High Tower Accounting & Tax

10/10/2026

Wagoner’s very own Deputy Police Chief Tony Ponds wins “Best in Show” today in Downtown Broken Arrow at the Cool Grilles Car Show hosted by the Rotary Club of Broken Arrow. So excited and a big congratulations to TD Ponds!! ❤️🚔

10/10/2026

🧾 "They said they were tax-exempt…" 🧾

That one sentence has cost Oklahoma retailers THOUSANDS in audits. If you skip sales tax on a sale, the burden is on YOU to prove why. Here's how to track exemptions the right way 👇

1️⃣ No paperwork = no exemption 🚫
If an exemption certificate turns out to be invalid — for ANY reason — the seller is on the hook for the tax. Not the customer. You.

2️⃣ Resale buyers need more than a "trust me" 🔢
Get their Oklahoma sales tax permit number AND a written statement that they're buying to resell. This can go right on the invoice or on an exemption certificate.

3️⃣ Farm & ranch customers = ag permit card 🚜
Approved producers get an agricultural exemption permit card from the OTC. Keep a copy attached to their exempt purchases.

4️⃣ Not every nonprofit is exempt ⛪
Oklahoma doesn't exempt all nonprofits automatically. Ask for their OTC-issued exemption permit or letter — not just a 501(c)(3) letter.

5️⃣ Watch the expiration dates ⏳
Permits and cards get renewed. A certificate you collected in 2019 may be worthless today. Re-verify on a schedule.

6️⃣ Build a simple tracking system 📂
Customer name ➡️ exemption type ➡️ permit # ➡️ expiration date ➡️ copy on file. A spreadsheet works. Your POS may already do it.

7️⃣ Report exempt sales correctly ✅
Start with gross sales on your return, then deduct exempt sales by category — and keep the backup that matches every dollar.

⚠️ Exemption rules depend on the buyer AND what they're buying. This is general education, not advice for your specific business.

📲 Not sure your exemption files would survive an audit? DM me "EXEMPT" and let's review them together.



OAC 710:65-13-200, the seller is liable for tax on any sale where an exemption certificate proves invalid for any reason, and resale buyers must give their Oklahoma permit number and certify in writing that they resell the items — on the invoice or with a certification letter. Approved farmers and ranchers apply on Form 13-8 and receive an agricultural exemption permit card. Vendors can verify sales tax and ag exemption permits by calling the OTC at (405) 521-3160

10/10/2026

Hey BA let’s continue propelling Broken Arrow forward ☺️❤️❤️❤️

💰 $20+ MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR BROKEN ARROW

That’s not a campaign slogan.

That’s what Broken Arrow City Manager Michael Spurgeon said the city had received in grant funding over an eight-year period to help supplement local dollars and move infrastructure projects forward.

And Ross Ford has been at the table helping Broken Arrow pursue state and federal resources.

Here are some of the documented infrastructure dollars:

🚧 $5.84 MILLION — RAISE grant for major SH-51 corridor planning and design, including roads, intersections, sidewalks, trails and pedestrian improvements.

🚧 $3.93 MILLION — Transportation funding for Olive Avenue improvements.

🚧 $3.75 MILLION — Transportation funding for Albany Street improvements.

🚧 $3 MILLION — Transportation funding for the 193rd East Avenue bridge.

🚧 $765,000 — Transportation Alternatives funding for pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

And Ross wasn’t just sitting on the sidelines.

🛣️ ROSS FORD WENT TO WORK AT THE CAPITOL

In 2023, Ross worked with Broken Arrow and ODOT officials on getting the 9th Street/Lynn Lane corridor, the Broken Arrow Expressway bridge and access ramps into Oklahoma’s 8-Year Highway Plan.

The City of Broken Arrow documented that effort, and ODOT subsequently added the corridor to its 8-Year Construction Work Plan.

Ross also endorsed Broken Arrow’s successful $5.84 million RAISE grant application.

This is how infrastructure gets done.

Local dollars + state partnerships + federal grants + persistent advocacy.

No elected official does it alone. It takes city leaders, engineers, ODOT, INCOG, federal partners and legislators working together.

But having someone at the Capitol who knows Broken Arrow, understands our needs and is willing to advocate for our community matters.

Michael Spurgeon said Broken Arrow worked hard to make sure federal dollars came back to our city.

Ross Ford has been part of that work.

For nearly a decade, Ross has been working to make sure Broken Arrow has a voice — and a seat at the table — when infrastructure dollars are being decided.

That’s what representation looks like.

🇺🇸 On November 3, vote Ross Ford for State Representative.

Ross Ford — Working for Broken Arrow. Since 2017.

🗳️ VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2026. (oklahoma.gov⁠)

10/09/2026

| Clarence Voth, CPA ✨

Clarence is our Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a CPA based in our Wagoner office, and he's proudly been with High Tower for a little over three years. Each day is a little different for him, as he handles bill payments, HR work, bookkeeping, and a bit of everything in-between.

When he's not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife on their farm, where he grew up and moved back to four years ago. He has three children and enjoys fishing at the many ponds on his property when the weather is a bit cooler. 🎣

If he could choose one quote that inspires or defines him, it would be Mark Twain's: "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

10/09/2026

What a fun and soup-tastic time last night! 🍜

We sponsored and participated in Broken Arrow Senior Activity Center's 4th Annual Great Ladle Throwdown with farm-fresh, homemade chicken noodle soup made by our President, Rebecca Olson. 😄 (It was so delicious!)

Competition was fierce, live music filled the room, and a good-sized crowd added to the fun! We may not have won the competition, but we were so proud to be part of a great cause. 🫶

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

⏰ Filed an extension back in April? Your deadline is almost here!

If you requested an extension for your 2025 tax return, it’s due October 15, 2026. Here’s what you need to know:

An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. Interest has been building on any unpaid balance since the April deadline. And there are two separate penalties to keep in mind: the failure-to-file penalty is generally 5% of the unpaid tax for each month your return is late (up to 25%), while the failure-to-pay penalty is much smaller at 0.5% per month.

What that means for you: even if you can’t pay the full amount, file on time anyway. It keeps the bigger penalty off the table. Payment plan options may be available if you need time to pay what you owe.

Feeling behind? Our Broken Arrow and Wagoner offices can help you get it done before the deadline. 💙 Let's chat- send us a message today!

10/08/2026

💛 A Note of Gratitude — and a Gentle Reminder

Every single day, my staff shows up for you. They answer the late calls, untangle the confusing paperwork, and treat your business like it's their own. They genuinely care, and it shows in everything they do. I couldn't be prouder of them. 🙏

Because they give so much, I want to be clear: abusive, hateful, or disrespectful behavior toward my team will not be tolerated. We ask that you extend the same professional courtesy and kindness they so graciously extend to you.

If that respect isn't returned, our working relationship will be ended, and you will be kindly asked to leave our office.

Thank you to the many wonderful clients who make this work such a joy. We're honored to serve you and appreciate your continued business. You are why we do what we do 🩷

Respectfully yours,

Rebecca Olson
President and CEO

10/07/2026

Have you seen our new commercial on KOTV - News On 6? 📺

Behind every tax problem is a person who needs hope, answers, and someone in their corner... that's who we made this commercial for.

Wage garnishments, liens, unpaid balances, settlements - tax resolution takes those burdens off your shoulders and gets your life back on track.

At High Tower Accounting & Tax, our mission is simple: to be a tower of refuge where people feel safe, heard, and cared for. ❤️ That's who God is to us, and who we're called to be for others.

Changing lives. 🕊️
Changing outcomes. 🔄
Giving hope. 🙏

Don't let tax problems wait another day: 918-615-9887