Honolulu, Hawaii · Online statewide & in NV · UT · AZ · CA · 808-946-7297
Honolulu Tax Advisors · IRS Enrolled Agents · Est. 20+ Years
Honolulu Tax Preparer & Tax Preparation Services — Honolulu, Hawaii
Most business owners overpay the IRS every year.
Not because the tax code is unfair — because no one is planning ahead. RP Tax Service is a family-owned advisory firm in Honolulu. We work with business owners, self-employed professionals, and real estate investors year-round to legally reduce what they owe — before December 31st closes the window.
Filing your return is the minimum required by law. It records what already happened. Tax planning — the work we do before the year ends — is where real savings live. Most people never get this conversation. We make it the first one.
Tax Preparation
What every tax office does
Organizes what already happened
Happens after December 31 — too late to change outcomes
Reports income and deductions as-is
One annual interaction — often rushed
Misses opportunities that closed during the year
Generic advice, not built around your situation
Result: You pay what you owe based on last year's decisions.
vs.
Tax Planning
What RP Tax Service provides
Works before year-end — while you can still act
Models income timing, deductions, and structure
Identifies every legal reduction available to you
Quarterly check-ins and year-round advisory access
Entity structuring and S-Corp optimization analysis
Strategy built around your income, business, and goals
Result: You pay less because you planned — legally and strategically.
"The IRS doesn't require you to pay more than you legally owe. Most people do anyway — because no one told them what was possible before the deadline."
Honolulu's family-owned tax firm, led by IRS Enrolled Agents.
An Enrolled Agent is the highest credential the IRS awards — federally licensed to represent taxpayers at every level of the agency. Both of our advisors hold it.
What is an EA?
An IRS Enrolled Agent is a federally licensed tax professional — the highest credential the IRS issues to non-attorneys. EAs pass a rigorous three-part exam and complete ongoing continuing education required by the IRS.
EA vs. CPA vs. Preparer
A CPA's primary license is for accounting and auditing. A general preparer has no federal license. An EA is IRS-specialized by design — the only credential issued directly by the U.S. Treasury for tax expertise.
What it means for you
EAs have unlimited representation rights before the IRS — audits, collections, appeals, and back-tax issues. If the IRS ever comes calling, your advisor can stand next to you and speak for you.
Robert Purcell
Owner · IRS Enrolled Agent
Robert began his tax career in California, building a nationwide clientele and embracing the industry's shift to online service early. He returned to Hawaii — home for the past 13 years — bringing that national experience back to the islands. His roots in Waipahu shape how he understands the local community's needs.
IRS Enrolled AgentRegistered Tax Return Preparer
Jacob Siaosi
Tax Advisor · IRS Enrolled Agent
Jacob has been an integral part of RP Tax for four years, overseeing the online portal side of the business. He brings a strong financial-planning background that sharpens his tax strategy work, holds a degree from Brigham Young University, and is fluent in Spanish — a valuable asset for the clients he serves.
IRS Enrolled AgentFinancial PlanningBilingual · English / Spanish
Filing your return is the minimum. Changing what you owe is the work.
Filing is looking backward. Planning is looking forward — at what you can still do before the year closes, before the deduction window passes, before the strategy option expires. Most tax preparers never have that conversation. We make it the foundation of everything we do.
What most firms do
File and forget.
React to what already happened
File returns based on past activity
Miss deductions once the year ends
Contact you once a year
Generic advice, not business-specific
What RP Tax Service does
Plan, then file.
Proactively position you before year-end
Design structures that reduce liability
Identify opportunities while there's time to act
Year-round advisory access
Strategy built around your specific situation
"A family-owned firm with over 20 years of experience — we take pride in serving our clients with competence, speed, and accuracy. You'll find our staff to be extremely helpful and a delight to work with."
— RP Tax Service · Est. Honolulu, Hawaii
Who We Serve
Over 20 years of tax returns — we know exactly what costs people the most.
