Tax Planning Services for the Decisions Ahead

What a useful tax plan should cover

Tax planning gives you a way to evaluate financial decisions before you commit to them. You may be weighing an S-Corp election, buying a rental, or trying to understand how a new compensation package fits with the rest of your income. A useful plan compares the options, explains the projected tax effects, and accounts for the costs and practical steps involved. The recommendations should be in writing.

You should know what happens next.

That means agreeing on who handles each action, what records are needed, and when the work must be finished. The plan needs to be revisited during the year as your income and circumstances change, and coordinated with your tax filing. The proposal sets out the work included in your engagement.

How tax planning differs from tax preparation

Preparation starts with the activity recorded in your books and tax documents. Planning starts with a question about what comes next. You may need both services, but it helps to know which work is included when you compare proposals.

Where we focus

We start with the decisions that matter to you. For a business owner, that may mean comparing entity options and owner compensation, then considering how retirement contributions and the QBI deduction fit into the projection. A property investor may need a review of participation records and a cost segregation proposal before deciding how to proceed. Our cost segregation study service explains how we coordinate that work.

For households with equity compensation, we look at upcoming vesting and exercise decisions alongside cash needs and other income. We also review retirement choices, from Solo 401(k) and cash balance plans for business owners to the mega backdoor Roth. Charitable giving and state filing obligations may need attention too. We bring those pieces into the same review and update your estimated taxes as the picture changes.

Is a planning engagement right for you?

A large tax bill alone does not tell us whether you need ongoing planning. The more useful question is whether you have choices to make that affect your taxes, cash flow, or future plans. If your finances are straightforward and little is changing, preparation with occasional advice may meet your needs. When several decisions overlap, regular planning gives you a place to work through them together.

• High-income employees. Your salary is only part of the picture: stock awards, deferred compensation, or investments may need coordinated attention. Our tech employee services cover that mix.
• Business owners. As profit and staffing change, you may need to revisit owner pay, retirement plans, and S-Corp election questions. The decision should fit the business you are building.
• Real estate investors. A purchase, renovation, or sale can raise questions that extend beyond one property's books. Our real estate CPA services connect those decisions with your household and other businesses.
• Physicians. Hospital employment, locum assignments, and consulting income can create different planning needs within the same year. See our physician tax planning services for how we approach them.

If you are also coordinating several advisors or planning around substantial assets, our guide to working with a high net worth tax advisor explains the broader role. We can discuss which level of support fits during your initial call.

Fees and the first conversation

We quote a flat annual fee before work begins. It reflects the businesses, properties, states, and income sources involved, along with the analysis and implementation support you need. Your proposal spells out the scope, including which tax returns are covered.

The free initial consultation is a chance to explain your situation, ask questions, and see whether we are a fit. Detailed document review and tax modeling begin after engagement. For broader pricing context, read our guide to how much a CPA costs.

The team behind your plan

Taxstra is led by Bryan Martin, CPA, MBA, who is also a licensed real estate broker. That combination informs our work with property owners, alongside the firm's experience with physicians, business owners, and high-income households. We are based in Springfield, Illinois and work with clients nationwide.

Our planning and preparation teams work together. We document the assumptions and supporting authority behind recommendations, explain the tradeoffs, and follow through on the agreed work. Taxstra has also been featured in White Coat Investor, where Bryan appeared on podcast episode 459.

This page is educational, not individualized tax advice. Recommendations depend on your circumstances and the scope of your engagement.