The Planning-First CPA Firm for Business Owners

Your business earns it. Planning keeps it.

ScottCPA Advisors works with small businesses the way a CFO would — year-round tax planning, entity and S-corp strategy, clean books, and profit guidance. Not just a return in April; a plan all year.

“Success isn't some fickle and elusive mirage… but something that can be planned and budgeted for.” — Tom Scott, CPA

What business clients get

  • Year-round tax planning — no April surprises
  • Annual entity & S-corp compensation review
  • CFO-level insight without the CFO salary
  • Fixed-fee monthly packages, books always current
  • Direct access to your CPA, not a call center
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Certified Public Accountant — Arizona
Bank-Level Secure Client Portals
Serving Clients Nationwide

Built for Business Owners

One firm for your company's money

Clean books, proactive tax strategy, and CFO-level guidance — so your business keeps more of what it earns.

Tax Planning

The real savings happen before December 31, not in April. Year-round, projection-driven planning that legally minimizes what your business and you pay.

See the planning calendar

Part-Time CFO & Payroll

CFO-level financial guidance and reliable payroll at a small-business price. We don't just count the numbers — we help you grow them.

Grow profitably

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Clean books, clear monthly reports, zero stress. You always know where your business stands — and your tax plan is built on numbers you can trust.

Clean up my books

Entity Structure & S-Corp Elections

Sole prop, LLC, S-corp? The right structure and owner compensation are the two biggest levers on your tax bill. We review both, every year.

Run the S-corp numbers

Business & Owner Tax Preparation

S-corp, partnership, and LLC returns prepared by a CPA — coordinated with your personal return so nothing falls between the two.

File with a plan

Profit & Cash-Flow Advisory

Margins by category, pricing, owner pay, cash runway — we help you read the story your numbers are telling and act on it.

Find my margin

QuickBooks Setup & Training

Setup, cleanup, and hands-on training so QuickBooks works for you — not the other way around.

Get QuickBooks help

Owner Retirement & Exit Planning

Solo 401(k)s, SEP and defined-benefit plans, and the long game of selling or handing off your business — tax-smart at every step.

Plan my exit

IRS Representation

Behind on filings or facing a notice? We quietly get businesses back to compliant — then keep them that way with planning.

Get confidential help

Planning-First, Year-Round

Your tax bill is written all year. So is our plan.

By April, the game is over — every meaningful tax move has a deadline months earlier. Here is the rhythm we run with our business clients.

Q1 (January–March) — Close the year, set the baseline
Books closed cleanly, prior-year return filed on time, and the first projection of the new year. This is also when we review your entity choice and owner compensation — the two levers that move the most tax.
Q2 (April–June) — Right-size your estimates
Most owners either overpay quarterlies (interest-free loan to the IRS) or underpay (penalties). We project from your actual year-to-date numbers so the June 15 payment is the right size — not a guess.
Q3 (July–September) — Mid-year strategy check
Halfway numbers are in: we test your S-corp salary against profit, review retirement-plan funding windows while there is still time to act, and adjust the September estimate to match reality.
Q4 (October–December) — The moves that actually save money
Equipment timing, retirement contributions, income and deduction shifting, owner bonuses — nearly every real tax strategy expires December 31. Our Q4 planning meeting is where the savings happen.
Already behind with the IRS?
We quietly handle that too — representation, payment plans, and getting you back to compliant so we can start planning forward. Confidential help here.

Get On the Planning Calendar

Interactive Tools

Run your numbers in 30 seconds

Free, anonymous, and instant. Two calculators that answer the questions Tucson business owners ask us most.

Self-employed? See what an S-corp election could save you in self-employment tax.

Estimated annual savings

$6,893

S-corp savings breakdown
Self-employment tax now (sole proprietor) $16,955
S-corp payroll tax plus estimated admin costs $10,062
Your estimated savings $6,893

Simplified estimate for illustration only. Assumes the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 and ignores the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax and the deduction for one-half of self-employment tax. Also ignores QBI interaction, state taxes, and IRS reasonable-compensation requirements. Assumes roughly $1,800 per year of payroll and added compliance costs — an illustration assumption, not a fee quote; actual costs vary. Your real number requires a professional review.

Get my real number — free meeting

The ScottCPA Difference

What separates us from other CPA firms?

Most firms record what already happened. We are a specialty practice for small businesses — planning what happens next, keeping the books that make planning possible, and measuring the result in your profit.

Professionalism

Every client is served by the expertise of our whole firm. High standards, specialized knowledge, and close personal attention — that's the baseline, not the upsell.

Responsiveness

Fast, accurate answers from people who know your file. Client referrals have fueled our growth — because the people who know us best keep sending us their friends.

Profitability Focus

Our goal isn't just to be your accountant. With CFO and bookkeeping services, we guide you through the steps that make your company genuinely more profitable.

