Is CTC the Right Fit?
Who is Clear Tax Compass best suited for?
Clear Tax Compass works best with clients whose tax situations have grown complex enough that careful preparation alone is no longer sufficient. That typically includes professionals managing equity compensation, vesting schedules, or multi-state income; real estate investors with rental activity, depreciation questions, or 1031 considerations; business owners with pass-through entities, payroll, or multi-entity structures; and individuals navigating a significant financial event such as a business sale, property transaction, or inheritance. The common thread is not a specific income level or profession — it is a situation that benefits from ongoing attention, judgment, and coordination rather than a once-a-year filing relationship.
What kinds of clients do you typically work with?
Most clients fall into one of a few categories: professionals with equity compensation or investment activity that creates meaningful planning complexity; real estate investors managing one or more properties; business owners with S-corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships that require both business and personal return preparation; and individuals with multi-state filing requirements or significant non-wage income. Some clients come with all of these at once. What they share is a tax picture that has outgrown a generalist and a preference for working with someone who understands the full picture.
Do you work with clients who have both business and personal returns?
Yes. For many clients, the business and personal returns are closely connected — income flows between entities, compensation decisions affect both sides, and planning on one return has implications for the other. Handling both within the same engagement is often more effective than splitting them between different advisors.
Do you work with real estate investors, multi-state filers, or multi-entity situations?
Yes. These are among the most common situations in the practice. Real estate investors managing rental activity, depreciation, cost segregation, or 1031 exchanges benefit from preparation and planning that accounts for the full picture across years, not just the current filing. Multi-state situations require attention to sourcing rules, residency questions, and filing requirements that vary by state. Multi-entity clients — those with combinations of LLCs, S-corporations, partnerships, or trusts — need coordination across returns and structures. All of these fall within the scope of what CTC handles.
Do you work with clients who have equity compensation or significant investment activity?
Yes. Equity compensation — including stock options, restricted stock units, and employee stock purchase plans — creates planning complexity that goes well beyond the mechanics of the grant or vest. Timing decisions, tax withholding, alternative minimum tax exposure, and the interaction with other income sources all require attention. Clients with concentrated positions, significant capital gains activity, or investment income across multiple accounts are also a common fit.
Who is probably not the right fit for CTC?
Clients whose tax situations are straightforward — a single W-2, standard deductions, no business income, no investment complexity — are likely better served by a simpler and less expensive solution. CTC is structured around ongoing advisory relationships with meaningful complexity, and that level of support is more than most straightforward filers need or would find useful. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, the intake form is the clearest way to find out.
Do you take one-time tax preparation clients, or only ongoing relationships?
Clear Tax Compass is generally structured around ongoing relationships rather than standalone annual filings. True North is the entry point for clients who primarily need annual preparation handled thoughtfully, with limited planning support built into the process. Compass Review is also available selectively for prospective clients who want a second look at a prior return or recent filing period before deciding whether to move forward. If you are primarily looking for a preparer to handle a straightforward annual return, this may be more support than you need.
How Working Together Works
What happens after I submit the intake form?
Responses are reviewed within a few business days. If your situation appears to be a good fit, you will hear back with next steps, which may include a short introductory call. If the practice is not the right match, you will still receive a response. The intake form is there to make sure the conversation is useful on both sides before anything begins.
How do I know if CTC is the right fit before committing, and is there an initial consultation?
The intake form is the starting point. It collects enough information about your situation to determine whether there is a reasonable fit and which engagement level may make sense. If the initial review suggests a good match, the next step is typically a short introductory call where you can ask questions, get a clearer sense of how the practice works, and decide whether to move forward. That call is not a paid consultation and does not create any obligation on either side. There is no commitment required at any point before an engagement is formally agreed upon.
What does onboarding look like as a new client?
Once an engagement is agreed upon, onboarding typically involves a document and information gathering phase, a review of prior year returns, and an initial conversation to understand your full tax picture and establish priorities for the year. The goal of onboarding is to get oriented quickly so that planning and preparation can begin with full context rather than working from a standing start at filing time.
What does working with a virtual practice mean in practical terms?
All client work is handled remotely. Documents are exchanged through a secure client portal, meetings take place by video or phone, and communication happens through the portal or email depending on the nature of the question. There is no in-person office. For most clients this creates no meaningful difference in the quality or depth of the relationship — the work is the same regardless of geography.
Who will I be working with?
Clear Tax Compass is a solo practice. You will work directly with the advisor for all planning, preparation, and communication. There is no hand-off to staff, no junior preparer handling your return, and no support team fielding your questions. That directness is intentional and is one of the reasons the practice maintains a limited client roster.
