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Real Estate · Santa Maria, CA

Tax & Bookkeeping Services for Real Estate in Santa Maria, CA

Heath Income Tax helps real estate business owners with tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning, and year-round support.

We Understand Real Estate Businesses

Real estate creates wealth — and some of the most complex tax situations in the tax code. Depreciation, passive activity losses, capital gains timing, and 1031 exchanges all require careful planning that starts before you close a deal.

Based in Santa Maria, we've worked with real estate businesses across the Central Coast for decades. We know the specific deductions, compliance requirements, and planning opportunities that matter most for your industry — and we help you take full advantage of them.

Common Tax & Bookkeeping Needs

Real Estate businesses come to us with these situations most often.

Capital gains tax on property sales and timing strategies
1031 like-kind exchanges to defer capital gains
Depreciation and depreciation recapture
Passive activity rules and real estate professional status
Agent commission income and self-employment tax
Entity structure for real estate investment portfolios

Services for Real Estate

Everything your business needs — handled by one local firm that knows your industry.

Business Tax Preparation

S-Corps, C-Corps, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietors — accurate business returns filed on time.

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Individual Tax Preparation for Owners

Personal returns for business owners with pass-through income, self-employment, and investments.

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Bookkeeping

Monthly reconciliation, clean records, and year-end books ready for a faster, less expensive tax return.

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Payroll Support

Payroll processed on time with deposits, quarterly filings, and year-end W-2s handled for you.

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1099 Preparation

1099-NEC and 1099-MISC filing for contractors and vendors — accurate, on time, and IRS-compliant.

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Tax Planning & Consulting

Year-round strategy sessions to reduce your tax liability, plan for major decisions, and avoid surprises.

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Prior-Year Returns

Behind on filing? We prepare unfiled returns and help you get current with the IRS and FTB.

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IRS & FTB Notice Help

We review IRS and California FTB notices, explain what they mean, and respond on your behalf.

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Notary Services

Licensed notary on-site at our Santa Maria office — available alongside your tax appointment.

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How It Works

As Easy as 1-2-3

Getting your business taxes and books handled with us is straightforward.

Call

Tell us about your business and what kind of help you need. We'll walk you through the process and let you know what to gather.

Gather Your Things

Prepare income records, expenses, bank statements, payroll records, 1099s, prior-year returns, or notices — whatever applies to your situation.

We Help You Finish

We review your information, prepare the needed work, and guide you through the final steps — in person, by phone, or via secure document exchange.

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Why Real Estate Businesses Choose Heath Income Tax

There are plenty of tax preparers out there. Here's why business owners trust us with their returns and books.

Family-Owned Tax Firm

Heath Income Tax is a family business — not a franchise, not a chain. You work with real people who care about getting it right.

Three Generations of Experience

Our family has been serving Central Coast businesses for three generations. That depth of experience shows in every return we file.

Business & Individual Tax Preparation

We handle the business return and the owner's personal return — together, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Bookkeeping & Payroll Support

Beyond taxes, we offer bookkeeping and payroll for small businesses — one firm for everything.

Year-Round Guidance

We're available for questions in July, not just in April. Business decisions have tax consequences — we help you think them through before you act.

Personal Service

We know your name, your business, and your situation. You're not a ticket number — you're a client we've built a relationship with.

Secure Document Handling

Your financial documents are handled with care — in person at our Santa Maria office or via our secure remote exchange.

Local Santa Maria Office

We're based in Santa Maria and have served the Central Coast for decades. Come in, call us, or drop off your documents.

Common Mistakes & Missed Opportunities

These are the issues we see most often with real estate businesses — and the ones that cost the most when left unaddressed.

Missing depreciation deductions or using the wrong depreciation schedule
Not tracking repair vs. capital improvement expenses correctly
Selling a property without planning for capital gains tax first
Missing passive activity loss opportunities
Not considering a 1031 exchange before selling
Mixing personal and rental or investment property expenses
Not tracking mileage for property visits and showings
1,100+ Returns Annually
49 States Served
3 Generations of Service
Year-Round Tax Support

Frequently Asked Questions — Real Estate

Do you work with real estate professionals and investors?

Yes — real estate professionals, agents, brokers, and investors are a core part of our client base. We handle Schedule C for agents, passive activity rules for investors, depreciation schedules, 1031 exchanges, cost segregation questions, and rental property income and expenses.

Can you help with bookkeeping for my business?

Yes — we offer monthly bookkeeping for small businesses. Clean, up-to-date books make tax season faster and less expensive, and give you better visibility into your business throughout the year.

Can you help with payroll?

Yes — we process payroll for small businesses, handle tax deposits, file quarterly payroll returns, and prepare year-end W-2s. We can also help you determine whether workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors.

Can you help with 1099s for my contractors?

Yes — we prepare and file 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms for businesses that pay contractors or vendors. Missing or late 1099s can result in IRS penalties, so we make sure they're filed correctly and on time.

What records should I be keeping for my business?

At a minimum: income records, expense receipts, bank and credit card statements, mileage logs, payroll records, and copies of any 1099s or W-2s you issue or receive. We can help you set up a system that makes this manageable throughout the year.

Can you help if my books are behind or disorganized?

Yes — we help businesses catch up on bookkeeping regularly. Bring what you have and we'll sort it out. The sooner you get current, the better picture you'll have of your business and the easier your next tax return will be.

Do you help with quarterly estimated tax payments?

Yes — we calculate quarterly estimated payments for business owners so you're not hit with a large balance and penalties at year-end. We help you stay on top of it throughout the year.

Can you help with IRS or FTB notices?

Yes — if you've received a notice from the IRS or the California Franchise Tax Board, we review it with you, explain exactly what it means, and prepare a response when one is needed. Don't ignore notices — deadlines matter.

How do I get started?

Call us at (805) 937-4646 or use our contact form to reach out. We'll talk through your business situation, let you know what to gather, and set up a time to get started. There's no obligation.

Need Tax or Bookkeeping Help for Your Real Estate Business?

Whether you need business tax preparation, bookkeeping cleanup, payroll support, or year-round tax guidance — Heath Income Tax can help.