Archives for February 2025

How High Earners Can Avoid Unexpected Tax Bills

The phone call always starts the same way:
“How do I owe over $10,000 in taxes?!”

As an Enrolled Agent, I hear this more often than you’d think. Let me share a recent story that might sound familiar…

A military power couple — both high-ranking officers — came to me for tax preparation. Their income sources seemed straightforward:
 • Two military W-2s
 • Some “casual” day trading on Robinhood

Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

When I finished their return, they were shocked by a five-figure tax bill. “But they take taxes from us all year long!” they protested.

Here’s what happened — and why it matters to you.

The Three Tax Traps for High Earners

If you’re facing an unexpected tax bill, it usually comes down to these three culprits:

1. Insufficient Withholding
    • Your W-4 isn’t optimized for your total income
    • Multiple income sources complicate your tax situation
    • Deductions changed from previous years
2. Self-Employment Income Without Estimated Taxes
    • Side businesses
    • Consulting work
    • 1099 income
3. Capital Gains
    • Stock market trades
    • Cryptocurrency transactions
    • Real estate sales
    • Investment property income

In my military couple’s case, their successful day trading created significant capital gains — but their withholding was only set up for their military pay and guess what? They werent witholding enough.

The $10,000+ Problem… And Its Solution

Here’s what most people do:
 • File taxes
 • Get shocked by the bill
 • Pay it
 • Repeat the cycle next year

Here’s what smart taxpayers do:
 • Work with a tax advisor
 • Plan throughout the year
 • Adjust withholdings proactively
 • Maximize available deductions
 • Structure investments tax-efficiently

The Missing Piece: Tax Planning

Think of it this way:
 • Tax preparation is looking in the rearview mirror
 • Tax planning is looking through the windshield

For high earners and business owners, tax planning isn’t optional — it’s essential.

What Professional Tax Planning Includes:
 • Quarterly review of income and projections
 • Strategic timing of income and deductions
 • Investment tax efficiency analysis
 • Business structure optimization
 • Retirement account strategies
 • Real estate tax planning

Your Next Steps

If you’re:
 • Earning over $100,000 annually
 • Running a successful business
 • Actively investing
 • Or combining multiple income streams

You need more than just tax preparation. You need a tax strategy.

Here’s What To Do:

1. Schedule a Tax Strategy Session
    We’ll review:
    • Your current tax situation
    • Potential savings opportunities
    • Customized tax planning strategies
    • Implementation timeline
2. Get a Clear Action Plan
    • Specific steps to optimize your tax position
    • Quarterly checkpoints
    • Year-end strategies
3. Start Saving Money
    • Implement recommendations
    • Track progress
    • Adjust as needed

Don’t wait for another $10,000 surprise.

Click here to schedule your Tax Strategy Session.

Special Offer: First-time clients receive a complimentary tax projection ($500 value) during their strategy session.

Until Next time,

Andrew “ The Planner” Samaniego, EA

Andrew Samaniego Tax Planning & Resolution

(619) 268–1084 | AndrewSamaniego.com

Remember: The best time to plan your taxes was last December. The second best time is today.

What a Terrifying Trail Ride Taught Me About Tax Problems

Last weekend, I took my wife on a Valentine’s date. Her choice? Horseback riding.

I’ll be honest — I was nervous. These aren’t exactly small animals we’re talking about. One wrong move and you could end up seriously hurt (if you’ve seen that episode of House of the Dragons, you know exactly what I mean).

But something interesting happened once I got in the saddle.

I realized that having a well-trained horse underneath you isn’t scary at all — it’s empowering.

Here’s where it gets interesting…

During our trail ride, we encountered a coyote less than 10 feet away. Now, if I had been hiking on foot, that would have been a tense situation. But sitting confidently on horseback? That coyote wasn’t about to try anything.

This got me thinking about the people I help with their tax problems every day.

Many come to me terrified because they haven’t filed taxes in years. They’re afraid of:
 • IRS penalties
 • Potential criminal charges
 • Bank account seizures
 • Wage garnishments
 • The shame of falling behind

Just like I was hesitant to get on that horse, they’re scared to face their tax situation.

But here’s what I’ve learned after helping hundreds of people with unfiled returns:

The Fear Is Always Worse Than The Solution

Think about it:
• On foot? A coyote is scary.
• On horseback? You’re in control.

• Facing the IRS alone? Terrifying.
• With an Enrolled Agent? You’ve got an expert in your corner.

Real Client Story:
 Last month, I met with someone who hadn’t filed since 2014. They thought prison was in their future. Instead, we:
• Got all returns filed (the ones that needed to be filed)
 • Negotiated an Offer (he paid almost nothing)
 • Avoided criminal charges
 • Restored their peace of mind

Your “Horse” Is Waiting

As an Enrolled Agent, I’m licensed by the federal government to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Think of me as your trained horse on this journey:
 • I know the terrain
 • I can handle the obstacles
 • I’ll get you safely to your destination
 • I’ll keep those “coyotes” (IRS agents) at bay

The Trail Forward

Remember how I felt before getting on that horse? Nervous, unsure, maybe a little scared?

That’s normal. But just like I trusted that horse to carry me safely through the trail, you can trust an Enrolled Agent to guide you through your tax journey.

Take The First Step

Ready to stop looking over your shoulder for the IRS “coyote”?

Schedule a confidential consultation with me. We’ll discuss:
 • Your specific situation
 • Available options
 • A clear path forward
 • Immediate steps to protect yourself

Click here a link to schedule your private consultation.

No judgment. No shame. Just solutions.

Remember: Just like that trail ride, the journey might seem scary at first, but with the right guide, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to take that first step.

