Accounting & Tax Services

What Accounting & Tax Services does

Accounting & Tax Services (ATS) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1982 and headquartered in Tukwila, Washington, with two additional offices in Maple Valley and Federal Way. The firm serves small businesses and individuals/families in the greater Seattle metropolitan area with an integrated suite of accounting, tax preparation, and financial advisory services. Core offerings include bookkeeping, payroll oversight, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor consulting, and tax preparation across individual (Form 1040), corporate (1120/1120S), partnership (1065), fiduciary (1041), estate (706), and gift (709) returns, complemented by small business consulting covering entity selection, real estate transactions, and business sales/purchases.

The firm's technology stack is built on third-party professional services platforms rather than proprietary systems: QuickBooks (Desktop and Online) for client bookkeeping, SmartVault for the secure client document portal, and the Avantax/Cetera Wealth Services platform for brokerage and investment advisory delivery. Financial advisory services — investment management, retirement planning, education planning, legacy planning, business planning, cash flow and debt management, family risk management, and special situations planning — are offered through registered investment adviser representatives affiliated with Cetera Wealth Services LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, which collectively support 3,000+ financial professionals and approximately $107 billion in assets under administration across all 50 states.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees (tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll oversight, consulting) and recurring/advisory fees on investment management and brokerage activity routed through the Cetera network. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and client acquisition is driven by personal referrals, professional networks, and direct outreach across the three regional offices, supplemented by a content marketing resource center and FINRA BrokerCheck trust signals. ATS operates as an independent practice within the Cetera ecosystem with no external private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

Accounting & Tax Services

Legal name

Accounting & Tax Services

Website

https://atstax.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accounting & Tax Services is a privately held, family-owned CPA and financial advisory firm founded in 1982, serving small businesses and individuals across the greater Seattle metro through three offices with integrated tax, bookkeeping, QuickBooks consulting, and wealth management via the Avantax/Cetera network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Tax Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412), Payroll Services (541214), Tax Preparation Services (541213), Other Accounting Services (541219)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Tax Advisory & Compliance (BPAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll & Employment Tax Services (BPAHABAD), Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

Keywords

• Tax preparation services
• Small business accounting
• Financial planning advisory
• Bookkeeping services
• Payroll processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tukwila

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Tax Preparation & Accounting Services: Professional services revenue from tax preparation for individuals and businesses (Form 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709) and comprehensive accounting services including bookkeeping, payroll processing, and QuickBooks consulting.
2. Financial Advisory & Investment Management: Investment adviser representative services offered through Cetera Wealth Services and Cetera Investment Advisers. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Revenue includes advisory fees and/or brokerage commissions based on the services provided.
3. Payroll Services: Partnered payroll service model where ATS provides month-end oversight and coordinates with third-party payroll providers. Revenue from payroll oversight and related accounting entries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Accounting & Tax Services (ATS) is a regional professional services firm providing an integrated suite of accounting, tax preparation, and financial advisory services to small businesses and individuals in the greater Seattle area. Its core offerings include bookkeeping, payroll services, QuickBooks consulting, tax preparation across multiple entity types (1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709), and wealth management services delivered through the Avantax/Cetera network. Services are delivered by CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and licensed investment adviser representatives across three Washington state offices.

