It's March 15th. Your phone rings. It's your accountant.

"Hey, I need your tax documents. Can you get them to me by next week? I need to get your return filed before the deadline."

You scramble to find receipts, bank statements, and financial records. You send everything over in a messy pile. Your accountant disappears into tax season hell, working 70-hour weeks on hundreds of returns.

Six weeks later, you get an email: "Your return is done. You owe $32,000. Sign here."

You pay the bill. You wonder if you could have done something differently. Your accountant doesn't have time to discuss it—they're buried in other returns.

Then silence. You don't hear from your accountant again until next March.

This is how most Pella business owners experience "accounting services." And it's costing them tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Meanwhile, successful Pella contractors like DMS Demolition and New Spaces work with CPAs who provide year-round guidance. They have quarterly strategy meetings, implement tax savings strategies throughout the year, and never have tax surprises.

The difference? They stopped using traditional tax preparers and started working with strategic tax planning firms.

The Fundamental Problem with Tax Season Accounting

Traditional accounting firms operate on the tax season model. They hire seasonal staff in January, work insane hours from February through April, file thousands of returns, and then mostly go dormant until next year.

This model creates predictable problems:

Problem #1: Backward-Looking Only

When your accountant prepares your taxes in March or April, they're looking at last year's numbers. Everything is already done. There are no more opportunities to reduce taxes, time equipment purchases strategically, contribute to retirement plans, or implement any meaningful tax strategies.

They're preparing a historical document, not providing strategic guidance.

Problem #2: No Time for Planning

During tax season, your accountant is drowning. They're preparing hundreds of returns, dealing with IRS correspondence, and managing a seasonal workforce. They don't have time to analyze your situation deeply, consider various strategies, or provide proactive recommendations.

You get whatever strategy can be implemented in the 30 minutes they spent on your return.

Problem #3: Missing Opportunities Year-Round

Throughout the year, you make decisions that have tax implications. Should you buy that truck in November or January? Should you take a larger salary or more distributions from your S-Corp? How much should you contribute to retirement plans?

These decisions can't be made in April when tax returns are due. They need to be made in real-time throughout the year. But your tax season accountant isn't available.

Problem #4: Reactive Instead of Proactive

Tax season accountants respond to what you've already done. They don't guide what you should do. They prepare returns based on information you provide, rather than helping you plan throughout the year to optimize results.

Companies like Country Creek Builders and Gerl Construction succeed because they work with proactive CPAs who provide year-round guidance, not just tax season preparation.

Learn more about why you need year-round tax planning.

What Year-Round Tax Planning Actually Looks Like

Real tax planning isn't something that happens once a year. It's an ongoing process integrated with your business operations.

Q1: Planning for the Current Year

January through March should be about analyzing last year's results, projecting current year income and tax liability, identifying tax reduction strategies to implement this year, and planning retirement plan contributions and other year-round strategies.

This is when you determine your S-Corp salary for the year, decide on retirement plan structure and contribution levels, plan major equipment purchases and timing, and establish your quarterly estimated tax payment schedule.

What This Looks Like:

Your CPA reviews your previous year's tax return to identify what worked and what could be improved. Together, you project current year profit based on your backlog and business pipeline. Based on that projection, you develop a comprehensive tax reduction plan that might include S-Corp salary adjustments, equipment purchase timing, retirement plan optimization, and expense acceleration or deferral strategies.

Construction companies like Plan Pools and Minnesota Landscapes start each year with a comprehensive tax planning session.

Q2: Mid-Year Course Corrections

April through June should include reviewing actual Q1 results versus projections, adjusting strategies based on actual business performance, planning any mid-year tax strategies, and fine-tuning retirement plan contributions.

This is when you assess whether your business is performing as projected, adjust quarterly estimated payments if needed, reconsider equipment purchase timing based on actual profit, and implement any course corrections to tax strategy.

What This Looks Like:

Your CPA compares your year-to-date actual results to your initial projections. If you're ahead of projections, you might accelerate equipment purchases or increase retirement contributions. If you're behind, you might adjust strategies accordingly. Your quarterly estimated tax payments are recalculated based on actual results rather than projections.

Q3: Year-End Tax Planning

July through September is prime time for year-end tax planning, when you finalize equipment purchase plans, optimize retirement plan contributions, implement any tax loss strategies, and plan year-end bonuses or compensation changes.

This is when you determine whether to use Section 179 or bonus depreciation on equipment, coordinate equipment purchases with projected tax liability, maximize retirement plan contributions, and plan any strategic expenses before year-end.

