Milestone Certified Public Accountants logo — boutique CPA firm Pleasanton CA
Individual Tax Services

Personal returns done by a CPA, not a chain.

Federal + state personal returns for Bay Area professionals with equity comp, side income, rentals, and complexity — coordinated with your business returns when it matters.

The Milestone Difference

Why owners switch to us.

Nationwide Practice

Multi-state work across all 50 states.

Flat-fee Engagement

Price scoped upfront. No hourly meter.

24-hour Response

Answers within one business day.

Year-Round Access

Available beyond tax season. Quarterly check-ins.

How We Work

Four steps. No mystery.

Every engagement follows the same disciplined path. You always know what is next, and you always know who is doing it.

01

Discovery Call

A complimentary 30 minutes. We scope what you actually need — and tell you straight if we are not the right fit.

02

Engagement Letter

Clear scope, deliverables, and a flat fee quoted upfront. No surprises. No hourly meter spinning in the background.

03

Onboarding & First Close

Prior 3 years of returns reviewed. Current-year tax position mapped including equity vesting schedule, RSU strategy, and AMT exposure.

04

Quarterly Strategy

Quarterly check-in around equity events, RSU sales, big income changes, real estate moves. Year-end planning session in November.

I had TurboTax for years and felt smart about it. Then I joined a pre-IPO company and the equity got complicated. Milestone caught $34K I had been missing — between RSU cost basis errors, an 83(b) opportunity, and the AMT credit I never knew I had. Now they handle it all.

— Senior Engineer, Pre-IPO Bay Area Startup

High-W-2 + equity client · Milestone since 2024

Questions We Get a Lot

Before we talk.

Are we too small for a CPA firm to handle personal returns?+

Probably not. Most Bay Area professionals at $300K+ W-2 with equity have complexity that justifies a CPA. Below that, a thoughtful tax preparer is often enough — we will tell you that on the discovery call.

What does an individual return cost?+

Typical Bay Area professional with equity, one state, no business: $1,200–2,500. Add multi-state, rental, side income, foreign accounts, K-1s, or complex equity: $2,500–5,500. Quoted upfront.

Do you handle RSU planning during the year?+

Yes — quarterly equity check-ins are part of any individual engagement involving RSUs. We model sell-to-cover decisions, ISO exercise timing, and AMT planning before vest dates lock in the tax position.

What about multi-state filings (moved during the year)?+

Very common in the Bay Area. We handle multi-state allocation, residency planning, and former-state withholding cleanup. Often the year you move is the year the most tax money is on the table.

Can you represent us before the IRS?+

Yes — CPAs have unlimited representation rights. We handle audits, notices, payment plans, offer-in-compromise work, and innocent spouse relief. Included in the engagement at no extra cost for existing clients.

What if we have foreign income or accounts?+

We file FBAR (FinCEN 114) and Form 8938 for clients with foreign accounts, and handle foreign income exclusions, foreign tax credits, and treaty positions. Scoped to specific situations.

An invitation

Don't see your or income jumped?

A complimentary 30-minute call. Tell us what changed — we will tell you straight whether your current setup handles it, or whether a CPA in your corner would actually pay for itself.

Call directly: 925-320-0309