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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often — about tax planning, our services, how we work, and what it looks like to become a client. Use the search bar or category filters to find what you are looking for, or browse the full archive below.

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What is SG Inc CPA and what does the firm do?

A  SG Inc CPA is a full-service CPA firm with offices in Plano, TX (serving the DFW metro) and Milpitas, CA (serving Silicon Valley and the Bay Area). The firm provides proactive tax planning, business tax preparation, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, entity structuring, and advisory services. SG Inc CPA specialises in medical practice owners, real estate investors, and high-income business owners who need more than compliance-only CPA support

A  SG Inc CPA has two offices. The Texas office is located at 555 Republic Dr, Suite 500, Plano, TX 75074, and serves the DFW metro and North Texas. The California office is located at 428 S Main Street, Milpitas, CA 95035, and serves Silicon Valley, San Jose, and the greater Bay Area. Both offices also serve clients remotely across their respective regions and nationwide.

A Certified Tax Coach (CTC) is a CPA or tax professional who has completed specialised training in proactive tax reduction strategies beyond standard compliance and preparation. The CTC designation is held by a limited number of practitioners nationwide. SG Inc CPA is led by Shweta Garg, CPA, CTC. For clients, this means working with an advisor whose formal credential is specifically focused on reducing tax liability year-round — not just filing accurately.

SG Inc CPA works primarily with three client profiles: medical practice owners and physicians, real estate investors and property owners, and high-income business owners with $500K or more in annual revenue. The firm is structured around clients who have outgrown a compliance-only CPA relationship and need proactive tax strategy, year-round advisory access, and coordination between their business and personal finances.

Yes. Both offices serve remote clients beyond their immediate metro areas. The Plano office serves clients throughout Texas and remotely nationwide. The Milpitas office serves clients throughout California and remotely nationwide. Multi-state clients — particularly those with income, entities, or property in both California and Texas — are a specific area of depth given the firm’s two-office footprint.

SG Inc CPA has been providing accounting and tax services since at least 2010 in the DFW market and 2014 in the Bay Area, with earlier operations dating back to 2003. The firm has served both individual and business clients across Texas and California for over a decade and has developed particular depth in the healthcare and real estate verticals over that time.

What is the difference between tax planning and tax preparation?

Tax preparation is the process of compiling financial records and filing accurate tax returns after a year has ended. Tax planning is the proactive work done throughout the year to reduce what you will owe before the year closes — through entity structure decisions, timing of income and deductions, retirement contributions, and other strategies. Preparation reports what happened. Planning changes what will happen.

By the time a CPA prepares your return, the year is over and most opportunities to reduce your liability have passed. Tax planning happens before those windows close — mid-year projections, depreciation strategy, retirement contribution decisions, owner compensation review, and entity elections all require action before December 31. For business owners with meaningful income, the difference between a planning-focused CPA and a compliance-only CPA can represent tens of thousands of dollars annually.

The most impactful tax planning happens between January and October — before year-end deadlines close most planning windows. The worst time to start is January of the following year, when options are limited to what was already in place. For new clients, SG Inc CPA recommends beginning with a review of the prior two to three years’ returns to identify retroactively missed strategies and build a forward-looking plan.

Accurate filing is the baseline — it is the minimum expectation of any CPA relationship. What it does not include is proactive strategy: reviewing your entity structure, running mid-year projections, modelling retirement contribution options, or flagging missed deductions before the year ends. Many business owners assume their CPA is doing this work when they are not. A tax review call with SG Inc CPA can identify specifically what has been left unaddressed.

A proactive engagement with SG Inc CPA includes: an initial review of prior returns and current structure, a coordinated plan covering business and personal taxes, quarterly check-ins to review financial performance and adjust the plan, mid-year tax projections before major decisions, year-end planning before December 31, and responsive access to your CPA team between filing seasons for questions about compensation, purchases, deals, or entity changes.

Savings vary significantly depending on income level, entity structure, industry, and how much planning was previously in place. Business owners who have never had a planning-focused CPA often find meaningful savings in their first year through a combination of entity optimisation, retirement contributions, depreciation strategy, and owner compensation adjustments. SG Inc CPA does not quote generic savings figures — a confidential review is the most reliable way to assess what is specific to your situation.

What services does SG Inc CPA offer?

SG Inc CPA provides: proactive tax planning, business tax preparation (S-Corps, LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietors), personal tax preparation, accounting services, bookkeeping, payroll processing, QuickBooks setup and cleanup, entity structuring and S-Corp election analysis, real estate accounting, and business licensing and formation. All services are available in person at either office and remotely for clients throughout DFW, the Bay Area, and nationwide.

