Payroll & Payroll Tax Services for Small Businesses
Your team paid correctly and on time, and every payroll tax deposit and form filed before the IRS can charge a penalty.
- Federal & state filings
- W-2 & 1099
- On-time deposits
Failure-to-deposit penalty under IRC §6656 (2%, 5%, 10%, 15%) on a $20,000 deposit. Interest is extra.
free
Try us free for a month. Don’t like it? Don’t pay.
Offer for new clients on monthly accounting and bookkeeping plans. Payment starts after your first month. Government and filing fees are not included.
Payroll handled end to end
Payroll runs
Weekly, biweekly or monthly, with payslips and direct deposit.
Forms 941 & 940
Quarterly and annual federal payroll returns filed for you.
State payroll taxes
State withholding and unemployment registered and filed.
W-2 and 1099
Year-end forms for staff and contractors, filed by January 31.
Penalty protection
Deposits scheduled before every due date.
Your software
Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, ADP and more.
Tax Expert vs doing payroll in-house
| Tax Expert | In-house payroll admin | DIY payroll software | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Fixed monthly fee | $4,150+ salary | Software fee + your time |
| Tax deposits scheduled for you | ✓ | ✓ | You must check |
| 941, 940 and state returns filed | ✓ | ✓ | You file |
| W-2 and 1099 filing | ✓ | ✓ | Partly |
| Payroll tax planning | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Cover during holidays | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
You pay for the work, not the office
Our accountants work remotely, in the software you already use. That removes the costs a local firm or an in-house hire passes on to you.
- No office rent or overheads built into your fee
- No recruitment fees, payroll taxes or benefits to cover
- No cover needed for holidays or sick leave
- More hours on your books for the same budget
What this looks like in numbers
18 staff, 2 locations
payroll penalties
- Deposit schedule fixed (semiweekly)
- State unemployment rate reviewed
- Tip reporting set up correctly
9 employees, 6 contractors
on payroll
- Payroll moved to one fixed fee
- 1099s filed for all contractors
- Quarterly payroll tax reviews
Examples are illustrative, based on typical situations we handle, with names removed and figures rounded. They are not a promise of a specific result.
Switching to Tax Expert takes 4 simple steps
No disruption. We contact your old accountant and handle the handover.
Free consultation
A 30-minute call about your business, your filings and your deadlines.
Fixed-fee proposal
A clear monthly price, and your first month is free. No hourly billing.
We take over
We collect records, connect your bank feeds and catch up any backlog.
Pay only if you’re happy
Like the work? Your fee starts now. Not happy? Leave and pay nothing.
Common questions
Is the first month really free?
Yes. New clients on a monthly accounting or bookkeeping plan pay nothing for the first month. If you are not happy, you can leave without paying. If you stay, payment starts from month 2 at the fixed fee we agreed. Government and filing fees are not included.
When are W-2s and 1099-NECs due?
January 31 following the year of payment, to the worker and to the SSA or IRS. For 2026 payments, that is January 31, 2027.
What is the 1099-NEC threshold for 2026?
$2,000 of nonemployee compensation, up from $600 for earlier years.
See how much you could save
Free 30-minute call. We look at your numbers and show you the saving before you sign anything.
Related services
- Outsourced accounting: a full finance function without hiring in-house
- Business advisory: cash flow, pricing and growth decisions
- Monthly bookkeeping: reconciled books and month-end reports