Tax Planning for Realtors Who Want to Keep More of Every Closing
Your best quarter shouldn't become your worst April. We plan your taxes around how commissions actually arrive, keep your books clean, and file your returns, so a great year stays a great year.
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Where top producers quietly overpay
- Uneven commissions.A huge spring throws your estimated payments off, and you don't find out until April.
- Still a sole proprietor.At your income, you may be paying more self-employment tax than you need to.
- Expenses nobody tracks.Brokerage splits and fees, marketing, your car, client gifts, and staging add up fast, and missing records means missing deductions.
- Your team.Assistants, transaction coordinators, and family members helping out need to be paid the right way.
- Investment property with no plan.Rentals can create real tax benefits, but only with the right setup and records.
- No steady paycheck.When commissions swing, it's hard to know what you can safely pay yourself.
Your tax bill is decided long before April
Salary, retirement contributions, putting family on payroll, and property decisions all have to happen inside the tax year. A plan made after every big closing quarter keeps the surprise out of April.
The Clarity Partner for realtors
- Monthly bookkeeping, with every commission, split, and expense in its place
- Tax projections after each quarter, adjusted as closings come in
- Estimated tax calculations and a monthly tax set-aside amount
- S-corp setup review and payroll, plus a pay-yourself plan for uneven income
- Year-round tax planning with a written annual tax plan
- Family and team payroll, set up properly
- Retirement plan strategy
- Real estate investment tax strategy through our partner network
- Quarterly strategy sessions with Amber
- Business and personal returns, prepared and filed
Corporate-level rigor for your business
Amber Dinh holds an MBA and built her career in the finance departments of multiple Fortune 500 companies, then ran the entire accounting department of a $15 million company. Her team includes a CPA and an Enrolled Agent, and The Clarity Agency works exclusively with women business owners.
What it looks like in practice
A realtor with an S-corp whose teenage son was already helping with administrative work. We put him on payroll properly, with a real job description, timesheets, and pay that matches the work.
“[Her result, in her words.]”Realtor
Is this for you?
This is for you if…
You earn $300K or more in commissions, you want a plan instead of a surprise, and you want one team handling your books, taxes, and returns.
It isn't for you if…
You only need one-time tax prep.
Realtor tax questions, answered
Can a realtor be an S-corp?
Often, yes. But whether your commissions can be paid to your entity depends on your state's licensing rules and your brokerage's policy, so confirm with your broker before you set one up. We review whether it makes sense for your income.
How should I pay estimated taxes on uneven commissions?
Base them on a current projection, not just last year's return. We update your projection each quarter and adjust your payments as your closings come in.
Can I put my kids on payroll?
If they do real work for your business and are paid a reasonable wage for it, often yes. It needs timesheets and proper payroll, and in an S-corp, payroll taxes still apply.
Can my rentals lower my taxes?
They can, through depreciation and other deductions, but how much depends on rules like the passive activity limits and whether you qualify as a real estate professional for tax purposes. We plan this with our real estate strategy partner.
How much does it cost?
The Clarity Partner starts at $2,500 per month, including your bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning, quarterly sessions, and returns. Additional entities and onboarding are priced on your consultation.
Make your best year your best-planned year
We accept a limited number of new clients each quarter, and every request is reviewed personally.
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