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Find an S-Corp CPA
CPAs who specialize in S-corporations — from the initial Form 2553 election through annual 1120-S filings, reasonable compensation analysis, and shareholder basis tracking.
When to hire
- You're considering electing S-corp status (Form 2553)
- Your single-member LLC profits exceed $60K–$80K
- You need help setting reasonable owner compensation
- You have multiple shareholders or are issuing stock
- You're behind on 1120-S filings or 1099 requirements
What they do
- Run S-election analysis: tax savings vs. added compliance
- File Form 2553 (S-election) and any late-election relief requests
- Prepare annual Form 1120-S and Schedule K-1s for shareholders
- Document reasonable compensation with industry benchmarks
- Track shareholder basis and AAA (accumulated adjustments account)
Typical fees
What it costs
Low end
$1,200
per year
High end
$5,000
per year
Notes
1120-S preparation: $1,200–$2,500. Add bookkeeping + payroll oversight: $500–$1,500/mo. Reasonable comp study: $500–$1,500 one-time.
Compare
S-Corp vs Single-Member LLC (Disregarded)
| Factor | S-Corp | Single-Member LLC (Disregarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employment tax | Only on W-2 wages, not distributions | On all net profit (15.3%) |
| Filing | Form 1120-S + K-1s annually | Schedule C on personal return |
| Payroll required | Yes — owner must take reasonable W-2 | No |
| Compliance cost | $1,200–$3,000/yr extra | Minimal |
| Break-even on tax savings | Usually $60K–$80K in profit | — |
Questions to ask
- How many S-corp returns do you file each year?
- Do you document reasonable comp with a defensible study?
- How do you track my shareholder basis annually?
- Will you handle late S-election relief if I missed the deadline?
- What's your process for K-1 delivery — and by when?
- Do you coordinate with my payroll provider for owner W-2?
Red flags
- Doesn't ask about reasonable comp at all
- Doesn't track shareholder basis
- Files 1120-S late without explanation (penalty is $245/month per shareholder)
- Can't explain the difference between distributions and W-2 wages
- Tells you to take 100% distributions and skip payroll
Documents to prepare
- Articles of incorporation or LLC formation documents
- EIN letter and any S-election confirmation (CP261)
- Prior-year 1120-S and K-1s
- YTD payroll reports for all owners
- Shareholder basis schedule, if you have one
By city
S-Corp Accountants & CPAs in major U.S. cities
Related
Other specialties you might need
FAQ
Find an S-Corp CPA — common questions
When does an S-corp election save money?+
Generally once net profit consistently exceeds $60K–$80K. Below that, the added cost of payroll, 1120-S preparation, and compliance often exceeds the self-employment tax savings.
What is reasonable compensation for an S-corp owner?+
The IRS requires you to pay yourself a salary 'reasonable' for the work performed before taking distributions. Defensible studies use industry, geography, and role data — typically 30–60% of profit for owner-operators.
What's the deadline for an S-election?+
Form 2553 is due by March 15 of the year the election takes effect, or within 75 days of formation. Late-election relief is available under Rev. Proc. 2013-30 in many cases.
Can I undo an S-election?+
Yes, but with a 5-year waiting period before re-electing. Most reversals are triggered by adding ineligible shareholders or moving toward an IPO.
What if I missed filing 1120-S?+
Penalty is $245 per shareholder per month, up to 12 months. File late as soon as possible and request first-time abatement if you qualify.
This information is general and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
S-Corp Accountants & CPAs · Verified Directory
Maximize S-Corp tax savings — without the IRS headaches
S-Corporation tax and accounting specialists: reasonable compensation analysis, owner payroll, 1120-S returns, K-1 distributions, and shareholder basis tracking.
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S-Corp Accountants & CPAs accepting new clients
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Vetting checklist
Questions to ask before hiring s-corp
- 1Are you a licensed CPA or EA, and in which states are you registered?
- 2What does engagement scope, pricing, and turnaround actually look like?
- 3Who on your team will do the work, and how do we communicate month to month?
- 4How do you handle deadlines, IRS or state notices, and audit support?
- 5Can you share two references from clients similar to my business?
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Compare your options
Hiring a verified s-corp vs. going it alone
| Factor | Verified S-Corp | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized expertise | Trained in s-corp accountants & cpas | General-purpose advice |
| Time investment | 1–2 hours to onboard | 10+ hours per filing cycle |
| Audit defense | Represents you to the IRS | You handle correspondence |
| Year-round planning | ||
| Typical cost | Quoted up-front | $0 software + your hours |
| Risk of missed deductions | Low — proactive review | High — software only flags what you enter |
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By city
Find S-Corp by city
S-Corp in Houston, TX
Houston CPAs serve energy, healthcare, and the city's vast small-business community.
S-Corp in Dallas, TX
Dallas accounting firms anchor finance, real estate, and corporate headquarters across DFW.
S-Corp in Los Angeles, CA
LA's accountants specialize in entertainment, real estate, and creative-industry tax planning.
S-Corp in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco CPAs serve startups, venture-backed companies, and complex equity-comp clients.
S-Corp in New York City, NY
NYC's accountants cover Wall Street, media, real estate, hospitality, and the small businesses of all five boroughs.
S-Corp in Miami, FL
Miami's CPAs specialize in international tax, real estate, hospitality, and Latin American business.
S-Corp in Chicago, IL
Chicago accountants serve professional services, manufacturing, logistics, and the Midwest's largest corporate base.
S-Corp in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's CPAs support film, fintech, logistics, and one of the country's most dynamic small-business scenes.
S-Corp in Boston, MA
Boston-area accountants serve life sciences, higher education, financial services, and innovation-economy startups.
