Straight answers to real tax questions
Plain-English explanations from a Utah CPA, written to actually answer the question, not to sell you something.
CPA vs. TurboTax: When Is Hiring a CPA Worth It?
An honest answer to CPA vs. TurboTax: when DIY software is fine, when a CPA saves more than the fee, and how to tell which side of the line your return is on.
Read the guide Guide · Entity structureLLC vs. S-Corp: What's the Tax Difference?
LLC vs. S-Corp explained plainly: an LLC is a legal entity, an S-Corp is a tax election. The real tax difference, when the S-Corp saves money, and when it does not.
Read the guide Guide · Self-employed & 1099What Can I Deduct as a Self-Employed Person?
A plain-English list of self-employed and 1099 tax deductions: home office, mileage, health insurance, retirement, the QBI deduction, and the write-offs freelancers miss most.
Read the guide Guide · Rental propertyWhat Expenses Can I Deduct on My Rental Property?
A plain-English guide to rental property tax deductions: what landlords can write off, how depreciation works, repairs vs. improvements, and the passive-loss rules.
Read the guide Guide · Estimated taxesHow Do I Calculate My Quarterly Estimated Taxes?
How quarterly estimated taxes work: who has to pay, how to calculate them, when they are due, and what happens if you miss a payment. Plain-English from a Utah CPA.
Read the guide Guide · Contractors & tradesWhat Tax Deductions Are Available for Contractors and Tradespeople?
The tax deductions contractors and tradespeople actually use: tools, equipment, vehicles, materials, subs, and the moves that lower a construction business's taxes.
Read the guide Guide · 1031 exchangeHow Does a 1031 Exchange Work?
How a 1031 exchange works: the rules, the 45- and 180-day deadlines, what qualifies as like-kind, and how it lets real estate investors defer capital gains tax.
Read the guide Guide · Year-end planningWhat Should I Do Before December 31 to Lower My Taxes?
A year-end tax planning checklist for small business owners: the moves that actually lower your taxes before December 31, and why April is too late for most of them.
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