What does an ongoing planning relationship involve during the year?
The specific touchpoints depend on the engagement level, but in general an ongoing relationship involves more than annual preparation. It includes planning conversations as questions and decisions come up during the year, attention to how changes in your income or circumstances affect your tax picture, and coordination across the moving parts of your situation. At higher engagement levels it also includes proactive outreach, quarterly conversations, and coordination with outside advisors such as attorneys or financial planners. The goal is to be a resource throughout the year, not only at filing time.
How often do we typically connect?
That depends on the engagement level and the complexity of your situation. At the True North level, touchpoints are concentrated around filing season with limited planning support built into that process. At the Charted Course level, there is more contact during the year as questions and planning considerations arise. At the Navigator Advisory level, quarterly planning conversations are a standard part of the engagement, along with additional contact as needed for time-sensitive decisions. Outside of scheduled touchpoints, clients at all levels can reach out when something comes up.
How do you communicate with clients, and what response time should I expect?
Most communication happens through a secure client portal, which is the primary channel for document exchange and routine questions. For more involved conversations, calls or video meetings are scheduled as needed. Response time for portal messages is typically within one to two business days for non-urgent matters. Time-sensitive questions are handled with more urgency, particularly for clients at the Navigator Advisory level where priority access is part of the engagement.
Services and Scope
What is the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
Tax preparation is the process of organizing your financial information, applying the tax code to what has already happened, and filing an accurate return. It is backward-looking by nature. Tax planning starts from the same foundation but looks forward — identifying how upcoming decisions, income events, and changes in your situation will affect your tax picture before they become filing entries. For clients with meaningful complexity, preparation alone captures less than the full value of having an advisor engaged throughout the year.
Do you offer tax preparation without a planning component?
True North includes annual preparation with limited planning support built into the process. It is not a standalone filing-only service, but it is the most preparation-focused engagement CTC offers. Clients who need only a straightforward annual return with no planning involvement are likely better served by a simpler solution. If you are unsure where your situation falls, the intake form is the clearest way to find out.
Can I start with a one-time review before committing to something broader?
Yes. The Compass Review is a limited-scope engagement designed for exactly that situation. It covers a review of one to two prior year returns, observations on areas worth revisiting, and a brief consultation on next steps. Some clients use it as a standalone service. Others use it as a starting point before deciding whether an ongoing relationship makes sense. If you move forward with an ongoing engagement before your current year return has been filed, the review fee is applied toward your first year.
Do you help with IRS notices, audits, or representation?
Yes. As an Enrolled Agent, the advisor is federally authorized to represent clients before the IRS at all administrative levels, including examinations, appeals, and collections matters. If you receive a notice and are already a client, share it through the client portal as promptly as possible so it can be reviewed and addressed within the required timeframe. If you are not yet a client and have received a notice or are facing an audit, note that in the intake form. Representation and notice response work can be discussed during the intake conversation depending on the nature and scope of the matter.
Do you assist with back filings or clients who are behind?
In some cases, yes. Clients with unfiled returns or outstanding compliance issues are not automatically excluded, but the scope and nature of the situation affects whether CTC is the right fit for the work involved. If you have unfiled years, a compliance backlog, or have already received IRS or state correspondence related to unfiled returns, include that detail when you submit the intake form. It will be factored into the review and addressed directly in any follow-up.
Do you prepare business returns?
Yes. Business return preparation — including S-corporation, partnership, and sole proprietorship returns — is part of the practice. For most business owner clients, the business and personal returns are prepared together within the same engagement, which allows for better coordination across both.
Do you prepare returns for trusts or estates?
Trust and estate returns are handled selectively depending on the complexity of the situation and how they fit within the broader engagement. If you have a trust or estate filing need, mention it when you submit the intake form so the scope can be evaluated as part of the overall picture.
Do you help coordinate with bookkeepers, attorneys, or financial advisors?
Yes, particularly at the Charted Course and Navigator Advisory levels. Tax decisions rarely exist in isolation — they interact with investment strategy, entity structure, estate planning, and business operations. Coordinating with outside advisors helps ensure that those connections are accounted for rather than working in silos. At the Navigator Advisory level, coordination with outside professionals is a standard part of the engagement.
Do you provide bookkeeping or accounting services?
No. Clear Tax Compass is focused on tax planning, preparation, and advisory work. Bookkeeping and accounting services are outside the scope of the practice. If you work with a bookkeeper or accountant, CTC can coordinate with them as needed within the scope of your engagement.
