§ TAX PLANNING
BOCA RATON · UPDATED MAY 2026
Tax planning beats tax preparation every time.
Tax preparation is backward-looking — we file what already happened. Tax planning is forward-looking — we change what's about to happen. That's where real tax savings come from.
In short
Tax planning at KDM Accounting means meeting with you before year-end (and often quarterly) to identify and execute specific tax-saving moves — entity structure, retirement contributions, timing of income and expenses, capital gains harvesting, charitable strategies, and more. Clients typically save 4-10x the planning fee in the first year.
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§ 01
Why planning beats preparation
By April 15, the year is locked in. You can't retroactively contribute to a 401(k), convert to an S-Corp for last year, or harvest a loss that already happened. Tax planning moves the decisions to when they can still matter.
§ 02
What a planning engagement looks like
Typical annual cadence for a business-owner client:
- — January: Review prior year's return for carry-forward items + set strategy for current year
- — April-May: Mid-year check-in based on Q1 results
- — August-September: Fall planning session — entity optimization, retirement funding, equipment purchases
- — November: Year-end session — identify + execute specific moves before Dec 31
- — December: Follow-up on execution; preliminary tax estimate
§ 03
Core levers we work on
- — Entity structure optimization (LLC vs. S-Corp vs. C-Corp — when to convert)
- — Retirement plan selection + funding (Solo 401(k), SEP, Defined Benefit)
- — Reasonable compensation analysis for S-Corp owners
- — QBI (Qualified Business Income) deduction optimization
- — Section 179 + bonus depreciation timing
- — Income + expense timing (cash vs. accrual accounting)
- — Tax-loss harvesting in investment accounts
- — Charitable giving strategy (DAFs, bunching, appreciated securities)
- — Roth conversion opportunities in low-income years
- — Estate + gift tax planning
§ 04
For high-earning individuals
High-W-2 earners often believe they have no tax planning options. Not true. The levers are different (you can't change when income is received) but real savings exist:
- — Backdoor Roth conversions
- — Mega backdoor Roth (if employer 401(k) allows after-tax contributions)
- — HSA optimization as a stealth retirement account
- — Deferred compensation plans (if offered)
- — Charitable giving with appreciated securities vs. cash
- — Donor-advised funds for income-concentration years
- — Stock option / RSU timing
§ 05
For retirees and near-retirees
The retirement transition is the highest-impact tax planning window of most clients' lives:
- — Roth conversion sequencing (pre-RMD years)
- — Social Security claim timing optimization
- — Retirement-account withdrawal order (taxable → tax-deferred → Roth)
- — RMD planning starting at age 73
- — Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs
- — Medicare IRMAA surcharge planning
- — State residency documentation (Florida advantage)
§ Scope
What's included — and what isn't.
No surprises mid-engagement. Here's exactly what's in the standard scope, and what we'd bill separately or refer out.
Included
- — Annual or quarterly planning sessions (calendar set at engagement)
- — Entity structure review and S-Corp election analysis where applicable
- — Reasonable-salary documentation for S-Corp owners
- — Retirement-plan selection and funding strategy
- — Section 179 and bonus-depreciation timing analysis
- — Year-end tax projections and "what-if" scenario modeling
- — Email and phone access for time-sensitive questions year-round
Outside our scope
- — Tax return preparation — see Tax Preparation
- — Bookkeeping or accounting work — see Bookkeeping
- — Investment management or specific security recommendations
- — Legal document drafting (operating agreements, trusts, wills)
By April 15 the year is locked. Tax planning moves the decisions back to when they can still matter — that's where the real savings live.
§ FAQ
Questions we hear about tax planning.
When should I start tax planning?
How much can tax planning actually save?
§ Related services
Often paired with tax planning.
§ Tax Preparation
Tax preparation for individuals and businesses in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. Federal and state returns, IRS e-file, year-round support.
See more
§ Bookkeeping
Monthly bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting for South Florida owner-operators. Clean books built around your S-Corp.
See more
§ S-Corporation Tax
S-Corporation tax as a specialty — Form 1120-S, K-1 issuance, annual reasonable-compensation memo, and maintained basis schedule. Single-shareholder bundle (corp + personal 1040) from $950.
See more
Ready to talk?
A 30-minute scoping call costs nothing.
Free 30-minute call to confirm fit. If we are the right firm for the work, we send a written scope and a flat fee. If we are not, we point you elsewhere.