 and $6M in 2025) effectively eliminates the tax for most small and mid-sized Ohio businesses — a significant tax reduction we help clients confirm and capture. Separately, Ohio's complex municipal income tax web (with multiple collection agencies and city-by-city rules) remains a major compliance burden for multi-city employers, remote workers, and traveling professionals. We handle both routinely.
Ohio Economy & Who We Serve. Ohio's economy is anchored by manufacturing (Honda Marysville auto plant, GM, Ford, P&G HQ in Cincinnati, Goodyear in Akron), healthcare (Cleveland Clinic — among the world's top-ranked hospitals), insurance (Columbus — Nationwide HQ; Cincinnati — Western & Southern, Cincinnati Financial), banking (Fifth Third, KeyBank, Huntington), agriculture (corn, soybeans, dairy), energy (Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas in eastern Ohio), aviation/aerospace (Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, NASA Glenn in Cleveland), and a growing tech/AI sector (the Intel semiconductor plant in New Albany). Our typical OH clients include manufacturers, healthcare professionals, insurance executives, real estate investors, and small business owners benefiting from the CAT reform.
CPA Mobility in Ohio. Ohio has adopted CPA mobility provisions under the Uniform Accountancy Act, allowing CPAs in active good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction to provide tax, advisory, and (subject to applicable firm-level requirements) attest services to Ohio clients without obtaining a separate Ohio individual license. Kurt Simmons holds active CPA licenses in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida, and we confirm all applicable Accountancy Board of Ohio mobility and firm registration requirements before commencing any engagement.
Cities and Communities We Serve. Our virtual-first practice serves clients across all of Ohio, including Columbus (state capital; largest city; insurance, Intel, OSU), Cleveland (Cleveland Clinic, manufacturing, banking), Cincinnati (P&G, Western & Southern), Toledo, Akron (Goodyear), Dayton (Wright-Patt AFB), Parma, Canton (Pro Football Hall of Fame), Youngstown, Springfield, Lima, the Cleveland metro suburbs, the Columbus metro suburbs (New Albany, Dublin, Westerville), the Cincinnati metro and Northern Kentucky border, the Mahoning Valley, and every Ohio county.
Why Ohio Clients Choose Us
- GAAS-compliant audit, review, and compilation experience for nonprofits, benefit plans, and privately held businesses
- Deep expertise in OH-specific issues: Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) compliance and the recent $3M/$6M exemption reform, Ohio's complex municipal income tax web (RITA, CCA, direct city filings), OH PTE elections, and manufacturing/auto industry accounting
- Capital markets background — Kurt Simmons has passed the Series 65 examination (Passed; not currently held as an active license) in addition to holding the CPA
- Specialized practices in cryptocurrency taxation, active trader tax, and 83(b) elections for OH tech/Intel/startup employees
- Technology-forward, virtual-first delivery — secure client portal, e-signature, and video consultations
- Transparent, fixed-fee engagements where possible — no surprise hourly invoices
Ohio CPA — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Ohio-licensed CPA, or can an out-of-state CPA handle my OH tax and audit work?
Ohio has adopted CPA mobility provisions under the Uniform Accountancy Act. A CPA in active good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction is generally authorized to provide tax, advisory, and attest services to Ohio clients without holding a separate Ohio individual license. Kurt Simmons holds active CPA licenses in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida, and we confirm any applicable firm-level Accountancy Board of Ohio registration before commencing attest engagements.
What is Ohio's income tax rate, and when is the OH return due?
Ohio has a graduated personal income tax with a top rate of 3.5% on income above $100,000 (a recently simplified bracket structure: 0% on the first ~$26,000, 2.75% on the next bracket, 3.5% on income above $100,000). However, most Ohio municipalities also impose a local income tax of 1% to 3%, often making the effective combined rate substantially higher. Form IT 1040 is due April 15.
What is the Ohio Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), and what are the recent threshold changes?
The Ohio Commercial Activity Tax is a 0.26% gross receipts tax on most businesses operating in Ohio. Under recent reform, the CAT exclusion threshold was raised dramatically: businesses with $3 million or less in Ohio gross receipts are exempt for tax year 2024, and businesses with $6 million or less are exempt starting tax year 2025. This change effectively eliminates CAT for most small and mid-sized Ohio businesses — a significant tax reduction that we help clients confirm and capture.
Does Ohio have a SALT-cap workaround for partnerships and S-corps?
Yes. Ohio enacted an elective Pass-Through Entity Tax effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. Eligible S-corps and partnerships file Form IT 4738 and pay an entity-level tax tracking the top personal income tax rate, with members receiving a corresponding credit on IT 1040.
Why does Ohio have so many municipal income tax filings, and what are RITA and CCA?
Most Ohio cities and villages impose their own income tax (1% to 3%) on wages earned and net business profits within the municipality. Compliance is collected by the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) for some cities, by the Central Collection Agency (CCA) for others, and by the municipality directly for the rest. Multi-city employers and remote workers can face filings in multiple municipalities. We handle Ohio's complex municipal tax web routinely.
When does my Ohio nonprofit need an audit?
Ohio does not impose a state-mandated audit threshold for nonprofits under its Charitable Trust Act. Audited financial statements are typically required by lenders, federal grantmakers, the Cleveland Foundation, the Columbus Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the Lincoln Electric Foundation, and similar major Ohio funders. Federal Single Audit requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 apply when federal award expenditures exceed $1,000,000 in a fiscal year.
Do you serve Ohio clients outside Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati?
Yes. Our practice is virtual-first, so we serve clients across all of Ohio — including Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Parma, Canton, Youngstown, Springfield, Lima, the Cleveland metro suburbs, the Columbus metro suburbs, the Cincinnati metro and Northern Kentucky border, the Mahoning Valley, and every Ohio county — with the same level of access and service.