Google Reviews Client Portal Payment Client Resources Blog Contact 801-260-1004

About Madsen and Company

Proactive Tax Planning and Advisory for Business Owners and Investors

Founded in 1995, Madsen and Company is a CPA firm based in South Jordan, Utah, led by Steve Madsen, CPA (licensed since 1993). We provide proactive tax planning and ongoing advisory services, with tax preparation and compliance serving as the implementation layer, for small business owners, S-Corporation owners, and real estate investors nationwide.

Our firm was intentionally built to serve clients who want more than reactive filing. We help business owners make informed tax decisions before deadlines pass, so their tax returns reflect intentional strategy, not missed opportunities or after-the-fact reporting.

Our Core Belief

Most tax savings are created by decisions made during the year — not by how a return is prepared after December 31.

Once the calendar year closes, many tax-saving opportunities are permanently lost, regardless of how accurate or thorough a tax return may be. That is why tax preparation alone is not enough.

At Madsen and Company, planning comes first. Tax preparation exists to document and implement strategy, not to define it.

Who We Serve

We work with clients who have outgrown basic tax preparation and need clarity around increasingly complex financial decisions, including:

Our clients value accuracy, foresight, and accountability — not rushed filings or reactive advice.

We are not a fit for clients seeking last-minute filing, one-time tax prep, or reactive advice without ongoing planning.

Experience You Can Rely On

Steve Madsen, CPA and founder of Madsen and Company, providing proactive tax planning and year-round advisory for business owners

Madsen and Company was founded by Steve Madsen, CPA, who has advised business owners and real estate investors for over 30 years. Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant since 1993, Steve’s advisory work focuses on proactive tax planning for S-Corporation owners, real estate investors, and growing service-based businesses.  Steve has guided clients through decades of changing tax law, economic cycles, and the evolving Utah and national business landscape.

Early in his career, Steve observed that most small business owners were receiving compliance-only accounting — reporting on the past — when what they actually needed was a strategic advisor focused on the future.

That realization shaped the firm’s philosophy.

Steve built Madsen and Company to bridge the gap between complex tax law and practical, real-world business decisions. By combining deep technical expertise with a plain-English approach, he ensures clients understand not only what their tax results are, but why those results occur — and how decisions made today affect future years.

While tax planning and advisory drive every engagement, tax preparation is intentionally included to ensure strategies are properly implemented, documented, and reflected accurately in filed returns.

Our Approach: Proactive, Not Reactive

Traditional accounting often focuses on compliance—recording what already happened.

At Madsen and Company, we focus on planning decisions that affect what will happen, including:

  • Entity structure and tax elections

  • Income and deduction timing

  • Payroll strategy and reasonable compensation

  • Depreciation and asset planning

  • Estimated tax planning and cash-flow coordination

  • Multi-year tax impact analysis

Many of the strategies we advise on—such as entity elections, depreciation timing, and payroll structure—must be implemented before year-end under IRS rules to be effective.

This approach helps clients avoid common and costly issues such as:

  • Missed depreciation opportunities

  • Inefficient entity structures

  • Overpayment of payroll or self-employment taxes

  • Surprise tax bills and avoidable penalties

Our strategies are grounded in IRS guidance, industry standards, and decades of real-world application.

How We Work: The Madsen and Company Cadence

1. The Discovery & Strategy Phase (Q1)

We don’t just look at last year's numbers; we look at your goals for the year ahead. We analyze your entity structure, payroll strategy, and estimated tax requirements to ensure your foundation is solid before the first deadline hits.

2. The Mid-Year Pulse Check (Q2-Q3)

Tax laws and your business income aren’t static. We meet mid-year to review your actual performance against our projections. This allows us to adjust quarterly payments and identify new tax credits or deduction opportunities while there is still time to act.

3. The Year-End Strategy Sprint (Q4)

Before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, we finalize your "big moves." This includes maximizing Section 179 deductions, optimizing retirement contributions, and timing income/expenses to hit the most advantageous tax bracket possible.

Why Clients Choose Madsen and Company

Clients work with us because they want:

  • Clear explanations, not jargon

  • Decisions supported by tax law and documentation

  • Ongoing tax advisory, not one-time answers

  • Tax preparation that supports strategy — not strategy constrained by tax preparation

  • A CPA relationship that extends beyond filing season

Our clients understand that cheap or rushed tax work often costs more over time through missed opportunities, corrections, audits, or penalties.

A Virtual Firm With a Personal Approach

While we serve clients nationwide through a secure, virtual model, our approach remains personal and relationship-driven.

We use modern tools to deliver:

  • Secure online portals and digital document sharing

  • Video and phone meetings for planning and advisory

  • Year-round access to your CPA without office visits

Technology supports our process—but experience drives our advice.

Our Mission

To provide business owners and investors with clear, proactive tax guidance so they can make confident decisions, reduce unnecessary taxes, and avoid costly surprises.

Our Vision

To eliminate financial uncertainty for growing businesses by replacing reactive tax preparation with intentional, well-documented tax strategy.

What Working With Us Feels Like

Clients often tell us they feel:

  • More confident in their decisions

  • Less stressed about taxes

  • Better prepared for year-end and filing season

  • Supported by a CPA who understands their business, not just their forms

That peace of mind comes from planning—not luck.

Learn more about how proactive tax planning can help your business. Schedule a consultation if you’re ready to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Madsen and Company

What does “proactive tax planning” mean?

Proactive tax planning focuses on decisions made before deadlines, not just reporting what already happened on a tax return. Many tax strategies—such as entity elections, income timing, depreciation methods, and payroll structure—must be implemented during the year to be effective.

Who benefits most from working with a tax advisor?

Business owners, S-Coporations, and real estate investors benefit most from tax advisory services, especially when income is growing or financial decisions affect future tax years. As complexity increases, relying on tax preparation alone often leads to missed opportunities and higher long-term tax costs.

Why isn’t tax preparation alone enough?

Tax preparation documents past activity, but it cannot change decisions once the year has ended. Without proactive planning, many tax-saving opportunities are permanently lost after December 31, regardless of how accurately a return is prepared.

When should a business owner talk to their CPA about tax planning?

Ideally, tax planning conversations happen before year-end and whenever major changes occur, such as business growth, new entities, property purchases, or changes in income. Waiting until filing season limits the strategies that are still available.

Service Type Focus Result
Traditional CPA Past Compliance (The "Rearview Mirror") You pay what you owe.
Madsen & Co. Future Strategy (The "Windshield") You pay only what is necessary.

 

Ready to Stop Reacting and Start Planning?

Most tax savings are lost because decisions were made too late. At Madsen and Company, we don't just file your past; we plan your future.

Schedule a consultation