FEDERAL INCOME TAX — RIVERSIDE, CA

Federal Income Tax Filing
for Riverside Startups.
Fixed Price. No Surprises.

One flat fee covers everything your startup needs for corporate tax compliance - federal return, California state return, 1099s, Delaware Franchise Tax Report, payroll software setup, and unlimited tax support all year from the team we recommend. No hourly billing.

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Federal and California state federal income tax returns

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1099 filings and Delaware Franchise Tax Report included

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Payroll software setup - Gusto, Rippling, and more

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Unlimited tax questions, no hourly clock

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Discounted pricing for newly incorporated startups

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Support for foreign founders and international subsidiaries

See What's Included

No commitment. Pay after filing - not before

Newly incorporated startup? Ask about discounted pricing.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

$2,450/yr

per year - flat fee

Everything Included

✓ Federal federal income tax return (Form 1120)

✓ California state income tax return

✓ 1099 preparation and filing

✓ Delaware Franchise Tax Report

✓ Payroll software setup (Gusto, Rippling)

✓ Bookkeeping Consultation

✓ Unlimited tax support, year-round

✓ Foreign subsidiary and foreign founder support

Schedule a Free Appointment

No commitment. No hourly billing. Just answers.

Is This Right For You?

Who This is Build For in Riverside

The team we recommend works exclusively with startups and early-stage companies.
If you fit any of these profiles, you are exactly who this service is built for.

PRE-REVENUE

You have incorporated but are not yet generating revenue

You still need to file Form 1120 with the IRS every year, even with zero activity. And if you have a Delaware C-Corp, you owe the California Franchise Tax Board $800 minimum. The team we recommend handles both - and makes sure you do not miss either.

SEED TO SERIES A

You have raised a round and now have investors watching your books

Investors expect clean financial statements, accurate tax filings, and on-time compliance. A missed filing or late return is a disclosable event that complicates your next round. The right partner makes sure your tax house is in order from day one.

DELAWARE C-CORP IN CA

You incorporated in Delaware but operate in California

Most funded Riverside startups do this - and end up with filing obligations in both states. Delaware charges a franchise tax. California charges its own. The team we recommend handles both returns and makes sure you are registered correctly in California as a foreign corporation.

FOREIGN FOUNDER

You or your co-founders are not U.S. citizens or residents

Foreign founders face additional IRS reporting requirements with penalties starting at $10,000 for late or missed filings. The team we recommend specializes in U.S. tax compliance for internationally-founded startups and makes sure every required form is filed accurately and on time.

R&D COMPANY

You have engineers, contractors, or compute costs in your budget

You almost certainly qualify for federal and California R&D tax credits - and claiming them requires filing your income tax return on time. The income tax service coordinates directly with the R&D Study so you do not leave that money on the table.

SWITCHING CPAS

You have had a legacy local CPA but need a startup specialist

Legacy Local CPAs are not startup-native. They miss R&D credits. They do not know Delaware franchise tax quirks. They charge hourly for every question. The team we recommend is built for exactly this transition - and makes onboarding fast and painless.

The Full Breakdown

Everything Covered in the $2,450 Annual Fee

No line-item surprises. No add-on fees for standard filings.
This is everything your Riverside startup gets for one flat annual price.

Federal Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1120)

Your annual federal corporate tax return, prepared accurately and filed on time. The team we recommend handles the full Form 1120 - including all required schedules - and coordinates the filing with your California return so nothing is missed

1099 Preparation and Filing

If your startup paid contractors $600 or more during the year, you are required to file 1099s with the IRS. The team we recommend prepares and files all required 1099s - including 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC - as part of the flat annual fee.

Payroll Software Setup

Getting payroll right from the start prevents expensive fixes later. The team we recommend sets up your payroll software - Gusto, Rippling, or your preferred platform - and ensures it is configured correctly for California employment tax compliance from day one.

California State Income Tax Return

California has its own federal income tax requirements, filed separately from your federal return. The team we recommend handles both the Franchise Tax Board filing and the minimum $800 franchise tax so you stay in good standing with the state.

Delaware Franchise Tax Report

If your startup is incorporated in Delaware - which most funded startups are - you owe the state an annual Franchise Tax Report. The team we recommend prepares and files it for you. No extra charge. This is one of the most commonly missed filings for California-based Delaware C-Corps.

Bookkeeping Consultation

This gets your books in order and ensures you have the tools to stay on top of your financials. It is not full bookkeeping - it is the baseline organization your startup needs to have accurate records for tax filing and investor reporting.

Unlimited tax support, all year round.

Questions about a new hire, a contractor payment, an investor distribution, or a state registration? Email or call us. The hourly clock never starts. It is all included in the flat fee.

Get Started Free

CALIFORNIA-SPECIFIC

What Riverside Startups Need to Know About
California Corporate Tax

California is the most aggressive state in the country when it comes to taxing corporations. Here is what the rules actually look like for a Riverside startup - and what happens when you get them wrong.

The $800 Minimum Franchise Tax

Every corporation doing business in California owes a minimum $800 per year to the Franchise Tax Board - regardless of whether you have any revenue. This applies to California corporations and to Delaware C-Corps registered to do business in California. It is due in your first year of operation.

Delaware vs. California: You Likely Owe Both

If you incorporated in Delaware and operate in California, you have tax obligations in both states. Delaware charges a franchise tax based on your authorized shares or assumed par value. California charges its own franchise tax plus federal income tax on California-sourced income. The team we recommend handles both.

