Recommendations for Tax professional....

Tax, SDIRAs & Cost Segregation
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Recommendations for Tax professional....

Bryan HartlenPro Member
Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2018 · 315 posts · 159 votes

Our tax person, is closing their business at year end. Looking for recommendations. We're small but we invest through multiple entities including trusts and self directed 401ks (regular and Roth). We'd also prefer that they can handle our personal taxes also. We're located in AZ and also file in AL. Tax person can be anywhere as long as we can meet through video. Our current tax person will assist in transition through the end of the year. Let me know if you know of anyone or if you know might work for us. Thanks.

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Chea Romine
Member since 2026 · 26 posts · 4 votes
3w

When your current preparer is winding down and you have multiple entities, trusts, and SDIRA / solo-401k activity across AZ and AL, Id interview for process fit more than a local zip code. Video-capable is fine if they actually run multi-entity packages.

Questions Id ask before you transfer the file:
How many clients have trusts + self-directed retirement accounts holding real estate or alternative assets, not just plain Schedule E?
Who prepares the 1041 / trust returns and the personal 1040 in the same firm, or do they hand trusts out?
How do they coordinate entity books, K-1 timing, and estimated vouchers across states (AZ resident + AL)?
What does the year-one transition cost look like (prior-year review, basis schedules, depreciation continuity) versus the recurring annual fee?
Can they take a secure handoff from your current preparer before Dec 31 so Q4 estimates and entity elections do not fall through the crack?

BP's tax-pro lead list is a reasonable sourcing channel. Still verify CPA/EA licensing yourself and ask for a redacted sample planning memo or entity organizer. Skip anyone who only sells a one-hour April slot.

Not a referral and not advice for your entities. Just the filter Id use on a multi-entity handoff.

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  • Vaibhav PuranikPro Member
    Member since 2025 · 93 posts · 52 votes
    3w

    Hi Bryan, sent you info about my CPA in DM.

    [email protected]
    0Reply
  • Dominick AustriaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Las Vegas · Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 21 votes
    3w

    Hi Bryan. Sent you a message.

    Also, BP has a lead generation program for Tax Pros. They will provide a handful of options you can reach out to based on your needs and location. This might be something to look into.

    Intent CPA Solutions, LLC525 Reviews
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  • Chea Romine
    Member since 2026 · 26 posts · 4 votes
    3w

    When your current preparer is winding down and you have multiple entities, trusts, and SDIRA / solo-401k activity across AZ and AL, Id interview for process fit more than a local zip code. Video-capable is fine if they actually run multi-entity packages.

    Questions Id ask before you transfer the file:
    How many clients have trusts + self-directed retirement accounts holding real estate or alternative assets, not just plain Schedule E?
    Who prepares the 1041 / trust returns and the personal 1040 in the same firm, or do they hand trusts out?
    How do they coordinate entity books, K-1 timing, and estimated vouchers across states (AZ resident + AL)?
    What does the year-one transition cost look like (prior-year review, basis schedules, depreciation continuity) versus the recurring annual fee?
    Can they take a secure handoff from your current preparer before Dec 31 so Q4 estimates and entity elections do not fall through the crack?

    BP's tax-pro lead list is a reasonable sourcing channel. Still verify CPA/EA licensing yourself and ask for a redacted sample planning memo or entity organizer. Skip anyone who only sells a one-hour April slot.

    Not a referral and not advice for your entities. Just the filter Id use on a multi-entity handoff.

    1Reply
  • Ana Garcia
    CPA · Miami, FL · Member since 2015 · 134 posts · 83 votes
    3w

    Hi Bryan, sent you a connection request.

    0Reply
  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3w

    Bryan, sorry to hear your tax person is closing, but it sounds like you’re at a point where having someone who understands the full picture is important.

    With multiple entities, trusts, and self-directed retirement accounts, I’d look for someone who can coordinate everything rather than just prepare returns at year-end. The entity structure, investment activity, retirement accounts, and personal tax situation can all affect each other.

