Claim the new deductions
- Fits
- Workers with tips or overtime, people 65 and older, buyers of a new US-assembled car with a loan.
- Watch out
- Income limits apply, and most of these end after 2028.
Tax strategy
Your tax bill is decided during the year, not in April.
Filing reports what already happened. Planning changes what happens. We help individuals and business owners make the right moves while there is still time to make them.
Tax strategyWhat we plan
Illustrative structure of your strategy
- Your whole pictureIncome, entity and state reviewed together
- Filing vs planningWhat already happened vs what you can still change
- Prioritized movesWhat fits your situation, what does not
- Key deadlinesCalendar of dates that matter
- Written strategyA plan you can act on, not just talk
Planning while the year is still open.
The problem
A timing problem, not a filing problem.
By the time most people sit down with a tax preparer, the year is over. The equipment was bought in the wrong month. The kids helped all summer and were never paid. The S corp salary was a guess. The estimated payments were skipped, and now there is a penalty on top of the balance due. None of that is a filing problem. It is a timing problem, and the fix is a plan made before the deadlines arrive.
1
Filing reports the year. Planning shapes it.
2
Most strategies have a deadline, and many end on December 31.
3
The right move depends on your income, your entity and your state, so we look at the whole picture before recommending anything.
Personal returns
If you file a personal return
Fix your withholding before December
- Fits
- Anyone who owed last year or changed jobs, income or filing status.
- Watch out
- The time to adjust is during the year, not at filing.
Pay estimated taxes on side income
- Fits
- Freelancers, gig workers, landlords, anyone with income that has no withholding.
- Watch out
- Underpayment penalties are charged per quarter.
Use the right retirement and health accounts
- Fits
- Earners who can still fund an IRA or HSA for the year.
- Watch out
- HSAs require a qualifying high-deductible plan, and deadlines differ by account.
Itemize or take the standard deduction
- Fits
- Homeowners and high state-tax filers, now that the SALT cap is $40,000.
- Watch out
- The higher cap phases down at higher incomes.
Business owners
If you own a business
Time equipment and vehicle purchases
- Fits
- Businesses buying assets they need anyway.
- Watch out
- A big deduction this year means none later; buy for the business, not the write-off.
Pay your kids for real work
- Fits
- Owners with children who can do actual tasks.
- Watch out
- Reasonable pay, real records, and payroll rules that differ by entity.
Claim your home office
- Fits
- Owners who use part of the home regularly and exclusively for work.
- Watch out
- Exclusive use is strict, and the method differs for S corp owners.
Choose the right vehicle method
- Fits
- Anyone driving for the business.
- Watch out
- You need a log either way, and the first-year choice can lock you in.
Open the right retirement plan
- Fits
- Owners with profit to shelter.
- Watch out
- SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) have different limits and setup deadlines.
Collect W-9s and file 1099s
- Fits
- Anyone who pays contractors.
- Watch out
- The 1099-NEC threshold is $2,000 for 2026 payments, but you still need W-9s from everyone.
S corporations
If you own an S corporation
Set a reasonable salary
- Fits
- Every S corp owner who works in the business.
- Watch out
- Distributions with no salary is the classic audit trigger.
Reimburse yourself with an accountable plan
- Fits
- Owners paying business costs personally, like home office, phone and mileage.
- Watch out
- It needs a written plan and records, set up before you rely on it.
Rent your home to the business (the Augusta Rule)
- Fits
- Owners who hold real business meetings at home.
- Watch out
- 14 days at most, fair market rent, a written agreement and minutes. It does not work for a sole proprietor.
Decide whether the S corp still makes sense
- Fits
- Owners whose profit or plans have changed.
- Watch out
- The election saves money only above a certain profit, and it adds payroll and filing costs.
Ways to work with us
Start with a conversation.
We will tell you which moves fit your situation and which ones do not, before you spend anything on planning.
Fit Check
For anyone not sure where to start. A short call to see which strategies apply and which service fits.
Book a Fit CheckTax Strategy Blueprint
For business owners, with owner-related personal planning included. A written 12-month strategy with prioritized steps and deadlines. $2,500 fixed.
See the BlueprintTax preparation
When it is time to file, our preparation packages pick up where the plan left off.
See tax preparationPlanning calendar
The dates that matter.
January 15Last estimated payment for the prior year
February 1, 20271099-NEC forms due for 2026 payments
March 15S corporation and partnership returns, or extension
April 15Individual and C corporation returns, or extension, plus the first estimated payment
June 15 and September 15Estimated payments
October 15Extended individual returns
December 31Last day for most year-end moves
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
When did someone last tell you the truth about your taxes?
General information, not tax advice for your situation. Tax law and amounts change; figures are checked each year. Strategies depend on your facts, and we confirm fit before recommending any.