Areas served: Palo Alto, CA and surrounding Santa Clara County
Palo Alto's accounting and tax landscape reflects the city's position as a global technology hub, with many firms specializing in startup equity compensation, venture-backed company audits, and stock option tax strategies. The concentration of high-net-worth individuals and pre-IPO employees creates demand for sophisticated tax planning services addressing alternative minimum tax, qualified small business stock, and multi-state filing requirements. Local CPAs frequently work alongside attorneys and financial advisors to navigate complex scenarios involving RSUs, ISOs, and 83(b) elections that are common among Silicon Valley professionals.
Bing Luo CPA is a fully remote accounting firm based in South San Francisco, serving small businesses and individuals nationwide. Bing Luo is a certified public accountant specializing in tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping, and strategic business consulting. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, the firm provides personalized accounting solutions with a focus on helping businesses grow and minimize tax liability through proactive planning.
“This was our first year working with Bing and it was a great decision. We usually do our own taxes with TurboTax, but this year things got more complicated. We started there again and quickly realized we were in over our heads. Bing made everything simple. She told us exactly what she needed, took care of the details, and made the whole process way less stressful. In the end, we owed about $1,500 less than what TurboTax was showing. She also really knows her stuff when it comes to multi-state taxes, which was a big help and not something every tax preparer is comfortable handling.”
— Jeff James, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 49 reviewsLiberty Tax at 108 El Camino Real in San Carlos, CA is a full-service tax preparation office serving individuals and businesses throughout the San Mateo Peninsula. The team specializes in personal tax returns, business tax services, and year-round tax planning. With a 4.9-star rating from 146+ Google reviews, they're known for personalized service and maximizing refunds for Bay Area taxpayers.
“Rachel is amazing. She’s been doing my taxes for over 10 years and never lets me down. She is Amazing.”
— Project Born, Google Review · 4.9 ★ avg from 146 reviewsBhuiyan & Associates, CPA is a full-service certified public accounting firm in Santa Clara, CA, serving Silicon Valley's high-tech community, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Led by experienced CPAs with deep expertise in stock options, international tax preparation, and real estate tax planning, the firm offers comprehensive accounting, bookkeeping, tax services, and strategic financial planning. With a 4.7-star rating from 87 Google reviews, they're known for precision, responsiveness, and helping clients maximize returns while navigating complex tax scenarios unique to the tech industry and Silicon Valley entrepreneurship.
“Mohammed's expertly handles taxes, accounting, and challenging financial situations. He is both methodical and deeply knowledgeable in his field, plus has a Welcoming personality, —highly recommended!”
— G, Google Review · 4.7 ★ avg from 87 reviewsFinloTax is a Sunnyvale-based accounting firm specializing in comprehensive tax, bookkeeping, and CFO services for startups and small businesses across California. Led by a team of experienced enrolled agents and tax specialists with over 15 years of experience, they provide everything from startup incorporation and bookkeeping to tax planning, R&D tax credits, and international compliance (FBAR, FATCA). Known for their weekly 'Tax Thursdays' live strategy sessions and personalized approach, they've served 1,000+ clients with a perfect 5-star rating from 114 Google reviews.
“I've been using their services for the last 2 years and have been more than satisfied with their professionalism. Sudhakar and Prachi have very patiently answered all my tax related questions and have helped me with my tax prep very effectively. They are prompt in their communication, proactive in their timelines and knowledgeable in their craft. I'd recommend their services to anyone looking for tax advice.”
— Rishav Anand, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 114 reviewsAmerica Express Income Tax is a full-service accounting and tax preparation firm located in Menlo Park, CA, serving individuals and small businesses throughout the Bay Area. With a perfect 5-star rating from 36 Google reviews, they specialize in individual tax returns, small business tax preparation, tax planning strategies, and IRS representation. Known for personalized service and year-round availability, they offer evening and weekend appointments to accommodate busy Silicon Valley professionals and entrepreneurs.
“Our first time doing our taxes here and from the moment we walked in we were greeted and welcomed in. We had an appointment so there was no wait time. Rosalba helped us file and he was very transparent and explained everything he was doing step by step. We will definitely recommend him and come back again. Smooth from the beginning and very friendly.”