    I’d also make sure whoever you work with is comfortable with real estate investing specifically, including depreciation, cost segregation, passive activity rules, entity structure, and planning opportunities throughout the year.
    Feel free to DM me, I’d be happy to connect and share some information about our approach.

    [email protected]941-914-7779
    INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®4.9242 Reviews
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    TaxMD® | Tax Planning Software
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  • Jason MalabuteBusiness Member
    Accountant · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 912 votes
    3w

    With trusts, several entities, and self-directed retirement accounts in the mix, I'd weigh process over geography. Video is fine as long as the person is actually set up to run a multi-entity package and not just a 1040 with a few rentals hanging off it.

    A handful of things worth asking before you move the file: does the same firm prepare the trust returns and your personal return, or do they hand the trusts off to someone else? How do they keep entity books, K-1 timing, and estimated payments lined up across an AZ resident return and an AL filing? What does year one look like compared to the recurring annual fee, since the first year includes reviewing prior returns and picking up basis and depreciation continuity? And can they take a secure handoff from your current preparer before December 31 so Q4 estimates and any entity elections don't fall through the cracks?

    The other half of it is real estate depth - depreciation, cost segregation, passive activity rules, entity structure - and someone who talks to you during the year rather than only at filing time, because your entities, retirement accounts, and personal return all push on each other. What matters most will depend on your specific facts, so it's worth walking through the details with whoever you shortlist.

    Malabute & Company CPAs527 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
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  • Fulton Abraham Sanchez
    CPA| New Clients Welcome| 50 States · Member since 2016 · 440 posts · 94 votes
    3w

    @Bryan Hartlen , hi. With multiple entities, trusts, self-directed 401(k)s, and multi-state filings, you’ll want a CPA who can coordinate everything—not just prepare separate returns.

    We work with real estate investors on personal and entity taxes, multi-state compliance, and tax planning. Since your current preparer can help with the transition, this is a good time to make the move smoothly. Happy to connect

    0Reply
  • Diana KhanPro Member
    Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 625 posts · 213 votes
    3d
    Quote from @Bryan Hartlen:

    Our tax person, is closing their business at year end. Looking for recommendations. We're small but we invest through multiple entities including trusts and self directed 401ks (regular and Roth). We'd also prefer that they can handle our personal taxes also. We're located in AZ and also file in AL. Tax person can be anywhere as long as we can meet through video. Our current tax person will assist in transition through the end of the year. Let me know if you know of anyone or if you know might work for us. Thanks.

    @Bryan Hartlen, since your current tax professional is willing to help with the transition, I'd take advantage of that time to get everything organized before the end of the year. With multiple entities, trusts, and self-directed retirement accounts, I'd look for a CPA who understands how everything fits together, not just someone who can prepare the individual returns.

    I'm a real estate attorney and investor based in Maryland, and I work with clients on property ownership, LLCs, trusts, and business matters. One thing I've learned from working with investors is that the legal ownership records and tax records need to stay consistent. When several entities are involved, I think it's helpful to have the formation documents, trust documents, and property ownership records available so the new accountant has a clear picture from the beginning.

    I appreciate you bringing this up, @Bryan Hartlen. Finding someone who understands your full investment structure can make a big difference, especially when you're changing professionals. This connects closely with the real estate and business work I do, and I'd be happy to stay connected!

    [email protected]240-266-0291
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  • John Vieira
    Member since 2026 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    8h

    Hi Bryan, sorry to hear your preparer is winding down. Since they'll help with the transition, I'd use the next couple of months to line up the successor rather than scrambling in January. When you interview, I'd ask: does one firm prepare both the trust returns and your personal return, how many clients do they have with self-directed retirement accounts holding real estate, and how do they coordinate K-1 timing and estimated payments across AZ and AL. Ask to see a sample year-one transition plan - prior-year review, basis schedules, depreciation continuity - and arrange a secure file handoff from your current preparer before Dec 31 so Q4 estimates and entity elections don't fall through the cracks. Video meetings are fine as long as the firm actually runs multi-entity packages.

    John

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