Until Next time,

Andrew “ *Neigh* ” Samaniego, EA

Andrew Samaniego Tax Planning & Resolution

(619) 268–1084 | AndrewSamaniego.com

P.S. — During our consultation, we’ll spend about 30 minutes mapping out your path to tax resolution. Everything is completely confidential.

Let me tell you a story that happened to me just yesterday…

For weeks, my wife Kanoe had been smelling gas near our fireplace. Like many people who sense trouble, I did what most of us do — I ignored it. Sometimes I’d check, smell nothing, and convince myself everything was fine.

(I’ll even admit to something really stupid — I lit a match near it to “test” it. Don’t ever do that.)

Finally, after weeks (maybe months) of this nagging worry, I called the gas company.

The technician showed up, turned on his detector, and immediately the device went crazy — violent beeping, flashing red lights.

His words sent chills down my spine: “Your house is in the higher explosive limit. We need to turn off your gas now.”

We were literally sitting on a time bomb.

Here’s where this story hits close to home for many of you reading this…

Because this is exactly what happens with unfiled taxes.

The Parallels Are Striking:

• First, you miss filing one year. Maybe life got complicated, or you didn’t have the money to pay.
 • You smell trouble, but like my gas leak, you try to ignore it.
 • Years start piling up. The worry grows.
 • You know you should do something, but the longer you wait, the scarier it becomes.
 • Every time you get mail, your heart skips a beat — is this the IRS?

Just like my gas leak, tax problems don’t go away on their own. They get worse.

But here’s the good news — just like I called in experts to fix my gas leak (and they fixed it that same night), you can get help with your tax situation.

The Truth About Unfiled Taxes:

I’ve helped hundreds of people get back on track with the IRS, and here’s what I’ve learned:

1. The IRS is often more reasonable than you think
2. There are multiple programs available to help you
3. The solution is usually less painful than the worry
4. The sooner you act, the more options you have

Real Story:
 Last month, I worked with a client who hadn’t filed in 6 years. He thought he was facing financial ruin. We got his returns filed, negotiated with the IRS, and set up a monthly payment he could actually afford. Now he sleeps at night.

What Could Happen If You Don’t Act:
 • Bank levies
 • Wage garnishments
 • Tax liens
 • Criminal charges (in extreme cases)

What We Can Do:
 • Get you back into compliance
 • File your missing returns
 • Negotiate with the IRS
 • Set up manageable payment plans
 • Potentially reduce your tax debt
 • Give you peace of mind

Don’t Wait For Your “Gas Detector” Moment

My gas leak could have been catastrophic. But it wasn’t — because I finally took action.

Your tax situation might feel overwhelming right now. But I promise you — it can be fixed.

Take The First Step

Schedule a confidential consultation with me. We’ll discuss:
 • Your specific situation
 • Available options
 • A clear path forward
 • Immediate steps to protect yourself

Here’s What To Do:
 Click here to schedule your private consultation.

No judgment. No lecture. Just solutions.

Remember: The IRS has deadlines and procedures that can affect your options. The sooner you act, the more we can help.

Don’t let your unfiled taxes become your ticking time bomb.

Until Next Time,

Andrew “Fire Bomb” Samaniego

P.S. — Wondering what happens in our consultation? We’ll spend about 30 minutes discussing your situation and creating a plan. Everything is completely confidential and no sales pitches.

I just returned from celebrating my son Kainalu’s 10-month “birthday” at Disneyland. 

Walking down Main Street USA, watching families make memories at the happiness place on earth. I couldn’t help but think about a client who own happiness was shattered by an IRS letter.

A Tale of Two Numbers

Her 2019 tax return showed a modest $7,000 tax bill. Normal enough.

Then on September 9, 2022, the IRS dropped a bomb: an additional assessment of $222,380.

Let that sink in. That’s not a typo. $222,380.

How Does This Happen?

The story begins like many others — with an ignored IRS letter. On August 28, 2022, the IRS started reviewing her 2019 return for underreported income, specifically from a home sale.

The response? Silence.

And in the world of IRS correspondence, silence is never golden.

The IRS’s Default Position

When you don’t respond to IRS inquiries, they make assumptions. Usually, the worst possible assumptions for your wallet.

In this case:
• They assumed the entire home sale was taxable
 • No deductions were applied
 • No exclusions were considered
 • Maximum tax rates were used

The Reality

After reviewing her situation, we discovered:
 • The home sale qualified for the homeowner exclusion
 • Only minor expenses were missing from the original return
 • The actual tax impact should have been minimal

The $222,380 Lesson

This massive assessment could have been avoided with:

1. Proper documentation of the home sale
2. Timely response to IRS notices
3. Understanding available tax exclusions
4. Professional guidance from the start

Warning Signs You Might Be Next:
 • You’ve sold a home recently
 • You have unfiled tax returns
 • You’ve ignored IRS letters
 • You’ve moved and might have missed notices
 • You filed returns without professional help

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Is there an IRS letter sitting unopened on your desk? Have you moved and worried about missed notices? Are you behind on filing returns?

Let’s prevent your $222,380 nightmare before it happens.

[Schedule Your Confidential Strategy Session Here]

During our call, we’ll:
 • Review your tax situation
 • Identify potential IRS triggers
 • Create an action plan
 • Discuss protection strategies

Remember: The IRS is more likely to work with you when you take the first step.

Until Next Time,

Andrew “Disney Adult” Samaniego, EA, CTRC

Andrew Samaniego Tax Planning & Resolution

(619) 268–1084 | AndrewSamaniego.com

P.S. — That client with the $222,380 assessment? We’re working to reduce it to nearly nothing. But imagine the stress she could have avoided by addressing it sooner.

P.P.S. — Like a day at Disneyland, tax problems are more enjoyable when you have a guide who knows the territory. Let me be your guide through the IRS maze.