Why this site exists
Most people land on whydoiowesomuchintaxes.com right after they see their tax bill. We built it so you can find the reason quickly, in plain words, and know what to do next. You can work through the checks on your own. If you'd like help, we're here.
Who you'll talk to
Services on this site are provided by Steven Palmieri, Dallas, Texas. Steven works with owner-run businesses and the households behind them. He reads the return with you, finds out why you owe, and sets up next year so it doesn't happen again.
Written by Steven Palmieri, Dallas, Texas. Updated 26 October 2026.
What a Tax CFO does
A Tax CFO keeps the books, prepares the return and plans the year, all in one place. Because the same person handles all three, the plan is based on your real numbers, and the return matches the plan. For a household, that usually means setting withholding and estimated payments. For a business owner, it also means monthly books, a tax setup that fits, and a fall check-in before the year closes.
How the free 30-minute call works
- You book a time on the calendar, or send a note and we'll find one with you.
- We meet on a video call. Bring this year's return, last year's if you have it, and any IRS letter.
- We find out why you owe, using the eight common reasons on our home page as the checklist.
- We set up next year: a W-4 change, estimated payment amounts, or both.
- You leave knowing the cause and the fix. If paid help would be useful, we tell you what it would cost. If you don't need it, we say so.
How paid help is priced
For many people, the free call is all they need. When more help makes sense, it's priced one of a few ways: a fixed fee for a project such as a return or a catch-up of the books, a monthly fee for ongoing books and tax planning, or an hourly rate for a one-time question. You see the price in writing before any work starts.
What we do for you
We find out why you owe, check the withholding and estimates with you, keep the books for a business, prepare the next return, and plan the year so April brings no surprise. Steven Palmieri holds no CPA license, and for a surprise tax bill the practice is the Tax CFO alternative.
Two kinds of work need a license of their own. An audit or review report on financial statements is signed by a CPA firm, and speaking for you in an IRS exam or collection case takes an enrolled agent or an attorney. If you need either one, we'll tell you on the first call and point you to someone who does that work. Payroll is setup only: we set it up with the provider you pick, and you run each payday. You can read more about this on our disclosures page.
Ask Steven about your tax bill
Send a short note, and we'll set up your free 30-minute call.
You will be talking to the Steven Palmieri practice.