Question 1

Will I need the same level of tax planning every year?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily.  Your tax planning needs may change from year to year based on what is happening in your business, income, investments, & personal life.Your first year of tax planning is typically the most intensive because that’s when we build your strategy, evaluate your full tax picture, and put the initial plan in place. After that first year, you may be able to transition to a lower-cost maintenance and monitoring level when your tax situation is relatively stable.In years involving significant changes—such as major business growth, a new entity, a large income shift, a move, or another significant financial event—we may recommend a higher level of planning and coordination.The goal is to match the level of support to what you actually need each year.

Question 2

What's the difference between Guided, Collaborative, and Managed implementation?

Accepted Answer

Guided (Blueprint) gives you the calculations, deadlines, and step-by-step instructions to complete straightforward recommendations on your own, with us to answer limited questions along the way. Collaborative (Navigator) means we work alongside you — reviewing documents, helping resolve questions as they come up, and coordinating directly with other professionals involved in your plan. Managed (Sapphire) means we actively track your open recommendations, follow up so nothing falls through the cracks, and help manage more involved, multi-step strategies all the way through completion.

Question 3

Is tax return preparation included?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tax return preparation and review are included in every service level for the returns included in your package. The specific individual, business, state, and local returns included will depend on your household and business situation.

Question 4

How are state and city tax returns priced?

Accepted Answer

Some states and cities have more complex tax systems, including multiple local income taxes, additional schedules, nonresident filing requirements, city-level returns, or unique rules that require extra time and expertise. If you live in—or earn income in—one of these jurisdictions, additional fees apply to cover the extra compliance work.Examples include:• States: New York, California, New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico, Delaware, Oregon, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania• Cities: New York City, Yonkers, Detroit, Philadelphia, Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati (OH), San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago

Question 5

Why is professional bookkeeping required for tax planning?

Accepted Answer

Tax planning is built on your actual financial picture—your income, expenses, cash flow, and projected year-end numbers. Without accurate and current quarterly financial records, we're planning based on guesswork, not facts. That means our tax strategy could miss opportunities, miss risks, or recommend strategies that don't actually fit your situation.Professional bookkeeping helps ensure that income, expenses, payroll, owner activity, and other transactions are recorded consistently throughout the year so planning meetings can focus on strategy with confidence and ensure you're capturing every tax benefit available to you.Additionally, professional bookkeeping is required for partnerships, S-corporations, and corporations which have more complex reporting requirements than a typical individual return. Accurate financial statements are important for properly reporting items on the tax return and supporting those amounts in the event of an IRS audit.  Other tax professionals may use different processes, but this requirement is part of our firm’s quality-control approach for business-entity returns, as well as maximize the benefit of tax planning. You may work with a qualified bookkeeper of your choice.  If you are a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, ask about our referral for assisted DIY bookkeeping services if you prefer to do your own bookkeeping.

Question 6

What is IRS Advance Notice (IAN) monitoring?

Accepted Answer

IAN monitoring is an added layer of protection in your tax‑planning subscription. It checks your IRS account for early signs of activity—like balance changes or updates to your records—so we can address issues sooner and reduce surprises.It’s important to know that IAN can’t catch every IRS notice, since some actions don’t show up in transcripts right away. You should still send us any IRS mail you receive.IAN simply helps us stay ahead of most developments and respond quickly when the IRS updates your account.

More Planning. Fewer Surprises. Better Decisions

THIS IS MORE THAN ANNUAL FILING TAX SERVICE

A Better Tax Outcome Starts Before Tax Season

Tax returns report what already happened. Tax planning gives you time to shape what happens next.

More Clarity. Fewer Surprises. Better Decisions

Clarity

Confidence

Follow-Through

Understanding the Tax Planning Levels

BLUEPRINT

Guided Implementation Focused Planning

TO GET STARTED

$700

THEN, FOR 11 MONTHS

$350/mo

DESIGNED FOR

INCLUDES

NAVIGATOR

Collaborative Implementation Quarterly Strategy

TO GET STARTED

$1,500

THEN, FOR 11 MONTHS

$500/mo

DESIGNED FOR

INCLUDES

SAPPHIRE

Managed Implementation Monthly Advisory

STARTS AT

$1,700+

THEN, FOR 11 MONTHS

$900+/mo

DESIGNED FOR

INCLUDES

* See FAQs for additional information

FAQs – Tax Planning

Will I need the same level of tax planning every year?

What's the difference between Guided, Collaborative, and Managed implementation?

Is tax return preparation included?

How are state and city tax returns priced?

Why is professional bookkeeping required for tax planning?

What is IRS Advance Notice (IAN) monitoring?

Guided Implementation
Focused Planning

Collaborative Implementation
Quarterly Strategy

Managed Implementation
Monthly Advisory