Tax planning
Looking at the tax position while there is still time to change it, rather than reporting it after the year has closed.
What it includes
- Annual tax planning, typically a fall engagement, with optional mid-year reviews and quarterly planning retainers for active advisory clients
- Tax projection meetings that model the year from actual results, feeding quarterly estimated tax calculations for federal and California
- S-corp election timing, reasonable-compensation analysis, and owner distribution structuring
- Qualified business income (Section 199A) planning, and bonus depreciation or Section 179 timing on equipment purchases
- Capital gain timing and real estate tax strategy, including passive-activity rules, depreciation, and real estate professional status, plus 1031 exchange coordination with your qualified intermediary
- Retirement contribution timing and Roth conversion planning
- California pass-through entity tax elections and other state-specific strategies
- Estate and gift tax coordination alongside your estate attorney, and charitable giving strategy
- Cost segregation and R&D tax credit studies, coordinated with outside specialists and integrated into your return
Who it suits
Self-employed people and business owners whose income varies through the year, anyone who has been surprised by a balance due in April, and owners planning a real estate sale, a retirement contribution, or a year-end equipment purchase before it happens rather than after.
FAQ
Common questions
Do you offer quarterly estimated tax guidance for small businesses?
Yes. We calculate federal and California quarterly estimates and tie them to a tax projection, so the numbers reflect how the year is actually going rather than last year's return.
Can you compare tax planning strategies for an S corporation?
Yes. S-corp election timing, reasonable compensation analysis, and owner distribution structuring are core parts of our tax planning work.
Do you help with real estate or investment property tax strategy?
Yes, including passive-activity rules, depreciation strategy, real estate professional status, and 1031 exchange coordination with your qualified intermediary.
Is tax planning different from tax preparation?
Yes. Preparation reports what already happened. Planning looks at your tax position while there's still time to change it, before the year closes.
Want fewer surprises in April?
Tell us where your income stands so far this year, and we'll tell you what's worth doing about it now.
Request a consultation