— SusyandRob Rueda, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 36 reviewsVik Randhawa, CPA is a licensed CPA firm in Newark, California, run by Vikram Randhawa, a certified public accountant specializing in tax preparation, financial planning, and business accounting services. The firm serves individuals, business owners, executives, and independent professionals across the Bay Area with personalized tax strategy, bookkeeping, QuickBooks consulting, and IRS problem resolution. With a 4.9-star rating and a reputation for responsive service and proactive tax guidance, Vik Randhawa, CPA helps clients in Newark, Fremont, Union City, Hayward, and Milpitas navigate complex tax laws, maximize deductions, and achieve long-term financial stability.
“We recently started working with Vik Randhawa CPA firm for our startup's accounting and tax needs, and have had an amazing experience so far. With their responsiveness, exceptional knowledge, and proactive guidance, our financial processes are being effectively handled with care. We're confident that with their continued support, we are building a sturdy foundation for true long-term growth. Thanks to Vik and his team there has already been an abundance of effective consulting regarding bookkeeping and addressing financial decisions in great detail, even within a short amount of time!”
— Sequoia Wireless, Google Review · 4.9 ★ avg from 58 reviewsElliott Tax Service is a local tax preparation and accounting firm serving San Mateo and the Peninsula for over 18 years. Run by thoroughly trained tax professionals with deep expertise in federal and state tax law, they specialize in maximizing deductions for individuals and small businesses through itemized expense analysis. They offer a money-back accuracy guarantee and provide personalized service in their downtown San Mateo office, with evening hours Monday through Friday to accommodate working clients.
“I had a great experience working with Ms. Giovana; she prepared and filed the returns with exceptional accuracy. On top of that, their fees were very affordable, offering great value for such professional service. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for reliable and cost-effective tax assistance.”
— Peyman Kh, Google Review · 4.8 ★ avg from 109 reviewsParamount Tax & Accounting Silicon Valley Central is a full-service tax and accounting firm in Campbell, CA, staffed by licensed tax professionals. They specialize in personal and business tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services, and corporate tax planning for individuals, small businesses, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations throughout the San Jose/Campbell area. With a 4.8-star rating from 89 reviews, they offer both in-person and virtual consultations, plus $1 million tax audit defense coverage through Protection Plus.
“Elayne was/is amazing! She has done our taxes and is our Accounting touch point for the past 3 years. I would totally recommend her for anyone interested in quality accounting.”
— Jesus Miramontes, Google Review · 4.8 ★ avg from 88 reviewsJulia Brown CPA is a San Jose accounting firm led by Julia Brown, a licensed Certified Public Accountant serving individuals, small businesses, and international clients. The practice specializes in stock option taxation (ESPP, ISO, RSU), self-employment tax planning, rental property strategies including 1031 exchanges, expat tax compliance, nonprofit organization returns, and IRS/FTB representation. Fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hakka, the firm serves the greater San Jose and Silicon Valley area with personalized attention and guaranteed 24-hour response times.
“I would like to share my overall positive experience with Julia Brown who has been reliably preparing my tax returns over multiple years. Julia is great and easy to work with. She follows clear processes and expresses exact requests from her side to fulfill her specific tax tasks. She always offers very quick communication respectively feedback on any client questions. The tax documents are prepared at high precision and with on-time delivery. To summarize I can more than recommend Julia as a highly professional CPA who offers trustful and reliable services. Her professional way of work and communication has never left any complaints from my side. I am very thankful for knowing her and benefiting from her in-depth tax expertise over several years.”
— Bernhard Büttgen, Google Review · 4.8 ★ avg from 50 reviewsKhob Tax Services Inc is a full-service accounting firm in Fremont, CA, led by enrolled agents and tax professionals with over 20 years of experience. They specialize in individual and business tax preparation, IRS representation, bookkeeping, and small business consulting for clients across the East Bay. Known for personalized service and year-round support, they serve individuals, families, and small to mid-sized businesses in Fremont, Newark, Union City, and surrounding communities.
Keystone Tax LLC is a full-service tax and accounting firm in Sunnyvale, CA, founded and led by Ellen Domorad, EA (Enrolled Agent). The firm specializes in tax preparation, tax planning, IRS representation, and small business accounting for individuals and businesses throughout Silicon Valley. With a 4.8-star rating from 35+ reviews, Keystone Tax serves clients in Sunnyvale, San Jose, Mountain View, and Cupertino with personalized solutions for complex tax situations, business formation, QuickBooks support, and payroll services.
“Year after year Ellen has made tax season a dream for me. As my previous year's reviews have also attested, intelligent, professional, prompt and accurate work--and, always, kindness--is her way. Ellen Domorad is the best!”
