Summary of What This Blog Covers:
- Why your S-Corp salary should be reviewed every year
- The importance of quarterly tax planning, not just annual prep
- How a CPA should align with your personal financial goals
- Why modern tools make your tax experience faster and easier
Let’s not sugarcoat it, most CPAs are playing checkers in a chess world. They take what you give them, plug in some numbers, hit “file,” and pat themselves on the back like they just performed financial alchemy.
But here’s the truth: compliance is the bare minimum. Filing taxes isn’t a value-add. It’s just doing the paperwork.
If your CPA isn’t proactively guiding you, optimizing your tax position year-round, and connecting the dots between your business and personal financial goals, you’re not just being underserved. You’re being overcharged for underperformance.
Here are the four things your CPA should absolutely be doing, but probably isn’t. And if that’s the case, don’t feel bad. Feel motivated. Because the solution isn’t fixing what you’ve got. It’s finding someone better.
Let’s get into it.
1. Running S-Corp Salary Tests Like Their License Depends On It (Because It Kind of Does)
You formed an S corporation (or were advised to), filed Form 2553, and started paying yourself a “reasonable salary” as the IRS requires. Great move. The S-corp tax structure can save thousands on self-employment taxes when used correctly.
But here’s the problem: “reasonable salary” is a moving target. And if your CPA set that number once and hasn’t touched it in years, you might as well be walking through an audit minefield in the dark.
The IRS looks at whether you’re paying yourself a fair market wage based on:
- Industry standards
- Your experience and role
- Comparable salaries in similar businesses
- The time you actually spend working in the business
Miss the mark? The IRS can reclassify your distributions as wages, slap you with payroll tax backpay, add penalties, and charge interest. And they have no sense of humor about it.
Yet most CPAs never re-run the test. Ever.
At Insogna, we do it annually in a minimum. We benchmark using credible sources, document our process, and make sure your payroll matches your business performance. Because saving on taxes is great, but saving legally is even better.
We’ve seen S-corp owners overpaying $6,000+ in payroll taxes simply because no one stopped to reassess the structure. And we’ve seen others underpay themselves into audit risk with no defense documentation in sight.
This isn’t busywork, it’s foundational. And if your CPA near you isn’t doing it, they’re either behind on best practices or hoping you don’t notice the gap.
2. Reviewing Your Tax Position Year-Round, Not Just When Deadlines Loom
If your CPA ghosts you from April to February, you don’t have a tax strategist. You have a seasonal transaction.
Here’s the reality: Tax strategy isn’t just something you think about once a year. It’s an ongoing process. Because tax code is dynamic. Your business is dynamic. Your cash flow changes, your goals evolve, and the IRS updates regulations more frequently than most CPAs check their email.
And yet? Most firms won’t lift a finger unless it’s tax season or you’re waving a crisis in their face.
That’s a reactive model. And it costs you.
Here’s what your CPA should be doing:
- Quarterly tax projection reviews to keep you ahead of the curve
- Adjusting estimated tax payments to avoid penalties and free up cash
- Spotting deduction opportunities before the year ends (not after it’s too late)
- Identifying shifting tax laws that impact your strategy
- Flagging red flags in your books before the IRS does
Let’s be blunt: waiting until March to make tax decisions is like buying flood insurance after the house is under water.
At Insogna, our clients get real-time reviews, mid-year planning, and year-end tax positioning long before it’s urgent. You’ll never wonder where you stand or be blindsided when it’s time to write a check.
This is especially critical for high-growth entrepreneurs, S-corp owners, and anyone with unpredictable income. If your income shifts quarter to quarter, your tax plan needs to shift too.
The tax code rewards the proactive. But only if your tax professional near you is actually paying attention.
3. Advising on Personal Financial Goals Because Business Is Personal
Let’s cut through the noise: Your personal and business finances aren’t two separate worlds. They’re connected. Intimately. Permanently. Inextricably.
And if your CPA is treating your tax return like a siloed event with no context about your personal goals, financial ambitions, or lifestyle, you’re not getting a complete picture.
At Insogna, we work with business owners who are also investors, parents, homeowners, and visionaries. Your tax strategy needs to reflect that.
We don’t just ask what you made, we ask:
- Do you want to retire early?
- Are you planning to sell your business?
- Do you want to invest in real estate or another venture?
- Are you planning to send your kids to college without taking on debt?
- Do you need a smarter way to save for retirement as a business owner?
- Are you exposed to international assets that require FBAR filing?
If your CPA isn’t bringing up questions like these or worse, doesn’t know how to help when you ask them, you’re wasting time and losing money.
And if they’re not talking to your wealth advisor or financial planner to align strategy across the board? You’re being served in fragments.
The modern CPA is a coach, not a clerk. Someone who connects your business cash flow to your personal net worth and helps you maximize both.
We advise on the full picture. We work directly with financial planners to optimize after-tax wealth. We calculate the long-term tax impact of your investment strategies. And yes, we handle your FBAR filings if you’re holding foreign accounts.
If your CPA sees your tax return but doesn’t see you, it’s time to upgrade.
4. Using Digital Tools That Feel Like 2025, Not 2005
Let’s talk tech or the lack thereof.
Too many accounting firms are stuck in the stone age. Clunky portals. Endless email threads. Scattered file requests. Manual signature processes. And zero transparency on where your return or documents actually stand.
Not only is this frustrating, it’s risky.
You deserve an Austin accounting service that’s secure, intuitive, and efficient. That’s why Insogna uses TaxDome—a robust, client-facing platform that centralizes everything you need:
- Secure document uploads and downloads
- Electronic signature tracking
- Real-time messaging
- Easy task management
- Automated reminders and notifications
- A transparent timeline of what’s done and what’s next
No more inbox chaos. No more login headaches. No more wondering “Did they get my form?” or “What’s the ETA on my return?”
TaxDome transforms the CPA experience from reactive to responsive and that’s the baseline you should expect.
We believe technology should serve you, not complicate your life. And we combine that seamless experience with the white-glove, concierge-level support you’d expect from a premium Austin CPA.
You deserve a tax experience that feels thoughtful, modern, and manageable. And it starts with having the right digital tools in place.
Final Thought: If You’re Settling for Compliance, You’re Leaving Strategy on the Table
This isn’t about having a “bad CPA.” It’s about recognizing when your accounting support has become stale, passive, or outdated.
You’re building a business that’s evolving, scaling, and stretching into new territory. Your accounting firm needs to match that energy with expertise, initiative, and the kind of strategic thinking that turns tax compliance into wealth acceleration.
At Insogna, we blend the best of both worlds:
- Licensed CPAs and enrolled agents with real expertise
- Cutting-edge technology to streamline your experience
- Real-time tax planning that adapts as your business grows
- Concierge-level support that anticipates your needs
- Straight-shooting advice that actually helps you make smarter financial moves
We’re not just your tax preparer. We’re your thought partner. Your coach. Your shield. Your strategist.
Ready to Work With a CPA Who Works Like You Do?
You’ve done the hard part: building something worth protecting. Now let’s make sure your financial team is as elite as your vision.
Book your discovery call with Insogna today.
Let’s get proactive. Let’s get strategic. Let’s get you a CPA who understands what success actually requires.
Schedule your call now.