✓ NATP Member
Business Tax Services for NC & SC Companies
Tax compliance isn't just a once-a-year event, it's a year-round responsibility that can make or break a small business's bottom line. At Certum Solutions, we provide business tax services for S-Corps, LLCs, partnerships, C-Corps, and nonprofits across North Carolina and South Carolina. Whether you need a straightforward annual filing or a comprehensive tax planning strategy, our team handles the complexity so you can focus on running your business.
✔️ Woman-Owned Tax & Accounting Firm
✔️ A+ BBB Accredited Business
✔️ Business Tax Services
✔️ Local Roots, National Reach
We Work With:
S-Corporations & LLCs
Form 1120-S, Schedule K-1s, officer compensation, NC & SC state returns
Partnerships
Form 1065, partner capital accounts, multi-state allocations
Individuals with Business Interests
We serve business owners who also need personal tax preparation, typically when we already handle their business filings
C-Corporations
Form 1120-C, retained earnings, tax liability planning
Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Organizations
Form 990-N, 990-EZ, 990 Full, 990-T (UBIT), SC Annual Registration
Is Digits Right For You?
Business Tax Preparation & Filing
We prepare and file accurate, IRS-compliant returns for every common business entity structure. Our process includes a thorough review of your financial records, identification of available deductions and elections, and coordination with your bookkeeping to ensure everything reconciles before we file.
For-Profit Business Returns
✓ S-Corporation (Form 1120-S)
Officer compensation, Schedule K-1 preparation, shareholder basis, NC & SC state returns
✓ Partnership (Form 1065)
Partner capital accounts, allocations, Schedule K-1s, multi-state apportionment
✓ C-Corporation (Form 1120-C)
Income, deductions, retained earnings, tax liability calculation
✓ S-Corp International (K-2 / K-3)
Required international tax disclosures, foreign activity evaluation, shareholder obligations
✓ Late S-Corp Election (Form 2553)
IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-30 filing, reasonable-cause statement, shareholder consents
✓ Depreciation & Amortization (Form 4562)
Asset classification, Section 179 or bonus depreciation elections, carry forward tracking
✓ Estate & Trust Returns (Form 1041)
Fiduciary accounting income, deductible expenses, beneficiary distribution reporting
✓ Estate Tax Return (Form 706)
Asset valuation schedules, deductions, credits, estate tax calculation
✓ Gift Tax Return (Form 709)
Annual exclusion gifts, gift-splitting elections, lifetime exemption tracking
Individual Returns for Business Owners
We prepare personal tax returns (Form 1040) for business owners when we are already handling their business filings. This allows us to coordinate your business and personal tax picture — maximizing the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, ensuring accurate pass-through reporting from Schedule K-1s, and minimizing your overall tax liability.
✓ Schedule C — Sole proprietor business income and expenses
✓ Schedule D — Capital gains, investments, real estate sales
✓ Schedule E — Rental income, depreciation, S-Corp/Partnership pass-through income
✓ Form 8995 / 8995-A — Qualified Business Income deduction calculation and limitations
✓ FBAR / Form 8938 — Foreign bank account and foreign asset reporting for business owners with international activity
Nonprofit Tax Compliance (Form 990 Series)
Tax-exempt status doesn't mean tax-free from paperwork. Nonprofits operating in North Carolina and South Carolina must file annual IRS returns and, in many cases, state-level reports. Failure to file three consecutive years results in automatic revocation of tax-exempt status. Our team ensures your organization stays compliant and in good standing.
Nonprofit Tax Services & What’s Included:
Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
Organizations with gross receipts normally ≤$50,000
Form 990-EZ
Organizations with gross receipts <$200,000 — eligibility review, IRS filing, confirmation
Form 990 (Full)
Organizations with gross receipts ≥$200,000 — complete financial reporting, schedule preparation
Form 990-T (UBIT)
Unrelated Business Income Tax — calculation of taxable non-exempt activity income
SC Annual Financial Report
Required by the SC Secretary of State for charitable organizations operating in South Carolina
SC Annual Registration Filing
Charitable solicitation compliance — keeps your organization in good standing with the state
Planning
Tax Planning & Compliance Strategy
Filing a return is the end of the process. Tax planning is where the real savings happen. We work with NC and SC business owners throughout the year to minimize tax liability, avoid penalties, and make strategic decisions with tax consequences in mind.
