High-Earning California Tech Employees Should Consider Filing Taxes Separately
Let’s be honest: filing status isn't exactly a sexy tax planning topic. In fact, for most people, it's a completely settled debate. About 98% of the time, choosing "Married Filing Jointly" is the clear winner for married couples. It offers favorable tax brackets,...
The Worst Tax Advice You Can Get About Incentive Stock Options
Recently I met with a prospect who had exercised their incentive stock options (ISOs) last year. When they discussed the transaction with their previous tax professional, they were told, "I don't think you need to worry about that for this year". Unfortunately, you...
$10,000 Mistake Hiding in Your RSUs: How to Avoid Double Taxation
I talk to incredibly smart tech professionals every single week. You are detailed-oriented, highly skilled, and great at your jobs. Yet, despite that intelligence and attention to detail, I see many of you at risk for a specific, costly mistake: paying double tax on...
The $50,000 Question: A New Perspective on RSU Strategy
I recently posed a hypothetical question to a new client that completely shifted his perspective on his net worth. The question was simple: "If your company gave you a $50,000 cash bonus today, would you immediately turn around and use all of that cash to buy company...
3 Critical Tax Changes Taking Effect in 2026: What High Earners Need to Know
Last summer, a significant tax bill was passed that avoided the much-feared "tax cliff." While the headlines have since moved on, the reality is that the tax code is shifting again on January 1, 2026. It has been several months since that legislation passed, and as we...
3 W-2 Traps That Could Cost High Earners Thousands (Don’t File Yet!)
January has just ended. If you haven't already checked your mailbox or your secure employee portal, your W-2 is likely waiting for you now. For most, the instinct is to simply take that form, plug the numbers into TurboTax, and call it a day. In the past, that might...
The 2026 Paycheck Audit: 3 Steps to Stop Leaking Cash Before It Starts
It is January 2026. Your first paycheck of the year has likely just hit your bank account. For most people, the instinct is to glance at the net deposit amount, archive the email, and move on. However, as a CPA who specializes in tax planning for high-income earners,...
Electronic Payments
A significant change is coming to how you interact with the IRS, and we want to make sure you're prepared. Effective September 30, 2025, the IRS will no longer issue or accept paper checks. This means all tax payments and refunds will need to be handled...
One Big Beautiful Bill – Top 15 Tax Changes
For years, we've been helping you plan around the "what-ifs" of the 2025 tax cliff. The temporary provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) were set to expire, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over everything from income tax rates to your business deductions....
What Makes a Tax Return “Complex”? Understanding When You Need a Specialist
Every year, I hear the same question from potential new clients: “Is my tax return really that complex?” It’s a fair question, and one that’s become increasingly relevant as more people accumulate diverse investments, launch side businesses, or receive equity...
Filing Your Annual Tax Return (Dear Teenager – 4 of 4)
Dear Teenager, The last topic I want to discuss with you is filing your annual tax return. A new year recently began. For your friends in finance, that meant the beginning of what we call ‘tax season." If you worked last year, chances are high you were one of the...
Understanding IRS Estimated Tax Payments
If you're like many of our clients, you may have noticed that sometimes your W-2 withholdings don't cover all the tax you owe when April rolls around. This is especially true for folks who receive additional forms of income beyond their regular paycheck. Today, I want...












