[FREE GUIDE] TAX SECRETS FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED Download
[FREE GUIDE] TAX SECRETS FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED Download
Searching for a CPA near you in Santa Monica? KDA's licensed CPAs and Enrolled Agents provide tax preparation, LLC & S Corp formation, IRS and FTB audit defense, and proactive tax strategy for Santa Monica business owners, self-employed professionals, real estate investors, and high-income individuals. We know Santa Monica's local economy — and we build tax strategies around it.
From solo consultants to multi-entity real estate investors, KDA handles the full spectrum of Santa Monica tax needs.
KDA prepares individual and business tax returns for Santa Monica residents. We handle all federal and California FTB filings, identify every deduction, and ensure full compliance.
KDA advises Santa Monica business owners on entity structure, S Corp elections, and optimal compensation strategies. We calculate the exact tax savings from an S Corp election given California's 1.5% franchise tax.
KDA represents Santa Monica taxpayers before the IRS and California FTB. Our Enrolled Agents handle all correspondence, document preparation, and negotiations.
KDA builds multi-year tax plans for Santa Monica business owners and high-income individuals — retirement plan optimization, capital gains timing, and California-specific planning.
KDA helps Santa Monica real estate investors maximize depreciation, execute 1031 exchanges, analyze cost segregation, and navigate California's Prop 13 and Prop 19 rules.
KDA provides monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, and financial reporting for Santa Monica small businesses — keeping your books clean and your tax liability minimized year-round.
Santa Monica is Silicon Beach's epicenter with hundreds of tech startups, media companies, and a high concentration of high-net-worth professionals and executives. Whether you are a new LLC owner figuring out your first California tax filing, a self-employed contractor trying to reduce your 15.3% self-employment tax, a real estate investor who just sold a rental property, or a high-income professional looking for aggressive but legal tax reduction — KDA's licensed CPAs and Enrolled Agents have the California-specific expertise to help. We've served Los Angeles County clients for over 30 years.
Santa Monica's economy is defined by Silicon Beach's epicenter with hundreds of tech startups, media companies, and a high concentration of high-net-worth professionals and executives. This creates specific tax planning opportunities and challenges that generic national tax firms miss. Startup founders and tech executives with equity compensation — isos, nsos, rsus — who need to manage amt exposure, 83(b) elections, and california's taxation of equity awards is one of the most common issues KDA addresses for Santa Monica clients. KDA builds multi-year tax plans that account for California's unique rules — the FTB's worldwide income taxation, the $800 LLC minimum franchise tax, the S Corp 1.5% net income tax, and Prop 13/19 property tax implications.
These are the tax situations KDA sees most often from Santa Monica clients — and where proactive planning makes the biggest difference.
Every new LLC in California owes an $800 annual franchise tax to the FTB — due the first year, even if you made no money. Santa Monica LLC owners also face quarterly estimated tax payments, self-employment tax of 15.3%, and California's additional gross receipts fees once revenue exceeds $250,000. KDA walks new Santa Monica business owners through every obligation before they become penalties.
Most Santa Monica self-employed professionals pay 15.3% self-employment tax on all net income. An S Corp election eliminates SE tax on the portion above a reasonable salary — typically saving $10,000-$40,000 per year for Santa Monica business owners with net profit over $80,000. KDA calculates the exact breakeven point and handles the election, payroll setup, and ongoing compliance.
The California FTB is one of the most aggressive state tax agencies in the country. Santa Monica residents who split time between California and Nevada, Texas, or other states need to carefully document their primary residency. KDA advises on California's "safe harbor" rules and represents Santa Monica taxpayers in FTB audits and residency disputes.
Santa Monica real estate investors have access to powerful tax strategies: depreciation deductions that offset rental income, 1031 exchanges that defer capital gains indefinitely, cost segregation studies that accelerate depreciation, and California's Prop 19 rules for inherited property. KDA helps Santa Monica investors build tax-efficient real estate portfolios.
KDA works with a wide range of Santa Monica clients. Here are the profiles we see most frequently — and how we help each one.
Just formed your LLC in Santa Monica? KDA helps new business owners understand their California tax obligations from day one — the $800 franchise tax, quarterly estimated payments, payroll requirements, and the S Corp election decision. We prevent the costly surprises that hit most new Santa Monica business owners in their first year.
Freelancers, consultants, and 1099 contractors in Santa Monica face the full 15.3% self-employment tax plus California's state income tax. KDA reduces this burden through S Corp elections, retirement plan optimization (up to $69,000/year in a Solo 401(k)), and comprehensive deduction strategies.
Santa Monica real estate investors benefit from KDA's expertise in depreciation, 1031 exchanges, cost segregation, passive activity loss rules, and California's Prop 13 and Prop 19 property tax environment. Whether you just sold a rental property or are building a portfolio, KDA has the strategy.
High-income W-2 employees and professionals in Santa Monica often believe they have no tax planning options. KDA regularly identifies $10,000-$50,000 in annual savings through backdoor Roth strategies, HSA optimization, equity compensation timing, charitable giving strategies, and California-specific deductions.
KDA serves clients in all Santa Monica ZIP codes: 90401, 90402, 90403, 90404, 90405. We also serve surrounding Los Angeles County communities and can meet in person or virtually.
KDA's licensed CPAs and Enrolled Agents serve Santa Monica and all of Los Angeles County. Book a free consultation — no obligation, no sales pitch.
Book a Free ConsultationThese anonymized case studies represent real outcomes for clients in Santa Monica and the surrounding area. Individual results vary based on income, entity structure, and tax situation.
A Santa Monica technology business owner with $195,000 in net profit came to KDA after their first year as a sole proprietor — they had paid $27,500 in self-employment tax and had no idea the S Corp election existed. KDA analyzed the numbers, set a reasonable salary of $75,000, and filed the S Corp election. The result: $22,800 in annual self-employment tax savings. KDA also set up a Solo 401(k) that sheltered $30,000 from California income tax. The client's total first-year benefit with KDA exceeded $35,000.
A Santa Monica real estate investor sold a rental property they had held for 8 years, generating $310,000 in capital gain. Without planning, they faced $89,000 in combined federal and California capital gains tax. KDA structured a 1031 exchange into two smaller rental properties, deferring the entire tax liability. KDA also identified a cost segregation opportunity on one of the replacement properties that generated $31,000 in first-year bonus depreciation, creating a paper loss that offset other rental income.
Real outcomes from KDA clients across California. Individual results vary based on income, entity structure, and tax situation.
In addition to Santa Monica, KDA serves clients throughout Los Angeles County, including: Culver City, Los Angeles, Malibu, Venice, and more. View all city guides →
These are the questions KDA gets most often from Santa Monica clients. If your question isn't here, book a free consultation.
Use these free calculators to estimate your potential tax savings before booking a consultation.
See how much you save by converting your LLC to an S Corp in Santa Monica.
Calculate now →Estimate your 15.3% SE tax and find legal ways to reduce it as a Santa Monica freelancer or contractor.
Calculate now →Estimate your Santa Monica business tax liability and identify deductions you may be missing.
Calculate now →KDA's licensed CPAs and Enrolled Agents serve Santa Monica business owners, investors, and self-employed professionals. Whether you need tax prep, LLC setup, audit defense, or a full tax strategy — we're ready. Book a free consultation and find out exactly how much you could save.
