About – Clear Tax Compass

ABOUT CLEAR TAX COMPASS

A More Personal and Coordinated Approach to Tax Work.

Connecting planning, preparation, and guidance for clients whose needs go beyond an annual filing.

Hi, I’m Suma O’Farrell, founder of Clear Tax Compass. My goal is to take some of the stress and uncertainty out of taxes by helping you understand your tax picture, address what needs attention, and plan for what comes next. I’d be happy to connect with you.

Suma O’Farrell, EA

Founder, Clear Tax Compass

THE STORY

Why I created Clear Tax Compass

Accurate, timely filing is essential. But a deadline-driven process does not always leave room to coordinate with the other professionals involved, consider a client’s broader tax picture, understand what has changed, identify issues before they become surprises, or plan ahead.

I saw clients face unexpected balances and underpayment penalties because there had been little opportunity to step back before filing. A more complete review might have shown that withholding was too low, estimated payments needed to be adjusted, or a significant capital gain called for advance planning.

The return itself may have been prepared correctly. The missing piece was often communication, context, and the time to recognize what else required attention.

I created Clear Tax Compass to work differently. I take the time to understand each client’s situation and connect tax preparation with the level of planning and guidance their circumstances require.

The recurring themes were familiar:

Timing

Planning conversations often happened too late.

Context

The broader tax picture was not always reviewed before filing.

Communication

Clients did not always have clear explanations or next steps.

Coordination

Preparation, planning, and guidance were not always connected.

THE BACKGROUND

What I Bring to Your Tax Work

Nearly twenty years of experience across different tax and accounting environments, from high- volume preparation to smaller practices and more complex, relationship-based engagements, has shaped how I approach tax work. I have seen what works, what can be overlooked, and how much communication and continuity matter to the client experience.

My work has included individual and entity returns for professionals, business owners, real estate investors, and clients with international tax considerations. I have also assisted clients with significant income events, investment activity, tax projections, amended returns, and federal and state tax notices and resolution matters.

Before focusing on tax, I completed undergraduate studies with a focus on law and political science at UC Santa Barbara and spent several years working in law firms. I later received an MA in International Relations through Boston University’s Paris Graduate Center. That background strengthened the research, analysis, and critical-thinking skills I bring to tax work. It also taught me to look at issues in context, understand how the pieces fit together, and ask the right questions before reaching a conclusion.

I also hold an active California real estate license, which adds perspective when tax questions involve property, investment decisions, timing, or structure. It’s interesting to see how those pieces interact, and I like being able to weigh both sides of a decision.

I genuinely enjoy tax work. It aligns with how I naturally think: starting with the broader picture, working through the details, identifying issues, and looking for opportunities to plan ahead. What matters most to me is that clients feel someone is paying attention and can help them understand what comes next.

THE CREDENTIAL

The Credential Behind the Work

Enrolled Agent. Admitted to practice before the IRS.

Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and attorneys are the three categories of tax professionals with unlimited practice rights before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent credential is awarded by the IRS, earned through examination, and maintained through continuing education focused specifically on federal tax law. That federal foundation is complemented by years of direct experience with state and international tax matters.

The same authority carries into the planning and preparation work. If a notice arrives, an audit is opened, or a prior-year issue surfaces, representation does not require starting over with someone unfamiliar with the return.

EA

Enrolled Agent

18+

Years of experience

IRS

Admitted to practice before the IRS

What this means for clients

The Enrolled Agent designation is a federal credential, so it holds no matter which state a client is in, or whether they’re filing from abroad. It allows preparation, planning, and IRS representation to remain connected when those services are needed, rather than treating each as a separate piece of the tax picture.

THE PERSON

A little more about me

My life has taken me from India, to Chicago, Memphis, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Washington, D.C., Paris, San Francisco, and ultimately the East Bay, where I now live and work. I have also traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Central America, and India. Those experiences sparked my curiosity about how people build their lives, careers, and businesses in different communities and countries.

I am the mother of three wonderful and spirited young adults, which has brought its own lessons in patience, perspective, and adaptability.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, hiking, spending time outdoors, discovering good food, and learning about whatever has captured my curiosity. I bring that same curiosity to my work by asking thoughtful questions and looking beyond the immediate issue to understand the broader picture.

Start Your Fit Review

Share a few details about your tax situation, the returns involved, and the type of support you may be looking for.

Submitting the Fit Review does not commit you to an engagement.

Prefer to start with a resource?

Download the free guide, Where Tax Returns Go Wrong, for a practical look at issues that can be overlooked when tax work is treated as an annual filing exercise.