We serve clients in virtually any location — local or across the country — using modern, secure electronic tools that keep service fast and affordable.

Meet Your CPA

Thomas E. Scott, CPA

Tom built this practice on a simple idea: an accountant should do more than record history — they should help you write a better one. Based in Tucson at 145 E University Blvd, Tom works with business owners to minimize taxes through planning, keep books clean, and turn financial clarity into profit.

We're the outside finance department for companies too small for a full-time CFO: direct access to your CPA, honest advice, and a genuine stake in your bottom line.

CPA — Licensed in Arizona Tax Planning Specialist Small Business Advisor QuickBooks Expert IRS Representation
Thomas E. Scott, CPA, seated in his office wearing a navy suit and bow tie

“We focus on minimizing income taxes for the individual as well as their business through our planning approach — and an honest caring for our clients.”

— Tom Scott, CPA, Founder

See What Clients Say on Google

Nearly every tax strategy expires December 31.

The earlier in the year we start, the more moves are on the board. Your first introductory meeting is free — a clear picture of where your business stands and what a plan could save.

Schedule My Free Meeting   New Client? Get Started Online

Client Tools & Resources

Helpful resources, one click away

Where's My Refund?

Check the status of your federal refund directly with the IRS — most e-filed refunds are issued within 21 days.

Check refund status

Secure Client Portals

Upload documents, sign returns, and message us securely from anywhere — your data stays encrypted and protected.

Individual Portal
Business Portal

Newsletter & Blog

Tax tips, deadlines, and money-saving strategies delivered to your inbox. Don't miss a deduction.

Subscribe to our blog

State Tax Forms

Quickly find official tax forms and agency contacts for any state in the country.

Find state forms

Key Tax Deadlines

Estimated payments, filing deadlines, extension dates — straight from the IRS calendar so you're never caught off guard.

View IRS calendar

Make a Payment

Pay your invoice securely online in seconds — credit card, debit, or bank transfer.

Pay my invoice

Straight Answers

Frequently asked questions

Plain-English answers to the questions business owners ask us most.

How much does tax preparation cost?

It depends on the complexity of your return — a W-2 filer and a multi-state business owner are very different projects. That's why your free introductory meeting includes a look at last year's return — and you get a flat-fee quote in writing before any work begins, so you know your fee up front. Book a free meeting to get your quote.

Can you work with clients outside Tucson?

Yes — we work with clients nationwide. Secure client portals, electronic signatures, and phone or video meetings mean the process is identical whether you're across town or across the country. Many of our clients have never set foot in our Tucson office.

I got a letter from the IRS. What should I do?

Don't panic, and don't ignore it — most IRS notices are routine, but nearly all of them carry response deadlines. We also recommend you don't call the IRS on your own, because what you say can complicate matters. We'll take a first look at your IRS letter at no charge, and if representation is needed you'll have a written quote before any work begins. Call (520) 908-6180 before you do anything else.

Should my business be an S-corporation?

Sometimes. An S-corporation election can reduce self-employment tax, but it only pays off at certain profit levels, and it adds payroll and compliance requirements that vary by state. Try the S-corp calculator on this page for a ballpark, then book a free meeting for the real answer.

My books are a mess. Can you fix them?

Yes — cleanup work is one of the most common ways new clients find us. We reconcile accounts, fix miscategorized transactions, and bring your books current, then keep them that way with monthly bookkeeping. We also handle QuickBooks setup and training if you'd rather run the day-to-day yourself.

How fast will I get my refund?

The IRS issues most e-filed refunds within 21 days, and direct deposit is the fastest way to receive yours. Paper returns take far longer — typically six to eight weeks. We e-file everything we can so your refund arrives as quickly as the IRS allows.

Is my information secure?

Yes. Your documents move through an encrypted client portal — we never ask you to email Social Security numbers or sensitive files. We're also bound by CPA confidentiality obligations, including IRC Section 7216 and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which legally restrict how your information may be used and shared.

I use TurboTax / QuickBooks. Do I still need a CPA?

Software is good at recording what already happened. A CPA changes what happens next year — entity structure, retirement contributions, the timing of income and deductions — and that planning is where the real savings live. Plenty of our clients keep QuickBooks for the day-to-day and use us for strategy, review, and filing. Book a free meeting to see what you're leaving on the table.

When should I start tax planning?

Before December 31 — not in April. Most tax strategies expire at year-end, and once the calendar turns, your options shrink to documenting what already happened. Year-round planning clients give themselves the most options before the deadline. Book a free meeting and get ahead of it.

Have a question we didn't cover?

Ask us anything — free consultation

Free Introductory Meeting

Tell us where it hurts. We'll tell you how to fix it.

Fill out the form and we'll respond within one business day — or call (520) 908-6180 right now.

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