It Looks Like You May Be Needing a New CPA.
If your current CPA is retiring or checked out, don’t get left in limbo. We help established business owners ($1–$10M, often multi-entity) transition smoothly with advisory-first tax support.
CLICK FOR SOUND – Watch the video below Before you Schedule
Who We Work Best With
We specialize in business owners and professionals who have outgrown “basic filing” and need proactive tax strategy during a transition.
Multi-Entity Owners
Running multiple LLCs or S-Corps can get messy fast. We keep intercompany billings, loans, and basis in check…
so you don’t lose deductions or pay tax you shouldn’t.
Family Businesses
Family-owned companies come with unique challenges: payroll for relatives, succession planning, and estates…
We bring structure so the business stays strong across generations.
Real Estate Investors
Whether it’s rentals or large portfolios…
we make sure cost seg, grouping elections, and property sales are structured to minimize taxes and maximize cash flow.
High-earning Professionals
Balancing a W-2, investments, or equity comp?
We design strategies to reduce tax drag and keep more of your earnings working for you.
We specialize in clients who outgrow “basic filing” and need proactive strategy during a transition.
Why Losing a CPA Might Be the Best Thing for You
When a CPA retires, most clients scramble to find continuity. But a transition is also the perfect time to uncover strategies that were missed. We routinely find opportunities in returns from retiring or downsizing firms, such as:
- Missed cost segregation studies and accelerated depreciation on rentals
- Poorly documented or incomplete real estate professional (REP) elections
- Weak QBI planning, especially payroll vs. deduction trade-offs
- Installment sale proceeds incorrectly treated for Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
- Basis mismanagement between S-Corps, leaving deductible losses on the table
Fresh eyes = fresh opportunities. This is more than continuity — it’s an upgrade.
Your First 48 Hours After a CPA Retirement
Checklist:
- Gather last 3–5 years of returns & workpapers
- Request a clean client file transfer before systems shut down
- Appoint one internal point of contact
- Schedule your transition call within 2 weeks
Our 3-Step Transition Process
When a CPA retires, most clients scramble to find continuity. But a transition is also the perfect time to uncover strategies that were missed. We routinely find opportunities in returns from retiring or downsizing firms, such as:
- Fit Call (15 Minutes) – Quick discovery to confirm fit & priorities.
- Records Intake & Strategy Review – Secure records, run a “fresh eyes” scan.
- 90-Day Tune-Up – Deliver quick wins + build forward-looking tax plan.
Book Your Transition Call →
What Our Clients Get (From Day One)
If you’re switching CPAs, you shouldn’t just get continuity—you should get better tools, clearer strategy, and faster responses. Here are resources we use with clients every day:
Client Hub (Secure Portal + Scheduling) – Upload documents, e‑sign, and book time with us in one place.
Current Clients
Residential Cost Segregation Estimator – A quick way to see if accelerated depreciation could help your rentals.
Residential Cost Segregation Tool
Tax Strategy Library (short, practical reads) – A few popular starting points:
- Estate & Trust: Understanding the Differences: Filing Form 706 and Form 1041 for Estate and Trust Taxes
- Entity/Wealth: Family Partnership Basics
- Real Estate: Real Estate Professional (REP) Election Explained
Second‑Look Return Review – A structured review of prior returns (AJEs, depreciation, QBI/payroll, basis, NIIT) to find overlooked issues and quick wins.
Transition Checklist (1 page) – What to request from your prior firm so nothing falls through the cracks.
Transition Pitfalls (What We Fix Most Often)
Most clients switch CPAs for continuity—but the handoff is also where long‑standing issues finally surface. Here are the problems we see most often when we review a new client’s records, and how we address them during the first 90 days.
Missing depreciation detail
Copies of returns don’t always include the full fixed asset/depreciation schedules. Without the asset list (cost, date placed in service, class life, accumulated depreciation), you can’t validate carryforward numbers—or identify opportunities like cost segregation and late elections. We request the workpapers and rebuild the schedules so basis and depreciation tie out.
No trial balance with AJEs
A PDF tax return shows results, not the mapping. We ask for the CPA’s trial balance with adjusting journal entries (AJEs) so we can reconcile books‑to‑return, catch posting gaps, and document any reclassifications. That becomes the foundation for cleaner, audit‑ready books going forward.
Lingering access & POAs
Old advisors sometimes still have admin access to QuickBooks Online, payroll, or state portals—and active IRS/state POAs. We help revoke access, re‑issue invitations, and file new authorizations so roles are clear and secure.
