Tax Services

Tax Preparation and Planning That Works Before the Deadline, Not After

Tax preparation tells you what already happened. Tax planning changes what happens next. At The Reliant Group, we do both — filing accurate returns across every entity type and working with you year-round so the next return looks better than the last.

One Firm for Every Return You File

Whether you're filing as an individual, running a business, managing investment property, or overseeing a trust or estate, we prepare the return and understand the strategy behind it. Our full return lineup includes:

 

  • Individual returns (1040) for employees, self-employed filers, independent contractors, and families
  • Partnership returns (1065) for multi-member LLCs and business partnerships
  • S-corporation returns (1120-S) for established S-corps and businesses considering the election
  • C-corporation returns (1120) for incorporated businesses
  • Trust and estate returns (1041) for executors and trustees navigating complex filings
  • Nonprofit returns (990) for organizations that need compliant, accurate reporting
  • Estate-related filings coordinated with your attorney or financial advisor

 

If your tax situation spans more than one of these categories, we handle the full picture — not just one piece of it.

Proactive Tax Planning Is What Separates Strategy from Surprise

Most tax preparers hand you a completed return and send you on your way. The number is what it is, and there's nothing left to do about it. We work differently. Year-round tax planning means we're looking at your income, expenses, entity structure, and upcoming decisions before they become permanent entries on a return.

 

For small business owners, that might mean timing a major purchase, revisiting your payroll structure, or evaluating whether an S-corp election would reduce your self-employment tax burden. For real estate investors, it means depreciation analysis, estimated tax planning, and coordination around events like 1031 exchanges. For individuals and families, it means identifying deductions and strategies before the year closes — not discovering them in April.

 

Proactive tax planning is available as a standalone engagement or as part of a fixed monthly service plan. If you're working with us on bookkeeping or payroll, planning conversations happen naturally throughout the year.

Hands writing on paperwork at a desk with a calculator and open binder folders
Colleagues gathered around a table reviewing documents in a bright office meeting room
Five coworkers gathered around a laptop at a conference table in a modern office meeting room

Behind on Filing? We Help Clients Catch Up

Falling behind on tax filings happens — a difficult year, a business transition, a situation that felt too complicated to face. We regularly help clients work through multiple years of unfiled returns, get current with the IRS and state, and build a clear path forward. There's no judgment here, only a practical plan.

 

Multi-year catch-up engagements start with a full review of what's outstanding, what information is needed, and what the most efficient sequence for filing looks like. We handle the preparation, communicate with you throughout, and make sure you understand where things stand at every step. If you're behind and ready to deal with it, we're ready to help.

Tax Services for Real Estate Investors and New Business Owners

Two of the most tax-sensitive situations we work with regularly are real estate investing and business formation — and both deserve more than a generic return.

 

For real estate investors, our REI Program combines investor tax preparation with monthly bookkeeping, property-level financial reporting, depreciation review, and advanced tax planning. Our sister company is an active real estate investment firm, which means we bring genuine first-hand experience to every investor client we serve.

 

For new and prospective business owners, our Small Business Launch Program includes business structure analysis — including whether an LLC, S-corp, or sole proprietorship makes the most sense for your tax situation — alongside formation, EIN filing, and a personalized First-Year Business Roadmap.

Common Questions About Tax Preparation and Planning

  • What's the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?

    Tax preparation is the process of compiling your financial information and filing an accurate return for the year that's already closed. Tax planning is forward-looking — it involves reviewing your current situation and making decisions before the year ends that reduce what you owe. Both matter, and the combination produces the best long-term outcome.

  • Do you prepare returns for both businesses and individuals?

    Yes. We prepare individual returns (1040), partnership returns (1065), S-corporation returns (1120-S), C-corporation returns (1120), trust and estate returns (1041), nonprofit returns (990), and estate-related filings. Many of our clients file more than one type of return, and we handle all of them.

  • I'm behind on several years of tax returns. Can you help?

    Yes, and this is more common than most people realize. We work with clients on multi-year back-tax catch-up regularly — reviewing what's outstanding, gathering the necessary information, and filing in the most efficient sequence. We'll walk you through exactly what's needed and keep you informed throughout the process.

  • Should I become an S corporation?

    It depends on your net income, how you pay yourself, and your overall business structure. An S-corp election can reduce self-employment tax for owners above certain income thresholds, but it also adds payroll and compliance requirements. We analyze the numbers for your specific situation before making any recommendation — this is a conversation worth having before you file, not after.

  • Do you offer year-round tax planning or only seasonal filing?

    Both. We prepare returns during tax season and offer year-round planning as a standalone service or as part of a fixed monthly plan. Clients on ongoing accounting or payroll plans typically have planning conversations built into the relationship throughout the year.

  • Can I work with you remotely if I'm not near Middletown or Loveland?

    Yes. We serve clients across Ohio and nationwide through our secure client portal, video meetings, and phone and email communication. The process is fully virtual, and remote clients receive the same level of service as those who come in person.
Get Started Today

Ready to File Accurately and Plan Ahead?

Whether you need a single return filed correctly or a year-round partner who helps you pay less over time, we're ready to have that conversation. Reach out to get started — in person at our Middletown or Loveland office, or virtually from anywhere.