A CPA’s value shouldn’t be limited to filing season. In July and August, a proactive CPA is forecasting, planning, and flagging opportunities, not waiting for next year’s tax documents.
Quick Answer
Right now, in the middle of 2026, a proactive CPA should be reviewing your year-to-date financials, projecting your full-year tax liability, checking whether your estimated payments are on track, evaluating retirement contribution strategy, and flagging any equipment purchases or entity changes worth making before year-end. If the only time you hear from your CPA is during tax season, you’re likely missing opportunities that needed to be acted on months earlier.
The Difference Between a Compliance CPA and an Advisory CPA
Many businesses only interact with their CPA once a year: dropping off documents in the spring, receiving a completed return, and not hearing from them again until next filing season. That relationship is built around compliance, reporting what already happened.
A proactive advisory relationship works differently. It’s built around forecasting what’s likely to happen and creating opportunities to influence the outcome while there’s still time.
What Proactive CPA Work Looks Like in July and August
Mid-year tax projections. Using actual year-to-date numbers to project full-year taxable income, rather than waiting until the return is prepared to find out what’s owed.
Estimated payment review. Confirming quarterly estimated payments match the current income trajectory, so a Q3 or Q4 surprise doesn’t show up as an underpayment penalty.
Retirement plan strategy. Reviewing SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), or company plan contributions against current-year cash flow and the applicable 2026 contribution limits.
Cash flow forecasting. Looking ahead 90 to 180 days to flag predictable pressure points, not just reporting last month’s results. More detail in our cash flow management post.
Purchase and investment timing. Advising on whether and when equipment or technology purchases make sense given Section 179 and bonus depreciation rules for 2026.
Entity and compensation structure review. Checking whether an S-corp election, a change in reasonable compensation, or a different owner draw structure would meaningfully reduce tax exposure.
Questions to Ask Your CPA This Summer
- What’s my projected tax liability for 2026 based on year-to-date numbers?
- Are my estimated tax payments on track, or do they need adjusting?
- Is my retirement contribution strategy maximizing what I’m allowed to contribute this year?
- Should I make any equipment or technology purchases before year-end, and when?
- Is my current entity structure still the right one for where my business is now?
If your current CPA doesn’t have ready answers to these questions in July, that’s a sign the relationship is built around compliance rather than advisory work.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What’s the difference between a tax preparer and a proactive CPA?
A tax preparer primarily reports what already happened on your return. A proactive CPA also forecasts what’s likely to happen and helps you make decisions during the year that change the outcome.
How often should I be talking to my CPA outside of tax season?
At minimum, a mid-year review (June through August) and a year-end planning session (October through December) in addition to tax preparation itself. Businesses with more complexity often benefit from quarterly check-ins.
Is proactive CPA work only valuable for larger businesses?
No. Even a straightforward small business or self-employed individual benefits from a mid-year projection, an estimated payment check, and a retirement contribution review, the strategies scale down; they don’t disappear.
What should I bring to a mid-year meeting with my CPA?
A year-to-date profit and loss statement, your most recent tax return, your current estimated payment schedule, and a list of any major changes expected before year-end: new hires, planned purchases, life events.
Looking for a CPA relationship that goes beyond filing season? DDC works with clients year-round on forecasting, tax planning, and strategic guidance, not just returns. Schedule a mid-year strategy session with our team.