Is this for me?
Business owners, obviously. But also families with rental property, people heading into retirement, anyone who just inherited something, farmers and ranchers with uneven income, and anyone who was surprised by last April's bill. If you were surprised once, a planning meeting is how you avoid being surprised twice.
What happens
- I project your year. Using what has happened so far and what you expect through December, I estimate this year's tax.
- I look at the levers. Timing, entity, retirement, depreciation and giving. Most of them won't matter for you. A couple usually will.
- You leave with a short list. Specific steps, who does them and by when. No forty-page report to file away.
What I plan around
- Timing income and deductionsWhich year a sale, a bonus or a big expense lands in
- Entity choice and owner payLLC vs. S corporation, and a reasonable salary that holds up
- Retirement contributionsSolo 401(k), SEP and IRA contributions, sized to your year
- Roth conversionsConverting in lower-income years, without tripping Medicare surcharges
- Equipment and vehiclesBonus depreciation, Section 179, and when it's smarter to wait
- Estimated paymentsEnough to avoid the penalty, not so much that you're lending the IRS money
- Charitable givingBunching gifts, giving appreciated stock, and IRA gifts after 70½
- Selling a business, land or a rentalInstallment sales, timing and how the gain is taxed
- Estates and inheritancesBasis step-up, gifting and what heirs should know before they sell
- Credits and phase-outsKeeping income under the lines that cost you a credit or deduction
New rules for 2025 through 2028. The 2025 tax law (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) added deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and car loan interest, raised the cap on state and local tax deductions, and made 100% bonus depreciation permanent. Several of these phase out at higher incomes, which makes planning matter more, not less. Here's the short version.
What to bring
Last year's federal return. A rough year-to-date view of income and expenses. Any sale, purchase or distribution you expect before December 31. And a list of the questions you most want answered.
Individual return checklist · Business return checklist
Common questions
When should I do tax planning?
Before the year ends. October and November are the sweet spot, because most moves have to happen by December 31. A few can wait: IRA and HSA contributions can be made until the April filing deadline, and SEP and Solo 401(k) employer contributions can generally wait until the return's due date, including extensions.
Is tax planning only for high earners?
No. Some of the most useful planning I do is for regular families: getting the timing right on a retirement distribution, keeping income under the line where a credit or deduction phases out, or setting up a new side business the right way from the start.
Will tax planning get me audited?
Legitimate planning is using the rules the way they're written. I don't do schemes. If something you heard about sounds too good to be true, bring it in and I'll tell you straight whether it is.
Do you coordinate with my financial advisor or attorney?
Yes, and I'd encourage it. Roth conversions, business sales and estate plans all go better when the advisor, the attorney and the CPA are working from the same numbers.