Phoenix Strategic Tax and Financial Forensics, PLLC

04/28/2026

If you own an S-Corp, do you have an accountable plan in place? If not, we should talk. If you’re not sure… we should definitely talk.

Why does an accountable plan matter? If you don't have an accountable plan and your S-corp is deducting home office expense, reimbursing you for business use of your personal vehicle, or reimbursing other business expenses you paid personally, you could be missing tax deductions and increasing your audit risk.

An accountable plan isn't a recommendation or a suggestion, it's a requirement!

Please use this link to schedule a complimentary phone meeting:
https://app.simplymeet.me/phoenixstrategic/1751388932

02/02/2026

Are you familiar with Trump Accounts (530A accounts) and the Invest America” Initiative?
Under this initiative there are provisions for two different account funding opportunities.
1. Most U.S. children born January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 are eligible for the $1,000 account deposit, regardless of household income.
2. Most U.S. children under the age of 10, born before January 1, 2025 living in a zip code with a median household income under $150,000 are eligible for a $250 account deposit from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, regardless of actual household income. **Most, if not all, zip codes in Oklahoma will qualify**
To establish an account, an election can be made by filing Form 4547. The form can be filed with your income tax return or separately through an online portal.
Before making the election, I would strongly encourage discussing the pros and cons with a trusted tax advisor who is knowledgeable about the accounts, as well as knowledgable about other tax-deferred and tax-free investment options. If you don’t have a tax advisor, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my services could benefit you.
Note: Treasury will establish the account and send activation instructions after the election is processed. The account won’t be operational until identity verification is completed and funding will not occur before July 4, 2026.
I will post updates as they become available.

01/27/2026

If you are a business owner and are losing sleep wondering 1) if you are going to owe tax, and 2) how much you are going to owe, it’s time to consider making a switch from using a tax preparer to using a tax professional who focuses on tax strategy.
Yes, I do prepare tax returns, but I focus on working with my clients throughout the year on strategies to minimize tax, increase cash flow, and build wealth. Taxes shouldn’t be a surprise!
In order to maximize the value of tax planning, a business needs to have correct, and up to date financial statements. I have excellent bookkeepers that I can recommend!
As a business owner, your time should be spent doing what you do best, surrounding yourself with professionals that can do what you don’t do best.

If you are ready to stop losing sleep due to tax stress, use this link to schedule a complimentary phone meeting: Please use this link to schedule a complimentary phone meeting: https://app.simplymeet.me/phoenixstrategic/1751388932

01/25/2026

Who are you trusting to prepare your tax return this year?
A local business owner was recently referred to me because he was looking for a way to lower his 2024 income tax liability. A local tax preparer, who I see recommended often on FB posts, had prepared the 2024 S-Corporation and individual tax returns, resulting in the business owner owing about $27,000 Federal income tax and $9,000 Oklahoma income tax. After about a 10-15 minute review of the tax returns and Quickbooks account, and a brief conversation with the business owner, I was able to identify what adjustments needed to be made. Once the returns were corrected, the business owner now is owed about a $5,000 Federal income tax refund, and a $50 Oklahoma income tax refund. I am always happy to be that second set of eyes, but even better, you can avoid the need for that second set of eyes and have me prepare your returns correctly the first time.

01/25/2026

Who are you trusting to prepare your tax return this year? How familiar is your tax preparer with the new tax rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill? How confident are you that they will handle your overtime and tip income correctly, that they understand the new Trump accounts, that they understand the new Senior Deduction and Charitable Contribution deductions? How many hours of training do they have on the new tax rules?
I am a CPA (with a Master’s degree in tax and over 30 years of tax experience) and have extensive education in the new 2025 and 2026 tax rules, attending multiple online and in-person training courses, but I have also been an instructor for courses, teaching these new provisions to other CPAs and tax professionals.
While my primary focus is strategic tax planning and tax compliance for business owners, real estate professionals, and high wealth individuals, I also provide tax preparation for individuals that may not need in depth tax planning, but still want the comfort and reassurance of a professionally prepared tax return.

08/08/2025

Two months ago, the Senate confirmed Billy Long as IRS commissioner. This was after four previous acting commissioners since January 2025. Today, as I’m sitting on hold with the IRS (so far an hour and 45 minutes and counting), I learn that he has been removed as commissioner, and will now be an ambassador to Iceland. So now, there is yet another acting commissioner of the IRS. That now makes six IRS commissioners since January!
Maybe the next commissioner will actually have some tax experience, and can hopefully figure out how to finally alleviate the customer service issues.

Former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) is being replaced as commissioner of the IRS less than two months after he was confirmed by the Senate, a White House official confirmed to The Hill. Treasury Secreta…

07/25/2025

In case you didn’t know—or if you forgot—I’m not only a CPA, but also a licensed Private Investigator, specializing in financial investigations. I’m also certified in Financial Forensics.

