59 - How Top Accounting Firms Are Dominating with Heidi Henderson of ETS (Sponsored by TaxPlanIQ)

In this episode, Dr. Jackie Meyer sits down with Heidi Henderson to discuss how CPAs can implement cutting-edge tax strategies while managing heavy workloads. They dive into passive vs. active participation, strategic partnerships, and the latest audit trends. Whether you're a CPA or a business owner, this conversation is packed with valuable insights to help you optimize tax planning and elevate your practice!

00:10:06 How do CPAs practically implement complex tax strategies while managing overwhelming workloads?

00:10:29 How can accountants strategically offer new service lines without overwhelming their current operations?

00:11:39 What is the difference between passive and active material participation in real estate for tax purposes?

00:17:34 What role does strategic partnership play in enhancing CPA firms' service offerings?

00:18:00 What is the process for integrating a new tax strategy with minimal client disruption?

00:20:47 How can CPAs effectively reduce clients' income tax liabilities using innovative strategies?

00:30:02 What trends are you seeing in audits related to emerging tax strategies?

🔗 Connect with Heidi Henderson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidihendersonets/

https://engineeredtaxservices.com/

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jackie Meyer

Jackie's LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiemeyercpa

Jackie on Instagram @jackiemeyerCPA

Jackie’s work at https://www.jackiemeyercpa.com

This episode is brought to you by TaxPlanIQ:

https://www.taxplaniq.com

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In this episode of The Concierge CPA Podcast, Jackie Meyer, CPA, engages in an insightful conversation with Heidi Henderson, Executive VP at Engineered Tax Services (ETS). Heidi shares her journey from a traditional accounting career to her current role, where she focuses on creating innovative tax strategies and fostering strategic partnerships to help clients and CPA firms optimize tax outcomes. The discussion covers the evolution of accounting, the importance of advisory services, and trends shaping the future of the profession.

Heidi highlights her entry into tax consulting through her sister’s encouragement and emphasizes how ETS specializes in tax credits and incentives such as cost segregation, R&D tax credits, and energy-related tax benefits like 45L and 179D. These strategies provide substantial savings for businesses and real estate investors, with cost segregation standing out as a powerful tool to maximize first-year depreciation and overall tax savings.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the necessity of building strategic partnerships between CPA firms and specialty tax providers like ETS. Heidi explains that many CPA firms struggle to shift from compliance to advisory services, often due to staffing shortages and capacity issues. ETS steps in to assist firms with implementing scalable tax strategies, enabling CPAs to focus on higher-value client relationships. This partnership approach positions CPAs as trusted advisors while ensuring clients receive comprehensive tax planning services.

Audit trends also feature prominently in the discussion, particularly the detailed audit support ETS provides for tax strategies. Heidi emphasizes that cost segregation is not a red-flag item for the IRS and that ETS ensures compliance through meticulous documentation, including detailed asset breakdowns. This audit-ready approach allows firms to confidently offer tax-saving opportunities without fear of regulatory pushback.

As the industry embraces technology, Heidi underscores the balance between automation and maintaining the personal touch that clients value. While ETS integrates advanced systems to streamline processes, the firm remains...