Yes, and coordinating both is a core part of how SG Inc CPA works. For business owners, the decisions made in the business return — owner compensation, distributions, entity elections, retirement contributions — directly affect the personal return. SG Inc CPA prepares both returns together rather than treating them as separate engagements, so the interaction between business and personal income is always accounted for in the strategy.

Yes. Entity structuring is one of the most impactful decisions a business owner can make. SG Inc CPA analyses whether your current structure — LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, sole proprietorship — is optimal for your income level and goals, models the tax impact of changes, handles S-Corp elections with the IRS, and coordinates multi-entity structures for clients with multiple operating businesses or investment vehicles.

Yes. SG Inc CPA provides monthly bookkeeping and accounting services for DFW and Bay Area clients. Clean, current books are a prerequisite for meaningful tax planning — without accurate financial data, projections and strategies are unreliable. Many clients come to SG Inc CPA with disorganised or outdated books, and the team provides catch-up bookkeeping and ongoing monthly services to get and keep records current.

Yes. SG Inc CPA provides full payroll processing, payroll tax filings, and W-2 preparation for businesses with employees. California clients receive California-compliant payroll including EDD, SDI, and SUI filings. Texas clients receive federal and state payroll compliance. S-Corp owners who need to set up or adjust their own payroll — a common need when optimising owner compensation — are also served.

SG Inc CPA offers advisory services as part of its year-round engagement model. This includes financial reporting analysis, entity and structure decisions, acquisition and transaction review, and proactive planning for major financial events. Formal fractional CFO services — with defined deliverables and scheduled reporting — are available for clients who need more structured financial leadership support. Discuss scope during the initial review call.

Does SG Inc CPA specialise in medical practices?

Yes. Medical practice owners and physicians are SG Inc CPA’s primary client focus. The firm has built specific depth in healthcare-specific tax planning, practice entity structuring, healthcare payroll compliance, medical equipment depreciation, and coordinated business and personal tax strategy for physicians. Both the Plano, TX and Milpitas, CA offices serve medical practice clients in their respective markets.

The highest-leverage strategies for physician practice owners typically include: entity structure review (many physicians are under-optimised for their income level), owner compensation planning for S-Corp physicians, defined benefit pension plan contributions, Section 179 and bonus depreciation on medical equipment, QBIA deduction eligibility, coordination between practice income and personal investment income, and proactive mid-year projections to avoid large year-end tax bills.

Section 179 is a federal tax provision that allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment in the year it is placed in service, rather than depreciating it over several years. For medical practice owners purchasing diagnostic equipment, exam tables, imaging systems, or other qualifying assets, Section 179 can generate a significant deduction in the purchase year. There are annual limits and phase-out thresholds — a CPA review is needed to confirm the full benefit for your specific situation.

Yes. California healthcare payroll carries specific compliance requirements including EDD registration, SDI and SUI filings, and healthcare-specific classification rules for clinical and administrative staff. SG Inc CPA’s Milpitas office handles California-compliant payroll for medical practices and other healthcare operators across the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

 Yes, and this is one of SG Inc CPA’s specific areas of depth. Clients who own both a medical practice and investment properties need a CPA who can optimise across both — coordinating practice income, rental income, depreciation, entity structures, and personal taxes into one unified plan. The firm serves several clients with this profile and the two-office structure supports multi-state investors with California and Texas exposure simultaneously.

Does SG Inc CPA work with real estate investors?

Yes. Real estate investors are one of SG Inc CPA’s two primary client verticals. The firm serves residential and commercial property investors, landlords, short-term rental operators, and multi-entity real estate businesses across the DFW metro and the Bay Area. Services include property-level bookkeeping, cost segregation analysis, lender-ready financial statements, entity structuring, and 1031 exchange planning.

Cost segregation is a tax strategy that accelerates depreciation deductions on a property by identifying components — flooring, electrical, landscaping, personal property — that can be depreciated over 5, 7, or 15 years rather than the standard 27.5 or 39 years. For investors with qualifying properties, a cost segregation study can significantly reduce taxable income in early ownership years. Whether it makes economic sense depends on property value, your tax rate, and investment horizon — a CPA review is the first step.

 A 1031 exchange allows real estate investors to defer capital gains tax on the sale of a property by reinvesting proceeds into a like-kind replacement property within strict IRS timelines: 45 days to identify the replacement and 180 days to close. SG Inc CPA provides year-round guidance on exchange eligibility, timeline management, tax consequence modelling, and entity-level structuring to ensure the exchange is properly documented and the deferred gain is accurately tracked on future returns.