What This Looks Like:

Your CPA prepares a detailed projection of year-end profit and tax liability. Based on that projection, you develop a specific action plan for Q4. If you're projecting $300,000 in taxable income and want to reduce that by $100,000, you might plan $75,000 in equipment purchases with Section 179 deduction plus $25,000 in increased retirement contributions.

Companies like IBS Coating and Ground Tech make strategic year-end decisions based on comprehensive Q3 tax planning.

Explore 13 proven strategies for Iowa contractors to see what year-round planning includes.

Q4: Implementation and Preparation

October through December is about implementing year-end tax strategies, finalizing retirement contributions, ensuring estimated tax payments are current, and beginning preparation for tax season.

This is when you execute equipment purchases planned in Q3, make final retirement plan contributions, close out projects for optimal revenue recognition, and ensure all documentation is in order for tax preparation.

What This Looks Like:

You execute the plans developed in Q3. Your CPA ensures all strategies are properly implemented and documented. By December 31st, everything is in place for optimal tax results. When tax season arrives, there are no surprises—everything was planned throughout the year.

The Real Cost of Tax Season-Only Accounting

Working with a tax season-only accountant costs you money in multiple ways that add up to tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Missed Tax Deductions

When your accountant only looks at your situation once a year, they inevitably miss deductions because expenses weren't properly categorized, receipts weren't maintained, or opportunities weren't identified in time.

A Pella general contractor discovered they'd been missing approximately $18,000 in annual tax deductions because their tax season accountant never told them about available strategies. Proper vehicle depreciation, home office deduction, and retirement plan optimization together saved over $6,000 in taxes annually.

Over 10 years, that's $60,000 in unnecessary taxes paid.

Poor Timing of Major Decisions

Without year-round guidance, business owners make expensive decisions at inopportune times.

A Pella excavation contractor bought $120,000 in equipment in January because they needed it for projects. With proper planning, that purchase should have happened in December of the previous year, using Section 179 deduction to reduce taxes by approximately $35,000.

The equipment was needed either way. The only difference was timing. But that timing difference was worth $35,000.

Incorrect S-Corp Salary Determination

S-Corporation owners need to adjust their salary annually based on projected profit. Without year-round guidance, most business owners either pay themselves too much (overpaying payroll taxes) or too little (creating audit risk).

A Pella remodeler was paying himself 60% of profit as salary because their tax season accountant told them "50-60% is reasonable." With proper analysis, they should have been closer to 40% based on their actual role and industry standards.

That difference was worth approximately $8,000 annually in unnecessary payroll taxes.

Learn about S-Corp optimization strategies for maximum savings.

Missed Retirement Planning Opportunities

Retirement plan contributions need to be planned throughout the year, not figured out at tax time. By the time April arrives, it's too late for most retirement plan strategies.

A Pella HVAC company owner could have contributed $65,000 to a Solo 401(k), reducing taxes by approximately $22,000. But they didn't know about the strategy until their taxes were prepared in April, when contribution deadlines had passed.

That's $22,000 in unnecessary taxes that could have built retirement wealth instead.

Reactive Problem Solving

Without year-round access to your CPA, you make business decisions without understanding tax implications.

Should you structure that new project as time-and-materials or fixed-price? Should you hire that person as an employee or use them as a subcontractor? Should you buy or lease that equipment?

These decisions have significant tax consequences. Making them without guidance costs money.

Companies like Bettencourt Construction and Charter Home Renovation make better decisions because they have year-round access to tax expertise.

What Proactive Tax Planning Delivers

Year-round tax planning isn't just about tax preparation. It's about strategic guidance that improves your entire business.

Quarterly Strategy Meetings

Four times per year, you should meet with your CPA to review financial results, discuss business changes and opportunities, update tax projections, and adjust strategies based on current reality.

These aren't quick calls. They're substantive planning sessions where you discuss how business is going, what major decisions are coming up, whether you're on track with projections, and what adjustments are needed.

The Result: You're never surprised at tax time. You always know where you stand. You make better business decisions because you understand tax implications.

Real-Time Tax Projections

Throughout the year, you should know what your projected tax liability is. Not a guess. An actual calculation based on year-to-date results and projected year-end numbers.

This allows you to adjust quarterly estimated tax payments accurately, plan equipment purchases strategically, time revenue and expense recognition optimally, and avoid massive year-end tax bills.