QBI vs. payroll trade‑offs
S‑corp wages can make or break the §199A deduction. We model the wage/QBI/NIIT interactions (including Medicare surtax effects) and right‑size payroll to protect deductions without creating new problems.
Basis & intercompany loans
Losses are often stranded in S‑corps/partnerships because shareholder/partner basis schedules aren’t current—especially if not all owners use the same CPA. We gather 7203s and prior schedules, re‑paper related‑party loans where needed, and align basis so losses and distributions track correctly.
Installment sales & NIIT tracking
We often see installment gains reported correctly in year one, then mishandled for Net Investment Income Tax in later years. We build a year‑by‑year schedule so NIIT, basis, and interest are applied consistently.
Fixing these early removes friction—and often uncovers planning opportunities your prior firm didn’t surface.
Real Stories From CPA Transitions
“A business owner came to us after his CPA retired. Six rentals, no cost segregation ever done. We implemented accelerated depreciation through an accounting change and form 3115 that shifted thousands in taxable income.”
A new client came to us after their CPA retired. They owned six long‑term rentals but had never been offered a cost segregation analysis. Within the first month we gathered the fixed asset detail, validated basis to the prior returns, and modeled accelerated depreciation scenarios. The result: a documented plan to front‑load deductions while staying within their broader passive/REP position—something they’d never been walked through before.
“Another client’s installment sale was being taxed improperly for NIIT due to the sale being related to their old S-corp. Our review caught the issue, saving him multiple years of unnecessary NIIT.”
Another client entered year two of an installment sale with the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax applied inconsistently. We rebuilt the installment schedule, aligned basis and interest, and implemented a tracking worksheet for future years. It wasn’t dramatic—it was disciplined. And it prevented the same error from repeating on every subsequent return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I keep my old firm for business returns and move my personal 1040?
Many clients choose a hybrid approach—still having the old firm file business returns while we handle their personal return. That’s perfectly fine during a gradual transition. We’ll coordinate to get the necessary workpapers, depreciation files, and access you need. Once you’re comfortable, we can fully migrate business return responsibilities over. This method gives you continuity while ensuring we’re working with complete, accurate data, reducing the risk of missed deductions or misalignments during the handoff.
What if my CPA retired mid-return?
No worries—that scenario is surprisingly common! We step in seamlessly, often picking up mid‑return by coordinating directly with your prior firm or trustee. We request all available extracts, workpapers, and account reconciliations, then reconstruct and complete the filing—and follow up proactively if extensions or additional information are required. The goal is to minimize disruption and ensure continuity, all while safeguarding your filing deadlines and preventing errors from a rushed or incomplete handoff.
Will my fees increase?
Our pricing model is designed to reflect strategic value—not just volume. Yes, you may notice a modest pricing adjustment compared to your previous CPA. However, this represents a full-fledged upgrade: proactive tax planning, cost segregation analysis, basis cleanup, NIIT fidelity, and a structured 90-day tune-up, not just basic compliance. We’ll always walk you through what’s included upfront, how you’ll benefit, and ensure you understand the return on your investment before moving forward.
Do I need to retain IRS or state portal access for my old CPA?
No—you actually shouldn’t retain that access for security and clarity. We’ll guide you through revoking old QuickBooks Online, payroll, banking, and tax authority access so roles are clearly defined. Then, we’ll walk you through setting up new access under your control and re-establishing POAs. This ensures a clean handoff and protects you from future confusion or unauthorized activity—plus it gives you and your new CPA full control of records and reporting as we move into proactive planning.
What paperwork should I request from my prior firm to make sure nothing is missed?
At a minimum, ask for:
If applicable, correspondence or documentation for elections (e.g., REP, passive grouping elections)
This checklist is the backbone of a clean, strategic CPA transition.
Client-organized fixed asset and depreciation schedules (with placed-in-service dates, cost, and class life)
Trial balance with adjusting journal entries (AJEs) to understand mapping from books to return
Complete workpapers for cost segregation, QBI payroll support, basis schedules (Form 7203s), installment sale tracking, and NIIT calculations
Any lingering POA authority, QuickBooks or payroll access
Ready for a Second Look?
If your CPA retired — or if it’s just time for fresh eyes — we’d love to talk. Transitioning isn’t just about continuity. It’s about unlocking new strategies and peace of mind.
