Tax + wealth planning for founders.
R&D credit, QSBS, S-Corp election, Roth ladders, and asset location — all under one CPA + RIA firm. Year-round, not just April.
The pains we hear from people like you.
Your CPA only sees you in April.
Most CPAs touch your situation 90 days a year. The other 275 days, you make tax-relevant decisions — RSU vests, S-Corp draws, R&D spend, fundraising rounds — with no advisor in the loop.
QSBS is the most-missed founder benefit.
Up to $10M (or 10× basis) of federal capital gain may be excluded if you hold for 5 years. Most founders miss the 30-day Section 83(b) deadline that starts the QSBS clock at grant. Most early employees don't know they have QSBS at all.
R&D credit is misunderstood and underclaimed.
OBBBA raised the payroll-tax offset to $500K for early-stage companies (under 5 years, under $5M GR). If you write software, build product, or run experiments, the credit may apply — and you don't need profitability to use it.
Wealth + tax shouldn't be two separate firms.
Your CPA doesn't know your portfolio. Your advisor doesn't model your tax bill. Strategies fall through the seams. Vega is one firm — CPA + IAR — so asset location, Roth ladders, and gain budgeting are coordinated.
Strategies we may apply.
Every Vega Strategy Map is range-bound — your specific facts determine the actual impact. CPA + IAR review every strategy before it reaches you.
R&D Tax Credit (Section 41)
Documented sprints + git history + payroll attribution. Federal + state credits stack. Payroll-tax offset up to $500K for early-stage.
Learn the termQSBS qualification (Section 1202)
Up to $10M or 10× basis excluded from federal cap gains tax on sale. C-Corp + 5-year hold + active-business + under-$50M-assets-at-issuance required.
Learn the termS-Corp election
Convert net profit above reasonable salary into distributions that may avoid the 15.3% SE tax. Worth modeling once net profit clears $75K.
Learn the termSection 83(b) election (30-day deadline)
Lock in low taxable value at grant rather than vest. Starts the QSBS holding clock. Missing the deadline costs founders millions in aggregate every year.
Learn the termSolo 401(k) + mega-backdoor Roth
High-contribution retirement plan for owner-only businesses. Combined with a mega-backdoor strategy, may move $60K+/year into tax-advantaged accounts.
Learn the termSection 199A QBI deduction
Up to 20% deduction on pass-through income. Subject to SSTB rules and income thresholds. Most non-service founder businesses qualify.
Learn the termFrequently asked
Do I need both a CPA and a wealth advisor as a founder?▾
Most founders end up with both, often at separate firms. The seams cause missed strategies — your CPA doesn't see your portfolio, your advisor doesn't model your tax bill. Vega operates as both a CPA (Vega Tax PA) and a Registered Investment Adviser (Vega Wealth LLC) under one brand, so coordination is the default rather than the exception.
When should I claim the R&D Tax Credit?▾
If you write software, build product, run experiments with technical uncertainty, or do hardware engineering, you likely qualify for at least some R&D credit. The credit may offset federal income tax (or payroll tax up to $500K for companies under 5 years old with under $5M in gross receipts under the OBBBA expansion). You can claim it on the current return and also amend the prior 3 years if you missed it.
What is QSBS and do I qualify?▾
Qualified Small Business Stock (Section 1202) may exclude up to $10M (or 10× original basis) of federal capital gain on the sale of qualifying C-Corp stock held 5+ years. You qualify if: the stock is C-Corp (not LLC or S-Corp), acquired at original issuance, the company had under $50M in aggregate assets at issuance, and it's an active business (most professional services excluded). Many founders + early employees miss this — check before any sale.
When should I make an S-Corp election?▾
Rule of thumb: when net profit consistently exceeds ~$75K and the business has a stable revenue profile. Below $50K, the operational overhead (payroll, separate return, state minimums) tends to eat the savings. We model the exact breakeven for your situation including state-level fees.
What does pricing look like?▾
Vega is a flat subscription + a tiered AUM fee above a threshold for the wealth side. Specific schedule is disclosed in your engagement letter. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Get a Free Tax Strategy Map for founders.
Upload your prior return + 5 quick questions. We email a one-page Tax Strategy Map. Reviewed and ratified by a licensed CPA. Free.
Create accountCPA + IAR reviewed. Range-bound. No hourly billing.