What we do, in depth.
Individual tax, small business tax, year-round planning, and bookkeeping. Every engagement is handled by the same person year over year, so nothing has to be re-explained.
Most individual returns are straightforward. The ones that aren't — multi-state filings, large investment portfolios, rental properties, equity compensation, retirement transitions — benefit from a real human reviewing them. We take time with every return, even the simple ones.
- Federal & Montana 1040Full return preparation for W-2, 1099, and self-employed income
- Multi-state returnsNon-resident, part-year, and remote work scenarios
- Schedule D investment incomeCapital gains, wash sales, qualified dividends, basis tracking
- Rental propertiesSchedule E, depreciation, passive activity rules
- Retirement & Social SecurityRMD planning, Roth conversion timing, provisional income
- Estate & trust returns1041 returns, K-1 reporting for beneficiaries
Most small business tax problems are really structure problems. The wrong entity, the wrong election, the wrong owner compensation method — these create tax drag that no amount of deduction-hunting at year-end can fix. We start by getting the structure right.
- S-corporation returns1120-S, K-1 reporting, reasonable compensation analysis
- Partnership & LLC returns1065 returns, K-1s, partner basis tracking
- Sole proprietor / Schedule CSelf-employment tax, home office, vehicle expense
- Entity structureLLC vs. S-corp election, formation guidance, restructuring
- Quarterly estimatesFederal and Montana estimated tax planning
- Sales & use taxMontana use tax compliance for online sellers
Planning conversations happen at meaningful inflection points: a new income year, a business sale, a retirement transition, a property purchase. We model two or three scenarios in writing and walk through trade-offs in plain English.
- Year-end planningOctober–December review of income, deductions, and timing
- Retirement contribution strategyRoth vs. traditional, conversion ladders, mega-backdoor
- Business sale planningAsset vs. stock sale, installment treatment, basis stepping
- Major life eventsMarriage, divorce, inheritance, relocation to or from Montana
- Real estate transactions1031 exchanges, primary residence exclusion, rental conversions
- Charitable givingDonor-advised funds, QCDs, appreciated stock donations
Good bookkeeping is invisible. You shouldn't notice it happening, and you shouldn't worry about it. Our bookkeeping engagements include monthly close, quarterly check-ins, and direct integration with your tax return so nothing has to be rebuilt at year-end.
- Monthly bookkeepingQuickBooks Online setup, monthly close, reconciliations
- Payroll processingBi-weekly or monthly payroll, tax filings, W-2 / 1099 prep
- QuickBooks cleanupRebuild of misclassified or abandoned books
- QuickBooks trainingFor business owners who want to run their own books
- 1099 filingsAnnual contractor 1099-NEC preparation and filing
- Sales tax filingsMonthly or quarterly Montana sales/use tax returns
Working with Meridian.
Initial conversation
A free 20-minute call to understand your situation and whether we're a good fit. Honest answer either way.
Written engagement
Scope and fixed-fee estimate in writing before any work begins. Nothing is billed by surprise.
Document gathering
Secure client portal for uploads. A clear checklist of what we need so nothing gets missed.
Review & e-file
We walk through every return with you before filing. Questions answered, signatures collected, e-file done.
Ready to talk taxes?
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation. We'll listen first, then tell you whether we can help.
Schedule a Consultation