June 10, 2026
Tax Planning at Fortitude: Why We Don’t Do It Like Most Firms
Tactical. Practical. Efficient.
At Fortitude Tax & Accounting, these three words guide nearly everything we do.
As business owners ourselves, we understand that time, cash flow, and attention are limited resources. Our clients don’t need more reports, more meetings, or more complexity. They need clear guidance, practical recommendations, and enough time to take meaningful action.
That’s why we strive to be tactical, practical, and efficient in the way we deliver our services.
- Tactical means focusing on recommendations that can actually be implemented and that have a meaningful impact on your situation.
- Practical means recognizing that taxes do not exist in a vacuum. Every recommendation must fit within the realities of your business, cash flow, goals, and priorities.
- Efficient means respecting everyone’s time. We believe meetings should have a purpose, planning should lead to action, and systems should make life easier—not more complicated.
This philosophy is the foundation of how we approach tax planning.
Rather than scheduling meetings simply because another quarter has passed, we focus on creating planning conversations at the times they are most likely to provide value. We want enough information to make meaningful recommendations, enough time to implement those recommendations, and enough runway to help you plan for the cash-flow impact of your decisions.
The result is a planning process designed around real business owners making real decisions—not around arbitrary calendar dates.
The goal isn’t more planning.
The goal is better decisions.
Main Philosophy: Tax Planning Should Lead to Action
Many tax planning programs are built around the calendar. A quarter ends, a meeting is scheduled, a projection is updated, and the process repeats.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with that approach, it isn’t how most business owners experience their businesses. Business owners don’t wake up thinking about quarters.
They’re thinking about hiring employees, increasing profitability, buying equipment, setting up retirement plans, managing cash flow, taking distributions, expanding operations, and preparing for taxes.
At Fortitude, we believe planning conversations should happen when they are most likely to lead to meaningful decisions and action—not simply because another date on the calendar has passed.
Philosophy: Safe Harbor Payments Early in the Year
For most clients, we begin the year by relying on IRS safe harbor estimated tax payments. These payments are generally based on prior-year tax liability and are designed to help taxpayers avoid underpayment penalties even when current-year income is uncertain. Why?
Because what happens in April or May may have very little relationship to where your business ultimately ends up by year-end.
- A business may land a major client.
- Revenue may slow unexpectedly.
- An investment property may be sold.
- A new business opportunity may emerge.
Early-year projections are often less reliable than many business owners realize.
Using safe harbor estimates during the first part of the year allows many clients to avoid underpayment penalties while preserving cash flow and giving us time to gather more meaningful data before making major planning decisions or accelerating tax payments unnecessarily.
The primary exception is when income has dropped significantly. In those situations, we encourage clients to reach out so we can discuss whether continuing safe harbor payments still makes sense.
Why Most Planning Happens in the Fall
The challenge with tax planning is finding the right balance.
- Too early and the numbers may be inaccurate.
- Too late and there may not be enough time to implement changes.
For many business owners, Late August through October is the ideal planning window.
By that point:
- We have enough year-to-date information to build meaningful projections.
- We can forecast the remainder of the year with greater confidence and accuracy.
- There is still time to implement strategies before December 31.
- There is still plenty of time to prepare for upcoming tax payments and cash-flow needs before spring deadlines arrive. In fact, a planning meeting in October provides roughly six months of runway before the April filing deadline.
Our goal is not simply to estimate your tax bill. Our goal is to help you understand the cash-flow impact of your tax decisions over the coming months.
We Plan Beyond April
Many tax planning conversations focus solely on one question:
“How much will I owe?”
While that’s important, it is only part of the picture.
Our planning process typically considers:
- Remaining estimated tax payments for this calendar year
- Expected balance due next April for this calendar year
- Potential planning opportunities- How can we alter that outcome?
- Cash-flow implications of various strategies
- Expected estimated payments for the following year- Q1 & Q2 for next year!
In other words, we’re not simply forecasting taxes.
We’re helping you forecast the cash-flow impact of those taxes.
Planning Is About Choices
One of the most common discussions we have during planning season is how aggressively clients want to pay taxes throughout the year.
For example:
- Some clients prefer to continue paying safe harbor estimates and plan for a larger balance due in April.
- Others prefer to increase estimated payments throughout the year to reduce their April balance.
Neither approach is automatically right.
The best choice depends on your cash flow, goals, preferences, and comfort level.
That’s why tax planning is a conversation—not simply a calculation.
Tax Planning Isn’t Required Every Year
One thing we want clients to understand is that tax planning and tax preparation serve different purposes.
Tax preparation (compliance) is the process of preparing and filing accurate tax returns. Every taxpayer has compliance obligations, which is why every client begins with a tax preparation engagement.
Tax planning is different.
Planning is designed to help you look ahead, evaluate opportunities, understand the cash-flow impact of taxes, and make more informed decisions before year-end.
Some clients benefit from planning every year.
Others may only need planning during years when significant changes are occurring, such as:
- Starting or growing a business
- Purchasing or selling a property
- Changes in income
- Retirement planning
- Entity changes
- Major life events
- Large transactions
Because every situation is different, we offer multiple levels of planning support in addition to compliance-only services.
Think of it as choosing your own adventure each year.
Some years you may simply need accurate tax preparation and filing.
Other years you may want forecasting, planning discussions, or more proactive guidance.
You’re never locked into a particular planning level permanently. Clients can adjust their service level from year to year based on their needs and goals, and planning services can often be added when circumstances change.
