EP 546: A CPA’s Tax Strategy Playbook For Business Owners Over $100K

What makes Caleb Helms with Helms Tax Strategy a good neighbor?

We talk with Caleb Helms about helping business owners move beyond simply filing taxes and toward proactive tax planning that supports long-term financial success. With 16 years of experience as a CPA and several years running his own firm, Caleb shares how thoughtful planning can help clients legally reduce their tax burden while staying compliant with the tax code.

One of the biggest misconceptions we discuss is the rise of social media “tax hacks.” Caleb explains that while some online advice may contain a small amount of truth, the missing context often leads people to apply strategies that don’t fit their situation or could create unnecessary IRS issues. He encourages business owners to focus on running their businesses while working with qualified professionals who understand the details behind the tax code.

We also explore who benefits most from strategic tax planning, particularly business owners with significant net income who may have opportunities available through proper planning rather than last-minute tax preparation. Caleb shares why tax strategy is an ongoing process that works best throughout the year instead of only during filing season.

The conversation also highlights how Caleb’s faith influences the way he serves clients. He believes integrity, honesty, and stewardship should guide financial decisions, and we discuss how charitable giving and tax planning can complement one another when generosity is part of a person’s values.

Outside the office, Caleb shares a little about the habits that keep him grounded, including spending time with family, trail running, and maintaining a lifelong commitment to learning through reading. Those disciplines shape the thoughtful, education-first approach he brings to every client relationship.

If you’re a business owner looking for smarter tax planning, proactive financial strategies, or a better understanding of how to legally minimize your tax liability, this conversation provides practical insight and actionable guidance.

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Guest Info: Helms Tax Strategy | https://www.helmstaxstrategy.com/

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a CPA and tax strategist? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing our good neighbor, Caleb Helms, with Helms Tax Strategy. Caleb, it's wonderful to have you on today. Now we are so excited to learn more about you and your business. So go ahead and tell our listeners just a little bit more about your company.

Why Caleb Builds Tax Strategies

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Thanks so much, Sophia. I'm really glad to be here today. I have owned my own business and CPA firm for about the past four years. I have a background in the CPA and tax industry of about 16 years. And I really want us to start shifting towards providing consulting advice that taxpayers can actually use so that they're not paying so much money to the federal government. I got to do that about four years ago, and we're working on getting the word out that we can help taxpayers and especially business owners reduce their tax burden.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

So, Caleb, where was your passion for this

The Problem With Influencer Tax Advice

SPEAKER_01 1:14

industry born?

SPEAKER_02 1:16

My passion started a long time ago at the beginning of my career. I've always been interested in strategy. I love strategy games. And when I got into accounting, I kind of had two different options in that area. And I realized that tax was going to give me the option to strategize for my clients and be on their side and give them the advice that they can use to keep more of their money and use that to invest in their business and help them develop personally and from a business perspective. So when I saw that early on in my career, I decided to go with tax.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

I love that. Now, today, with so much experience in your industry, what is the most common misconception you face?

SPEAKER_02 2:04

Well, I think a big misconception that I face is that you can use a lot of tax strategies that the influencers on social media platforms talk about. And the thing is that there's usually something, there's usually a grain of truth to what the influencers are saying. But if you just listen to them, it can get you into a world of trouble with the IRS. And you really need an experienced tax strategist and CPA in your corner who can help you overcome those knowledge hurdles and those barriers that you can face if you don't use an expert. And so I think that's one of the biggest hurdles that we face in our industry.

Who Helms Tax Strategy Helps

SPEAKER_01 2:47

So, Caleb, we're gonna go ahead and switch gears here for a second. Now we know that marketing is the heart of every business. So ideally, who are you looking to attract and how are you reaching them?

SPEAKER_02 2:59

Yeah. So we work with businesses and high net worth individuals. Our target audience is usually a business owner making at least 100,000 or more net income in the business. And we can look, we can work locally, we can work outside outside of state lines. It doesn't really matter where. So we usually work look at the income level and the business or if they own a business, because those are the types of taxpayers that we can help the most.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Wow, and how are you able to reach them?

SPEAKER_02 3:34

So we are getting more on our social media platforms. We have a website where people can intake, go through our intake process and submit questionnaires so that they can book a meeting with me. And we are expanding our marketing footprint even over the course of this summer.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Wow, is one of the ways you're doing that with your own podcast.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

That's an interesting question. I love how you ask your guests that question. I am definitely interested in that. I think if I did something like that, it would relate to the intersection of faith and business. I'm a Christian and that's very important to me. And I'm also a business owner, and that's important to me. And I love talking about it. So I think that would be the genre, the topic if I ended up getting a podcast for myself.

Faith Guided Tax Planning And Integrity

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Wow, Caleb. So how do you combine your faith and business practices together in one?

SPEAKER_02 4:33

So a lot of what I find is that the tax code responds to and rewards different patterns of behavior. Some of those as a Christian, I also support. And so if I find a taxpayer who needs tax strategies done and is also a Christian, it works a lot better in tandem that way because I can say, okay, the IRS is already incentivizing, for example, charitable contributions. You're a Christian, you want to give to charitable causes. So let's find a way for you to fund a charity that you care about and you're passionate about and also get a tax deduction. So we use those in tandem and also integrity is very important to us. And so we work with clients that have high integrity and we operate under that throughout our business.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

I love that. And one other question for you in terms of being a Christian, is there a certain scripture that you use on the day-to-day with your clients?

SPEAKER_02 5:36

I don't know if I use this yet with my clients, but Psalm 50 verse 10 talks about God owning everything in the world and the cattle on a thousand hills. And I keep coming back to that verse because it gets me in the mindset that there's plenty and there's abundance in the world and it can all be shared. It doesn't have to be hoarded, and it gets really into growth mindset. And so if I know that God owns everything and he can divert it wherever he wills, there's a lot of power there in figuring out how to help my clients also pursue abundance that God can give them.

Family Life Running And Reading

SPEAKER_01 6:20

That's wonderful. And in terms of stewardship, what do you and your family like to do outside of work for fun?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Well, I have four kids and a wife, so I like spending time with them. One of our favorite activities with the boys this summer is running. I love doing trail runs, tough mutters, Spartan races. So far, I've done those on my own, but my boys are almost all now teenagers, and so they're getting more and more into that. And I love doing that with them. I also love playing games, like I mentioned earlier, and my boys love that. And so those are a couple of things that we love doing, and I also love reading. I try to read 30 to 45 books per year, and it's a great way to expand my mind and grow and develop and also have fun.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

That's wonderful.

Final Takeaway And How To Reach Caleb

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Now, Caleb, we've covered a lot of great information in this episode today. But, you know, what our listeners really want to know is what is that final takeaway that you have for them and where is the best place for them to find you?

SPEAKER_02 7:27

So the one takeaway that I have is that especially if you're a business owner making more than $100,000 a year, there are strategies that are already in the tax code. And it's not necessarily your job to know them all. You're a business owner, it's you need to run your business. But if you can find a tax strategist who can help you take advantage of the incentives already there, you could be saving thousands of dollars that you're not currently saving. And we'd love to get in touch with you. You can reach out to us on our website, helmstaxstrategy.com, fill out our intake form, and book a call with us today, and we can get to know you and see how we can help you save those dollars that you're leaving on the table.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Amen to all of that. Well, Caleb, I really appreciate you being on the show today. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

Thank you so much, Sophia. It was great to

Nominate A Local Business

SPEAKER_02 8:24

be here.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GMP Frisco dot com. That's GNP Frisco dot com or call four six nine two two two two two two two two two two two two one nine three four five.