Product overview

Accounting & Tax Services (ATS) operates as a financial services firm offering an integrated suite of accounting, tax preparation, and wealth management services. The core offering combines bookkeeping, payroll services, QuickBooks consulting, and tax preparation services (Forms 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 706, 709) with comprehensive financial planning services including investment management, retirement planning, education planning, legacy planning, business planning, cash flow/debt management, and family risk management. Services are delivered through client portals (SmartVault integration) and an affiliated network (Avantax/Cetera) supporting over 3,000 financial professionals. The firm also provides QuickBooks consulting for both Desktop and Online versions, and maintains partnerships with third-party payroll providers. Free client portals are included with bookkeeping services for document exchange.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bookkeeping Services Comprehensive accounting services for small businesses including monthly/quarterly financial statements, sales and disbursement ledgers, internal accounting reports, tax reports, bank reconciliations, and state/federal tax account applications. Free client portals are included.
• Payroll Services Payroll processing with oversight and coordination with third-party payroll service providers, month-end reconciliation, and bookkeeping entries for small businesses.
• QuickBooks Consulting Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor services including setup, initial training, monthly/quarterly review and maintenance for QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online. Services include data entry, bank reconciliation, payroll processing, tax filing, and 1099s.
• Small Business Consulting Business consulting including tax planning, business entity selection and formation, real estate investment transactions, business sales/purchases, estate planning, and asset protection strategies.
• Tax Preparation Services Professional tax preparation for individuals, corporations, S-Corporations, partnerships/LLCs, trusts and estates, and gift taxes. All state income tax returns prepared with client portals and paperless filing options.
• Investment Management Professional investment management and guidance to help clients pursue their investment goals with personalized strategies aligned with individual financial situations.
• Cash Flow and Debt Management Cash flow analysis and debt management services to provide clear picture of income and expenses, helping clients make informed decisions about their financial health.
• Family Risk Management Risk management planning covering disability, death, and long-term care contingencies to protect families from unexpected financial consequences.
• Retirement Planning Retirement planning services addressing longevity concerns, income strategies, and establishing vision for retirement goals.
• Education Planning Education planning for college with guidance on financial aid implications, income considerations, and gift/estate tax situations for 529 plans.
• Legacy Planning Legacy planning ensuring intended asset distribution at death, reducing government intervention and tax burden on beneficiaries.
• Business Planning Business planning addressing cash flow management, retirement savings vehicles, and business protection from financial loss.
• Special Situations Planning Planning for unexpected and expected life needs including weddings, vacations, second homes, and unforeseen expenses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client portals enabling simple and effortless document exchange
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AvantaxcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Avantax is a distinct community within Cetera Wealth Services LLC. Founded in 1983, Avantax provides tax-intelligent financial planning tools and platforms. HD Vest and 1st Global unified to form Avantax in 2019, with HK Financial Services added via acquisition in 2020. Avantax is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cetera Holdings (Aretec Group, Inc.).
• SmartVaultsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSmartVault provides the secure client portal used by ATS clients for accounting document exchange and access. Clients log in via the Accounting SmartVault Login portal.
• Third-Party Payroll Service ProviderssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorATS has partnered with several payroll service providers to ensure clients receive quality payroll processing. ATS maintains month-end oversight of the payroll process and keeps payroll entries balanced to client books.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Moss Adams LLP: Largest Pacific Northwest-headquartered accounting and business advisory firm, offering tax, accounting, and wealth-adjacent advisory services to individuals and businesses across the West Coast. Directly comparable as a multi-service regional CPA firm in the same Seattle market.
• H&R Block: National retail tax preparation chain with both DIY software and in-person services. Competes for the same individual and small business tax preparation clients that ATS serves, albeit through a high-volume, lower-touch model.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national registered investment adviser and financial planning firm serving individual investors, including through affiliate partnerships. Comparable for the wealth advisory and financial planning piece of ATS's integrated offering, though at much greater scale.

Others

• Cetera Financial Group: Parent network and broker-dealer supporting ATS's wealth advisory and securities operations. Comparable as the institutional platform that enables ATS's investment management revenue stream and provides regulatory infrastructure.

Emerging players

• 1-800Accountant: Virtual accounting and tax services firm serving small businesses and individuals on-demand. Overlaps with ATS's tax preparation and small business consulting offerings, competing on convenience and price rather than local presence.
• Pilot.com: Tech-enabled accounting, tax, and bookkeeping service targeting startups and small businesses. Comparable offerings (bookkeeping, tax, financial reporting) delivered through a software-first model that pressures traditional CPA firms' value proposition.
• Bench.co: Tech-enabled bookkeeping and accounting service for small businesses, combining software with dedicated bookkeepers. Overlaps with ATS's bookkeeping and small business accounting services, and represents the digital-native competitive threat ATS must defend against.

Direct peers

• Clark Nuber PS: Bellevue-based CPA and advisory firm serving Seattle-area businesses and individuals with tax, accounting, and financial planning. Direct overlap in services, customer segments (small businesses and HNW individuals), and Seattle metro geography.
• Peterson Sullivan LLP: Seattle-headquartered accounting firm offering tax preparation, auditing, bookkeeping, and business consulting. Comparable regional CPA competitor with overlapping SMB and individual client base.
• Bader Martin PS: Seattle-area CPA firm providing accounting, tax, and business advisory services to small businesses and individuals. Comparable in size band, service mix, and local market focus to ATS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/155350551170538

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accounting & Tax Services