Steve Madsen, CPA

Steve Madsen, CPA — Tax Planning for Business Owners and Real Estate Investors

Licensed CPA since 1993 | Founder of Madsen and Company | Serving clients nationwide from Utah.

Work with Steve Madsen, CPA to Reduce Your Taxes
Get a personalized review of your S-Corp, real estate, and short-term rental strategy before year-end.

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Steve Madsen, CPA

✔ CPA licensed since 1993

✔ Founder of Madsen and Company

✔ 30+ years of tax planning experience

✔ Specializes in S-Corporation tax planning

✔ Specializes in short-term rental tax planning

✔ Specializes in real estate investor tax strategy

✔ Serves business owners nationwide

Steve Madsen CPA founder of Madsen and Company with over 30 years of tax and accounting experience

Professional Credentials

Steve Madsen has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1993 and has spent more than 30 years helping business owners, S-Corporation owners, and real estate investors reduce taxes through proactive tax planning and advisory services.

Professional profiles and business references:

Founder of Madsen and Company | Established 1995

Quick Answer

Steve Madsen, CPA, is a tax planning specialist with over 30 years of experience helping business owners and real estate investors reduce taxes through proactive, year-round strategy.

He focuses on making tax decisions during the year — when they still impact the outcome.

Steve works primarily with S corporation owners, real estate investors, short-term rental owners, and business owners seeking proactive year-round tax planning.

Steve is particularly known for helping short-term rental owners and real estate investors navigate material participation, passive activity loss rules, and proactive tax planning strategies under IRC §469.

Reviewed by Steve Madsen, CPA

Licensed CPA since 1993 and founder of Madsen and Company, established in 1995.

Steve Madsen, CPA reviews and oversees educational content related to S-Corporation tax planning, real estate tax planning, short-term rental tax strategy, depreciation planning, and business tax strategy.

He works with clients nationwide from Utah through a structured planning-first advisory approach.

Last reviewed and updated May 29, 2026.

CPA Insight:
“Tax strategy is not about knowing the rules — it’s about knowing when and how to apply them before the opportunity is gone.”
— Steve Madsen

Examples of planning situations Steve helps clients navigate include:

  • Helping S corporation owners coordinate salary and distribution strategy
  • Correcting missed depreciation through Form 3115 accounting method changes
  • Evaluating whether short-term rental activities qualify under IRS material participation rules
  • Coordinating cost segregation strategies with overall tax planning goals.

Short-Term Rental Tax Planning Experience

Steve Madsen, CPA has extensive experience helping short-term rental owners navigate the complex tax rules surrounding material participation, passive activity losses, depreciation strategy, and IRS compliance.

Many Airbnb and VRBO property owners incorrectly assume short-term rental losses automatically offset W-2 income. In reality, the outcome often depends on how the activity is structured, documented, and evaluated under IRC §469 and related material participation regulations.

Steve works with short-term rental owners on planning areas including:

  • material participation analysis and documentation
  • passive activity loss evaluation
  • short-term rental tax strategy
  • average guest stay qualification analysis
  • cost segregation coordination
  • depreciation planning
  • real estate investor tax strategy
  • audit documentation systems
  • grouping and activity classification considerations
  • Form 3115 depreciation corrections

This planning often involves evaluating whether a short-term rental activity may qualify as non-passive under Treasury Regulation §1.469-5T Material Participation Rules and guidance outlined in IRS Publication 925 – Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules

CPA Insight From Steve Madsen, CPA

“Many short-term rental tax strategies fail during an IRS examination because owners cannot properly document participation time, average stay calculations, or how the activity was materially managed throughout the year.”

— Steve Madsen, CPA

Steve’s planning approach focuses not only on identifying tax-saving opportunities, but also on helping ensure strategies are properly documented, coordinated, and sustainable long term.

Related resources:

Published Tax Planning Resources

Areas of Focus

Steve works with business owners and real estate investors in the areas where proactive tax planning often creates the greatest long-term impact.