Do you provide legal or investment advice?
No. Tax planning and advisory work is distinct from legal advice and investment advice, and CTC does not provide either. For situations that require legal guidance — entity formation documents, estate planning instruments, contract review — an attorney is the appropriate resource. For investment decisions, a financial advisor or investment manager is the appropriate resource. Where those professionals are already part of your team, CTC can coordinate with them on the tax implications of decisions being considered.
Do you help with entity selection or structure?
Tax considerations around entity selection and structure are within scope — evaluating the tax implications of operating as a sole proprietor versus an S-corporation, for example, or assessing how a proposed entity structure affects your overall tax picture. The legal work of forming and documenting entities is outside scope and handled by an attorney. For clients weighing a structural change, the tax analysis is often a useful starting point before engaging legal counsel.
Do you handle amended returns?
Yes, in situations where an amendment is warranted. Amended returns for prior years are handled within the scope of ongoing engagements and, in some cases, as part of a Compass Review when a prior year issue is identified. If you have a specific amended return need, that can be discussed as part of the initial fit conversation.
What kinds of issues fall outside the scope of an engagement?
Bookkeeping, accounting, legal advice, and investment advice are outside scope. Highly specialized areas — international tax for foreign nationals, complex trust and estate litigation, or tax matters requiring subspecialty expertise beyond the scope of the practice — may also fall outside what CTC handles directly. When a situation requires expertise outside the practice, that will be identified early and the appropriate referral made rather than attempting work that falls outside the advisor's competency.
Pricing and Engagement
What do engagements typically start at?
Engagements begin at $1,750 annually for True North, which covers annual preparation with limited planning support built into the process. Charted Course engagements, which include preparation plus year-round coordination and planning support, range from $3,500 to $5,500 annually. Navigator Advisory, the most active engagement level, starts at $6,000 annually. The Compass Review, a limited-scope standalone review engagement, is priced between $750 and $1,500 depending on scope.
How is pricing determined?
Pricing is based on the complexity of your situation and the level of engagement that makes sense given your needs. The number of entities, income sources, states, and planning considerations all affect scope. The engagement level establishes the framework, and the specific fee within that range is confirmed during the intake process once the full picture is understood. There are no surprise add-ons after an engagement begins for work that falls within the agreed scope.
How do I know whether my situation warrants this level of support?
A useful starting point is whether your tax situation involves more than one or two straightforward moving parts — a business, rental properties, equity compensation, multi-state income, or significant investment activity. If decisions you make during the year have meaningful tax implications, and those implications are not being addressed until filing time, that gap is often where planning adds the most value. If you are unsure, that uncertainty itself is usually a signal worth paying attention to.
Are tax returns included in advisory engagements?
Yes. Preparation of your individual return and applicable business returns is included within the scope of all three ongoing engagement levels. The engagement is not advisory-only — preparation and planning are handled together, which is what allows the planning to be grounded in your actual filing situation rather than operating in the abstract.
How are services billed and when is payment due?
Engagements are billed on an annual basis. Payment terms are confirmed during the onboarding process. For clients who prefer to spread payments across the year, monthly payment arrangements are available for ongoing engagements. Compass Review fees are due at the time of engagement.
What happens if my situation becomes more complex during the year?
If your situation changes materially during an engagement — a business acquisition, a significant real estate transaction, an unexpected IRS matter — that change is discussed openly. In most cases, complexity that falls within the general scope of the engagement is absorbed without adjustment. Significant scope changes that go beyond the original engagement framework are addressed through a conversation about whether an adjustment to the engagement level or a separate project fee is appropriate. That conversation happens before additional work begins, not after.
Can I engage CTC for a specific project before moving into an ongoing relationship?
The Compass Review is the primary entry point for clients who are not ready to commit to an ongoing engagement. It is scoped as a standalone review rather than a project engagement, and it is designed to give both sides enough clarity to decide whether an ongoing relationship makes sense. For clients who come with a specific one-time need outside the scope of the Compass Review, that is addressed during the intake conversation.
Timing and Logistics
When is the best time to reach out?
The most useful time to reach out is outside of filing season — ideally between May and November — when there is enough runway to get oriented, review your prior year situation, and put planning in place before year-end decisions need to be made. That said, reaching out at any point in the year is worthwhile if your situation has changed or you have been considering making a move. Onboarding during filing season is possible but more constrained, and planning opportunities for the current year may be more limited depending on timing.
Do you take new clients during tax season?
