If you are a W-2 employee, it's easy to assume your taxes should be simple. After all, your employer withholds taxes, sends you a W-2, and the process can seem mostly automatic. But from a CPA’s perspective, that is not always the full story. Many employees have more complicated situations than they realize, especially if they work remotely across state lines, earn a higher income, or find themselves surprised by either a large refund or a balance due each year.

The good news is that complexity does not have to mean confusion. A little planning can go a long way toward helping you avoid surprises and make better decisions during the year. Here are four areas we often encourage W-2 employees to pay closer attention to.

When most people think of their CPA, annual tax filing is often the first service that comes to mind. However, true value lies beyond simple compliance—it's found in robust tax advisory services that empower you to take control of your financial future. In order to help you unlock the value of proactive CPA guidance, we offer a comprehensive three-tier tax advisory service structure, designed to meet varying needs based on income for both individuals and businesses.

As a taxpayer, you might assume your biggest tax decisions happen in March or April. The truth is, by that point, most of the outcomes are already locked in. Effective tax advisory work happens much earlier and focuses on decisions made during the year which help to shape your end results. Over the next seven weeks, we’ll be exploring more advanced tax reduction strategies, from specialized business deductions to high-income individual tax credits, that help you keep more of what you earn.