Under the leadership of Richard Nolan, our firm is built on five commitments that shape how we serve every client — from individual filers to small business owners across Southern California.
These aren’t just words on a wall — they’re the standards we hold ourselves to with every client, every return, every recommendation.
Tax preparation is not a commodity — it is a discipline that demands precision, current knowledge, and rigorous review. At San Diego Tax Associates, quality means every return we prepare reflects a thorough understanding of your complete financial picture. Our Enrolled Agents hold a federally-authorized credential that requires ongoing education and examination by the IRS, ensuring the strategies we apply are grounded in current tax law rather than last year’s assumptions.
We invest in quality at every stage: from the initial document review to the final filing, every return passes through multiple checkpoints. Whether we are calculating depreciation schedules for a rental property owner or structuring estimated payments for a small business, the standard is the same. We prepare your return as if the IRS were reviewing it tomorrow — because accuracy today prevents problems down the road.
Everything we do starts with understanding our clients inside and out. It’s the key to providing creative, forward-looking advice and building long-term relationships. We listen, we get to know you, and then we provide advice specific to your needs. This is not a volume practice where returns are processed on an assembly line — it is a relationship-driven firm where Richard Nolan and his team work directly with every client.
Service means being available when you need us, not just during tax season. It means proactive communication when tax law changes affect your situation, when quarterly estimated payments are coming due, or when a financial decision you are considering has tax implications you may not have anticipated. From strategic tax planning to meticulous tax preparation, we stand ready to minimize your liabilities and maximize your returns — and we do it on your timeline, not ours.
The difference between a good tax return and a great one lives in the details. A transposed Social Security number can delay a refund by weeks. A missed depreciation election on a rental property can cost thousands over time. An overlooked energy credit on a San Diego home with solar panels leaves real money on the table. We treat every data point as if it matters — because it does.
Our detail-oriented approach extends beyond the return itself. We review prior-year filings for missed opportunities, cross-reference every 1099 and W-2 against IRS records to prevent CP2000 notices, and evaluate whether itemizing or taking the standard deduction produces the better outcome for your specific situation each year. In a tax code that spans thousands of pages, it is the practitioners who read the footnotes who save their clients the most.
We believe in a tax-efficient approach to investment, crafting strategies that not only meet your financial goals but also complement your tax planning. With no allegiance to sales quotas or proprietary products, our advice is always in your best interest. This independence is fundamental to who we are. As Enrolled Agents, we understand tax law and the tax consequences of investing — and that perspective sets us apart from brokers, insurance agents, and other financial professionals who may not carry the same obligation to your bottom line.
Integrity also means telling you what you need to hear, not just what is easy to say. If a tax strategy carries risk, we will explain it. If a financial product does not make sense for your situation, we will tell you so. We emphasize trust and transparency to foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. Richard Nolan built this firm on the conviction that clients who trust their advisor make better financial decisions — and that trust has to be earned through honest counsel, year after year.
A first-time homebuyer in Carlsbad has different tax considerations than a small business owner with rental properties in multiple states. A newly married couple filing jointly for the first time faces different decisions than an individual approaching retirement. We do not apply templates — we build strategies around the details of your life. From entity selection for business owners to cost segregation analysis for property investors, every recommendation is tailored to your circumstances.
Our personalized approach is why our clients span a range from straightforward individual returns to complex situations involving businesses, estates, and trusts. Whether you need our Essential plan for a clean W-2 filing or our Elite plan for comprehensive multi-entity planning, the commitment is the same: understand your situation completely, then design a strategy that minimizes your tax liability while positioning you for the future. It is the promise we make to every client we serve.
Navigating your financial future with expertise and integrity. Discover personalized tax solutions and investment strategies tailored for you.
.svg){kind=icon}