Construction companies like Kenosha Heating and Cooling and ADF Philly never have tax surprises because they work with CPAs who provide real-time projections.

Strategic Equipment Purchase Planning

Equipment purchases should be planned strategically based on projected tax liability, business needs, and available depreciation methods.

Your CPA should help you determine whether to purchase or lease equipment, when during the year to make purchases, whether to use Section 179, bonus depreciation, or regular MACRS, and how to coordinate purchases with overall tax strategy.

Learn about tax write-offs for custom home builders to see equipment strategies in action.

Retirement Plan Optimization

Retirement plan contributions should be optimized throughout the year, not figured out at tax time.

Your CPA should help you choose the right retirement plan type for your situation, determine optimal contribution amounts considering tax savings, coordinate retirement contributions with S-Corp salary, and ensure contributions are made timely.

Proactive Problem Prevention

Year-round access to your CPA means you can ask questions before making decisions, get guidance on complex situations, ensure you're handling things correctly, and avoid problems before they become expensive.

When a Pella contractor received a letter from the IRS about worker classification, their year-round CPA helped them respond properly and restructure relationships to avoid future problems. A tax season accountant would have just told them to hire an attorney.

The Integration Advantage: Bookkeeping + Tax Planning

The most powerful arrangement is when your bookkeeper and tax planner are the same firm providing integrated services.

Why Integration Matters

When bookkeeping and tax planning are separated, opportunities fall through the cracks. Your bookkeeper doesn't know your tax strategy, your tax accountant doesn't see real-time results, and nobody sees the complete picture.

When they're integrated, your bookkeeper categorizes expenses with tax strategy in mind, your tax planner sees actual results monthly for proactive planning, quarterly tax planning is based on accurate books, and year-end tax preparation is seamless.

Companies like Davis Contracting and Stormmaster Roofing benefit from integrated bookkeeping and tax services.

The Coordinated Workflow

With integrated services, your monthly bookkeeping feeds directly into tax planning. Your CPA sees year-to-date results monthly and can identify opportunities or problems immediately.

In March, they notice your labor costs are running high and discuss whether to adjust pricing or improve efficiency. In June, they see you're ahead of profit projections and discuss accelerating equipment purchases. In September, they prepare detailed year-end tax projections and plan Q4 strategies.

This level of coordination is impossible when bookkeeping and tax are handled by different providers.

Common Objections to Year-Round Tax Planning

"My Current Accountant is Fine"

Is your current accountant actually fine? Or are you just assuming they're fine because you don't know what you're missing?

If your accountant only contacts you during tax season, doesn't provide quarterly planning meetings, never proactively recommends tax strategies, and can't tell you your current year tax liability, they're not fine. They're providing minimal service.

The question isn't whether they file your tax return correctly. The question is whether they're helping you minimize taxes proactively throughout the year.

"I Don't Want to Bother My Accountant"

You shouldn't have to feel like you're bothering your accountant. Your accountant should proactively reach out to you with recommendations and guidance.

Year-round tax planning firms build their entire business model around ongoing client communication. You're not bothering them—you're the reason they exist.

Companies like Fredrickson Masonry and CBC Twin Cities work with accountants who welcome questions and provide proactive guidance.

"Year-Round Service Costs More"

The question isn't what it costs. The question is what it saves.

Year-round tax planning might cost $3,000-$5,000 more annually than tax season-only preparation. But it typically saves $10,000-$30,000 or more in reduced taxes through proactive strategies that tax season accountants never implement.

That's a 300-500% return on investment.

The real question is: can you afford NOT to have year-round planning?

"My Business is Too Small for This"

If your business generates over $75,000 in annual profit, you're large enough to benefit significantly from year-round tax planning.

Below that threshold, the administrative costs might outweigh the savings. Above it, you're leaving thousands on the table without proactive planning.

A Pella contractor generating $150,000 in profit told us they were "too small" for year-round planning. We identified $18,000 in annual tax savings they were missing. Their "too small" business was overpaying taxes by 12% of profit every year.

Explore tax strategies for Iowa home builders to see what's possible.

What to Expect from Year-Round Tax Planning Services

Initial Tax Analysis and Planning

When you start working with a year-round tax planning firm, they should begin with comprehensive analysis of previous tax returns, assessment of current business structure and operations, identification of missed opportunities, and development of a comprehensive tax reduction plan.

This isn't a quick meeting. It's a deep dive into your situation to identify every opportunity.