— Marilyn Gottlieb-Roberts, Google Review · 4.8 ★ avg from 35 reviewsBains Financial Services is a Palo Alto-based CPA firm offering expert tax preparation, strategic tax planning, and bookkeeping services for franchises, small businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and real estate ventures. With generations of experience and a team of certified tax professionals, they combine cutting-edge technology with personalized service to maximize tax savings and ensure compliance. Serving the SF Bay Area with 100% virtual capabilities, they maintain a 5-star Google rating from clients who value their clear communication and expedited timelines.
“As someone juggling several businesses, I wanted a CPA who felt less like a vendor and more like a teammate—and Yash at Bains Financial Services is exactly that. He’s always just a call or email away, patiently walking me through every accounting and tax option before making a suggestion. It’s like having a friendly financial coach who really cares about my growth. He's provided some great tax strategies and works on tax planning with me so I'm not surprised by the tax bill. Thanks to Yash, I’ve never felt more confident about my taxes and bookkeeping. I'd highly recommend them if you are in need of a good CPA for your business.”
— Zoey Potter, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 15 reviewsSanjiv Gupta CPA serves the Indian American community in Fremont, CA with personal and business tax services, foreign income reporting, and high-income tax planning. Led by Sanjiv Gupta, a CPA with over 20 years of experience helping NRIs navigate US tax compliance, the firm specializes in FBAR reporting, multi-country asset disclosure, and tax-saving strategies for small business owners. Rated 4.6 stars on Google with 193 reviews, the practice offers in-person consultations at three Bay Area locations or remote appointments worldwide.
“I had an excellent experience with my CPA, Sanjiv Gupta. He clearly explained the tax implications of relocating to India and how I could have better strategized my trades. His advice was honest, genuine, and truly focused on my best interests. He also helped me understand that, given my current tax situation, staying in the U.S. may not be the most beneficial option. I really appreciate his clarity, transparency, and professionalism — highly recommended!”
— Krishna Krishna, Google Review · 4.6 ★ avg from 193 reviewsJB Bookkeeping & Taxes is a full-service accounting firm in San Bruno, CA, run by Jasmine Bañuelos, an Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Coach. They specialize in individual and business tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services, and proactive tax planning strategies. Known for personalized service and year-round availability, they serve individuals, small businesses, and self-employed professionals throughout the Bay Area with a focus on maximizing deductions and minimizing tax liability.
KPGCPA Financial Services Inc. is a licensed California CPA firm led by Koshy P. George, specializing in tax preparation, business advisory, and IRS problem resolution for individuals and businesses in San Jose. With a team of CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax professionals, they provide personalized, efficient, and affordable accounting services, including QuickBooks consulting and year-round tax planning. Rated 4.6 stars on Google, they serve small business owners, executives, and independent professionals throughout the South Bay.
Kifer CPA is a full-service accounting firm in Sunnyvale, California, led by experienced CPAs specializing in tax planning, business advisory, and accounting services for high-net-worth individuals, small to mid-size businesses, and multinational companies in the Asia-Pacific region. The firm provides bilingual service in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese, offering personalized tax strategies and year-round financial guidance to clients throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
CL Tax & Accounting Service is a full-service accounting firm in Fremont, CA, staffed by enrolled agents (EAs), CPAs, and Certified Acceptance Agents (CAAs). They specialize in business tax preparation for corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships, along with ITIN services, corporation registration, bookkeeping, payroll, and notary services. Known for proactive tax planning strategies that maximize after-tax income, they serve the Fremont and surrounding Bay Area communities with affordable pricing and quick E-file refunds.
Sunshine Pro Accounting & Tax is a full-service CPA firm in San Mateo, CA specializing in small business accounting, tax preparation, and QuickBooks services. With a 4.9-star rating from 22+ Google reviews, they serve business owners, executives, and independent professionals throughout San Mateo County with personalized financial guidance, payroll services, and year-round tax planning.
“I’ve entrusted my tax filing with Sunshine Pro for the past four years. Filing taxes is never fun, but Amanda and Silas make it as painless as possible. They are very organized and their filing app makes uploading documents quick and easy. Amanda and Silas are experts at tax code and no matter if your tax situation is simple or complex, they get it right. Top quality and very affordable compared to the big name tax services. Give Sunshine Pro Accounting and Tax a try; you’ll won’t go anywhere else!”