Today is National Private Investigators Day, so it’s the perfect time to share a quick reminder of how these skills can be put to use.

I can assist in locating and uncovering hidden, missing, or undisclosed assets in divorce and estate matters. I can trace funds to identify potential misappropriation as well as undisclosed accounts in personal/divorce and business contexts, as well as investigate and identify potential fraud and embezzlement.

These investigations can also expose government or political corruption and misuse of funds, and even help identfy businesses potentially linked to trafficking.

I can help identify undisclosed property ownership and assist in locating missing or stolen vehicles. When necessary, financial investigations may also include surveillance.

If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, feel free to reach out.

01/11/2025

IRS Free File opened today.
So what does that mean for you?
You may be eligible to file your Federal (and possibly Oklahoma) tax return for free starting today through one of the IRS trusted partner online tax software websites.
Although you can file beginning today, the IRS will not begin to accept e-filed returns until January 27.
(If you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Advanced Child Tax Credit, you will receive your refund after February 17 and should receive it by February 27.)

Who is eligible to file for free?
Depending on which tax filing service you choose:
Adjusted Gross Income less than $84,000 and active military, can file Federal and Oklahoma tax returns for free.
Adjusted Gross Income less than $84,000 and not active military, can file Federal for free but will have fee for Oklahoma.
Adjusted Gross Income less than $48,000, can file Federal and Oklahoma for free.
Also, new this year, there is a Spanish free file option available.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free

If you are not eligible for Free File and need more in-depth Business and Individual tax planning and preparation services, please feel free to contact me 918-609-0072.

Prepare and file your federal income tax return online for free. File at an IRS partner site with the IRS Free File Program or use Free File Fillable Forms. It's safe, easy and no cost to you.

02/14/2024

01/09/2024

It’s time to start collecting and organizing your 2023 tax documents! The IRS will begin accepting individual tax returns on January 29.

If you file your return electronically and there are no issues, the IRS says it can usually issue a refund within 21 days or less as long as you didn't claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). By law, those refunds can't be issued before mid-February. The IRS expects most EITC/Additional CTC-related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts by direct deposit or on debit cards by February 27, possibly earlier, if taxpayers chose direct deposit and there are no problems with the tax return.

As long as you've received all your tax documents, you can complete the forms now and have them ready to send electronically on January 29.

IRS Free File will be available on IRS.gov starting Jan. 12 ahead of the filing season opening.

If you file by paper and are due a refund, you'll have to wait longer for your check. Not only do you have to wait for the postal system to deliver your paper return, but processing your return will take longer. An IRS employee will have to open the mail and enter your information to get processed, and it could take four or more weeks to process your return.

You can begin checking Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go mobile app for the status of your Federal income tax refund:
24 hours after e-filing a tax year 2023 return
3 or 4 days after e-filing a tax year 2021 or 2022 return
4 weeks after mailing a paper return
Data are updated once per day, usually at night.

12/01/2023

FYI - if you are/were planning on applying for the Oklahoma private school tax credit, the application (which was suppose to open today) will now open at 2:00, Wednesday, December 6.

Remember, this is a first come, first served credit, with priority going to taxpayers with 2022 AGI under $150,000.

The homeschool tax credit does not require an application.

I’m happy to answer any questions about the private school tax credit or homeschool tax credit. 918-609-0072 or [email protected]

11/03/2023

If you own rental or investment properties and pay mortgage interest, there is a high probability that you will receive a notice from the IRS for your 2021 and/or 2022 tax returns, and they will also be focusing on this on 2023 tax returns. According to the IRS, 75% of the tax notices that the IRS underreporting unit is receiving phone calls about are related to these mortgage interest notices. The IRS is finding many instances where mortgage interest is being deducted multiple times on the same tax return, Sch A, Sch E and some Sch C. In order to combat this, they are targeting returns with Sch E rentals, reviewing the mortgage interest expenses on all return schedules and verifying against 1098s provided by the banks. However, occasionally the bank does not provide a 1098, or more common, a 1098 is issued in the FEIN of a single owner LLC, which does not match the SS # on the return, so there is a matching issue. At this point, the IRS is then requiring copies of Form 1098 Mortgage Interest be submitted as supporting documents.

This is also a reason that it could be taking longer than usual for your tax return to be processed or for a refund to be received.

In talking to the IRS, I was told that 90% of the returns that have duplicated mortgage expenses are prepared by CPAs! And many self-prepared returns included the full mortgage payments as a deduction instead of just the mortgage interest.

If you receive one of these notices, don't panic! Call your tax preparer and they should be able to quickly provide the information to the IRS (either through the IRS portal or via fax). If you need assistance with a notice, or if you find that your tax preparer was, in fact, duplicating deductions, give me a call and I can help you get it straightened out.

If all of this sounds like a foreign language to you, let's schedule a time to meet and I can help make it all make sense.