The Tax Authority

What The Tax Authority does

The Tax Authority, P.C. is a Michigan-based professional services firm (CPA firm) founded in November 1992 by Shari McConnell, a CPA licensed since 1989, and operating as a sole proprietorship from China Township, Michigan since a December 1999 relocation from Troy. The firm offers three core service lines: tax preparation for individuals, businesses, and trusts; customized bookkeeping and payroll services using QuickBooks; and consulting/advisory services for financial planning and major life events. It services over 800 clients annually with a team of 5-6 staff, including a sole business-return preparer (the owner) and one additional individual-return preparer.

The business operates on a professional-services, per-engagement fee model with pay-as-you-go billing; pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies with return complexity. Distribution is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct client engagement through scheduled in-person and phone appointments (with screen sharing via Screen Connect), secure document exchange through a ShareFile client portal, online appointment scheduling, and word-of-mouth referrals supported by a content-marketing website, an annual newsletter, and a client-exchange directory of trusted local service providers. The firm maintains membership in the AICPA and MACPA and partners informally with n2m Technology for IT support and several local businesses for referrals.

Since 2022, the firm has been in a capacity-constrained contraction: it has reduced business client intake, run persistent backlogs (37 business clients in 2024, 28 in 2025), and announced cuts to individual appointments for 2026 to ease workload on staff. There is no external funding, no parent organization, no AI/technology platform investment, and no geographic expansion beyond Michigan.

Name

The Tax Authority

Legal name

The Tax Authority, P.C.

Website

https://thetaxauthority.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Tax Authority, P.C. is a Michigan-based CPA firm founded in 1992 by Shari McConnell, providing tax preparation, bookkeeping/payroll, and advisory services to over 800 individual, small business, and trust clients annually from a 5-6 person team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Preparation and Accounting Services

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)

akta.pro primary industry

Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment (BPAIADAC)

Keywords

• Tax preparation services
• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Small business tax
• Trust tax preparation
• Financial advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Clinton Township

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Preparation Services: Tax preparation for individuals, businesses, and trusts. Revenue is generated through professional service fees charged per return, with fees varying based on complexity and type of return.
2. Accounting & Bookkeeping Services: Bookkeeping and payroll services customized to client needs, including QuickBooks setup and management for business clients.
3. Consulting & Advisory Services: Advisory services including financial planning guidance, assistance with major financial events, and business consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Tax Authority, P.C. is a Michigan-based CPA firm providing tax preparation for individuals, businesses, and trusts, alongside customized bookkeeping and payroll services using QuickBooks, and advisory consulting for financial planning and major life or business events. Services are delivered through in-person appointments at the China Township office, phone consultations with screen sharing, and a secure online document portal.

Product overview

The Tax Authority, P.C. is a professional services firm offering a unified suite of tax, accounting, and consulting services for individuals and businesses. The company provides three core service offerings: (1) Tax Preparation Services covering individual, business, and trust tax preparation; (2) Accounting Services encompassing customized bookkeeping and payroll services; and (3) Consulting Services providing advisory support for planning and major life events. The firm was established in November 1992 and services over 800 clients annually from its Michigan location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Preparation Services Tax preparation services for individuals, businesses, and trusts, delivered to Michigan-based personal and small business clients through one-on-one appointments.
• Accounting Services Customized bookkeeping and payroll services for business clients, including QuickBooks setup and management, delivered as ongoing professional engagements.
• Consulting Services Advisory services that keep clients on track, guide them through major financial events, and help them plan for the future, for both individuals and small businesses.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for CPAs. The firm maintains membership status, demonstrating commitment to professional standards and continuing education requirements.
• Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA)minorOthersState-level professional organization for CPAs in Michigan. Membership demonstrates local professional engagement and adherence to state-specific accounting standards.
• Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.minorOthersLocal HVAC service provider featured in the firm's client exchange directory as a trusted local business referral.
• Lambcraft Hardwood FloorsminorOthersLocal hardwood flooring contractor featured in the client exchange directory as a trusted referral for clients.
• Maria McGuire - Re/Max AdvisorsminorOthersReal estate broker featured in client exchange directory as a trusted local service provider.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Liberty Tax: Franchise-based tax preparation chain serving individual and small-business clients; comparable to The Tax Authority on customer segment and core offering, with broader geographic reach via franchise offices.
• Jackson Hewitt: Franchise-based tax preparation chain focused on individual and small-business returns; comparable to The Tax Authority on customer segment (individuals and SMBs) and core service (return preparation), but operates a much larger national footprint via franchisees.
• H&R Block: National tax preparation chain serving individuals and small businesses with both DIY software and assisted in-person/online filing—directly comparable to The Tax Authority's individual and small-business 1040 + business return offering, just at far greater scale and through a retail branch model.
• Padgett Business Services: Franchise network providing tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services to small businesses—closely comparable service mix to The Tax Authority (tax, accounting, payroll) at small-business scale, with a franchise-system delivery model.
• 1-800Accountant: Virtual accounting and tax preparation service targeting small businesses and individuals—directly competes with The Tax Authority for small-business bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation, with a national/remote delivery model rather than a single local office.
• Intuit TurboTax Live: Intuit's assisted tax preparation product connecting DIY users with credentialed preparers online; competes for the same individual and small-business clients as The Tax Authority, with an AI-assisted software front end that pressures traditional CPA firm economics.

Broad incumbents

• Andersen Tax (Andersen): National tax specialty firm serving individuals, businesses, and trusts across the U.S.; relevant as a higher-end broad incumbent addressing the same tax compliance needs as The Tax Authority, particularly for trust/estate and business tax work, though at materially larger scale and with a more enterprise client mix.
• Marcum LLP: Large regional accounting and tax services firm with a strong presence in the Midwest; comparable service mix (tax, accounting, advisory) and overlap with The Tax Authority's SMB and high-net-worth individual segments at a far broader scale.

Regional players

• Doeren Mayhew: Michigan-headquartered CPA and advisory firm providing tax, accounting, and business advisory services; comparable to The Tax Authority on the Michigan service area and small-to-mid-market client focus, with a broader service portfolio and multiple office locations.
• Greenough & Company (Rehmann): Michigan-based accounting, tax, and advisory firm; directly comparable to The Tax Authority on geography (Michigan-focused) and full-service tax + accounting + advisory offering, but operating at materially larger scale across multiple Michigan offices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Tax Authority