Year-Round Tax Planning
Tax preparation reports what already happened. Tax planning happens while there's still time to change the outcome. Sindland CPA works year-round with business owners, individuals, and families across southwest Missouri so the big decisions get made before December 31, not discovered in April.
For business owners
Entity structure. Whether your LLC should elect S corporation status, and when it stops making sense.
Owner pay. Setting an S corporation salary the business can support and you can defend.
Retirement plans. Comparing plan options that let the business put away more before taxes.
Estimated payments. Keeping quarterly payments in line with what the business is actually earning, so there are no surprises at filing time.
Missouri PTET. Modeling Missouri's annual pass-through entity tax election for partnerships and S corporations.
For individuals and families
Withholding and estimates. Setting withholding or quarterly payments so you don't owe a surprise in April or overpay all year.
Retirement contributions. Choosing between traditional and Roth contributions, and how much to put away before year-end.
Selling property or investments. Timing a sale and estimating the tax, federal and Missouri, before you commit.
Charitable giving. Timing and structuring gifts so they count on your return.
Life changes. Marriage, a new child, a move, or retirement, planned for before they show up on the return.
Real estate investors and contractors. For the work specific to you, see Real Estate and Contractors.
How it works
We look at your recent returns and where this year is heading.
We build a projection and list the decisions that need to be made before year-end.
You get a written plan with estimated payment amounts, and we check in before December to update it.
We prepare the return that follows the plan.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
Tax preparation reports last year's results. Tax planning looks at the current year while there is still time to act, such as changing how you pay yourself, funding a retirement plan, or timing a purchase, and then makes sure the return reflects those decisions.
Do I need tax planning if I don't own a business?
Not always, but it helps when something changes: a big raise, a property or investment sale, retirement, or income that isn't withheld on. We look at the year before it ends and tell you whether any decisions are worth making.
Should my LLC elect to be taxed as an S corporation?
Sometimes. The election can reduce self-employment tax once profit is high enough to support a reasonable salary for the owner, but it adds payroll and an extra tax return. We run the numbers on your actual profit before recommending it.
How much salary should an S corporation owner pay themselves?
Owners who work in the business are expected to pay themselves reasonable compensation for the work they do, based on factors such as their duties, time spent, and what comparable businesses pay. There is no set percentage. We help set a figure you can support and revisit it as the business changes.
Do I need to make quarterly estimated tax payments?
If you are self-employed or own a business and tax isn't being withheld from a paycheck, you generally do. Payments that are too low can mean penalties, and payments that are too high tie up cash. We set estimates from a projection and adjust them during the year.
Does Missouri's pass-through entity tax (PTET) make sense for my partnership or S corporation?
It can. The election moves Missouri income tax to the entity, where it is deductible federally, and owners get a Missouri credit. Whether it helps depends on the entity's income and each owner's situation, so we model it before the annual election is made.
When should we start planning for the year?
Earlier is better. Many decisions, such as setting an owner's salary, funding a retirement plan, or timing an equipment purchase, have to happen before December 31. We like to meet by the third quarter so there is time to act.
Start before the year ends
Our office is in Ozark, just south of Springfield, and we meet in person or remotely.
Book a consultation · ozzie@sindlandcpa.com · (417) 973-2659
This page provides general information, not tax advice for your specific situation. Tax results depend on your facts and on current law, and no particular outcome is guaranteed. Contact us to discuss your situation.