Introducing The M&S Ledger: Practical Accounting, Tax & Business Insights

Business owners make financial decisions throughout the year. From managing cash flow and payroll to understanding tax obligations and planning for growth, those decisions can have lasting financial implications.

Yet accounting and tax information can often feel complicated, especially when regulations, deadlines, and business circumstances change.

That’s why we created The M&S Ledger.

The M&S Ledger is an educational resource from M&S Accounting Group designed to make important financial topics easier to understand. Our goal is to explain not only what a rule or concept means, but also why it matters and what business owners should consider next.

We believe useful financial guidance should be clear, practical, and available throughout the year, not just during tax season.

Who We Are

M&S Accounting Group is an accounting and tax services firm based in Northern Virginia, founded by Mohsen Abolfathi, Founder & Director, and Samira Moshashai, Co-Founder & Managing Partner.

We established M&S with a shared vision: to combine professional accounting and tax experience with personalized service, responsive communication, and long-term client relationships.

Our services include:

• Accounting & Bookkeeping
• Payroll Services
• Business & Individual Tax Services
• Compliance & Regulatory Support
• Business Advisory & Financial Support

Our approach goes beyond preparing returns and maintaining financial records. We help clients understand their financial information, stay organized, manage recurring obligations, and make more informed business decisions.

Who We Work With

We support businesses across a variety of industries, with particular attention to:

• Healthcare & Professional Practices, including dental practices, medical professionals, mental health and counseling practices, and other professional service providers
• Restaurants & Hospitality
• Contractors & Construction
• Childcare & Daycare
• E-commerce
• Real Estate & Rental Activities

These are areas of focus, not limitations. We welcome opportunities to work with businesses in other industries as well.

With roots in Northern Virginia, we serve businesses and individuals throughout the DMV region (Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.) and provide services to clients nationwide.

What You Can Expect From The M&S Ledger

Each Ledger entry will focus on a specific accounting, tax, compliance, or business question and explain it through four principles.

1. Relevant Questions
We focus on issues business owners and individuals encounter in real life, from tax deadlines and payroll responsibilities to bookkeeping challenges and business planning decisions.

2. Clear Explanations
We break down complicated subjects into straightforward language, explain important considerations, and highlight situations where the answer depends on individual circumstances.

3. Reliable Information
Our tax and compliance content is developed using relevant authoritative sources, including the IRS and applicable state and local agencies. Technical information is reviewed before publication and updated when material changes are identified.

4. Practical Takeaways
We explain why a topic matters, what readers should understand, and which next steps may be worth discussing with their accounting or tax professional.

Our goal is not simply to share information, but to help readers understand how accounting and tax considerations connect to everyday financial and business decisions.

What Topics Will We Cover?

The M&S Ledger will follow the financial and compliance cycle that businesses experience throughout the year.

Fall: Year-End Planning
Tax projections, business expenses, payroll considerations, entity planning, and financial decisions to review before year-end.

Winter: Year-End Reporting & Tax Preparation
W-2s, 1099s, bookkeeping closeout, business compliance requirements, and preparation for tax filing season.

Spring: Tax Filing & Business Compliance
Business and individual tax returns, extensions, estimated taxes, and federal, state, and local filing responsibilities, including requirements across the DMV.

Summer: Midyear Financial Review
Cash flow, financial statements, profitability, estimated taxes, payroll reviews, and opportunities to improve financial organization.

Throughout the year, we will also explore industry-specific issues, with particular attention to dental and healthcare practices, as well as other businesses we serve.

Our content will address federal requirements alongside relevant Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. considerations.

How to Use The M&S Ledger

Whether you’re starting a business, managing an established company, or looking for a clearer understanding of your financial responsibilities, The M&S Ledger is designed to be a practical reference.

You can explore articles relevant to your business, follow our social media channels for shorter explanations, and use the information to identify questions worth discussing with your accounting or tax professional.

One question. Clear answers.

New insights from M&S Accounting Group.