The worst feeling is knowing that you’ve just had a big year and done nothing to plan for it. Tax planning is a critical part of the success of any business, and there are many occasions when individual taxpayers will benefit as well. No matter the situation- you're in deep water, and complexities have come up that require the help of a professional, and it’s time to learn about what you’re getting into with tax planning.
How it Works
The first step in planning is gathering current year to date information. For businesses this will be the financial statements and include all of the things that are needed for individual planning. For individual tax planning we will gather year-to- date check stubs, retirement statements, and other statements from ordinary sources of income. We annualize this date, so we’ll have a good idea how much you’re taking home in the year, and how much is being withheld for income taxes.
Next is where we bring in any one-off items that you don’t normally have. This can include the sale of a home, rental, stock, making more money at your job, and a number of other extraordinary things that are not typically on your tax return.
After we have gathered all of the information related to the current tax year we plug the data into our software and run a “mock” tax return. This critical step establishes a baseline for the current year and sets us up for “Scenario” planning.
For folks just looking for their upcoming tax liability we’re done here. We’ll deliver the results for the upcoming filing season, and potentially recommend estimated payments or adjustment to paycheck withholding to avoid any underpayment penalty.
Scenario Analysis
Advanced tax planning includes Scenario Analysis which allows us to explore the effects of various strategies that may reduce your tax burden. Businesses might consider investing in equipment, a vehicle, inventory, or more employees. They might choose to realize income from a big sale at the beginning of the next tax year so as to shift income into a year where large costs are expected for improvements, etc. Individuals might consider contributing to retirement, or a health savings account.
Wage Planning
Wage planning is critical for S Corporations who are required by the IRS to pay reasonable compensation. The S Corp saves money by paying a lower salaries, but they have to be careful that Officer wages are not so low that the IRS could determine it to be unreasonable. If it were, all net income of the business becomes subject to self-employment taxes. The very thing you’re trying to avoid!
Furthermore, with proper tax planning the W-2 paid as Officer’s Compensation to the owner of a S Corporation becomes a tool to pay into income taxes. Based on your estimated tax liability we will make a withholding recommendation to ensure that Uncle Sam is sending you money when you file instead of the other way around!
Getting Started
We put our clients first and are committed to helping them achieve financial success and that's why we offer tax planning in the Fall.
Download the Tax Planning Checklist
We have several options to take the next step
Book a free discovery chat if you still have a few more questions, or a Tax Planning appointment if you're ready to go ahead and get started on your customized tax plan.
Book a Free Discovery Appointment
See if Rangeview Tax & Accounting is a good fit for you with a Free Discovery Chat! We offer in-person, on-site, and telephone discovery chats. On site chats are typically business with exceptions available under appropriate circumstances for individuals.
Book a Paid Consultation
Our paid consultation is $100 for 30 minutes and puts you on the line with a tax professional who will answer questions that you have related to IRS Code, and Tax Strategies. Pay for your consultation, select one of the available appointments, and provide the general topic of discussion or questions that you wish to discuss. If you choose to move forward with our services, we will credit the consultation fee towards a future tax return preparation.
Tax Planning for New Clients
Stay on top of the upcoming filing season with a tax planning! Our hourly rate for tax planning is $175 per hour.
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