S-Corp in Seattle, WA
Seattle CPAs serve tech, aerospace, and the Pacific Northwest's deep entrepreneurial bench.
S-Corp in Washington DC, DC
Washington DC accountants serve federal contractors, nonprofits, associations, and the law firms that anchor the capital's economy.
S-Corp in Baltimore, MD
Baltimore CPAs serve healthcare systems, port and logistics operators, biotech, and the city's deep nonprofit and higher-ed community.
S-Corp in Richmond, VA
Richmond CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, banking and insurance, tobacco-to-tech manufacturers, and Virginia's state-capital legal and government economy.
S-Corp in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham CPAs serve banking, healthcare, steel, and the Magic City's small-business economy.
S-Corp in Anchorage, AK
Anchorage CPAs serve oil and gas, fisheries, federal contracting, and the state's tourism economy.
S-Corp in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix CPAs serve semiconductors, real estate, healthcare, and one of the country's fastest-growing small-business markets.
S-Corp in Little Rock, AR
Little Rock CPAs serve healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and the state's government and legal economy.
S-Corp in Denver, CO
Denver CPAs serve tech, aerospace, cannabis, and the Front Range's outdoor and energy economies.
S-Corp in Hartford, CT
Hartford CPAs serve insurance, reinsurance, manufacturing, and the broader Connecticut River Valley economy.
S-Corp in Wilmington, DE
Wilmington CPAs serve banking, corporate trust, pharma, and the Fortune 500 entity-formation economy.
S-Corp in Honolulu, HI
Honolulu CPAs serve tourism, military contracting, real estate, and the islands' small-business community.
S-Corp in Boise, ID
Boise CPAs serve tech, agriculture, manufacturing, and a fast-growing relocation-driven small-business economy.
S-Corp in Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis CPAs serve manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and motorsports.
S-Corp in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines CPAs serve insurance, agribusiness, biofuels, and the state's growing tech economy.
S-Corp in Wichita, KS
Wichita CPAs serve aviation, aerospace, energy, and agriculture.
S-Corp in Louisville, KY
Louisville CPAs serve bourbon, equine, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics (UPS Worldport).
S-Corp in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans CPAs serve maritime, tourism, oil and gas, and the city's film and hospitality economies.
S-Corp in Portland, ME
Portland CPAs serve tourism, fisheries, forestry, and the state's growing remote-work and craft economies.
S-Corp in Detroit, MI
Detroit CPAs serve automotive, mobility, healthcare, and the broader Southeast Michigan manufacturing base.
S-Corp in Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, medical devices, agribusiness, and finance.
S-Corp in Jackson, MS
Jackson CPAs serve manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and the state's government and legal economy.
S-Corp in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis CPAs serve agribusiness, defense, biosciences, financial services, and logistics.
S-Corp in Billings, MT
Billings CPAs serve agriculture, energy, healthcare, and Montana's tourism economy.
S-Corp in Omaha, NE
Omaha CPAs serve insurance, financial services, agribusiness, and the Berkshire Hathaway ecosystem.
S-Corp in Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas CPAs serve gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and a fast-growing logistics base.
S-Corp in Manchester, NH
Manchester CPAs serve advanced manufacturing, biotech, healthcare, and a thriving small-business community.
S-Corp in Newark, NJ
Newark CPAs serve pharma, financial services, logistics, ports, and the NYC-metro small-business economy.
S-Corp in Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque CPAs serve federal labs and defense, oil and gas, film, and tourism.
S-Corp in Fargo, ND
Fargo CPAs serve agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and the Red River Valley's tech and healthcare economy.
S-Corp in Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City CPAs serve oil and gas, aerospace, agriculture, and the state's growing healthcare and bioscience industries.
S-Corp in Portland, OR
Portland CPAs serve tech, athletic apparel, forestry, and the Pacific Northwest's craft beverage and outdoor industries.
S-Corp in Providence, RI
Providence CPAs serve financial services, healthcare, defense manufacturing, and tourism.
S-Corp in Charleston, SC
Charleston CPAs serve ports, aerospace, automotive, hospitality, and a growing tech economy.
S-Corp in Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls CPAs serve financial services, credit card processing, trust administration, and healthcare.
S-Corp in Brookings, SD
Brookings CPAs and QuickBooks ProAdvisors serve South Dakota State University-area businesses, agribusiness, and the city's growing tech and biotech employers.
S-Corp in Nashville, TN
Nashville CPAs serve healthcare, music and entertainment, hospitality, and the state's franchise and excise tax compliance.
S-Corp in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City CPAs serve the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, outdoor recreation, mining, and financial services.
S-Corp in Burlington, VT
Burlington CPAs serve craft food and beverage, tourism, healthcare, and outdoor brands.
S-Corp in Charleston, WV
Charleston CPAs serve coal and natural gas, chemicals, healthcare, and state government.
S-Corp in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee CPAs serve manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, and the Lake Michigan industrial corridor.
S-Corp in Cheyenne, WY
Cheyenne CPAs serve energy, ranching, trust administration, and a growing data-center and tech economy.
S-Corp in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte CPAs serve the second-largest U.S. banking center, plus energy, healthcare, motorsports, and one of the fastest-growing relocation markets in the country.
By state
Find S-Corp by state
Common questions
About s-corp accountants & cpas
What is 'reasonable compensation' for an S-Corp owner?+
The IRS requires owner-employees to take a salary comparable to what they'd pay an outside hire for the same role. An S-Corp accountant benchmarks this and documents the analysis.
When is the S-Corp tax return due?+
Form 1120-S is due March 15 each year, with a six-month extension available. K-1s must be issued to shareholders by the same deadline.
This information is general and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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