Accurate books and precisely prepared returns are not administrative tasks. They are the foundation of every financial decision you make — and the first line of defense against everything we resolve on the other side of this practice.

At Blackridge Tax, our tax preparation and bookkeeping services are not a separate offering bolted onto a controversy practice. They are a natural and deliberate extension of it. Every return we prepare and every set of books we maintain is reviewed through the lens of a firm that has spent years on the other side of the IRS's desk — one that knows exactly what triggers audits, what invites scrutiny, and what separates a defensible return from one that creates problems.

Our team includes a Board Certified Tax Specialist, a CPA, and an Enrolled Agent. The level of technical knowledge and strategic oversight we bring to tax preparation and bookkeeping is simply not available at a standard accounting firm — and for clients whose financial profiles are complex, that difference is not marginal. It is material.

Tax Preparation — Federal & State Returns

Tax preparation at Blackridge Tax is not a form-filling exercise. It is a comprehensive, strategically informed process that begins with a thorough understanding of each client's financial situation — their income sources, their business structure, their deductions, their prior year returns, and their exposure — and produces a return that is accurate, defensible, and optimized within the full bounds of the law.

We prepare federal and California state tax returns for individuals, businesses, and organizations across every entity type — with the depth of technical knowledge and the attention to detail that complex financial profiles demand.

Individual Tax Returns — Form 1040

The Form 1040 is the foundation of individual federal income tax compliance — and for high earners, self-employed professionals, real estate investors, and those with complex financial profiles, it is anything but straightforward. At Blackridge Tax, we prepare individual returns that account for every income source, every allowable deduction, every credit, and every planning opportunity available under the current tax code.

Our 1040 preparation encompasses:

• W-2 and investment income

• Self-employment income and Schedule C preparation

• Rental real estate income and Schedule E preparation

• Partnership and S-Corporation income from K-1s

• Capital gains and losses — including complex transactions, installment sales, and like-kind exchanges

• Foreign income and foreign tax credit

• Alternative Minimum Tax analysis and planning

• Net Investment Income Tax and Additional Medicare Tax

• Retirement account distributions and Roth conversion analysis

• Itemized deductions — including state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and unreimbursed business expenses

• Credits — including child tax credit, education credits, and energy credits

For clients with prior year issues — unfiled returns, amended returns, or returns that have been the subject of IRS scrutiny — we bring the same strategic awareness to the preparation of current year returns that we apply to resolving prior year problems.

Corporate Tax Returns — Form 1120

The C-Corporation tax return is one of the most complex returns in the federal tax system — and for business owners whose companies are subject to corporate income tax, the quality of the preparation has a direct and significant impact on the tax liability reported, the risk of audit, and the long-term tax efficiency of the business.

At Blackridge Tax, we prepare Form 1120 returns for C-Corporations of all sizes — from closely held family businesses to multi-entity corporate structures — with a focus on accuracy, defensibility, and the identification of every legitimate deduction and tax planning opportunity available at the corporate level.

Our corporate return preparation includes:

• Business income and expense analysis

• Depreciation and amortization — including Section 179 elections and bonus depreciation

• Net operating loss carrybacks and carryforwards

• Dividend received deductions

• Related party transactions and transfer pricing considerations

• Accumulated earnings tax analysis

• Corporate alternative minimum tax

• Consolidated return considerations for affiliated groups

S-Corporation Tax Returns — Form 1120-S

The S-Corporation is one of the most widely used business structures for closely held businesses — and the Form 1120-S is one of the most technically complex returns in the tax code. The interplay between the S-Corporation's income, the shareholder's basis, distributions, and the reasonable compensation requirement creates a web of compliance obligations that requires genuine expertise to navigate correctly.

At Blackridge Tax, we prepare Form 1120-S returns with a thorough understanding of the technical requirements and the planning opportunities available at the S-Corporation level — including shareholder basis tracking, the Qualified Business Income deduction, and the reasonable compensation analysis that is one of the most common triggers for S-Corporation audit.

Partnership & LLC Tax Returns — Form 1065

The partnership return — Form 1065 — is the foundational compliance document for partnerships, multi-member LLCs, and other pass-through entities. It is also one of the most complex returns in the federal tax system — requiring a thorough understanding of partnership tax law, the allocation of income and loss among partners, the preparation of K-1s for each partner, and the interaction between the partnership's tax attributes and each partner's individual return.

At Blackridge Tax, we prepare Form 1065 returns for partnerships and multi-member LLCs across a wide range of industries and structures — with particular expertise in real estate partnerships, professional service partnerships, and family limited partnerships used for estate planning and wealth transfer.