Lender-ready financial statements are organised, reconciled, and formatted to meet the documentation requirements of banks, credit unions, and private lenders evaluating a financing or refinancing application. For real estate investors, this typically means property-level profit and loss statements, a rent roll, and a balance sheet that clearly shows debt service coverage. Investors with disorganised or delayed books frequently lose deals or receive worse loan terms than their portfolio would otherwise support.

California’s Proposition 19, effective February 2021, significantly changed the rules around property tax reassessment for inherited real estate. Under previous law, children inheriting a parent’s property could retain the parent’s lower assessed value on both a primary residence and additional properties. Under Prop 19, the exclusion is limited to a primary residence only, and even then only if the heir uses it as their primary residence within one year. This change has significant implications for Bay Area investors holding property in a family or trust structure — proactive planning before a transfer event is essential.

Yes. Short-term rental income carries specific tax considerations that differ from long-term rental income — including material participation rules, the Section 199A deduction, self-employment tax exposure depending on services provided, and state and local occupancy tax compliance in both California and Texas. SG Inc CPA advises STR operators on how to structure their rental activity, what records to maintain, and how to optimise their tax position across federal and state obligations.

What is an S-Corp election and should I consider one?

 An S-Corp election allows a qualifying LLC or corporation to be taxed as a pass-through entity where only the owner’s reasonable salary is subject to self-employment (payroll) taxes — distributions above that salary are not. For self-employed business owners or single-member LLC owners paying SE tax on all net income, an S-Corp election can produce meaningful tax savings above approximately $60,000–$80,000 in net annual profit. Whether it makes sense depends on your specific income, state, and operational complexity — a CPA analysis is required before electing.

The IRS requires S-Corp owner-employees to pay themselves a reasonable salary for the services they provide to the business before taking tax-advantaged distributions. ‘Reasonable’ is determined by comparing what a business would pay an arm’s-length employee to perform similar duties, considering industry, geography, and business size. Setting the salary too low invites IRS scrutiny. Setting it too high unnecessarily increases payroll tax. SG Inc CPA models the optimal salary range and documents the rationale for IRS consistency.

The goal is to pay a defensible reasonable salary — enough to satisfy IRS requirements and documentation — then take remaining profits as distributions, which are not subject to self-employment tax. The exact split depends on your business profitability, your role in the business, your state (California has additional SDI and payroll tax exposure on owner salaries), and your overall tax picture including retirement contributions and personal income. SG Inc CPA models the optimal structure annually as business income changes.

The break-even point for an S-Corp election is generally considered to be around $60,000–$80,000 of net annual business profit — the point where the SE tax savings on distributions begin to exceed the added costs of payroll administration, an additional S-Corp tax return, and potential state franchise tax. In California, the analysis is more nuanced because the CA LLC franchise tax and S-Corp minimum tax affect the calculation. SG Inc CPA models this specifically for each client before recommending an election.

Yes. Multi-entity clients — those with two or more operating businesses, holding companies, or a mix of operating and investment entities — are a specific area of depth. SG Inc CPA maps each entity’s purpose, analyses the inter-entity tax flows, reviews whether the current structure is optimal, and prepares coordinated returns across all entities. Common structures include an operating LLC or S-Corp paired with a management company, a real estate holding LLC, or a trust for wealth transfer planning.

Business owners have access to retirement vehicles that significantly exceed the contribution limits available to employees: SEP-IRA (up to 25% of compensation, maximum approximately $70,000 in 2024), Solo 401(k) (employee + employer contributions, same dollar ceiling), SIMPLE IRA, and defined benefit pension plans (which can allow contributions well above $200,000 annually for older business owners with consistent income). The best option depends on business structure, income level, age, and whether you have employees. SG Inc CPA models the after-tax impact of each option as part of annual tax planning.

How does California's state income tax affect high-income business owners?

California imposes a top marginal state income tax rate of 13.3 percent — the highest in the United States. Combined with the federal rate, high-income Bay Area business owners can face a combined marginal rate exceeding 50 percent on ordinary income. California also requires quarterly estimated payments to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), imposes strict residency-based taxation on all worldwide income, and does not conform to several federal tax provisions that reduce taxable income at the federal level.

Every California LLC pays a minimum annual franchise tax of $800 to the Franchise Tax Board, regardless of income or whether the business turns a profit. LLCs with gross receipts above $250,000 pay additional tiered fees: $900 for receipts between $250,000 and $499,999, scaling to $11,790 for receipts of $5 million or more. These fees apply to both CA-resident LLCs and out-of-state LLCs doing business in California, and must be factored into the decision to form or operate a California LLC.