California Apportionment Rules

If your startup has revenue from multiple states, California uses an apportionment formula to determine how much of your income is subject to California tax. Getting this calculation wrong - in either direction - is a common and costly mistake for growth-stage startups.

CA Water's Edge Elections

If your startup has foreign subsidiaries or operates internationally, California requires you to make a Water's Edge Election to limit your state tax filing to U.S.-based income. Without it, California can tax your worldwide income. Most founders with international operations have no idea this election exists - until they get the bill. The right partner identifies whether it applies to your startup and handles the election correctly.

Do NOT file late if you have foreign founders or shareholders.

Getting payroll right from the start prevents expensive fixes later. We set up your payroll software - Gusto, Rippling, or your preferred platform, and ensure it is configured correctly for California employment tax compliance from day one.

KEY CORPORATE TAX DEADLINES FOR CALIFORNIA STARTUPS

Jan 15 Q4 estimated tax payment due to IRS and California FTB for the prior year

Mar 1 Delaware Franchise Tax Report due - commonly missed by CA-based startups

Apr 15 Federal income tax return (Form 1120) due - or file for a 6-month extension to October 15

Apr 15 California $800 minimum franchise tax due for the current tax year

Apr 15 File on time to qualify for the refundable R&D tax credit - worth up to $500,000

Jun 15 Q2 estimated tax payment - California FTB and IRS

Oct 15 Extended return deadline - final filing deadline if an extension was filed in April

For a full breakdown of what California startups owe at the federal and state level, see our California startup tax guide covering every filing obligation statewide.

HOW IT WORKS

From First Call to Filed Return
Here Is What to Expect

Schedule a Free Appointment

Book a no-commitment call with the startup tax specialists we recommend. They will review your corporate structure, state registrations, and prior filings - and tell you exactly what you need, what it costs, and what the timeline looks like. No hourly clock.

Onboarding and Document Collection

Once you sign on, you receive a straightforward onboarding checklist. The team collects your prior returns, entity documents, financial statements, and any outstanding compliance items. If your books need cleanup, that is handled as part of Bookkeeping Consultation setup.

Return Preparation and Review

The CPAs prepare your federal Form 1120, California state return, 1099s, Delaware Franchise Tax Report, and any additional required filings. You get a clear review before anything is filed - no surprises, no last-minute scrambles.

Filing and Confirmation

Everything is filed electronically with confirmation copies sent for your records. You pay after filing - not before. And if the IRS or Franchise Tax Board sends you a notice at any point, that is already covered.

Year-Round Tax Support

Questions do not stop after filing season. The flat fee includes unlimited access throughout the year - new hire payroll questions, contractor payment thresholds, investor distribution decisions, state registration inquiries. Call or email any time.

CALIFORNIA-SPECIFIC

TRANSPARENT PRICING

One Flat Fee.
Everything Included.

No hourly billing. No add-on fees for standard filings. No binding contracts. You pay after your returns are filed - not before.

If your startup was recently incorporated, ask about discounted pricing for first-year companies.

$2,450

per year - flat fee

Federal return (Form 1120) Included

California state return Included

1099 filing Included

Delaware Franchise Tax Report Included

Payroll software setup Included

Year-round tax questions Included

Newly incorporated startup Ask about discount

Schedule a FREE Appointment

Common Questions

Federal Income Tax Questions From
Riverside Founders

Do I need to file a corporate return if my Riverside startup has no revenue?

Yes. C-Corporations are required to file Form 1120 with the IRS every year regardless of revenue or activity. If you have a Delaware C-Corp operating in California, you also owe a California Franchise Tax Board filing and the $800 minimum franchise tax. Skipping these filings - even with no revenue - creates penalties and is a disclosable event in future fundraising due diligence.

My startup is incorporated in Delaware but based in Riverside. What do I actually owe?

You owe the Delaware Division of Corporations an annual Franchise Tax Report (due March 1). You also owe California's Franchise Tax Board for the state federal income tax return and the $800 minimum franchise tax. You need to be registered as a foreign corporation with the California Secretary of State. The team we recommend handles all of this as part of the flat annual fee.

Can I ask questions throughout the year - or only during tax season?

Any time. The federal income tax service from the team we recommend is a fixed annual fee, which means your questions are covered all year - no hourly clock, no per-question billing. Calls come in about new hires, contractor payment thresholds, investor distributions, state registrations, and more. It is all included.

I have a foreign co-founder. Does that affect my filing requirements?

Yes, significantly. Foreign founders and foreign shareholders trigger additional IRS reporting requirements - including Form 5472 for foreign-owned U.S. corporations. Filing late or missing these forms results in automatic penalties starting at $10,000 per form. These obligations are identified in the first call to make sure every required form is filed on time.

When do I pay? Is there a contract?

You pay after your returns are filed - not before. There is no binding contract. You can cancel at any time. There is no interest in locking startups into agreements - clients stay because the service is genuinely useful, not because they are stuck.

Does this service include R&D tax credit work?

The income tax service and the R&D Study are separate services - but they work together closely. If your startup qualifies for R&D credits (which many Riverside tech and cleantech companies do), the R&D Study is coordinated with your tax return so the credit is properly claimed on your filing. R&D studies are priced at 0.75% of Qualified Research Expenses.

LET'S GET YOUR TAXES RIGHT

Your Riverside Startup
Deserves a Tax Specialist,
Not a Generalist.

One free call with the team we recommend is all it takes. They will review your corporate structure, tell you exactly what you need, and give you a straight answer on pricing. No commitment, no hourly billing, no surprises.