Is tax planning different from tax preparation?

Yes. Preparation reports what already happened; planning changes what happens next. Tax preparation and planning are priced separately, and planning works best when we also prepare the return, because the plan is checked against what actually gets filed.

When should I start planning?

Any time in the year, though the earlier the better. A business that starts in Q1 has the whole year to act on entity, retirement and timing decisions. A business that starts in Q4 still has moves available, just fewer of them.

Do I need bookkeeping first?

Yes. A projection is only as good as the numbers behind it. If your bookkeeping is behind, we clean it up first, then build the plan on figures we can rely on. Cleanup work is quoted separately.

Will planning lower my tax bill?

Often, but not always, and we will not promise a number. Some years the right answer is to pay tax now rather than defer it. What planning reliably does is put the decision in front of you while you can still choose.

Do you handle multi-state and multi-entity planning?

Yes. Multi-state income, nexus and multi-entity structures are part of the review, with each state's rules applied to the activity that creates the filing obligation.

What does planning cost?

Planning is quoted up front based on the complexity of your entities and the number of states involved. You approve the fee before we begin, and it covers the quarterly check-ins for the year. Planning is separate from bookkeeping, payroll and return preparation.

Tax Planning

Small Business Tax Planning in Jonesboro, Arkansas

Plan the year, not just the April deadline

Ledgers-Jonesboro helps business owners in Jonesboro and across Northeast Arkansas plan their taxes year-round. Most tax decisions are made months before a return is filed — when you choose an entity structure, hire, buy equipment or set your own salary. We look at those decisions in advance, while there is still time to act on them.

Start Planning Call 870-272-8437

Planning across the whole year, not just at filing
Entity, retirement and depreciation reviewed together
Estimated payments sized to help avoid underpayment penalties

What We Review

Four levers that shape your tax bill

Every recommendation is grounded in your numbers and current tax law. Planning is not a promise of a smaller bill — it is a decision made with the full picture in view.

Entity structure

Whether you are a sole proprietor, partnership, S corporation or C corporation changes what you pay and how. We review your structure against your profit, owner compensation and growth plans, and we model a change before recommending one.

Retirement plans

A SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA or solo 401(k) can defer tax on income for the year while building your retirement savings. We compare the contribution limits, deadlines and administrative requirements that apply to your situation. Each plan has its own setup deadline. A new SIMPLE IRA, for example, generally must be established by October 1 of the year it takes effect, so we review the dates for each option well before they arrive.

Depreciation and expensing

Equipment, vehicles and improvements are treated differently depending on when you place them in service. We look at Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation so the deduction lands in the year it helps most.

Timing

The date you invoice or collect, pay a bonus, fund a plan or make a purchase can move income and deductions between tax years. We map those decisions before the year closes, not after.

The Rhythm

A quarterly check-in, so nothing is decided at the last minute

By the time January arrives, many of the opportunities for the prior year are already gone. Planning works because it happens while the year is still running.

Set the baseline

We review last year's return, confirm your entity and payroll setup still fit, and set the estimated payment schedule for the year.

Check the projection

Year-to-date profit is compared with the projection. If income is running ahead, we adjust estimated payments before a shortfall builds.

Mid-year review

We look at hiring, equipment and ownership questions while there is still time to change course before December.

Year-end moves

Retirement contributions, purchases, bonus timing and deferred income are decided while the year is still open, then documented for filing.

What You Get

A plan you can act on, not a stack of theory

Planning runs on your books. When we keep your bookkeeping and payroll, the projection is built from current numbers instead of a year-old return, and every recommendation comes with a date by which it has to happen. We work with Jonesboro-area business owners, including contractors, medical and professional practices, farms, retailers, and multi-state and multi-entity companies.

A projected tax liability for the year, updated as your numbers change
An estimated payment schedule with the quarterly due dates that apply to you
A written review of your entity structure and owner compensation
Retirement plan options compared on contribution, cost and deadline
A depreciation and equipment purchase schedule for the year
A year-end checklist so documentation is in place for the deductions you plan to claim

IRS Credential

Enrolled Agents, enrolled to practice before the IRS

Our team includes Enrolled Agents — the highest credential awarded by the IRS. Enrolled Agents are federally authorized tax practitioners empowered to represent taxpayers before the IRS in audits, collections, and appeals, and to advise on tax planning.

Meet our team

Reviewed by Enrolled Agents

Questions

What owners ask about planning

Tax outcomes depend on your facts and on the law in effect for the year. No particular result is guaranteed.

Is tax planning different from tax preparation?: Yes. Preparation reports what already happened; planning changes what happens next. Tax preparation and planning are priced separately, and planning works best when we also prepare the return, because the plan is checked against what actually gets filed.
When should I start planning?: Any time in the year, though the earlier the better. A business that starts in Q1 has the whole year to act on entity, retirement and timing decisions. A business that starts in Q4 still has moves available, just fewer of them.
Do I need bookkeeping first?: Yes. A projection is only as good as the numbers behind it. If your bookkeeping is behind, we clean it up first, then build the plan on figures we can rely on. Cleanup work is quoted separately.
Will planning lower my tax bill?: Often, but not always, and we will not promise a number. Some years the right answer is to pay tax now rather than defer it. What planning reliably does is put the decision in front of you while you can still choose.
Do you handle multi-state and multi-entity planning?: Yes. Multi-state income, nexus and multi-entity structures are part of the review, with each state's rules applied to the activity that creates the filing obligation.
What does planning cost?: Planning is quoted up front based on the complexity of your entities and the number of states involved. You approve the fee before we begin, and it covers the quarterly check-ins for the year. Planning is separate from bookkeeping, payroll and return preparation.

Last updated: October 2026

Plan Before December

The best time to plan this year is before it closes.

Book a free 30-minute call and we will look at where your year is heading, which decisions are still open, and what it would take to put a plan in place.

Free 30-minute consultation

Open the Scheduler Call 870-272-8437

Mon–Fri, 8:00am – 5:00pm CT · 3411 Southwest Dr. STE B #2, Jonesboro, AR 72404