Strategic Tax and Wealth Planning for High Net-Worth Individuals in Southern California
At the intersection of complex income, significant assets, and California's highest-in-the-nation tax rates, the stakes are too high for generic advice. PacificWestTax provides the specialized CPA expertise that high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and families in Southern California need to preserve wealth, minimize exposure, and plan with confidence.
Built for Complex Wealth Situations
High Net-Worth CPA Services
SALT Cap Planning
Pass-through entity tax election and SALT deduction optimization for California high earners
Qualified Opportunity Zones
QOZ investment strategy to defer and potentially eliminate capital gains through qualifying investments
Trust and Estate Tax Strategy
Estate tax planning, trust structuring, and California community property optimization for families
Cost Segregation Studies
Accelerated depreciation for residential and commercial investment property portfolios across California
Equity Compensation
RSU, ISO, NSO, and QSBS optimization timed around tax impact, AMT planning, and liquidity events
Exit and Liquidity Planning
Pre-transaction tax strategy for business sales, mergers, acquisitions, and founder liquidity events
Family Office Coordination
Multi-entity structuring, consolidated reporting, and coordination with your legal and investment advisors
International Tax Structuring
Cross-border planning and tax treaty optimization for global income and foreign accounts
Why California high-net-worth clients need specialized planning
California taxes capital gains as ordinary income with no lower federal rate. For high earners, that means an additional 13.3% state tax on top of the federal rate. The SALT deduction cap disproportionately impacts high-income California taxpayers who cannot deduct the full burden of state taxes.
The FTB audits high-income returns at elevated rates and has broad authority to challenge residency, source of income, and deduction claims. Community property rules create estate planning complexity unique to California. LLC and entity franchise taxes scale with gross receipts rather than profit.
These are not problems that standard tax preparation addresses. They require year-round strategy from a CPA who understands California at a structural level and is thinking about your situation twelve months a year.
Why High-Net-Worth Clients Choose PacificWestTax
California taxes capital gains at ordinary income rates. For a high earner paying 13.3% on top of the federal rate, the right structure and timing can save six figures annually.
At a 13.3% state income tax rate with no preferential treatment for capital gains, California is the most expensive state in the country for high-income earners. For individuals earning $500,000 or more, the combined federal and California marginal rate on ordinary income can exceed 50%. The gap between filing a return and planning around it — strategically, year-round — can be six figures annually. We work with high-net-worth individuals, real estate investors, business owners, and professionals whose situation demands a CPA who knows what is possible, not just what is required.
High Net-Worth Planning — Full Scope
Multi-Year Tax Projection
We model your tax liability over a multi-year horizon — accounting for income variability, planned asset sales, equity compensation vesting, real estate exits, and retirement account distributions — so you can see the planning horizon clearly and act before deadlines close options.
Capital Gains and Asset Sale Timing
California taxes capital gains as ordinary income. We advise on the timing of asset sales — stocks, real estate, business interests — to minimize the combined federal and state tax hit, and evaluate installment sales, QOZ investments, and 1031 exchanges where applicable.
Real Estate Portfolio Tax Planning
Cost segregation, real estate professional status, 1031 exchange planning, and exit strategy coordination for investors with significant California real estate portfolios — the full range of planning tools available to active investors.
Business Income and Entity Optimization
S-corp compensation strategy, the California PTE election, QBI deduction optimization, and multi-entity structure review for business owners with significant pass-through income and California state tax exposure.
Equity Compensation and Exit Planning
RSU and ISO planning, QSBS analysis for startup founders, and exit tax modeling for business owners planning a sale — coordinated around California's unique treatment of each income type.
IRS and FTB Representation
For HNW clients facing examination of real estate professional status, complex deduction claims, or large capital transactions — we provide full representation with Power of Attorney, managing the examination from the first notice through resolution.
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High-net-worth engagements begin with a private conversation. No obligation, no pressure, no paperwork first.