Tax Planning & Preparation for Florida Retirees
Blue Heron CPAs is a Florida CPA firm focused on tax preparation and tax planning for retirees and people approaching retirement. We help you understand the tax impact of financial decisions before they become permanent. We serve clients virtually throughout Florida, with limited in-person availability in Central Florida.
Retirement Tax Help, Before and After You File
In retirement, taxes are about more than filing an annual return. When you take withdrawals, whether you convert to a Roth, and when you sell investments can change what you owe, and even your Medicare premiums, for years. We prepare your return accurately and help you evaluate the tax consequences of these decisions before you make them.
Retiree Tax Preparation
CPA-prepared federal returns for retirees with Social Security, IRA and 401(k) distributions, pensions, annuities, and investment income.
Retirement Tax Planning
Multi-year planning for Roth conversions, RMDs, Medicare IRMAA, capital gains, and estimated payments.
Moving to Florida
Part-year returns, prior-state filings, the sale of a former home, and establishing Florida residency.
A CPA Firm, Not a Financial Planner
Tax preparation and planning for retirees. No investment sales, no asset management, just CPA tax guidance.
Tax Issues We Help Retirees Manage
Federal tax decisions in retirement can affect your return, your Medicare premiums, and the timing of future withdrawals. These are the issues we help you understand and plan around.
Social Security, IRA Withdrawals, and RMDs
How much of your benefit is taxable, how IRA distributions fit into your tax brackets, and how required minimum distributions can change future tax years.
Roth Conversions, Pensions, and Investment Income
Whether, when, and how much to convert; accurate 1099-R reporting and withholding; and dividends, interest, capital gains, and cost basis from taxable accounts.
Capital Gains, QCDs, and Estimated Payments
Timing sales, harvesting gains or losses, giving from your IRA without raising taxable income, and choosing withholding or quarterly payments to avoid penalties.
Medicare IRMAA, Retirement Transitions, and Florida Moves
How this year's income sets Medicare premiums two years out, the gap years between the last paycheck and RMDs, and residency or part-year returns after moving to Florida.
Meet Your CPAs
Blue Heron CPAs PLLC — Florida CPA Firm License No.
AD71274
Florida License No. AC57064
Nathan Gauger, CPA
Nathan Gauger, CPA (Florida License No. AC57064), leads Blue Heron CPAs' retirement tax practice. He prepares federal tax returns and builds multi-year tax plans for retirees and pre-retirees throughout Florida, with a focus on Roth conversions, RMDs, Medicare IRMAA, Social Security taxation, QCDs, and investment income. Nathan writes the firm's Insights articles on these topics. Before focusing on retirement taxation, he worked as a CFO consultant and built financial dashboards used by Fortune 500 companies. That analytical background shapes how he models tax decisions across multiple years.
Florida License No. AC61183
Kentucky License No. 14118
Leah Lewis, CPA
Leah Lewis, CPA (Florida License No. AC61183; Kentucky License No. 14118), works with Blue Heron CPAs' retiree clients on tax preparation and review of retirement returns, including Social Security, 1099-R income, RMDs, and investment income. Leah is known for her attention to detail and plain-language explanations. She spent more than eight years in audit with KPMG, BDO, Grant Thornton, and Ernst & Young, leading engagements for Fortune 500 and private companies.
Blue Heron CPAs PLLC is a licensed Florida CPA firm. Nathan Gauger, CPA is licensed in Florida. Leah Lewis, CPA is licensed in Florida and Kentucky. License status may be independently verified through CPAverify or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Work With Us From Anywhere in Florida
Our process is virtual by design, so retirees anywhere in Florida get the same CPA attention as a client across the street.
- Secure client portal for uploading and exchanging documents
- Video meetings with your CPA
- Electronic signatures
- Secure delivery of your completed return
- Direct, ongoing communication with our CPA team
What Our Clients Say
Leah and Nathan have an abundance of knowledge when it comes to helping with your taxes and finances. They have been able to explain and help me understand many topics that I previously didn't as well as many that I was completely unaware of. Working with them has been an eye opening experience when it comes to how little the general public knows about their taxes. They are extremely focused on educating and not just providing a service!
Taxes have always been the worst part about running my business. Blue Heron has really changed the way that I look at my taxes, both business and personal. Very quick and efficient and always happy to explain when you have questions. I'd highly recommend!
I used Blue Heron CPA's this tax season for both personal, business and also for the lovely letter from the IRS for a previous tax season. Everything was taken care of in a timely manner and very professionally. When things were confusing to me they were explained in a manner in which I then understood. They took their time to make sure I was comfortable and understood before moving on. I would highly recommend Blue Heron CPA's.