Our partnership return preparation includes:

• Partnership income and expense analysis

• Section 704(b) substantial economic effect analysis

• Capital account maintenance — tax basis and book

• Partner basis tracking and at-risk limitation analysis

• Passive activity loss analysis

• Self-employment tax analysis for general partners and LLC members

• Section 754 elections and inside basis adjustments

• K-1 preparation for all partners and members

Nonprofit Tax Returns — Form 990

Tax-exempt organizations are subject to their own compliance framework — and the Form 990 is both a tax filing and a public disclosure document that is available for inspection by donors, regulators, and the general public. The quality and accuracy of the Form 990 directly affects an organization's reputation, its ability to attract donations, and its compliance standing with the IRS and state tax authorities.

At Blackridge Tax, we prepare Form 990 returns for tax-exempt organizations — including public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofit entities — with a thorough understanding of the unique compliance requirements and disclosure obligations that apply to the tax-exempt sector.

Our nonprofit return preparation includes:

• Revenue and expense analysis including program service revenue and unrelated business income

• Functional expense allocation — program services, management and general, and fundraising

• Compensation disclosure for officers, directors, and key employees

• Related party transaction disclosure

• Governance policies and disclosure

• Unrelated Business Income Tax — Form 990-T where applicable

• State charitable registration compliance

Bookkeeping — The Foundation of Financial Clarity

Accurate, current, and well-organized books are the foundation of sound financial management — and the first line of defense against the IRS. At Blackridge Tax, we provide bookkeeping services that go beyond data entry. Every set of books we maintain is reviewed through the lens of a tax controversy firm — with an understanding of what the IRS looks for, what triggers audits, and what separates clean, defensible financials from ones that create problems.

Our bookkeeping services include:

• Monthly and quarterly bookkeeping for businesses of all sizes and entity types

• Bank and credit card reconciliation — ensuring accounts are balanced and records are current

• Accounts payable and receivable management

• Payroll processing and payroll tax compliance

• Financial statement preparation — profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements

• Catch-up bookkeeping — bringing neglected or disorganized books current regardless of how far behind they have fallen

• QuickBooks and accounting software setup, management, and reconciliation

• Chart of accounts design and optimization for tax efficiency and audit defensibility

• Year-end closing procedures and workpaper preparation for tax return preparation

The Connection Between Clean Books and Controversy Prevention

At Blackridge Tax, we have seen firsthand — from both sides of the process — what happens when bookkeeping is neglected and tax returns are prepared without proper oversight. Disorganized financials, misclassified expenses, unreported income, and improperly documented deductions are among the most common triggers for IRS and state tax audits. They are also almost entirely preventable.

When Blackridge Tax handles both the bookkeeping and the tax preparation, every number on the return is supported by clean, organized records that were maintained with tax compliance and audit defensibility in mind from the beginning. The return and the books tell the same story — because they were built together, by the same team, with the same standard of care.

For clients who have experienced tax problems in the past — or who operate in industries that attract elevated audit scrutiny — this integration of bookkeeping and tax preparation is not just a convenience. It is a fundamental risk management strategy.

Prior Year & Amended Returns

For clients with prior year compliance issues — unfiled returns, returns that were prepared incorrectly, or returns that have been the subject of IRS examination — Blackridge Tax provides prior year return preparation and amended return services with the same strategic awareness we bring to current year compliance.

An amended return — Form 1040-X for individuals or the amended version of the applicable business return — corrects errors or omissions on a previously filed return. When an amended return results in additional tax owed, it must be filed carefully and strategically — because the filing itself can attract IRS scrutiny if not handled correctly. When an amended return results in a refund, strict statute of limitations rules govern whether the refund can still be claimed.

At Blackridge Tax, we evaluate every prior year return situation carefully before recommending an amendment — because the decision to amend, when to amend, and how to amend are each strategic choices with real consequences.

The Blackridge Standard

Blackridge Tax provides tax preparation and bookkeeping services for individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations with complex financial profiles and compliance needs that go beyond what a standard accounting firm can address. Our clients are those for whom accuracy is non-negotiable, audit exposure is a real concern, and the quality of their tax preparation and financial records directly affects their financial security.

Our team includes a Board Certified Tax Specialist, a CPA, and an Enrolled Agent — professionals whose combined expertise spans every entity type, every return complexity, and every compliance challenge our clients bring to us.

The best tax controversy representation begins with returns that were never worth contesting. That is the standard we hold ourselves to — on every return we prepare.