One on one tax advice you can use right away
Professional Tax Solutions offers focused sessions for people in Grand Blanc, Traverse City, Flint, and Lansing who want clarity before they file. We review your situation, model options, and give you a short list of steps to complete. Many clients connect results to tax planning for the rest of the year or move directly into tax preparation once questions are answered.
Moments that benefit from a quick check in
Start a new job and need a W 4 review. Add side income and want to set estimates. Receive stock options or RSUs and need help with timing. Sell a home or think about renting a second property. Pay for college or start HSA contributions. If retirement is on the horizon, loop in retirement tax planning so withdrawals, Social Security, and Medicare thresholds are handled with care.
What We Cover in the Meeting
Answers tailored to your return
We adjust withholdings, estimate this year’s tax, and review credits and deductions that fit your situation. If documents are ready, we outline what filing will look like and how to avoid surprises next April. Meetings can happen near Ascension Genesys Hospital, on Front Street by Grand Traverse Bay, or online if that is easier.
Is a consultation different from preparation?
Yes. A consultation is a focused advice session where we review your situation, model options, and map out next steps. Tax preparation is the work of completing and filing your return. Many clients meet for a consultation first to adjust withholdings, plan deductions, or time income, then move into preparation when documents arrive. Professional Tax Solutions can handle both so the advice you receive shows up correctly on the filed return.
How do I prepare for a tax consultation?
Bring last year’s return, recent pay stubs or profit and loss, a list of life changes, and questions you want answered. If you are in Grand Blanc or Traverse City, you can meet in person, or upload documents securely for a virtual session. A short checklist from Professional Tax Solutions keeps the meeting efficient and ensures we cover credits, deductions, and any Michigan or city filings that may apply.
Can you advise on stock sales and capital gains?
Yes. We review cost basis, holding period, and how gains stack with your other income. If you have RSUs or incentive options, we confirm what was already taxed and what remains. We can time sales across years, pair gains with loss harvesting, and estimate the tax impact before you place a trade. Guidance is coordinated with your tax return so reporting is accurate at filing.
What should I consider before a Roth conversion?
Look at current and projected tax brackets, credits or deductions that might phase out, and Medicare IRMAA thresholds. Consider how a conversion affects state tax and any city filing. We can model partial conversions over several years, plan withholding or estimates to avoid penalties, and coordinate with charitable strategies when that fits. Professional Tax Solutions prepares side by side scenarios so you see the numbers before you act.
How do quarterly estimates work if I start a side business?
Estimates are paid four times a year in April, June, September, and January. We project net profit, set aside a percentage for federal, Michigan, and any city tax, and prepare simple vouchers or electronic payment instructions. If income is uneven, we recalc mid year and adjust amounts so cash flow stays reasonable. Clean bookkeeping makes these updates faster and keeps next April predictable.