His work commonly includes S corporation strategy, rental property tax planning, short-term rental positioning, cost segregation analysis, accelerated depreciation opportunities, and business entity structuring.

Rather than focusing only on tax preparation, the goal is to coordinate compensation, entity structure, deductions, retirement planning, and long-term strategy together.

Learn more:

Tax Planning Backed by IRS Guidance

Steve’s planning approach incorporates analysis of:

  • Internal Revenue Code Sections 167, 168, and 469
  • IRS reasonable compensation guidance for S corporations
  • passive activity loss regulations
  • depreciation and accounting method rules
  • short-term rental material participation standards

Planning recommendations are evaluated not only for potential tax savings, but also for long-term sustainability and IRS defensibility.

The Madsen Planning-First Framework™

At Madsen and Company, tax planning is built around a structured planning-first approach designed to reduce taxes before year-end — not after the outcome is already set.

The framework focuses on four core areas:

  • Income Structure — How income is earned and categorized
  • Timing — When income and deductions are recognized
  • Strategy Selection — Choosing strategies appropriate for the situation
  • Ongoing Adjustment — Monitoring and refining decisions throughout the year

This approach helps business owners make strategic decisions before opportunities disappear.

This framework is applied across S-Corporation planning, real estate tax strategy, short-term rental planning, and proactive business tax advisory.

Explore related planning services:

• S Corporation Tax Planning
• Real Estate Tax Planning
• Tax Planning for Business Owners

Planning Situations We Commonly Review

  • Transitioning from W-2 income into real estate investing
  • Determining reasonable S corporation compensation
  • Correcting missed depreciation opportunities
  • Evaluating short-term rental qualification rules

CPA Insight

“Most business owners do not need more tax information — they need better coordination between the financial decisions they are already making.”

— Steve Madsen, CPA

Why Clients Work With Steve Madsen, CPA

Many business owners come to Steve after realizing that tax preparation alone is not enough. They want proactive guidance before important decisions are made, not after the year has already ended.

Clients often choose to work with Steve because he offers:

  • More than 30 years of CPA experience helping business owners and real estate investors navigate complex tax situations.
  • Proactive tax planning, with strategies identified and implemented before deadlines pass.
  • Specialized expertise in S-Corporation tax planning, short-term rental tax strategy, and real estate tax planning.
  • Direct access to an experienced CPA, rather than being passed between multiple staff members.
  • Clear explanations of complex tax rules, helping clients understand both the opportunities and risks of major tax decisions.
  • A planning-first approach focused on reducing taxes, improving cash flow, and supporting long-term financial goals.
  • Year-round advisory support for business owners who need guidance throughout the year, not just during tax season.

Whether reviewing an S-Corporation compensation strategy, evaluating a short-term rental tax position, planning a major purchase, or preparing for year-end tax opportunities, Steve’s focus is helping clients make informed decisions before they become tax problems.

Who This Is For

This is typically a fit for:

  • Business owners earning $150,000+
  • S corporation owners or those considering it
  • Real estate investors or short-term rental owners
  • Clients looking for strategic planning — not just tax filing

Not a fit for:

  • Lowest-cost tax preparation
  • One-time transactional work without planning

Professional Presence and Business References

Madsen and Company maintains professional profiles and business references across multiple platforms to help business owners verify credentials, experience, and areas of specialization.

Additional professional references include:

Working with Steve Madsen, CPA

Utah-Based, Nationwide Advisory Support

Steve works with business owners throughout Utah and across the United States through a structured virtual advisory process.

Common client locations include:

Most clients start with a structured tax analysis to identify the most impactful opportunities and determine what should be implemented before year-end.

Maximize Your S-Corp or Rental Property Tax Savings

Steve Madsen, CPA, can help you implement proactive tax planning strategies to lower taxes legally and protect against IRS audit risk.

Book a Strategy Session

If you want direct guidance from a CPA with 30+ years of real-world tax planning experience, the next step is a structured consultation.

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