Is Your Business Tax Strategy Working for You?
At Whetzel & Co., we provide proactive corporate tax planning and preparation for Houston-area businesses. Whether you operate as an S-Corp, C-Corp, partnership, or LLC, our team works year-round to minimize your tax liability and keep you in full compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
Business tax is not something you should think about only in March. The decisions you make throughout the year, from how you structure distributions to when you purchase equipment to how you classify workers, all affect your tax position. We stay engaged with your business so that when filing time arrives, your return reflects a full year of intentional planning, not last-minute scrambling.
Why Whetzel & Co. for Business Tax?
Many firms treat corporate tax preparation as a compliance exercise. They receive your financials, enter the data, and send you a bill. At Whetzel & Co., we see it differently. Every business return we prepare is also a planning opportunity. We review your entity structure, look at how you are paying yourself, evaluate your retirement contributions, and identify deductions that may have been missed.
We also believe in accessibility. When you work with Whetzel & Co., you have direct access to our team for questions throughout the year, not just at tax time. Need to know the tax impact of a new hire, a vehicle purchase, or an office lease? We are a phone call away.
Our clients value our transparency on pricing, our reliability on deadlines, and our willingness to explain complex tax concepts in language that actually makes sense. We do not hide behind jargon, and we do not surprise you with invoices.
What We Handle
Our corporate tax services cover every major business entity type and filing requirement. We prepare S-Corporation returns (Form 1120-S), C-Corporation returns (Form 1120), partnership returns (Form 1065), multi-member LLC returns, and sole proprietor filings reported on Schedule C. We also handle Texas franchise tax filings, quarterly estimated tax calculations, multi-state return filing, and business tax amendment preparation.
Beyond the return itself, we provide year-round tax planning, entity structure analysis, reasonable compensation studies for S-Corp owners, retirement plan contribution optimization, fixed asset depreciation strategies including Section 179 and bonus depreciation, and guidance on new tax law changes that affect your business.
Who This Service Is For
Our corporate tax services are designed for Houston-area small business owners, professional service firms, real estate investors with entity structures, startups moving beyond their first year, and established companies looking for a more responsive CPA relationship. We work with businesses across industries including professional services, real estate, construction, healthcare, technology, retail, and food service.
What to Expect From Our Process
Step 1: Free Consultation
We start with a conversation about your business, your current entity structure, and your tax situation. This helps us understand whether your business is set up in the most tax-efficient way and gives us an opportunity to identify any immediate planning opportunities. There is no cost and no obligation.
Step 2: Tax Planning Review
Before we ever touch a tax return, we conduct a planning review. We look at your prior year return, your current year financials, your estimated tax payments, and your overall tax position. This is where we identify optimization opportunities, such as adjusting owner compensation, timing large purchases, or maximizing retirement contributions before year-end.
Step 3: Secure Document Submission
When it is time to prepare the return, you upload your financial statements, prior year return, and any supporting schedules through our secure client portal. We provide a detailed checklist specific to your entity type so nothing is missed.
Step 4: Preparation, Review, and Filing
We prepare your return, review it internally, and then walk you through the results before filing. You will receive a plain-language summary of your tax position, including your effective tax rate, any carryforward items, and recommendations for the year ahead. We file electronically and provide complete copies for your records.
Pricing
Corporate tax return preparation starts at $750 for straightforward single-entity, single-state filings. Multi-entity, multi-state, and more complex situations are priced based on scope after an initial review. We always provide a detailed quote before work begins so there are no surprises. Annual tax planning engagements are quoted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Tax Services
What is the difference between an S-Corp and a C-Corp for tax purposes?
The primary difference is how they are taxed. A C-Corp pays tax at the corporate level, and then shareholders pay tax again on dividends, creating what is called double taxation. An S-Corp passes its income through to the shareholders, who report it on their personal returns. Most small businesses benefit from S-Corp status, but the right choice depends on your specific situation, growth plans, and how you distribute profits. We help clients evaluate which structure makes the most sense.
When should I consider changing my business entity structure?
If your business is growing, if you are paying more in self-employment tax than necessary, or if you are planning to bring on partners or investors, it may be time to re-evaluate your entity type. We review entity structure as part of our tax planning process and will recommend changes when the tax savings justify the cost of restructuring.
How do estimated tax payments work for my business?
If your business expects to owe more than $1,000 in federal taxes for the year, you are generally required to make quarterly estimated payments. We calculate these for you based on your projected income, help you set up payment schedules, and adjust throughout the year if your income changes. Staying current on estimated payments avoids underpayment penalties at filing time.
Can you help with the Texas franchise tax?
Yes. Texas does not have a corporate income tax, but it does impose a franchise tax (also called the margin tax) on most business entities. We prepare your Texas franchise tax return alongside your federal return to ensure both filings are consistent and that you are using the most advantageous calculation method available.
What if my business operates in multiple states?
Multi-state operations add complexity to business tax filings, including nexus determination, state apportionment, and varying filing requirements. We prepare multi-state returns regularly and will advise you on where you have filing obligations, how to allocate income across states, and how to minimize your overall state tax burden.
