Tax planning & strategy
Reduce your tax bill year-round.
Preparation is what you do in April. Planning is what you do all year. Both are available with TaxesbyRoss.
“At TaxesbyRoss, I provide expert tax preparation and planning services tailored to your unique financial situation. I ensure accuracy, maximize deductions, and help you keep more of your hard-earned money.”
— Ross
Tax Strategy Sessions
Personalized, one-on-one planning sessions to map out how to legally minimize your tax liability — before filing season, not after. I review income sources, deductions, retirement options, and quarterly payment strategies.
Contact RossSet-Aside Calculator
Ross's signature tool: a unique formula designed specifically for 1099 contractors and self-employed workers. Walk through your income, expenses, and filing situation to know exactly how much to set aside each month — so you're never caught off guard in April.
Try the CalculatorYear-Round Tax Support
Tax planning doesn't stop when you file. Ross is available throughout the year to answer questions, review major financial decisions (home purchase, business launch, new income stream), and keep your tax strategy aligned as your life changes.
Contact RossCommon strategies I use
Legal ways to keep more of your income
Every client situation is different. Ross reviews your full financial picture to identify which of these apply — and implements them correctly.
Let's Talk- Maximize IRA, SEP-IRA, or Solo 401(k) contributions
- Time income and deductions across tax years
- Use business entity structure to lower SE tax
- Bunch charitable donations into high-income years
- Leverage depreciation for rental and business assets
- Plan quarterly estimated payments to avoid penalties
- Health Savings Account (HSA) optimization
- Home office deduction qualification review
Common questions
- Do I need tax planning if I already have a tax preparer?Tax preparation and tax planning are different jobs. Preparation is backward-looking: it reports the year that already happened, and by the time you file, most decisions are locked in. Planning is forward-looking: it looks at the current year while you can still act — adjusting estimated payments, timing income and expenses, choosing retirement contributions, and deciding on an entity change. If your situation is simple and stable, preparation alone may be enough. If you are self-employed, your income varies, you own a business or rental, or you had a big life change, planning usually pays for itself.
- How do quarterly estimated taxes work?Quarterly estimated taxes are prepayments of income tax and self-employment tax on income that has no withholding, such as 1099 or business income. You generally must pay them if you expect to owe about $1,000 or more after withholding and credits. Payments are due roughly mid-April, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-January. You avoid an underpayment penalty if your total payments cover at least 90 percent of this year's tax or 100 percent of last year's tax (110 percent if your prior-year income was high). In Florida there is no state estimated payment because there is no state income tax.
- How much should I set aside for taxes when I'm self-employed?For most self-employed people in Florida, setting aside 25 to 30 percent of net profit (income after business expenses) covers federal income tax plus self-employment tax. Lower earners may need closer to 15 to 20 percent; higher earners or those with large W-2 income alongside can need 35 percent or more. Florida has no state income tax, so there is nothing to set aside for that. The reliable way to do it is to move a fixed percentage of every payment into a separate account as you get paid.