Quarterly Planning Meetings

Four times per year, you should have substantive planning meetings to review year-to-date results, update tax projections, discuss business changes and opportunities, and adjust strategies based on current reality.

These meetings should be scheduled consistently, not crammed in when convenient.

Ongoing Communication Access

Between quarterly meetings, you should have access to your CPA for questions, guidance on specific decisions, and proactive recommendations when opportunities arise.

This isn't emergency-only contact. It's normal business consultation.

Comprehensive Year-End Tax Preparation

When tax season arrives, preparation should be seamless because everything was planned throughout the year. There are no surprises, no scrambling for documentation, and no wondering if things were done correctly.

Your tax return should be a summary of strategies that were implemented throughout the year, not new discoveries made in April.

Companies like Garvin Homes and Cascade Concrete Coatings experience stress-free tax seasons because of year-round planning.

The Difference Between Tax Preparers and Tax Strategists

Not all CPAs provide the same value. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right provider.

Tax Preparers

Tax preparers focus on compliance. They prepare returns based on information you provide, ensure forms are filed correctly and timely, respond to IRS correspondence, and charge based on return complexity.

They're backward-looking. They document what happened but don't guide what should happen.

Tax Strategists

Tax strategists focus on proactive planning. They provide year-round guidance, identify opportunities throughout the year, help you make better business decisions, and charge based on the ongoing value they provide.

They're forward-looking. They help you plan what should happen to minimize taxes and build wealth.

The difference in value is enormous.

Real Examples: Tax Season vs. Year-Round Planning

Pella General Contractor Example

With Tax Season Accountant:

• Annual profit: $250,000
• Contacted accountant in March
• Prepared tax return in April
• Tax liability: $72,000
• Accountant fee: $2,500
• No strategic planning throughout year

With Year-Round Tax Planning:

• Annual profit: $250,000
• Quarterly planning meetings
• S-Corp optimization implemented
• Equipment purchases strategically timed
• Retirement plan maximized
• Tax liability: $54,000 (saved $18,000)
• Accountant fee: $7,500
• Net benefit: $18,000 - $5,000 = $13,000 annually

Over 10 years, that's $130,000 in additional wealth.

Pella Remodeling Business Example

With Tax Season Accountant:

• Annual profit: $180,000
• DIY bookkeeping with errors
• S-Corp salary set arbitrarily
• Missed equipment depreciation strategies
• Tax liability: $48,000
• Total cost (tax + bookkeeping time): $51,000

With Year-Round Tax Planning:

• Annual profit: $180,000
• Professional bookkeeping monthly
• S-Corp salary optimized quarterly
• Equipment purchases strategically planned
• Home office deduction properly implemented
• Tax liability: $35,000 (saved $13,000)
• Service cost: $9,000
• Net benefit: $13,000 - $2,000 = $11,000 annually

Plus improved business decisions from accurate financial data.

Companies like Legacy Painting and Red's Outdoor save dramatically through year-round planning.

How Performance Financial CPA Provides Year-Round Tax Planning

Performance Financial CPA, Accounting & Tax specializes in year-round tax planning for Pella area contractors and businesses throughout Iowa and the Midwest.

Our tax planning services include quarterly strategy meetings to review results and adjust plans, real-time tax projections based on actual performance, comprehensive year-end tax planning in Q3, strategic equipment purchase guidance, retirement plan optimization, S-Corp salary determination, and integrated bookkeeping for seamless tax planning.

We don't just prepare tax returns. We provide ongoing guidance that reduces taxes and improves business decisions.

We serve general contractors and builders, specialty trades, and small businesses throughout Pella, Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and across Iowa.

Stop Accepting Tax Season-Only Service

If you're tired of tax surprises, missed opportunities, and accountants who disappear for nine months, it's time to see what year-round planning looks like.

Book a Tax Reduction Analysis with Performance Financial to discover exactly how much you're overpaying with your current approach.

We'll review your tax returns and financial situation, identify specific opportunities you're missing, calculate exactly how much year-round planning would save, and show you what proactive service looks like.

Other quality firms providing specialized tax services include Whyte CPA and Whittmarsh CPA, serving different regions.

Companies like Motivity Health DPC, Enclave Marine, and Properties by ARC all made the switch from tax season accountants to year-round planning and never looked back.

Your business deserves better than reactive tax preparation. See our comprehensive tax planning services or explore 5 essential tax hacks for contractors.

Stop overpaying taxes because nobody's providing proactive guidance. Start working with tax strategists who plan year-round.

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