TAX PREP + TAX PLANNING

Tax Preparation & Ongoing Tax Planning for Individuals and Small Businesses

Work directly with a CPA for accurate filings, clear answers, and proactive planning. No DIY guesswork. No mystery invoices.

Individuals & small businesses Year-round planning available Fixed-fee, scoped up front
Request a Tax Consultation How it Works See Platform & Services Hub

If you want reliable preparation today and smarter planning going forward, you’re in the right place.

Now accepting new tax and accounting clients 866-411-7297

2025+ tax law updates: Recent federal changes including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act affect deductions, credits, and planning opportunities for many taxpayers. We build these updates into your preparation and planning based on your facts, filing status, and documentation.

Simple W-2 individual tax returns starting at $400

Fully virtual CPA firm. Secure portal. Zoom meetings as needed.

Fit check

Are you a fit for this?

You’re a fit if some of these sound familiar:

  • You want your returns done correctly, with workpapers that hold up if questions arise.
  • You have multiple income sources (W-2 + 1099, investments, rentals, K-1s) and want it handled correctly.
  • You’re a small business owner and want returns aligned to your books, not guessed off bank statements.
  • You’d like proactive planning so April isn’t a yearly surprise.
  • You value responsiveness and accuracy more than bargain pricing.

If you’re looking for “cheap and fast” or free advice, we won’t be the right fit. We focus on accuracy, documentation, and long-term relationships.

Outcomes

What you get with Tax Prep + Planning

Accurate, supportable filings

Returns prepared carefully and documented properly, built to withstand questions from the IRS, lenders, and other stakeholders.

Understanding what you owe and why

A clear explanation of outcomes, key drivers, and next steps so you’re not guessing at tax time.

Proactive planning (when you want it)

Quarterly estimate guidance and planning strategies to reduce surprises and improve after-tax outcomes. We account for current-law changes (rates, deductions, credits, and phaseouts) as they apply to your situation.

Predictable fees, scoped up front

Fixed-fee engagements based on complexity. We confirm scope and pricing before work begins.

Current law

Key 2025+ items we watch (and plan around)

Tax planning is only as good as the rules in effect. Recent federal changes impact many common situations. Below are examples of areas we review with clients when relevant to their facts.

Itemized vs. standard deduction decisions

  • How current-law standard deduction levels compare to itemizing for your household.
  • Whether your state and local tax profile changes the itemized picture under the updated SALT rules.
  • Charitable giving and timing strategies when it affects itemizing.

Practical outcome: clearer withholding/estimate targets and fewer April surprises.

Worker-related deductions (when applicable)

  • Eligibility and documentation for current-law deductions tied to tipped income and overtime compensation (where applicable).
  • Coordinating W-2/1099 income streams so the return is consistent and supportable.
  • Estimate adjustments when these deductions materially change taxable income.

Note: these benefits are fact-specific and often depend on proper reporting from employers/payors.

Small business & pass-through owner planning

  • Entity-level and owner-level coordination (K-1 flow-through, basis, and payment strategy).
  • Depreciation and capital expenditure timing (including current bonus depreciation rules).
  • Reasonable compensation and wage/distribution mix for S corps (facts-first, defensible approach).

Goal: align books-to-return and reduce “seams” where avoidable issues often live.

Credits and phaseouts that move the needle

  • Child-related credits, education-related items, and other common credits (when applicable).
  • Income thresholds and phaseouts that affect whether a credit is actually available.
  • Planning opportunities tied to timing of income, deductions, and retirement contributions.

Reality check: “available” on paper doesn’t always mean “available” at your income level.

Energy-related credits and sunsets

  • Review whether any federal energy credits apply to your facts and timing.
  • Confirm current availability and effective dates for credits that were reduced or scheduled to phase out.
  • Document the “placed in service” date correctly (common audit friction point).

Why this matters: timing and documentation often drive eligibility.

Disclosure: This page is general information (not tax advice) and is intended to describe how we work. Final tax treatment depends on your facts, documentation, and current IRS/state guidance.

Scope

What’s included

A clearly defined, end-to-end tax workflow: intake, preparation, review, filing, and practical next steps. We scope everything up front so you know exactly what’s covered and what would be quoted separately.

1. Individual tax preparation

  • Federal and state returns (Form 1040 and related schedules).
  • Common income sources prepared and reported accurately: W-2, 1099, investment activity, retirement distributions, and rental income.
  • K-1 reporting (S corp, partnership, trust/estate) integrated into the overall return.
  • Deductions and credits applied with proper substantiation (itemized vs. standard, dependents, education, etc.).
  • Return review meeting to walk through key outcomes, drivers, and action items.

Includes: electronic filing (when eligible) and a final deliverable package suitable for lenders and personal records.

2. Business tax preparation (when applicable)

  • Entity returns prepared and filed as needed: S corps (1120-S), partnerships/LLCs (1065), C corps (1120), and relevant state filings.
  • K-1 preparation and owner-ready reporting aligned to the personal return.
  • Return tie-out to your books / trial balance (client-provided or produced through our accounting engagement).
  • Reasonableness checks on key tax areas (owner comp, officer wages, distributions, auto/travel/meals, and substantiation).
  • Multi-state filings coordinated when your footprint requires it (as scoped).

