Estate & Trust Planning CPA
Whether a loved one recently passed, or there is a long-standing Trust that needs tax filings, administration, or resolution, we're here to help.
Protecting Your Legacy
Your legacy and your wealth weren't built overnight. With improper planning, however, both could be substantially impaired overnight by the IRS and state agencies taking a chunk of your assets in the form of the Estate (aka "Death") Tax. And, because you can't just take a piece of a house or family heirloom, that could mean your family is forced to sell prized assets just to pay the tax. Dark Horse CPAs ensure your legacy is preserved and that your assets transfer to your loved ones and/or supported charitable organizations.
Don't Let Death Be A Taxable Event
We work closely your attorneys and advisors to ensure what is being structured creates the most tax advantageous outcome for your family. Having the right expertise in the right areas working together to ensure your estate is taken care of is our main priority.
Estate & Trust Planning, Advisory and Partnerships
There are a lot of moving parts when dealing with any estate/trust compliance needs. Dark Horse works closely with your financial advisors, attorneys, trustees and executors to ensure that we are not just structuring, but executing on the estate/trust in the most tax advantageous way possible. Some typical areas we support are clients with are:
Tax Services for Estate & Trust Planning
- Estate Tax Planning
- Wealth Transfer Planning
- Basic Estate & Gifting Strategies
- Charitable Planning
- Incapacity Planning
- Postmortem Estate Planning
Tax Advisory Can Result in Substantial Tax Savings.
Without Dark Horse
Client was dealing with the unexpected death of their spouse and was not aware of the need to file an estate tax return given that their spouse’s half of the estate was less than the $13.61M estate and gift tax exclusion by the IRS.
#1
Client did not file an estate return in the year of the spouses’ death.
#2
The client’s estate and gift exclusion remained at $13.61M in 2024.*
Without the proper guidance, the client was unaware of the impact of not filing an estate return, resulting in a missed opportunity to double their gift/estate tax exclusion. This in turn, creates a MUCH larger tax liability for the family.
With Dark Horse
Client reached out to Dark Horse CPAs following the death of their spouse. They were given the guidance to file an estate tax return for future estate planning.
#1
Dark Horse files a form 706 in the year of the spouses’ death
#2
Client’s estate and gift exclusion increases to $27.22M in 2024.*
#3
As the estate builds, client’s family can avoid 18-40% tax on an additional 13.61M
Having the right expertise in the right areas can mean millions of dollars in savings for you and your family.
Your Estate/Trust Experts
Megan Leesley
Director of Tax
James Larsen
Principal
Jordan Keller
Principal
Tina Lawrence
Principal
Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
89%
Net Promoter Score
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 89% of our clients would recommend us to a friend.
Net Promoter Score
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
350+
5-Star Reviews
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
5-Star Reviews
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
90%
Retention Rate
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
Retention Rate
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
Locations
Because we're entirely cloud-based, we can work with you from anywhere. If you prefer to work with a local CPA, check out our quickly growing list of locations.
Get a personable & experienced CPA who will partner with you to achieve unparalleled results.
