What owners, investors and families say

Reflections from advisory and tax clients

1. 01

   What matteredA $22,000 RSU cost-basis trap caught

   C01–C08

   After relocating mid-year and selling vested RSUs and ISOs, my tax situation turned into a tangle of supplemental W-2 withholdings and two state returns. Otis audited every lot against my vest confirmations, adjusted the $0 cost basis reported on the raw 1099-B so I wasn’t taxed twice on the same equity, and apportioned my multi-state days cleanly.

2. 02

   What matteredPartner K-1s out by 4 March

   C01–C04

   With four partners and equipment financing across two states, our previous CPA pushed us onto last-minute September extensions every single year. Adaeze and Marisol cleaned up our fixed-asset depreciation ledger, issued formal compiled financials for our commercial equipment line renewal, and had all four partner K-1s out eleven days ahead of the 15 March deadline.

3. 03

   What mattered$14,800 saved through S-Corp and PTET

   C07–C12

   My consulting practice crossed $260,000 in net profit while I was still filing on a plain Schedule C with a seasonal tax chain. During our initial review, Marisol modelled the exact break-even point for an S-Corporation election, documented a defensible reasonable salary study, set up our state Pass-Through Entity Tax payment before 31 December, and coordinated a Solo 401(k). For the first time ever, 15 April arrived with zero shock because we already knew our exact number in November.

4. 04

   What matteredA $19,400 assessment taken to $0

   C01–C06

   We opened a certified IRS CP2000 notice claiming we underreported a retirement rollover and brokerage transfer from two years prior. Our stomachs dropped. Otis filed a Power of Attorney that same afternoon, told us we wouldn’t have to sit on hold with the IRS once, compiled the custodian rollover proof and basis records, and got us an official IRS closure letter confirming a zero balance.

5. 05

   What matteredImprovements and repairs separated

   C09–C12

   Real estate tax rules around passive losses, de minimis safe-harbour elections, and HVAC vs. appliance write-offs are easy to botch without a real estate-savvy CPA. Marisol restructured our messy historical depreciation schedules and filed a clean Form 3115 catch-up depreciation adjustment that legitimately lowered our current-year tax bill without amending three old returns.

6. 06

   What matteredResponsive in July and October, not just April

   C01–C12

   What I value most is never hesitating to send a quick portal message in August before buying a company vehicle or hiring a remote employee in another state. Lionel and Marisol answer clearly in plain English, update my quarterly estimated tax vouchers mid-year when revenue jumps, and never nickel-and-dime with surprise invoices.