In limited cases, yes. New client onboarding during filing season — roughly February through April — is possible but not the norm. Capacity during that period is concentrated on existing clients, and the ability to take on new work depends on what is already committed. If you are reaching out during filing season, note that in the intake form and the response will be honest about what is feasible given current capacity.
Can I reach out if I am already on extension?
Yes. Being on extension is not a barrier to reaching out, and in some cases it creates a useful window. An extension gives additional time to gather information, review the prior year situation, and potentially identify planning considerations before the return is finalized. If you are on extension and considering a change, reaching out sooner rather than later gives the most flexibility.
Can you help if I have received an IRS or state notice or am behind on filings?
In many cases, yes. IRS and state notices are handled within the scope of ongoing engagements — if you receive a notice and are already a client, share it through the client portal promptly so it can be reviewed and addressed within the required timeframe. If you are not yet a client and have received a notice, are facing an audit, or have unfiled years or a compliance backlog, note that in the intake form. The scope and nature of the situation will be factored into the fit assessment and follow-up conversation.
How do you collect and store documents securely?
All documents are exchanged through a secure client portal. The portal is the primary channel for sending and receiving tax documents, signed forms, and correspondence. Documents are not accepted by email. The portal provides encrypted transmission and secure storage, and access is limited to the client and the practice.
What technology or portal do you use for client communication and documents?
The practice uses TaxDome as its client portal and practice management platform. TaxDome handles document exchange, electronic signatures, secure messaging, and task tracking. Clients access their portal through a web browser or the TaxDome mobile app. Setup and access instructions are provided during onboarding.
Do you file extensions automatically?
Extensions are filed as a standard part of the practice for clients who need additional time beyond the original deadline. For ongoing engagement clients, extension decisions are coordinated proactively based on the status of your return and the information available at the time. Extensions are not filed automatically without communication — the timing and decision are discussed with each client as filing deadlines approach.
How far in advance should I reach out before a major transaction or financial event?
As early as possible. Major transactions — a property sale, a business sale or acquisition, a significant equity event, a large distribution — often have tax implications that can be managed or structured more effectively when there is time to plan before the event is complete. Once a transaction closes, the options narrow considerably. If you are anticipating a significant event and are not yet a client, reaching out during the intake process well in advance of the transaction gives the most room to work with.
Credentials and Trust
What is an Enrolled Agent, and how is that different from a CPA?
An Enrolled Agent is a federally licensed tax professional authorized to prepare returns, advise on tax matters, and represent taxpayers before the IRS. The credential is issued directly by the IRS and requires passing a comprehensive three-part examination covering individual taxation, business taxation, and representation, followed by ongoing continuing education requirements. A CPA holds a broader state-issued accounting license with scope that extends to auditing, financial reporting, and general accounting work. The EA credential is narrower by design — it is focused specifically on taxation. For clients whose primary need is tax preparation, planning, and IRS-related guidance, that focused expertise is what matters.
How long have you been in practice?
The practice has nearly two decades of experience in tax preparation, planning, and representation. That depth of experience covers a wide range of client situations — business owners, real estate investors, professionals with equity compensation, multi-state filers, and clients navigating significant financial transitions — and informs both the planning approach and the judgment applied to complex situations.
Can you represent me before the IRS?
Yes. Enrolled Agents are federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS at all administrative levels, including examinations, collections, and appeals. That authority is not limited by state and applies regardless of where the return was prepared or where the client is located. IRS representation is within scope for ongoing engagement clients and can also be discussed as a standalone matter during the intake process depending on the situation.
What continuing education or professional standards apply to Enrolled Agents?
Enrolled Agents are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years, with a minimum of 16 hours each year, including mandatory ethics coursework. The credential is renewed on a three-year cycle through the IRS. EAs are also subject to Treasury Circular 230, which governs the practice of tax professionals before the IRS and establishes standards for competence, diligence, and ethical conduct.
Why do you work with a limited number of clients?
A limited roster is what makes the practice work the way it is designed to work. Ongoing advisory relationships require time, attention, and genuine familiarity with each client's situation. That is not possible at scale. By keeping the practice intentionally small, it is possible to be genuinely available, to know each client's situation well enough to be proactive rather than reactive, and to give the kind of attention that the work actually requires. Growth for its own sake would compromise the quality of what is offered and the nature of the relationship.
How is my information kept confidential and secure?
Client information is handled with strict confidentiality as a professional and ethical obligation under Treasury Circular 230 and applicable federal and state privacy requirements. Documents are exchanged exclusively through a secure encrypted portal and are not transmitted by email. Access to client files is limited to the practice. Information is never shared with third parties without client authorization except as required by law.