--- title: "Tax Planning" description: "Year-round tax planning for business owners and retirees, including projections and quarterly estimated payments." url: https://markpattyaccounting.com/services/tax-planning lang: en last_modified: 2026-09-30 --- # Tax planning in Shelby, so April brings no surprises Plan your taxes during the year, not after it ends. Mark looks ahead with business owners and retirees, works out what you're likely to owe, and helps you set your payments so you're ready. - Enrolled Agent, licensed by the IRS - Book planning on its own, or with your return ## Planning helps most when your income changes - You own a business and your profit moves around from year to year. - You pay quarterly estimates and never know if they're enough. - You owed more than you expected last April. - You're retiring soon, or just retired, and want to know how your income will be taxed. - You're about to take money out of an IRA or 401(k) and want to know what it will cost in taxes. - You're selling property, starting a business or making another big change this year. ## What tax planning with us covers - A projection of this year's federal and North Carolina tax, before the year ends - Quarterly estimated payment amounts, adjusted when your income changes - Planning for business owners: how profit, pay and big purchases affect your tax - Planning for retirees: how Social Security, pensions and retirement withdrawals are taxed, and when to take them - A check-in before year end, while there is still time to act - Planning on its own, whoever prepares your return, or together with your return if we prepare it too ## How tax planning works 1. **Bring last year's return.** Plus anything that has changed this year: income, a new business, a retirement date. 2. **We run the numbers.** Mark projects what you're likely to owe and walks you through it in plain terms. 3. **You leave with a plan.** Your quarterly payment amounts and the steps worth taking before December 31, with a check-in later in the year. ## Planning from someone who prepares returns every day Mark Patty has been an Enrolled Agent since 2013 and has served Shelby since 2001. If someone else prepares your return, keep them: bring last year's return and we'll plan from there. If we prepare it too, your plan and your return come from the same numbers and the same office. ## What tax planning costs Planning is priced by how much there is to plan: a retiree's income check is simpler than a business with changing profit. We'll give you a clear price before we start. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between tax preparation and tax planning? Tax preparation reports a year that has already ended. Tax planning looks at the year you're in, while there's still time to change the result, and sets your payments so April holds no surprises. ### When is the best time to plan? Early in the year sets your quarterly payments. A check-in in the fall leaves time to act before December 31. Planning after the year ends is mostly too late to change anything. ### Do I need to make quarterly estimated payments? Generally yes, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more after withholding and credits. North Carolina uses the same $1,000 threshold. Our estimated tax guide covers who needs to pay, the due dates and how much. ### Does North Carolina tax my retirement income? North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits. Most IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are taxed at the state's flat rate, and some government pensions are exempt. Our retirement income guide explains each type. ### Do I have to use you for my tax return too? No. You can book tax planning on its own and keep your current preparer. If you'd like us to prepare your return as well, the plan and the return come from one office. ### Is a tax advisor the same as a tax preparer? Not always. Mark does both: as an Enrolled Agent he prepares your return and can advise you on the tax side of decisions during the year, and he can represent you before the IRS if questions come up. --- Mark Patty & Associates, LLC 724 South Morgan Street, Shelby, NC 28150 Phone: (704) 471-1414 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. After hours by appointment. Page: https://markpattyaccounting.com/services/tax-planning