by Catherine Jozwik

Brian Dettmering, Riverwest’s friendly neighborhood accountant, is well-prepared to answer his clients’ questions about taxes and accounting out of his home office, a service that online tax services and corporate tax firms can’t provide to the fullest or will charge a lot of money for. The Currents sat down with Dettmering, a Riverwest resident for about twenty years, and asked him a few questions.

How did you become interested inaccounting?

Accounting just kind of fell upon me.As a teenager I worked in a hotel and did night audit. I’d hangaround after my shift and talk to the bookkeepers. It took abouttwenty years of schooling(laughs) to pass all of the classes and takethe CPA exam. First I went to MATC and got the two-year degree, thenI got the four-year degree from Concordia University.

Do you have many outside hobbies?

I used to be involved in communitytheater, but not so much anymore. I currently sing in the PlymouthChurch Choir, and I’d have to say my other hobbies are mygrandchildren, ages two and five.

What are your rates like?

Rates vary depending on the type of taxreturn, anywhere from $50-$300. I’d have to say my rates are morereasonable than H & R Block, and I dotax returns by the job. For business accounting I offer more of aflexible rate schedule and charge more by the hour.

Is the economy affecting your business?

Not really. Neighborhood businessesseem to be doing pretty well this year – noone has filed bankruptcy or anything like that. As far as taxes go,I’ll have to wait and see – I think alot of people are doing their own taxes in order to save money, butI’ll find out in a little while.

How do you positively impact theRiverwest community?

I get most of my clients by word ofmouth, and work mainly out of my home, or go to clients’ offices orworkplaces. I provide a service more geared towards smallerbusinesses and individuals, such as the Riverwest Co-Op, Burke Candy,and the Riverwest Currents. In turn, I buy local and patronize myclients – for example, I have a number ofclients such as contractors and massage therapists that I’ll userather than going outside of the area. I get a lot of calls regardingconfusion over Turbo Tax – if people geta letter from Turbo Tax stating that they should contact the IRS,they don’t really know how to go about doing that. I try to answerthose questions the best I can.