It's time to file taxes, you get that once-a-year email from your tax preparer asking you to upload documents and answer some questions.
The process is rigorous... or easy for some. The tax return is filed and either a refund comes back or a payment is made.
Do you then not hear from or talk to your CPA until next year?
It may not be in your best interest to have a tax preparer you ONLY talk to once a year. As you have taxable or life-changing events, you may have a change in tax outlook. Having a personal CPA or tax preparer on speed dial is optimal.
Tax strategy does not happen at tax filing
Most tax savings strategies can be implemented in the calendar year of the tax return. But we file taxes after that year closes.
You may have passed your window for implementing tax-saving strategies because you are outside the year the tax return relates to.
A mid-year or end-of-year review can save you tons of money in taxes because you are in the window to implement strategies.
Maybe your withholdings are way too low, or too high!
Or if you are thinking about electing S Corp status for your business, that filing must take place in the first 2.5 months of the calendar year or right after you start your business.
If you are looking to make changes during your tax return appointment, you are asking for help in the tax preparer's crunch time and they may have difficulty offering solutions, if anything is still even an option at that point in time.
Life events that you should talk to your CPA about
Below is a list of life events that are either taxable events in and of themselves or they could change your tax outlook. 
Knowing how much your tax outlook changes BEFORE it changes is key.
And some things simply can not be reversed ... had you understood the tax ramifications, you may have not proceeded.
It's time to call your CPA ...
- Before selling your primary residence
- Before anyone adds you to a deed of a property
- Before selling a rental property
- Starting a new business
- Closing a business
- Receiving grants, restrictive stock units or exercising stock options
- Transitioning from a W2 employee to a 1099 contractor
- Making a large purchase that you expect to receive a tax credit for (car, solar, energy improvements, etc)
- Experiencing a life event that changes your income outlook
- Before taking a large distribution from your retirement account
- Determining how much you can contribute to your retirement account
- Needing to file your taxes or a tax return extension
- Needing a payment plan for a large tax bill
- Receiving an IRS notice in the mail
- Receiving a notice from a state tax authority
- If your social security number has been compromised
- Needing help estimating quarterly tax payments
- When a spouse passes away
- When a parent passes and you are the executor of the estate
- Electing S Corp status or thinking about doing so
- Adding Real Estate to a Partnership
- Bringing on a partner, selling or making changes to your business ownership or structure
- Receiving prize money, gambling or lottery winnings
Be proactive - have a relationship
The key to not receiving surprise tax bills or being in hot water with the IRS is simply being proactive.
Many of the items on the list above are pre-emptive to a taxable event and can be mitigated with a simple call to your CPA.
Find a CPA that does more than just file your taxes
In today's time, it is simply difficult to find a tax preparer who is qualified, knowledgable and accepting new clients.
If you are searching for a tax preparer DURING tax filing season, this may all that you have the chance to do with your tax preparer.
As we said above, tax strategy does not happen during tax filing.
In off season, ask around. Find someone who is knowledgeable and becomes your personal CPA or personal CFO where they are there for you all year long.
If you only need to talk to them once a year when it's time to file taxes, that works.
...but if you NEED some advice outside of filing, you want your CPA to be there to help.
