Tax Preparation Is Compliance. Tax Planning Is Strategy.
Most business owners only talk to their accountant during tax season. By that point, the tax year is over — the decisions have been made, the deductions have either been captured or missed, and the bill is what it is. That's tax preparation. It's necessary, but it's backward-looking.
Tax planning is the opposite. It's a forward-looking, proactive process where we analyze your current financial position throughout the year, identify opportunities to minimize your tax liability, and make strategic decisions before they become irreversible. At Schemmel CPA PLLC, this is what separates our approach from the assembly-line tax shops.
What Tax Planning Covers
Quarterly Estimated Taxes
Accurate quarterly estimates calculated from real financial data — not guesswork. Avoid underpayment penalties and optimize cash flow throughout the year.
Entity Selection & Restructuring
Should you be an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp? The right entity structure can save thousands annually. I analyze your situation and make the call.
Income Timing Strategies
Deferring income to next year, accelerating deductions into this year, and timing capital purchases for maximum depreciation benefit.
Retirement Plan Optimization
SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k) — choosing the right plan and contribution strategy to maximize both tax savings and retirement wealth.
Reasonable Compensation Analysis
For S-Corp owners: determining the right salary vs. distribution split to minimize self-employment tax while staying IRS-compliant.
QBI Deduction Planning
The Qualified Business Income deduction (Section 199A) can save pass-through entity owners up to 20% — but only if properly planned and documented.
How Quarterly Consulting Works
For clients on a fixed-fee annual engagement, tax consulting happens quarterly — not once a year. Here's the rhythm:
- Q1: Review prior year results, identify planning opportunities, and project current year income.
- Q2: Mid-year check-in. Adjust estimated payments, assess new deductions, and evaluate business changes.
- Q3: Pre-year-end strategy session. Timing decisions for capital expenditures, retirement contributions, and income deferral.
- Q4: Final-year planning and year-end tax moves. Ensure all strategies are executed before December 31.
Pricing
Stand-Alone Rate
$300 / hour
No minimum. Billed in 15-minute increments.
Included in Annual Engagement
Quarterly tax consulting & estimates are included in all three tiers ($400/mo, $810/mo, $1,110/mo).
The Annual Engagement Advantage
Tax planning is only as good as the data behind it. When I also handle your bookkeeping or have access to your clean quarterly financials, my planning recommendations are based on real numbers — not estimates or stale data. That's why planning works best as part of an annual engagement, where I have continuous visibility into your business performance.