— Robert, Google Review · 4.9 ★ avg from 22 reviewsRaymond Young CPA is a full-service accounting firm in Fremont, CA, serving business owners, executives, and individuals with tax preparation, business accounting, QuickBooks support, and IRS problem resolution. Led by Raymond Young, a California-licensed CPA, the firm specializes in small business CFO services, tax planning, and helping clients maximize deductions while staying compliant. Known for their affordable, experienced, and client-focused approach, they hold a 4.8-star rating and serve the East Bay community.
“Raymond is amazing. He’s always on top of everything. He really helped me get out of IRS situation. And helped me get back on track. He always prepares my taxes and finances timely. He’s trustworthy and really cares. I recommend his to everyone. So glad to have found this CPA and his team.”
— Brian Nguyen, Google Review · 4.8 ★ avg from 12 reviewsSanjay Taxpro is a full-service tax and accounting firm in Milpitas, CA, led by Sanjay Muppaneni, an IRS Enrolled Agent (EA), AICPA member, and IRS Certified Acceptance Agent with over 16 years of experience. The firm specializes in personal and business tax filing, ITIN processing, tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll services, and LLC formation, serving individuals, small businesses, and corporations with a particular focus on immigrant tax needs. With over 10,000 satisfied clients and a 4.4-star rating from 858+ Google reviews, Sanjay Taxpro offers extended evening and weekend hours for maximum convenience.
Jing Zhang CPA is a certified public accounting firm in Cupertino, CA, serving individuals and businesses in Silicon Valley. Led by CPA Jing Zhang, the practice specializes in tax preparation, business accounting, and financial consulting for tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. With a perfect 5.0-star rating, Jing Zhang CPA provides personalized service and deep expertise in navigating complex tax situations common in the Bay Area.
“Jing Zhang CPA is an exceptional professional. She is highly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and always goes the extra mile to ensure everything is accurate and compliant. Her dedication to her clients truly stands out — she responds promptly, explains complex tax matters in a clear way, and makes the whole process smooth and stress-free. On top of her professionalism, she is also incredibly patient and friendly, making every interaction a pleasant experience. I truly appreciate her outstanding service and would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a reliable and trustworthy CPA.”
— Billy Feng, Google Review · 5 ★ avg from 6 reviewsSilicon Valley CPA Firm in Cupertino, CA specializes in accounting, tax preparation, and financial advisory services for high-tech companies, startups, and individuals in the Bay Area. Their experienced team provides comprehensive tax planning, forensic accounting, part-time CFO services, QuickBooks implementation, and cryptocurrency accounting. With a 4.5-star rating and extended weekday hours (8 AM–7 PM), they serve tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses across healthcare, legal, and construction industries throughout Silicon Valley.
FinloTax is the top-ranked accounting firm in the Palo Alto area with a Lantern Score of 84.80/100 and a perfect 5-star rating based on 114 reviews. They specialize in serving tech startup founders, small business owners, and self-employed individuals with integrated bookkeeping, tax preparation, and CFO services.
FinloTax (Lantern Score: 84.80) and Bhuiyan & Associates, CPA (Lantern Score: 79.51) are excellent choices for tech professionals. FinloTax specializes in serving tech startup founders with tax optimization and payroll compliance, while Bhuiyan & Associates serves Silicon Valley's high-tech companies and stock option holders.
Multiple top-ranked firms serve self-employed professionals, including Bing Luo CPA (Lantern Score: 83.47), Liberty Tax (Lantern Score: 83.34), and America Express Income Tax (Lantern Score: 82.70). These firms offer personalized tax planning, bookkeeping, and comprehensive tax preparation services tailored to freelancers and independent contractors.
Vik Randhawa, CPA (Lantern Score: 82.21, 4.9 stars) specializes in serving property sellers and real estate investors with comprehensive tax preparation and financial planning. Bains Financial Services (Lantern Score: 79.34), located in Palo Alto itself, also specializes in real estate investors and high-net-worth individuals.
Bains Financial Services is a Palo Alto-based CPA firm with a Lantern Score of 79.34/100 and a perfect 5-star rating. They specialize in tax preparation, strategic tax planning, and bookkeeping for small business owners, franchise owners, and real estate investors.
Bing Luo CPA (Lantern Score: 83.47, 5 stars) is a fully remote accounting firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area that serves clients nationwide. They specialize in personal and business tax preparation with personalized service for small business owners and self-employed individuals.