Your CPA Files What You Give Them

Are You Overpaying? Probably.

Here's the thing about most CPAs: they're reactive. They file what you give them, answer questions you ask, and move on to the next client. But what about the questions you didn't know to ask? That's where the money is.

Return Analysis

What did you miss?

S-Corp Optimizer

Salary vs. distribution

Hire Kids

Done right, not sketchy

01Tax Return Review

What's Hiding in Your Return?

Upload last year's return and we'll read it for you. Not to file it. We look for the things worth asking your CPA about, including the stuff that's easy to miss when you're trying to get it done by April 15th.

Step 01

Upload Your Return

Drop in your 1040, K-1s, and business returns. Encrypted, never shared, never sold. We're not in the data business.

Step 02

We Read the Fine Print

Our system scans for common optimization opportunities: deductions that look off, structures that might be inefficient, strategies you might be missing.

Step 03

Get Questions, Not Answers

We're not your CPA. We'll give you a list of smart questions to ask yours and the context for why they matter.

02S-Corp Salary Calculator

The Salary Question Every S-Corp Owner Gets Wrong

Too low and you invite an IRS audit. Too high and you overpay payroll taxes. The 'reasonable salary' sweet spot is real, and it is not what most people think.

Step 01

Plug In Your Numbers

Revenue, expenses, what you're currently paying yourself. Takes 30 seconds.

Step 02

See What You're Really Paying

The calculator shows the real cost of different salary levels, including payroll tax, income tax, and audit risk.

Step 03

Find the Range That Makes Sense

Not a magic number. A defensible range. Take it to your CPA and have a conversation grounded in actual math.

03Family Employment Calculator

Yes, You Can Hire Your Kids. Here's How to Not Screw It Up.

Paying your 14-year-old to do real work in your business is 100% legit and shifts income from your tax bracket to theirs (or zero). Do it wrong and you've got a mess. We show you the rules.

Step 01

Tell Us About Your Kids

Ages, your business structure, and what kind of work they could actually do. Be honest. The IRS is watching.

Step 02

Learn the Rules First

Age limits, reasonable pay rates, documentation requirements, what counts as 'real work.' No shortcuts.

Step 03

See What It Could Save

Run the numbers on what shifting income to their bracket could mean. Then verify every bit of it with your CPA.

04Why Bother?

Because Your CPA Isn't Looking for This Stuff

They're busy. They have 200 other clients. They're not lying awake thinking about your tax situation. But you are. So do the homework.

Find the Blind Spots

The stuff that's hiding in plain sight on your return. The questions you didn't know to ask. The structures you didn't know existed.

Know the Risks

Every strategy has trade-offs. We show you the compliance considerations so you go in with eyes open.

Do the Math First

Run the numbers before the meeting. Know what's at stake. Come with scenarios, not just questions.

Share With Your CPA

Export your analysis and share it. Good CPAs love prepared clients. It makes their job easier.

Stay Current

Tax law changes every year. What worked in 2023 might not work now. We keep the tools updated.

Complement, Don't Replace

We're not trying to fire your CPA. We're trying to make your CPA meetings worth the money.

Decision support

Make the CPA meeting productive

A clear definition and a short checklist keep the conversation focused on decisions, not theory.

What tax optimization means here
Tax optimization in X1 means turning your real tax data into a set of questions, scenarios, and handoffs for your CPA. It is a planning workflow, not filing or advice.
Decision checklist
  • Do you have last year's returns and K-1s ready to review?
  • Has income, ownership, or entity structure changed since last year?
  • Are you making decisions without running a scenario first?
  • Do you know which strategies are legal but not appropriate for you?
  • Can you summarize the decision in one paragraph for your CPA?
Questions for your advisor
  • Which two strategies are most worth modeling this quarter?
  • What would materially change my effective tax rate this year?
  • What documentation would you want before we adjust the salary split?

Related resources

Keep the tax plan moving

Pair tax insights with the right tools and follow-ups.

Tool

S-Corp Tax Savings Calculator

Estimate payroll-tax savings from a salary split.

Tool

S-Corp Reasonable Salary Calculator

Benchmark a defensible salary range.

Tool

Estimated Tax Catch-Up

Quick deadline check with a checklist for your CPA.

Tool

Estimated Tax Safe Harbor Calculator

Find the minimum quarterly target to reduce penalties.

Tool

Year-End Tax Projection

One-page report for high-income planning windows.

Resource

Year-End Tax Planning Guide

Checklist-driven Q4 planning for high-income households.

Resource

S-corp Reasonable Compensation

Defensible salary range framework and sources.

Resource

QBI Deduction Planning

Eligibility checklist and IRS source links.

Feature

Play Builder

Surface additional strategies worth exploring.

Important Tax Information

X1 Tax Tools provide educational information and calculations to help you understand potential tax strategies. They do not constitute tax advice. Tax situations vary by individual, and all strategies should be reviewed and implemented by a qualified CPA or tax professional.

X1 Wealth, Inc. is a financial technology company, not a registered investment advisor, CPA firm, or law firm. Our tools provide educational information and should not be construed as personalized financial, tax, or legal advice.

Get Started

How Much Are You Overpaying?

Upload your return. Find out what you're missing. Takes 5 minutes.

No credit card required to start