Our goal is to provide the right level of support for the season of business and life you’re currently experiencing.
Which Planning Level Is Right For You?
Not every taxpayer needs the same level of planning, and not every business owner is at the same stage of growth. That’s why our planning services are designed to meet clients where they are.
Forecast & Plan
Forecast & Plan is designed for taxpayers and business owners who expect some changes from prior years and want to understand how those changes may impact their tax situation.
This service is often a great fit for:
- Taxpayers with changing income, investments, or life circumstances
- New business owners
- Business owners who have never participated in formal tax planning before
- Clients who want better visibility into upcoming tax obligations
- Anyone looking to establish a healthier cadence around tax and cash-flow planning
The focus is on forecasting, light education, and awareness.
Rather than introducing complex planning strategies all at once, this service helps clients understand where they stand, what to expect, and how taxes fit into their overall cash-flow picture.
Many clients begin here and later move into more comprehensive planning as their businesses grow and become more complex.
Proactive & Prepared
Proactive & Prepared is designed for business owners and landlords who want guidance, strategy discussions, and the ability to evaluate planning opportunities before year-end.
In addition to forecasting, we can discuss:
- “What if” scenarios
- Potential planning strategies
- S Corporation Analysis
- Implementation considerations
- The tax impact of future business decisions
- Opportunities to improve future outcomes
This service is particularly valuable for clients in growth mode.
Growth is often the most exciting stage of business ownership, but it can also be one of the most fragile. Income is changing, cash flow may feel unpredictable, new opportunities appear regularly, and decisions made today can have significant tax consequences later.
During periods of growth, having guidance can help business owners avoid surprises, evaluate opportunities more effectively, and make decisions with greater confidence. This is often the sweet spot for growing businesses and landlords who want more than a forecast but don’t necessarily need the additional touchpoints included in Strategic VIP.
Strategic VIP
Strategic VIP is designed for clients who want a more collaborative and proactive planning relationship.
These clients often have:
- More complex businesses or ownership structures
- Multiple planning opportunities
- Significant growth objectives
- Higher levels of taxable income
- Exit planning considerations
- Greater implementation needs throughout the year
The additional Mid-Year Strategy Session allows us to identify opportunities earlier, discuss goals before planning season begins, and create time to implement strategies that may require advance planning.
Rather than simply forecasting results, Strategic VIP focuses on helping shape them.
Designed for Real Business Owners
Ultimately, we designed our planning process from the perspective of a business owner.
We recognize that your time is valuable.
We don’t believe more meetings automatically create better outcomes. In fact, too many planning touchpoints can sometimes create the illusion of progress while delaying action.
Instead, we focus on creating planning conversations that happen at the right time, with the right information, and with enough time remaining to take meaningful action.
Because the goal isn’t to create more projections.
The goal is to help you make better decisions.
Why doesn’t Fortitude schedule tax planning meetings every quarter?
Because effective tax planning isn’t about checking a box on the calendar. We prefer to have planning conversations when there’s enough information to make meaningful recommendations and enough time left in the year to implement them. The goal isn’t more meetings—it’s better decisions.
What does “tactical, practical, and efficient” actually mean?
Tactical means focusing on strategies that can actually be implemented. Practical means every recommendation must fit your business, cash flow, and goals. Efficient means respecting your time by focusing on planning that leads to action rather than unnecessary complexity.
Why do many clients use safe harbor payments early in the year?
Early-year projections can be unreliable because businesses change throughout the year. Safe harbor payments often allow clients to avoid underpayment penalties while preserving cash flow until there’s enough data to make more informed planning decisions.
Why is fall often the best time for tax planning?
By August, September, and October, we typically have enough year-to-date information to create more accurate projections while still having time to implement tax-saving strategies before year-end.
Is tax planning just about reducing taxes?
No. Tax planning is also about understanding the cash-flow impact of your decisions. We help clients forecast estimated payments, balances due, future obligations, and planning opportunities so there are fewer surprises.
Do I need tax planning every year?
Not necessarily. Some clients benefit from planning every year, while others may only need it during periods of change, such as business growth, property transactions, retirement planning, entity changes, or major life events.
What’s the difference between tax preparation and tax planning?
Tax preparation looks backward and focuses on filing accurate returns. Tax planning looks forward and helps you evaluate opportunities, understand future tax impacts, and make informed decisions before year-end.
Which planning service is right for me?
It depends on your business stage and goals. Forecast & Plan is often ideal for those new to planning. Proactive & Prepared fits growing businesses that want strategy discussions. Strategic VIP is designed for clients who want ongoing collaboration and proactive guidance throughout the year.
Why does Fortitude focus on cash flow during planning?
Because taxes affect more than your tax return. Understanding when payments are due and how tax decisions impact cash flow helps business owners make better decisions and avoid unnecessary financial stress.
What’s the ultimate goal of tax planning?
The purpose isn’t to create more projections, reports, or meetings. The purpose is to help business owners make better decisions with greater confidence by understanding the tax and cash-flow consequences of those decisions before they happen.
Fortitude Tax & Accounting, located in Stansbury Park, Utah, just outside the Greater Salt Lake City area, provides tax and accounting services for therapists, real estate professionals, and small business owners. Led by Melissa Calwell, CPA, EA, with more than 30 years of experience in private industry and public accounting, Fortitude provides tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, and practical year-round guidance.
We help business owners understand their numbers, make informed decisions, and approach taxes and accounting with greater clarity and confidence.
Fortitude Tax & Accounting has provided this article for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor regarding their individual situation.
