TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Chamber gathered for a ribbon cutting outside Kautz Tax Service recently. Kautz Tax Service is owned by husband and wife, Ron and Beth Kautz, who operate the business out of their home at 204 E. First St. in Merrill. The business is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the normal tax season. Summer hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and otherwise by appointment.
The couple worked for H&R Block for seven years before opening their own business in 1990.
Prior to Ron working in the accounting field, Ron worked on the production line at Weinbrenner from 1962 until he retired in 2006, with a 3-year separation from 1965-1968, and was also President of the UFCW Local 688 Union in Merrill. In 1983, he became very active in the ownership of Wisco Security Agency Inc., acting as CEO, bookkeeper, payroll clerk, human resources person, etc., and ran the business until he sold it in June 2021.
Beth attended Northcentral Technical Institute (NCTI)(now Northcentral Technical College) to become an accountant. She handled bookkeeping and finances at Carl’s Foodlane from 1983 to 1999, then worked at Johnson Pharmacy, and took a position with what is now United Healthcare in 2003 where she still works today.
The couple has long been balancing multiple jobs with their own business and family life. “Dealing with our families during the very busy times of the tax season at times becomes quite hectic,” they said. Their approach is to share the responsibilities of family life, from coaching their kids to now staying involved with their grandchildren’s activities. They also work together on the routine tasks. “We have shared in all of the duties, such as cooking, cleaning, babysitting, etc.,” Ron said.
Kautz Tax Service provides bookkeeping and payroll services and prepares and files tax returns. “We do a majority of individual tax returns, but do not hesitate to help businesses, non-profits, fiduciaries, partnerships, etc., with their more complicated issues and returns,” Ron said.
“We both share in the responsibility of filing returns, advertising, education, and all of the other aspects of running a business,” he said.
They are also “constantly doing education taught by IRS-approved instructors, and online educational programs” to stay abreast of changes in the laws pertaining to both federal and state tax issues, Ron added.
“Always use a trained tax preparer, which you are able to find on the IRS.gov site,” he advises. “Do not hesitate to call a preparer when you have questions concerning anything to do with income/tax, and attempt to keep all of the records you can concerning reporting of tax issues for federal and the state in which you need to report your returns.”
When they are not working, Ron and Beth enjoy UTVing, golfing, fishing, and time with friends and family, “but best of all taking care of our granddaughter,” they said.