Question 1

What is the difference between a CPA filing my return and engineering a tax strategy?

Accepted Answer

Filing a return is reactive — it reports what already happened. Engineering a strategy is proactive: we design entity structure, timing, and jurisdiction before a transaction so the eventual return reflects an optimized outcome. Most of our value is created in the 12 to 36 months before a liquidity event, not the week the return is due.

Question 2

How is your firm different from a traditional CPA practice?

Accepted Answer

Traditional firms organize around compliance deadlines and bill hourly for return preparation. We organize around capital preservation across a 3–5 year horizon and engage on a retainer or engagement basis. Compliance is treated as the minimum standard, not the deliverable.

Question 3

Who is the right client for Neil Jesani Tax Advisors?

Accepted Answer

We work primarily with W-2 executives earning $2M+ annually with concentrated equity, founders operating businesses doing $25M–$1B in revenue, and families with $15M+ in net worth navigating multi-state or international exposure. Pre-liquidity founders are a particular focus.

Question 4

How does QSBS planning under Section 1202 actually save tax on a startup exit?

Accepted Answer

Qualified Small Business Stock can exempt up to $10M — or 10× the original basis — of capital gain from federal tax when stock is held for five years and the issuer meets §1202 requirements. We structure issuance, family stacking, and non-grantor trusts to legally multiply the available exemption across taxpayers, often turning an eight-figure exit into a substantially or entirely federal-tax-free outcome.

Question 5

How do you handle an IRS or state audit?

Accepted Answer

We triage within 24 hours, establish a privilege framework, and build the evidence memo before any substantive contact with the examiner. Roughly 92% of our cases resolve before Tax Court, with a median resolution time of about 11 months. Where appropriate we move directly to the Office of Appeals rather than negotiating in the field.

Question 6

Can the firm reduce or remove IRS penalties already assessed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We specialize in reasonable-cause abatement and first-time-abate filings. Many engagements resolve to $0 in penalty when the underlying facts support relief — the determining factor is the quality of the written reasonable-cause memo, not the size of the original penalty.

Question 7

I live in one state but my company or income is sourced in another. How is that handled?

Accepted Answer

We model nexus, sourcing, and apportionment, then design domicile and entity placement to legally reduce the effective rate. This is especially impactful for clients moving between high-tax jurisdictions (CA, NY, NJ) and no-income-tax states (FL, NV, TX, WA, TN), and for executives with RSU vesting income sourced to multiple states.

Question 8

When should a founder first engage the firm?

Accepted Answer

Ideally before the first priced round, secondary, or material liquidity event. The structuring window — 83(b) elections, QSBS qualification, trust funding, holding-company design — closes quickly once equity has been issued or a transaction is signed. Engaging early routinely produces seven- to eight-figure differences at exit.

Question 9

How does the firm charge?

Accepted Answer

Engagement-based pricing for defined projects (audit defense, transaction advisory, QSBS planning, penalty abatement) and a retainer for ongoing advisory. We do not bill hourly for return preparation. Fees are scoped before work begins and tied to the value at stake, not the time on the clock.

Question 10

How do I begin working with the firm?

Accepted Answer

Reach out via the Contact page or call our direct line. A senior practitioner responds within one business day to schedule a 30–60 minute introductory call and outline next steps.

One firm.
Three practices.

Financial strategy,
engineered for preservation.

Mid-Market Advisory

Private Client Services

Tax Controversy

CFO-level guidance, on retainer.

How We Work

Discovery

Strategy Design

Execution

Ongoing Optimization

Representative Outcomes.

$3.2M RSU Exposure

Legal Entity Rationalization

Founder Liquidity Event

Trusted by businesses, founders, executives, and families with eight- and nine-figure complexity.

Answers for tax and financial complexity

Stop reacting.
Start controlling.

Time is of the essence!

Step 1: Initial Strategy Review

Step 2: System Mapping

Step 3: Strategy Design

One firm.Three practices.

Financial strategy,engineered for preservation.