Built for alignment: we aim for “books to return” consistency so your filings are defensible and repeatable year to year.

3. Integrated personal + business coordination

  • Coordinate owner-level outcomes across both returns (K-1 flow-through, wage/distribution mix, and tax payments).
  • Ensure consistent treatment of shared items (home office where applicable, accountable plans, reimbursements, fringe benefits).
  • Identify cross-return “gotchas” before filing (basis limitations, passive activity constraints, underpayment exposure).
  • Provide a clear list of what to track going forward to support accurate filings (reimbursements, mileage, major purchases, documentation).

Why it matters: most avoidable surprises happen in the seams between business activity and the personal return.

4. Planning & estimates (optional add-on)

  • Quarterly planning cadence when useful: projections, timing decisions, and estimated tax guidance.
  • Owner strategy for compensation, distributions, and cash tax planning (based on the facts and compliance posture).
  • Planning levers scoped to your situation (not generic advice): deductions, timing, retirement options, capex, and elections.
  • Scenario modeling for “what changed?” events (new income stream, sale, big capex, relocation, new entity, etc.).

How we scope it: planning is most effective when we can see the whole picture; we’ll recommend the right level based on complexity and goals.

5. Filing support, deliverables, & next steps

  • E-file coordination and confirmation (when eligible), plus clear instructions for any items requiring manual steps.
  • A plain-English recap of results: what you owe/refund, why, and what to do next.
  • Year-over-year notes to reduce tax-time scramble (documentation, tracking, and “watch items”).
  • Optional: lender-style summaries and supporting schedules upon request (as scoped).

Outcome: you leave with an accurate, well-documented return and a clear path forward.

6. Routine notices (limited)

  • Review and respond to routine IRS and state notices related to returns we prepared.
  • Status tracking and clear next steps so you know where things stand.
  • Coordination of simple corrections when needed (e.g., mismatches, processing issues, or documentation follow-ups).

Note: audits, appeals, collections, and complex representation are handled separately and scoped in writing.

Guardrails

What’s not included by default

We keep engagements scoped and predictable

These are typically scoped separately unless explicitly included:

  • Full IRS/state audits, appeals, or collections representation beyond routine notices.
  • Complex transaction structuring (M&A, reorganizations, §338, multi-entity restructuring).
  • ASC 740 provision work and deferred tax modeling.
  • Large historical reconciliations where underlying records are incomplete (quoted as a reconciliation project).
  • Legal services (entity formation docs, operating agreements) though we coordinate with your attorney.

If you need any of this, we can help. We just scope it separately so your base engagement stays clear.

Process

How the process works

1

Quick intake

You share a brief fact pattern and prior-year return (if available). We confirm fit and complexity.

2

Scope & fixed fee

We quote a fixed fee based on complexity and confirm what’s included before we start work.

3

Preparation & review

We prepare the return, tie it to supporting documents, and walk you through key results and questions.

4

File & plan ahead

We e-file and provide a clear next-year outlook, including estimates and planning recommendations if requested.

Pricing overview

What this typically costs

See Pricing Matrix

Fees are fixed up front based on complexity (entities, states, K-1s, schedules, and planning needs). We confirm scope and pricing before work begins.

Most clients start with tax preparation, and add planning when it meaningfully reduces surprises or improves outcomes. We’ll recommend the right level after a brief intake.

See Platform & Services Hub
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do you work with both individuals and businesses?
Yes. We work with individuals and small businesses, and we often handle both the business return and the owner’s personal return when that creates a more coordinated, well-aligned outcome.
Do you offer tax planning, or only filing?
We offer both. Some clients only need preparation; others benefit from a quarterly planning cadence. We’ll recommend the level that makes sense for your situation.
Can you work from our existing bookkeeping?
Yes. For business returns, we prefer a reconciled year-end close or trial balance. If a reconciliation is needed, we quote that separately before proceeding.
Do you guarantee the “lowest tax bill”?
We focus on accurate filing and defensible planning. The goal is to minimize taxes legally through sound strategy, not aggressive positions that create avoidable risk.
What changed for 2025+ (and does it affect me)?
Federal tax rules changed starting with 2025 returns, including updates to certain deductions and credits. Whether it affects you depends on your filing status, income sources, itemized deductions, and documentation. We’ll identify what applies during intake and review.
Is the SALT deduction still capped?
There is still a cap, but the limit changed for many taxpayers beginning with 2025. If you itemize and pay significant state/local income tax and/or property tax, we’ll evaluate whether itemizing makes sense under current rules and any applicable phaseouts.
I earn tips or overtime. Is there anything new I should know?
Some taxpayers may qualify for new or updated deductions tied to tipped income and overtime compensation. These benefits are fact-specific and generally depend on proper reporting and documentation. We’ll confirm eligibility and help you plan withholding/estimates accordingly.
How fast can we get started?
After a quick intake, we confirm fit and scope. Start timing depends on seasonality and workload, but we prioritize predictable, well-scoped work.

Ready to get your taxes handled properly?

Tell us what you’re filing and what’s changed. We’ll confirm fit, scope the engagement, and quote a fixed fee before work begins.

Request a Tax Consultation