Over 20 years of tax returns means we've worked through every scenario — the business owner who waited too long to elect S-Corp, the investor who missed the 1031 deadline, the crypto holder who didn't track cost basis. We help you avoid what we've watched others lose. When you're looking for a tax preparer in Honolulu who goes beyond filing, this is the difference.
Business Owners
You built the business. We handle small business tax preparation, corporate tax preparation, S corporation tax preparation, C corporation tax preparation, and partnership tax preparation — and we structure everything so the IRS takes as little as possible year-round.
Self-Employed & Contractors
Tax preparation for self-employed professionals is one of our specialties. Self-employment tax runs 15.3% on top of income tax. For many owners, the right structure (such as an S-Corp election) can reduce the income that's subject to it. We model whether that move makes sense for your numbers.
Real Estate Investors & Agents
Real estate tax preparation is one of our specialties — whether you're an investor, landlord, real estate agent, or Realtor. Depreciation, cost segregation, and 1031 exchanges can generate substantial deductions. We make sure you're using every tool the code allows.
Families & Individuals
Individual tax preparation and income tax preparation for families, law enforcement professionals, and W-2 earners. Marriage, kids, a home sale, an inheritance — every life event has a tax dimension. We're the advisor who knows what to do when it happens, not after.
Crypto & Investors
Every trade is a taxable event. Every 1099-K from eBay or TCGPlayer has a story behind the gross number. We track cost basis, harvest losses, and make sure you pay tax on profit — not on sales.
Entrepreneurs
From idea to incorporated to scaling — the tax decisions you make early define what you keep later. We're the advisor in the room when structure, compensation, and reinvestment strategy actually matter.
Strategic Services
What we do — and what it means for what you keep.
Tax Planning & Strategy
Entity Structuring
Entrepreneur Advisory
Real Estate Tax Strategy
Crypto & Investments
Bookkeeping & Payroll
Retirement Planning
IRS Resolution
Tax Planning & Strategy
Most tax surprises aren't surprises — they're the result of not looking forward. We provide tax planning for small business owners, self-employed professionals, franchise operators, and high-income individuals. We model your income, review your structure, and identify every legal reduction available before December 31 closes the window. Quarterly check-ins, proactive communication, and a strategy that evolves as your income does.
An LLC taxed as a sole prop and an S-Corp on the same net income can produce very different tax outcomes — in many cases a difference of several thousand dollars a year, depending on your income, payroll, and state. We run the math, model the options, and tell you what your current structure may be costing you.
The financial decisions you make in your first few years compound for decades. Structure, compensation, retirement, reinvestment — these aren't accounting tasks. They're the difference between a business that builds wealth and one that generates income you can't keep.
Real estate investors often have six-figure deductions sitting in their properties that no one has unlocked. Cost segregation, bonus depreciation, the short-term rental exception, 1031 exchanges, real estate professional status — most Schedule E filers use none of these. We use all of them.
Your crypto platform doesn't track your taxes — it tracks your trades. Cost basis, holding period, DeFi income, 1099-K reconciliation — these are your responsibility and the IRS is watching. We've seen clients overpay by tens of thousands because no one built their cost basis correctly from the start.
Bad books don't just create compliance risk — they prevent good tax planning. We offer bookkeeping services for small businesses including monthly bookkeeping, bookkeeping catch up, bookkeeping clean up, QuickBooks setup, small business accounting, financial statement preparation, and corporate accounting. We build your financials around your tax strategy so every deduction is documented and defensible.
A Solo 401(k) can shelter a significant amount of income each year — up to the IRS annual limits, which can reach the high five figures for those who qualify. A defined benefit plan can allow even more. Many business owners default to a SEP-IRA and leave room on the table. We help you choose the plan that fits your income and goals.
An IRS notice isn't always a disaster — but responding incorrectly turns a manageable situation into an expensive one. As Enrolled Agents, we hold the highest credential the IRS issues to non-attorneys. We speak their language, know the programs, and represent your interests at every level of the agency.
Most business owners leave money on the table every single year.
Not from carelessness — from not knowing what's available. These are the strategies we use for our clients, explained plainly so you understand exactly what's possible.