California does not conform to all federal tax provisions, which creates filing complexity for Bay Area clients. Notable non-conformity items include: California does not allow the Section 199A qualified business income deduction, California has its own bonus depreciation rules that differ from federal (no full federal bonus depreciation), California does not conform to certain retirement account contribution limits, and California has its own treatment of net operating loss carrybacks and carryforwards. Working with a CPA who understands CA-federal differences is essential for accurate and optimised planning.

Multi-state business income requires analysis of which state(s) have the right to tax your income — determined by where the income is sourced (sales-factor or payroll/property apportionment) and where you are a resident. California aggressively asserts tax jurisdiction over California-sourced income even for non-residents. Texas has no state income tax, which is an advantage for Texas-sourced income. SG Inc CPA’s two-office structure means the firm has direct working knowledge of both states’ tax environments and regularly serves clients with CA and TX exposure.

Yes, for most business structures. Texas has no state income tax on individuals or pass-through entities, no state capital gains tax, and no CA LLC franchise tax. For a Bay Area business owner paying 13.3 percent in state income tax on top of federal obligations, relocating business operations or personal residency to Texas can produce material savings — though California aggressively pursues part-year residency claims and may continue to tax California-sourced income even after a move. The decision requires careful planning and documentation, and SG Inc CPA regularly advises clients navigating this transition.

How much does SG Inc CPA charge for its services?

SG Inc CPA does not publish a standard price list because engagements are scoped based on the complexity of each client’s situation — entity structure, number of entities, whether bookkeeping is included, the scope of tax planning work, and whether payroll is required. Fees are discussed transparently during the initial review call once the scope is clear. The firm works with both flat-fee annual engagements and modular service arrangements depending on client needs.

 SG Inc CPA typically structures its engagements as annual flat-fee arrangements that cover a defined scope of services — tax planning, return preparation, quarterly check-ins, and a set number of advisory interactions. This gives clients predictable costs and removes the disincentive to ask questions that comes with hourly billing. Project-based work (entity formation, bookkeeping catch-up, a one-time transaction review) is quoted separately based on scope.

SG Inc CPA’s fees are typically higher than compliance-only CPA firms, which reflects the scope difference: a planning-focused engagement includes work that most compliance CPAs do not do at all — quarterly projections, mid-year strategy, entity analysis, and year-round advisory access. For clients at the income levels SG Inc CPA serves ($500K+ in business revenue), the tax savings generated by proactive planning typically exceed the incremental cost of the engagement by a significant margin.

The return on proactive tax planning varies by client but is often immediate and measurable. Common first-year outcomes include: identifying an S-Corp election that reduces SE tax, restructuring owner compensation to optimise the salary-distribution split, deploying a retirement contribution strategy that reduces current-year income, or identifying depreciation that was not previously captured. The best way to estimate the ROI for your specific situation is a confidential tax review — SG Inc CPA can identify what is specific to you before any engagement begins.

How do I get started with SG Inc CPA?

The first step is a confidential tax review call — a structured 30–45 minute conversation to understand your current situation, identify where your current tax and financial setup may have gaps, and determine whether SG Inc CPA is the right fit. Book online at sginccpa.com/book-a-confidential-tax-review/, call the DFW office at (214) 315-6392, or call the Bay Area office at (408) 942-1450. There is no cost or obligation for the initial review.

The confidential tax review call is a structured conversation — not a sales pitch. SG Inc CPA will ask about your business structure, current CPA relationship, what you have filed in recent years, and what is not working in your current setup. Based on that conversation, the team will identify the most significant planning opportunities specific to your situation and explain what an engagement would cover and cost. If there is a fit, onboarding begins from there.

You do not need to prepare anything specific for the initial review call — it is a conversation, not a document review. Once you decide to move forward, you will be asked to provide: prior year business and personal tax returns (typically two to three years), current year financial statements or bookkeeping records, payroll records if applicable, a list of any entities you own, and any existing engagement letters or workpapers from your prior CPA. SG Inc CPA manages the transition process and requests documents through the secure client portal.

Switching CPAs is typically straightforward. SG Inc CPA will send a professional courtesy letter to your prior CPA to request your files and workpapers — this is a standard industry practice. Your prior CPA is required to provide your records. You do not need to notify your prior CPA before engaging SG Inc CPA. The onboarding process includes a document checklist and a dedicated intake call to ensure all relevant history is collected before work begins.