Tax Planning Services Include:
Entity structure analysis:
Is your current structure (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp) still the most tax-efficient for your size and revenue? We evaluate and advise.
S-Corp election timing:
If you're an LLC considering S-Corp election, we analyze whether the self-employment tax savings outweigh the administrative costs — and file Form 2553 when the answer is yes
Reasonable officer compensation:
S-Corp officers must pay themselves a reasonable salary. We help you establish a defensible compensation figure that balances payroll tax exposure with distributions.
Estimated tax planning:
We calculate quarterly estimated tax payments so you avoid underpayment penalties and aren't caught off guard at year-end.
Depreciation elections:
Section 179 and bonus depreciation can dramatically accelerate deductions in the year you purchase equipment. We identify when to use them and when to spread deductions out.
Year-end close coordination:
We work alongside your bookkeeping team (or our own if you're a bookkeeping client) to ensure your books are clean and tax-ready before December 31.
Sales Tax Compliance (Powered by Avalara)
Sales tax nexus rules have changed dramatically since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision. If your business sells products or taxable services across state lines — including through e-commerce platforms — you may have sales tax obligations in states where you have no physical presence. Getting this wrong means penalties, interest, and back taxes.
We implement and manage Avalara, the leading sales tax automation platform, to keep your business compliant across every jurisdiction you sell in. Avalara integrates directly with QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and most major accounting and e-commerce platforms.
Sales tax services include:
Nexus review — identifying where your business has sales tax obligations
Avalara setup and integration with your accounting software
Ongoing automated sales tax calculation and filing
Exemption certificate management
Sales tax audit support
Already using QuickBooks or Xero? See how we handle sales tax setup within your accounting software, or explore our accounting software implementation services.
Prefer to call? (980) 210-6946
Our Process
How Our Tax Process Works
We've built our tax workflow around business owners who are busy and don't want to spend hours hunting down documents. Here's what to expect:
Step 1 — Onboarding & Document Collection
We send you a personalized document checklist based on your entity type and prior-year return. No guessing about what you need to gather.
Step 2 — Bookkeeping Review
Before we touch the return, we review your financial records for the year. If your books need cleanup, we'll flag it — or handle it if you're a bookkeeping client.
Step 3 — Preparation & Review
We prepare your return and review it for accuracy, compliance, and any available elections or deductions you may have missed. Complex returns (multi-state, K-2/K-3, UBIT) receive additional scrutiny.
Step 4 — Client Review & Approval
You receive a draft of your return with a summary of key numbers. We walk you through anything that needs explanation before you sign.
Step 5 — Filing & Confirmation
We e-file with the IRS (and applicable state agencies), and you receive confirmation of acceptance. We retain copies in your secure client portal.
Serving the Carolinas & Nationwide
Serving North Carolina and South Carolina Businesses
Based in Monroe, NC and serving businesses throughout the Carolinas, we understand the state-specific tax landscape that national firms often overlook.
North Carolina business tax considerations:
NC Corporate Income Tax — NC has a flat corporate income tax rate; we ensure proper apportionment and calculation for your entity type
NC S-Corp returns (Form CD-401S) — required for S-Corporations operating in NC, filed alongside federal Form 1120-S
NC franchise tax — applicable to most corporations and LLCs operating in NC, calculated on net worth or assets
NC franchise and income tax payment schedules and estimated payments
South Carolina business tax considerations:
SC Corporate Income Tax (Form SC1120 / SC1120S) — separate state filing requirements with SC-specific adjustments
SC Charitable Organization Annual Financial Report — required for nonprofits soliciting in SC
SC Annual Registration — maintaining good standing with the SC Secretary of State
Already have your entity set up and wondering what your tax obligations look like?
Read our guide to NC S-Corp rules and compliance or our overview of LLCs in North Carolina.
Let's Get Your Business Up To Date
You don't need more recommendations from someone who doesn't know your business. You need a straight answer from someone who does. Tell us where you're at; we'll tell you exactly what makes sense next. No pressure, no obligation, just clarity.
Prefer to call? (980) 210-6946
When Tax Cleanup or Catch-Up Is Needed
If records are incomplete or inconsistent, Certum may recommend:
Reconciliation of prior-year activity
Correction of misclassified income or expenses
This ensures tax filings are accurate, defensible, and aligned with financial records.