Each article is a real strategy with real tax implications. Read what applies to you — then let's talk about implementing it.
Entity & Structure
6 min read
LLC vs. S-Corp: Which Structure Actually Saves More?
An LLC taxed as a sole proprietor and an S-Corp can generate very different tax bills on identical income. The difference comes down to self-employment tax — and the math only works in one direction past a certain income threshold. We break down the numbers, the risks, and the timing of the election.
Potential outcome$5K–$15K+ in annual SE tax savings at the right income level
The Augusta Rule: How to Rent Your Home to Your Business Tax-Free
Section 280A allows you to rent your home to your business for up to 14 days per year — and the rental income is completely tax-free to you. The key is a legitimate business purpose, fair market rent, and proper documentation. Done right, it's one of the cleanest legal deductions in the tax code.
Potential outcome$2K–$10K+ deducted by the business; zero income tax to you
Cost Segregation: Depreciate Your Property in Years, Not Decades
A cost segregation study reclassifies components of your building — flooring, fixtures, landscaping, specialty systems — from 39-year property into 5, 7, or 15-year property. Combined with bonus depreciation, this can generate very large deductions in year one. Most rental property owners have never had this conversation.
Potential outcome$20K–$100K+ in accelerated deductions on qualifying property
Hawaii GET: The Tax Most Local Businesses Get Wrong
Hawaii's General Excise Tax is not a sales tax — and that distinction matters. It applies to gross business income, stacks across transaction tiers, and carries a 4.712% effective rate on Oahu once the county surcharge is applied. GET applies to services, rental income, even certain online business activity. Most small business owners are either under-reporting or paying more than required.
Potential outcomeAccurate filing + avoidance of GET penalties and back assessments
Short-Term Rental Taxes in Hawaii: GET, TAT, and the County Surcharges
Hawaii STR owners owe both GET (on gross rental income) and TAT (a transient accommodations tax) — and since 2022, county surcharges have been added on top. Many owners are collecting and remitting the wrong amounts, and some aren't remitting at all. Here's exactly what's required, how to calculate it, and how to stay compliant.
Potential outcomeFull GET/TAT compliance + avoidance of back taxes and penalties
The Accountable Plan: Tax-Free Reimbursements for S-Corp Owners
If you use personal funds for business expenses — home office, phone, vehicle, equipment — and your S-Corp doesn't reimburse you through an accountable plan, those deductions may be lost entirely. An accountable plan lets the business reimburse you with zero income tax or payroll tax on the payment. No W-2 income, no SE tax. It's one of the most consistently underused tools for S-Corp owners.
Potential outcome$3K–$12K+ recovered annually in previously lost deductions
Solo 401(k) vs. SEP-IRA: Which Plan Shelters More Income?
Most self-employed business owners default to a SEP-IRA because it's simple. But a Solo 401(k) allows both an employee and employer contribution — which means it can shelter significantly more income at the same profit level. At $100K net income, the difference can be tens of thousands of dollars in additional tax-deferred contributions. We model which plan actually fits your numbers.
Potential outcome$15K–$40K+ in additional tax-deferred income at qualifying income levels
Crypto Taxes: Why Your 1099 From the Exchange Is Wrong
Crypto exchanges report gross proceeds — not your taxable gain. Without proper cost basis tracking from your first transaction forward, you may be calculating taxes on revenue instead of profit. This mistake gets compounded every year and can lead to massive overpayment — or IRS notices when the numbers don't reconcile. Here's how to build an accurate cost basis record and what to do if yours is incomplete.
Potential outcomeAccurate gain reporting; potential for significant overpayment recovery
An accountable plan lets your S-Corp reimburse you for business expenses paid personally — with no income tax or payroll tax on qualifying reimbursements. When structured and documented correctly, this one tool can recover meaningful amounts each year that were previously lost.
The collector's edge: tax strategy for what you love.
Our partner is a serious collector and dealer of trading cards, Pokémon, One Piece, Disney, and other premium collectibles. That means we don't just understand the hobby — we understand the business of collectibles and exactly how the IRS treats it.