Do you offer year-round tax planning, or just return preparation?
We offer both. Every return we prepare includes a brief review of planning opportunities for the coming year. For businesses that want more proactive guidance, we offer dedicated tax planning engagements that include mid-year check-ins, year-end strategy sessions, and ongoing advisory support throughout the year.
Can you help if my books are not in good shape?
Yes. Many new clients come to us with books that need cleanup before a return can be prepared. We offer bookkeeping cleanup and catch-up services to get your records in order, and then we can either transition you to ongoing monthly bookkeeping or simply prepare the return from the cleaned-up financials. Either way, we work with what you have and get it right.
Houston Corporate Tax Services
Business tax compliance is more than filing a return once a year. The structure of your business, the timing of your income and expenses, and the tax elections you make all have a significant impact on how much you pay in taxes. Whetzel & Co provides comprehensive corporate tax services for Houston businesses, from annual return preparation to year-round strategic tax planning that minimizes your tax burden legally and effectively.
We work with S-Corporations, C-Corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships across a range of industries. Whether you are a startup filing your first business return or an established company with multiple entities, we have the expertise to handle your tax needs.
Business Tax Return Preparation
S-Corporation Returns (Form 1120-S). S-Corps are the most common business structure among our clients. We prepare your Form 1120-S and all related schedules, including K-1s for each shareholder. We ensure reasonable compensation is properly documented and that distributions are structured to minimize self-employment tax exposure.
C-Corporation Returns (Form 1120). For C-Corporations, we navigate the corporate tax rate structure and help you manage the timing of income and deductions to optimize your tax position. We also address issues like accumulated earnings tax exposure, shareholder compensation planning, and dividend strategies.
Partnership and LLC Returns (Form 1065). Partnerships and multi-member LLCs require careful attention to profit and loss allocations, guaranteed payments, partner capital accounts, and distribution planning. We prepare Form 1065 and individual K-1 schedules for each partner, ensuring allocations comply with your operating agreement and tax regulations.
Sole Proprietorship (Schedule C). If you operate as a sole proprietor, we prepare your Schedule C as part of your personal return and help you track all deductible business expenses. We also evaluate whether your business has grown to the point where incorporating as an S-Corp would save you money on self-employment taxes.
Business Tax Planning Services
Entity Structure Optimization. Choosing the right business entity can save you thousands of dollars in taxes every year. We evaluate your current structure and recommend changes when a different entity type would be more tax-efficient. Common situations include sole proprietors converting to S-Corps, partnerships restructuring ownership, and LLCs electing corporate tax treatment.
Estimated Tax Planning. Business owners who do not plan for quarterly estimated tax payments often face large tax bills and underpayment penalties at year end. We calculate your quarterly estimates based on projected income and adjust them throughout the year as your business performance changes.
Depreciation and Asset Planning. We maximize your deductions for business equipment, vehicles, and property through strategic use of Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, and cost segregation studies for commercial real estate. Timing asset purchases correctly can significantly reduce your current-year tax liability.
Texas Franchise Tax. Texas does not have a state income tax, but it does have a franchise tax (also called the margin tax) that applies to most businesses. We prepare your Texas franchise tax return and help you choose the calculation method that results in the lowest tax liability.
Industries We Specialize In
Our corporate tax clients represent a diverse range of Houston industries. We have deep expertise in real estate development and investment companies, construction and trades businesses, professional services and consulting firms, restaurants and hospitality, oil and gas service companies, and e-commerce and technology startups. Each industry has unique tax considerations, and our experience means we know where the opportunities and pitfalls are for your type of business.
Multi-Entity Tax Management
Many of our clients operate more than one business entity. This is especially common in real estate, where investors may have separate LLCs for each property, a management company, and a holding company. We manage tax compliance across all your entities, ensure intercompany transactions are properly documented, and coordinate filing to optimize your overall tax position across the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are business tax returns due?
S-Corporation and partnership returns are due March 15 (or the 15th day of the third month after your fiscal year ends). C-Corporation returns are due April 15. Extensions are available for all business return types, giving you an additional six months to file. We recommend filing extensions when needed to ensure accuracy rather than rushing to meet a deadline.
What records do I need to keep for my business?
At a minimum, you should maintain bank and credit card statements, receipts for all business expenses over $75, payroll records, vehicle mileage logs if you deduct business use of a vehicle, and documentation for any asset purchases. We help our bookkeeping clients maintain these records throughout the year so tax time is seamless.
Can you help if I am behind on business tax filings?
Yes. We regularly help businesses that have fallen behind on their tax filings get caught up. We reconstruct financial records when necessary, prepare delinquent returns, and work with the IRS and state agencies to resolve any penalties or compliance issues.
Get Expert Business Tax Support
Your business deserves a tax strategy, not just a tax return. Whetzel & Co provides comprehensive corporate tax services for Houston businesses of all sizes. Call (832) 699-1031 for a free consultation, or contact us online to discuss your business tax needs.