Tax Extension Filing
If you need more time, we file federal and state extensions (Form 7004, Form 4868) and coordinate estimated payments to minimize penalties.
IRS Notice Response Support
While we don't provide legal representation, we help clients understand IRS and state tax notices and coordinate with their legal counsel when needed.
Amended Returns
We prepare amended business and individual returns (Form 1120-X, 1040-X) when errors are discovered or new information becomes available, typically following bookkeeping cleanup or reconcilliation work.
Keep Records & Receipts and Stay Audit-Ready
Tax season is easier when your receipts are organized. With Shoeboxed, you can keep all of your receipts in one secure digital hub, making tax filing stress-free. Shoeboxed ensures that your records are IRS-compliant and audit-ready, while also helping you maximize deductions with:
✔ Automatic mileage tracking
✔ Categorized expense reporting
✔ Easy document sharing with your tax preparer
At Certum Solutions, we integrate Shoeboxed into your bookkeeping and tax workflows so you always have clean, accurate records when it matters most.
Common Tax Situations We Handle
For Business Owners:
- First-time business tax filing
- Switching from sole proprietor to S-Corp or LLC
- Multi-state business operations
- Contractor and 1099 income reporting
- Depreciation and asset management
- Quarterly estimated tax coordination
For Nonprofits:
- Initial Form 990 filing for new organizations
- Complex functional expense allocation
- Grant-funded program reporting
- Unrelated business income tax (UBIT)
- State charitable registration maintenance
For Individuals:
- Rental property income (Schedule E)
- Investment and capital gains reporting
- Self-employment income alongside W-2
- Trust and estate administration
- Foreign account reporting (FBAR, FATCA)
- Multi-state residency and income
Frequently Asked Questions
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Generally, yes — but only for business owners whose business returns we also handle. We don't take on individual-only clients. This approach lets us coordinate your business and personal tax picture together, which typically results in a lower overall tax bill.
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We prepare Form 1120-S (federal S-Corp return), Schedule K-1s for all shareholders, Form 1125-E for officer compensation reporting, NC Form CD-401S, and SC Form SC1120S where applicable. We also handle late S-Corp elections via Form 2553 and international disclosure forms K-2 and K-3 when required.
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Yes. We prepare the full 990 series (990-N, 990-EZ, 990, 990-T) and also handle South Carolina-specific filings: the SC Annual Financial Report and SC Annual Registration required for charitable organizations operating in the state.
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If you're profitable and not doing any tax planning, you're almost certainly overpaying. Tax planning matters most when: you're deciding whether to elect S-Corp status, you've had a high-revenue year and want to defer income, you're buying equipment and want to maximize depreciation, or you're expecting a major ownership change. We recommend at least one planning conversation before year-end.
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Seamlessly. We work directly in your QuickBooks or Xero file to review your records before preparing your return. If you're also a bookkeeping client, your year-end close is built into our process. If not, we'll provide a checklist of what we need and review your books before we start.
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Standard turnaround is 2–3 weeks from the date we receive complete documentation. Complex returns — multi-state, international disclosures, estate and trust returns — may take longer. If you're up against a deadline, ask about our rush filing option.
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Yes. Payroll taxes (941 quarterly filings, W-2/1099 preparation, year-end reconciliation) are part of our payroll services. If you're a tax client and need payroll support, ask about bundling both for a streamlined year-end process.
More From Certum Solutions
Related Services
Tax compliance works best when your books are clean and your financial systems are set up correctly. Explore how our other services support your tax readiness:
Fractional CFO Services
Ongoing financial oversight including tax projection modeling, cash flow planning, and owner compensation strategy.
Advisory & Consulting
Strategic guidance on entity structure, tax elections, and business decisions with significant tax implications
Bookkeeping & Catch-Up Services
Clean books are the foundation of an accurate tax return. We offer monthly bookkeeping and catch-up bookkeeping for businesses behind on their records
Payroll & HR Solutions
Payroll processing, quarterly 941 filings, W-2/1099 preparation, and year-end reconciliation
Accounting Software Implementation
We set up QuickBooks, Xero, and other platforms to make tax-ready bookkeeping automatic from day one.
Ready to Get Your Business Taxes Done Right?
Talk to our team about your filing requirements and what a full-year tax relationship looks
Based in Monroe, NC · Serving businesses throughout North Carolina and South Carolina