PSA 2025 POKEMON M2 JP HERACROSS EX · #108
10
GEM MT
145357674
Pokémon TCG · PSA 10Gem Mint · Graded Collection
PSA 2025 ONE PIECE OP13 JP MONKEY D. LUFFY · #118
10
GEM MT
157824209
One Piece · Red Manga Alt ArtPSA 10 Gem Mint · SOLD
PSA DISNEY LORCANA COMING SOON
10
GEM MT
Disney Lorcana Coming Soon
DISNEY COLLECTIBLES
Disney · LorcanaPremium Collectibles
We speak collector fluently.
Most accountants treat collectibles like any other asset. We treat them like what they are — a passionate market with unique tax rules, platform income, inventory management considerations, and real money on the line.
Pokémon TCGOne PieceGraded CardsSports CardseBay Sellers
Hobby vs. Business Income
The IRS distinction changes everything. We help you qualify as a business so your expenses are deductible.
Cost Basis & Capital Gains
Know exactly what you paid. Proper tracking reduces your capital gains liability down the road.
"Jacob Siaosi assisted me beautifully. Thorough, patient, and clear."
Local Knowledge
State tax updates — what you need to know where you live.
Hawaii State Tax Overview
Hawaii features distinct rules that most mainland tax preparers miss entirely. The General Excise Tax (GET) applies to gross business income — not net profit — at 4% statewide plus a 0.5% surcharge on Oahu (4.5% total for most Honolulu businesses). Hawaii's filing deadline is April 20, not April 15, and the state offers its own set of deductions and credits for residents.
Top Income Tax Rate11%
GET Rate (Oahu)4.5%
State Filing DeadlineApril 20
Nevada State Tax Overview
Nevada has no personal income tax — a major advantage for business owners and high earners. However, businesses with gross revenue over $4 million per year may be subject to Nevada's Commerce Tax, and LLCs pay an annual state business license fee. For Hawaii residents who have income-producing activity in Nevada, residency and sourcing rules matter.
Personal Income TaxNone
Commerce Tax Threshold$4M+ gross revenue
LLC Annual Fee$200
Utah State Tax Overview
Utah uses a flat income tax rate, making tax planning predictable. The state also offers a pass-through entity tax (PTET) election that can help business owners work around the federal $10,000 SALT cap.
Flat Income Tax Rate4.55%
PTET ElectionAvailable
State Filing DeadlineApril 15
Arizona State Tax Overview
Arizona offers one of the most competitive flat-rate income tax structures in the country. Small businesses should be aware of Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) obligations, which function similarly to a sales tax but apply to the seller.
Flat Income Tax Rate2.5%
TPT (Sales Tax)Varies by city
State Filing DeadlineApril 15
California State Tax Overview
California has the highest top marginal income tax rate in the country. Franchise Tax Board (FTB) compliance is strict, and the state applies source-based taxation rules that can affect remote workers and equity compensation. Entity structuring is especially important here.
An IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally licensed tax professional authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. EAs have unlimited practice rights before the IRS — meaning they can represent any taxpayer for any tax matter, including examinations, collections, and appeals. It is the highest credential the IRS issues to non-attorneys. Both of our advisors, Robert Purcell and Jacob Siaosi, hold this credential.
Yes. Hawaii GET is a core part of our practice. Unlike a standard sales tax, Hawaii's General Excise Tax applies to gross business income — not just retail sales — and the rates vary by county (4% statewide, plus a 0.5% surcharge on Oahu). We help Hawaii business owners understand their GET obligations, set up proper accounting, and file accurately.
Tax preparation is filing your return — organizing what happened last year and reporting it accurately. Tax planning is working before the year ends to change what you'll owe: structuring income timing, maximizing deductions, adjusting entity elections, and setting up retirement contributions. Preparation looks backward; planning looks forward. RP Tax Service does both, with planning as the foundation of every client relationship.
The IRS generally requires records for at least 3 years from your filing date. Keep investment, property, and business records longer — we can advise on your specific situation.
