Year-Round Strategic Tax Planning
Tax decisions do not wait for April. Estimated payments, equity sales, entity choices and year end moves all have dates, and many of them pass before filing season. Year-round planning means our team stays involved all year, so decisions are made with the tax effect in view. Tax GPS Group is not a CPA firm. We include your tax preparation and add ongoing planning on top of it.
Who is this for?
- High income households whose income, equity or investments change from year to year
- Business owners who want planning decisions made before the year closes
- Tech employees managing RSUs, stock options or a pending sale of shares
- Owners of rental or short term rental properties
- Anyone who wants a standing relationship rather than a once a year transaction
What is included?
Everything in Tax Preparation with Strategy Review, plus:
- Quarterly planning meetings. Regular check-ins to review how your year is tracking and what needs a decision.
- Mid-year strategy implementation. When a strategy fits your situation, we help put it in place while there is still time for it to matter.
- Entity structure review. We look at how your business is set up and whether a different structure is worth discussing.
- Tax projections before major decisions. Before you sell, exercise, restructure or commit, we estimate how the decision is likely to affect your tax.
- Direct access to our team. When your income or life changes during the year, you can reach us, rather than waiting for the next meeting or the next filing season.
What does a planning year look like?
A general outline. Your plan follows your situation.
- Early in the year. Review last year's results, file your return and set the priorities for the year.
- Spring and early summer. Check that estimated payments are on track. The IRS due dates are April 15 and June 15 (IRS).
- Late summer and fall. Put in place the strategies that fit you. The next estimated payment is due September 15 (IRS).
- Year end. Run projections, make timing decisions before December 31, and plan the final estimated payment due January 15 (IRS).
What kinds of decisions can projections help with?
- Selling or exercising company stock, or selling investments with large gains
- Selling a rental property or a business interest
- Choosing or changing a business entity, including California's optional pass-through entity tax (see our Bay Area page)
- Contributing to retirement plans, including more advanced plans for business owners
- A big change in income, such as a bonus, a new job or a year with no wages
We do not promise any specific result. A projection shows the likely tax effect of a choice so you can decide with better information.
How does it work?
- Start with a planning conversation. We review your last return, your income sources and your goals for the next year.
- Build the plan. We identify which strategies may apply to you and what each would need, and we show you projections where they help.
- Meet through the year and adjust. We meet quarterly, update the plan as your income and circumstances change, and keep your filing and estimates in line with it.
Just need your return prepared?
If you want a return prepared with a written strategy roadmap, but not ongoing meetings, see Tax Preparation with Strategy Review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tax planning and tax preparation?
Preparation reports what already happened and files your return. Planning happens before decisions are made, while there is still time to change the outcome. Year-round planning includes both.
How often do we meet?
We hold quarterly planning meetings, and you can reach our team directly when something changes in between.
Is tax preparation included?
Yes. Year-round planning includes everything in Tax Preparation with Strategy Review.
When is the best time to start?
Earlier is generally easier. Estimated taxes are paid in installments through the year, with due dates in April, June, September and January (IRS), and many planning choices need to be made before the year ends. A conversation early in the year gives you more options than waiting for filing season.
Is this only for business owners?
No. It also fits W-2 earners with equity pay, real estate owners and households whose income changes from year to year. The common thread is that you would rather plan ahead than react at filing time.
How do you charge for year-round planning?
Our fees depend on the complexity of your situation and which services are involved. We find it most helpful to start with a free conversation so we can give you an accurate picture rather than a generic quote.
Ready to plan ahead instead of catching up?
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