Returns, planning and IRS problem-solving for individuals, freelancers and owner-run companies. You'll deal with the person who signs the return — not a seasonal preparer working from a checklist.
A deliberately narrow practice. Bookkeeping and payroll go to partners I trust rather than being bolted on here.
Federal, state and local returns prepared, reviewed and e-filed. Every return gets a second-pass review before it leaves.
The work that actually changes the bill. Done in autumn, while there's still time to act on it — not in April when the year is closed.
Notices, audits, back taxes and payment plans. Representation before the IRS is included — you don't have to make the call yourself.
For clients who'd rather not disappear until next filing season. Estimates calculated, questions answered as they come up.
If your return is a W-2 and a standard deduction, use the software. Below is where a CPA earns the difference.
| DIY tax software | Working with me | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple W-2 return | Perfectly fine | Probably overkill — I'll tell you so |
| Self-employment & deductions | Prompts you, but won't spot what's missing | Reviewed line by line |
| Entity structure advice | Not offered | Modelled before you elect |
| Multi-state or expat filing | Extra fees, frequent errors | Handled as standard |
| If the IRS writes to you | You answer it alone | I respond on your behalf |
| Planning before year end | Nothing — it looks backwards | Autumn planning session |
| Who signs the return | You do, with all the liability | A licensed CPA, alongside you |
Twenty minutes to understand the shape of your situation and whether it needs a CPA at all. You'll get a flat quote at the end of it, not a range.
A single organised checklist through an encrypted portal. No drip-feed of "just one more thing" emails over three weeks.
Draft return, plus a written note on anything unusual and what it means. You approve before anything is transmitted.
E-filed with confirmation, and a short list of what to change before next year while it's still actionable.
I spent eight years at a large firm watching returns get passed between four people, none of whom had spoken to the client. The work was fine. The advice was generic, because nobody had the full picture.
This practice is deliberately small. I cap the number of returns I take each season so that every client gets a real conversation before filing, and so that when the IRS writes in August, the person who answers already knows your file.
Fees are flat and quoted before any work starts. If your situation turns out simpler than we thought, the quote goes down, not up.
“Most tax savings aren't found in April. They're decided in October and simply reported in April.”
A flat fee quoted after the first call, once I know what's involved. A straightforward self-employed 1040 sits at the lower end; an S-corp with multi-state activity sits higher. The number doesn't move once agreed unless the scope genuinely changes, and I'll tell you before it does.
Yes, and it's more common than people think. The IRS generally looks for the last six years to bring you back into compliance. We file oldest first, then deal with penalties — abatement is often available for a first offence.
Yes. Federal returns are federal, and I handle state filings across all fifty states plus expat returns. Everything runs through a secure portal and video calls, so location doesn't change the service.
Usually, though the client cap means late March gets tight. If the calendar is full I'll file an extension to protect you and we'll do the return properly in May rather than rushing it.
No — deliberately. I'll refer you to a bookkeeper I work with regularly and coordinate directly with them, which keeps a genuine second set of eyes on your numbers.
Last year's return and a rough sense of what's changed since. That's enough to quote accurately. The full document checklist comes after you've decided to go ahead.
Twenty minutes, no charge, and you'll leave with a flat quote and a straight answer about whether you need a CPA at all.