For most new clients, the onboarding process takes two to four weeks from the initial review call to the point where SG Inc CPA has collected all documents and completed an initial review of your prior returns. If you are onboarding ahead of a filing deadline, the team will prioritise accordingly. Clients who need immediate assistance — for example, a filing that is due shortly or a transaction with a tight timeline — should mention this during the initial call so the intake can be expedited.

Yes. The confidential tax review call carries no cost and no obligation. It is designed to give both you and SG Inc CPA the information needed to determine whether the engagement is a good fit. If it is, the team will outline a proposed scope and fee. If it is not, the call still typically surfaces useful perspective on your current tax situation. Book at sginccpa.com or call (214) 315-6392 (DFW) or (408) 942-1450 (Bay Area).

How often will I hear from my CPA team?

SG Inc CPA engagements include scheduled touchpoints throughout the year — typically a quarterly check-in call to review financial performance, discuss any changes in your situation, and adjust the planning strategy accordingly. Beyond scheduled calls, clients have access to the team for responsive questions between sessions. The frequency of contact increases naturally during filing season and at year-end planning time. Clients are not limited to one annual contact in April.

SG Inc CPA commits to responding to all client inquiries within one business day. For urgent matters — a deal closing, a time-sensitive filing, or an IRS notice — the team prioritises faster turnaround. Routine document requests and bookkeeping questions are typically addressed within 24–48 hours. Clients are encouraged to use the secure client portal for document submissions and the direct email and phone lines for time-sensitive questions.

Yes. Each client is assigned a primary CPA contact — typically Shweta Garg, CPA, CTC or a senior team member — who manages the relationship and maintains continuity across all interactions. You will not be handed off to a different team member each time you call. For larger or more complex engagements, a supporting team member may assist with bookkeeping or payroll, but your primary contact remains consistent.

A typical year includes: an onboarding or annual planning session in January or February, Q1 check-in and estimated tax review in April, Q2 mid-year projection call in July, Q3 year-end planning session in October (the highest-value meeting of the year for implementing strategies before December 31), and year-end filing in the spring. Between these touchpoints, clients access the team as needed for advisory questions, document submissions, and reactive planning around deals, purchases, or life changes.

IRS and FTB notices are handled as part of the engagement for SG Inc CPA clients. If you receive a notice, forward it to the team immediately — most notices require a response within 30–60 days. SG Inc CPA reviews the notice, determines whether it is a routine inquiry or a substantive issue, and advises on the appropriate response. The team communicates directly with the IRS or FTB on your behalf where an authorisation of representative (Form 2848) is in place.

How do I access the SG Inc CPA client portal?

SG Inc CPA has two secure client portals — one per office. Texas (DFW) clients access the portal at sginccpadallas.securefilepro.com. California (Bay Area) clients access the portal at sginccpa.securefilepro.com/portal/. Portal login credentials are provided during onboarding. If you have forgotten your credentials or have not yet been set up, contact the relevant office: (214) 315-6392 for Plano, or (408) 942-1450 for Milpitas.

The client portal allows you to: upload documents securely (tax documents, financial statements, payroll records, receipts), download completed returns, financial reports, and engagement letters, review and sign documents electronically, and communicate securely with the SG Inc CPA team. All files transmitted through the portal are encrypted. The portal is the preferred method for all document exchange — it is more secure than email and creates a permanent organised record of everything shared.

Yes. SG Inc CPA uses SecureFilePro, an encrypted client portal platform designed specifically for CPA firms and financial services professionals. Files are encrypted in transit and at rest. Access is protected by username and password authentication. SG Inc CPA strongly recommends using the portal rather than emailing sensitive documents — tax returns, Social Security numbers, financial statements, and payroll data should never be transmitted via unencrypted email.

SG Inc CPA’s primary platform is QuickBooks Online (QBO), which the team uses for client bookkeeping, financial reporting, and coordination with tax preparation. The firm provides QuickBooks setup, cleanup, and training for clients who need to establish or improve their bookkeeping infrastructure. For clients using other platforms, the team assesses compatibility on a case-by-case basis during onboarding. SG Inc CPA does not require clients to use a specific platform but recommends QBO for its accessibility and integration capabilities.

Yes. SG Inc CPA can set up multiple authorised users on a client portal account — for example, a business partner, an internal bookkeeper, or an office manager who handles document submission. Access levels can be configured to control what each user can view and upload. Discuss multi-user access requirements during onboarding so the portal is configured correctly from the start.

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SG Inc CPA is supported by a team of accounting and advisory professionals across both offices.Dolor condimentum orci neque vestibulum semper pharetra eu dictumst lacus. Quam mus porttitor volutpat pharetra.

Metro DFW, Texas

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Milpitas, CA — Bay Area / Silicon Valley

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