Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Waukegan, IL

AH Financial is a CPA-led accounting practice that works mainly with small companies owned by Hispanic entrepreneurs. It has operated since 2002 and runs two offices in the Chicago area, one in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and one in Waukegan.

For Lake County employers who want a payroll provider that also understands bookkeeping and taxes, the firm combines these disciplines under one roof. Every member of its team speaks both English and Spanish, so owners can talk through payroll questions in whichever language they prefer.

Payroll services

Payroll is a core part of the firm's work rather than an add-on. Its own staff handles payroll in-house, so the process is not passed to an outside processor. The aim is to free owners from a recurring administrative chore so they can focus on running their operations. Under its remote payroll model, the whole process runs electronically.

Clients send hours and pay details to the office by email or fax, and the team prepares everything from there. Payroll support covers:

• Regular payroll processing handled by in-house specialists
• Electronic, remote delivery of payroll
• Direct deposit of employee wages
• Deposits of withheld and employer payroll taxes
• Year-end W-2 forms for employees
• Preparation and filing of payroll tax returns

Because the same firm keeps the books and prepares tax filings, payroll figures feed directly into broader financial reporting. Employers do not need to coordinate between separate vendors for wages, accounting and taxes.

Accounting and tax work

Beyond payroll, AH Financial offers general accounting, corporate taxation, state and local tax matters, personal income tax preparation and representation during audits. Its accounting approach centers on periodic financial reports that let owners make decisions as the year unfolds, with an eye toward capturing tax savings for both the business and its owners personally.

On the tax side, the firm emphasizes planning that continues all year instead of a single filing season. It prepares returns for corporations, partnerships and individuals. The firm says it keeps current with changing tax rules that affect its clients.

Background and leadership

The firm is owned by Alejandro Hurtado, a licensed certified public accountant whose career spans more than three and a half decades. He brings a mix of corporate experience and hands-on business ownership, which the firm credits for shaping its practical style of service. His team of accountants has worked with businesses of many kinds. While its focus is small Hispanic-owned companies, the firm also serves individuals, larger businesses and other organizations.

What sets the firm apart

Buyers comparing payroll providers will notice several distinguishing traits. Fully bilingual staffing is the most visible, along with a long track record dating back more than two decades. The firm also offers both Saturday morning and weekday hours at its two offices.

It describes its working style in terms of professionalism, prompt responses and quality, with each client drawing on the knowledge of the entire team rather than a single person. For a small employer in or near Waukegan that wants payroll, bookkeeping and tax compliance handled together by people who speak Spanish, AH Financial is a locally based option worth considering.

January Accounting Service is an accounting practice in Waukegan, Illinois that has served clients since 1995. It works mainly with small and midsize companies, handling their books, tax filings and payroll obligations. It also offers planning services for individuals and families. Employers in the Waukegan area can choose between a dedicated payroll processor and an accounting firm. This practice is the second option: payroll is handled alongside general ledger work, tax compliance and advisory support under one roof.

Payroll and Payroll Tax Support

The firm lists payroll as one of its core business services. It presents payroll as a way for owners to hand off a time-consuming administrative task and refocus on running their companies. Its standard client support explicitly includes payroll tax work, along with sales tax, bank reconciliations and preparation of a trial balance.

The business services page also names compliance with federal and state payroll rules as a concern it helps owners address. Beyond routine processing, the firm runs a tax relief practice that covers payroll tax problems. This can matter to employers who have fallen behind on deposits or filings and need help resolving the issue with the IRS.

Payroll-related offerings and adjacent services include:

• Payroll processing solutions tailored to each business
• Payroll tax compliance support
• Resolution of payroll tax problems with the IRS
• Bookkeeping and small business accounting
• QuickBooks setup, training, troubleshooting and tune-ups
• Business tax preparation and tax planning
• Part-time CFO and cash flow management services
• IRS audit representation, payment plans and offers in compromise

Industries and Clients

The firm highlights experience with seven sectors: construction, dental practices, healthcare, hospitality, law firms, manufacturing and real estate. It also works with nonprofit organizations, helping them keep revenue and expense classifications in line with what the IRS expects for tax-exempt status. For individuals, it provides tax preparation, retirement and estate planning, elder care assistance and wealth management.

How the Firm Works

The practice describes its approach as built on open communication, careful research and sound analysis. Its aim is to keep clients financially stable today while planning ahead for future objectives. It names three guiding principles: professionalism, responsiveness and quality. Clients get a secure, password-protected online portal for storing and retrieving financial documents, which can simplify the exchange of payroll records and tax paperwork. The firm also offers a newsletter, tax due date listings and financial calculators as client resources.

Team and Credentials

The firm is led by Sheila January-Fort, a licensed Certified Public Accountant, and its staff page lists a team of six. Its listed qualifications include:

• The CPA credential
• A Master of Business Administration
• Membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Membership in the Accountant Finder Network
• Certified ProAdvisor status for QuickBooks

For buyers comparing payroll providers, the firm combines CPA oversight, QuickBooks expertise and in-house resolution of tax problems. That mix may suit small employers who want payroll tied directly to their accounting and tax work rather than run by a standalone service. The firm operates from one office in Waukegan.

W Sanchez Accounting and Tax Services Inc is a family-run accounting practice based in Waukegan, Illinois. It offers payroll processing alongside bookkeeping, tax preparation and business advisory work. The firm also calls itself the William Sanchez Accounting Agency. It works with individual taxpayers and with owners of small businesses. That makes it a fit for companies that want payroll, books and tax filings handled by one local provider rather than split across several vendors.

Payroll and Related Compliance

For employers, the firm administers payroll and handles the related payroll tax obligations. The same office also keeps clients' everyday bookkeeping and prepares business and corporate returns, so wage data and tax deposits can be reconciled within a single set of records. Buyers comparing payroll providers should note that this is a full-service accounting firm, not a standalone payroll software vendor. Payroll is one part of a broader compliance offering meant to keep a small business in good standing.

That compliance offering covers several areas beyond wages:

• Payroll administration and payroll tax handling
• Bookkeeping for daily business transactions
• Personal, business and corporate tax returns
• Sales tax and VAT matters
• Upkeep of corporate records required by law
• Auditing services

Planning and Advisory Support

Beyond routine filings, the firm provides planning work in the form of financial reporting and guidance aimed at business growth. Its advisory services include reports that give directors and owners a clearer basis for decisions. It also advises on raising capital, specifically on pursuing equity investment to fund expansion. For a growing employer, this means the provider running payroll can also help interpret how labor costs fit into the wider financial picture.

How They Work With Clients

New clients can start with an initial consultation offered at no charge. This gives a business owner a chance to discuss payroll and accounting needs before committing. The firm says it uses automation and user-friendly programs and tools to deliver its services, so clients can expect technology combined with personal attention rather than purely manual processing.

Its stated aim is to give owners confidence that their business meets its compliance obligations and to help them earn the trust of their own customers.

Background and Team

The practice has been operating since at least 2017, based on its website copyright date. It describes itself as family-owned and focused on serving its surrounding community with integrity. The team has expanded over time and now includes certified public accountants backed by dedicated staff.

The office is on North Genesee Street in Waukegan, which suits Lake County employers who prefer to meet their payroll and tax provider in person. Small businesses looking for payroll bundled with bookkeeping, tax and advisory services from a local, CPA-staffed firm may find it a practical alternative to national payroll platforms.