Yes. We serve clients entirely online through our secure TaxDome client portal. Upload documents, sign returns electronically, and communicate securely from anywhere in Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, or California.
We prepare tax returns and provide advisory services for clients in Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California. Our office is in Honolulu, but we serve clients in all five states through our online portal.
Yes. As IRS Enrolled Agents, we represent clients before the IRS — negotiating Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, IRS examination representation, and back tax resolution.
Yes. We handle crypto tax reporting, cost basis tracking, capital gains strategy, DeFi income, NFT transactions, and 1099-K reconciliation for collectors and investors.
S-Corp election can reduce self-employment tax significantly — but it only makes sense once your net profit clears a certain threshold (typically around $40,000–$60,000 net), because the payroll and administrative costs have to be worth it. The right answer depends on your income level, business type, and how you're currently structured. This is one of the first things we look at in a discovery call.
If you were married by December 31st of the tax year, the IRS considers you married for the entire year. You have two options: Married Filing Jointly or Married Filing Separately. Joint filing is usually more favorable, but there are specific situations — such as certain income-based repayment plans, separated finances, or liability concerns — where filing separately is worth analyzing. We help you run both scenarios.
Not necessarily. The IRS allows you to exclude up to $250,000 in gains ($500,000 for married couples) on the sale of your primary residence — if you've lived there for at least 2 of the last 5 years. Improvements you've made to the home also increase your cost basis and reduce taxable gain. If you're thinking about selling, a pre-sale conversation with us can clarify exactly what you'll owe (or not owe).
The Augusta Rule (IRC Section 280A) allows homeowners to rent their home for up to 14 days per year without reporting that income. Business owners who also use their home for legitimate business meetings can pay themselves rent — which is deductible to the business and tax-free to you personally. It requires proper documentation and a fair market rate to hold up. We can set this up correctly so you capture the benefit without the risk.
Self-employed individuals and business owners generally need to pay estimated taxes four times per year to avoid IRS underpayment penalties. For federal payments, use the IRS Electronic Federal Tax Payment System at eftps.gov. For Hawaii state payments, use Hawaii Tax Online at hitax.hawaii.gov. We help clients calculate the right amounts and set up reminders so you're never caught off guard.
For a personal residence, home improvements are generally not deductible in the year you pay for them. However, they increase your cost basis in the home — which reduces the taxable gain when you eventually sell. If you operate a business from home or rent part of your property, a portion of renovation costs may be deductible or depreciable. The answer varies by your situation.
Yes — if it's used for legitimate business purposes. You can deduct using either the standard mileage rate or actual expenses (gas, insurance, depreciation, repairs). Business owners who purchase vehicles for their business may also qualify for Section 179 or bonus depreciation to deduct a large portion of the cost in Year 1. Proper mileage logs are essential to substantiate the deduction.
For individuals: W-2s, 1099s, last year's return, mortgage interest statements (1098), and any notices from the IRS or state. For business owners: the above plus a profit & loss summary, any 1099s you issued, vehicle mileage logs, and home office details if applicable. We have a full documents checklist on the Documents Needed page →
Visit Our Office
Free parking available. We know downtown Honolulu.
Parking in Honolulu can be a headache — so we made sure it isn't one when you visit us. We have free client parking available at our McCully Street location.
FREE PARKING
P
Free Client Parking On-Site
Complimentary parking is available for all clients visiting our office. No meters, no pay lots, no stress.
930 McCully Street, Suite 203
Honolulu, HI 96826. We're located on McCully Street, convenient to the H-1 freeway and accessible from most parts of Oahu.
Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: By appointment only Prefer to work online? Our TaxDome portal is open 24/7.
Or Work With Us Remotely
Many clients across Hawaii and the mainland never come in at all — upload documents, sign returns, and communicate through our secure client portal.
930 McCully Street, Suite 203 · Honolulu, HI 96826
Ready to work with a Honolulu tax preparer who plans ahead?
Looking for a tax preparer near you or an accountant near you in Honolulu? RP Tax Service provides individual tax preparation, small business income tax preparation, and tax preparation for self-employed professionals — in office or fully online.
