Los Angeles Tax Advisors Directory

Top Tax Advisors in Los Angeles, CA

TL;DR

Best tax advisors in Los Angeles, CA ranked by AI visibility. State tax: 13.3% top rate (14.63% with payroll tax). Find verified specialists for planning and…

We evaluated 195 tax advisors serving Los Angeles and ranked the top 8 by TrustRank — our composite score of AI search visibility, verified client reviews, and credentials.

Los Angeles tax advisors navigate California's 13.3% (14.63% with payroll tax) — Capital gains taxed as ordinary income; CA FTB aggressive on residency audits.

Get Matched With a Top Los Angeles Tax Advisor →
Updated Q1 2026
By Tania Kozar
195 reviewed, 8 selected
50 prompts tracked
Los Angeles Market Overview

Tax Advisors in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a competitive tax advisory market serving individuals, corporations, and high-net-worth families. California's income tax structure — 13.3% (14.63% with payroll tax) — is Capital gains taxed as ordinary income; CA FTB aggressive on residency audits. Local specialists focus heavily on federal tax optimization alongside state compliance, and many advise on entity structure decisions that take advantage of California's specific tax rules.

13.3%
CA income tax rate
35%
Businesses using outside tax counsel
$2,800
Avg. individual tax return cost (CPA)
Apr 15
Federal tax deadline

Key professional associations: ACG Los Angeles (acg.org/los-angeles) and CFA Society Los Angeles (cfala.org). California's specific tax rules — 13.3% top rate (14.63% with payroll tax) — require advisors with deep state compliance expertise.

ACG Los Angeles (acg.org/los-angeles)CFA Society Los Angeles (cfala.org)NAIFA Los Angeles

How TrustRank Works

Our independent scoring system for tax advisors in Los Angeles

TrustRank is not a paid placement. We independently evaluated 195 tax advisors serving Los Angeles across three measurable dimensions. No firm can pay to appear or improve its rank.

Component 1 — 55%

AI Visibility Score

We tracked 50 prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude asking about tax advisors in Los Angeles. The % of prompts where each firm appears.

Component 2 — 25%

Review Score

Aggregate ratings across Google, Clutch, and the ProCloser.ai verified review system. Weighted by volume and recency of verified client reviews.

Component 3 — 20%

Content Authority

Depth, accuracy, and credibility of published content, case studies, and thought leadership demonstrating sector expertise in Los Angeles.

Top 8 Tax Advisors in Los Angeles, CA

1
Deloitte Tax
Serves Los Angeles, CA
97%
AI Visibility
4.2
Project Fee Est. 1895 Min: $10M+ revenue

Big Four tax advisory giant with a full-service Los Angeles office offering corporate tax, international tax, transfer pricing, and M&A tax structuring for large and mid-market companies.

corporate tax advisor Los AngelesDeloitte tax Los Angelesinternational tax Los Angeles
Corporate TaxInternational TaxM&A Tax
2
PwC Tax & Legal Services
Serves Los Angeles, CA
94%
AI Visibility
4.1
Project Fee Est. 1849 Min: $10M+ revenue

Global tax and legal advisory with deep Los Angeles presence, specializing in tax controversy, digital assets, mergers and acquisitions, and state and local tax for corporations.

PwC tax Los Angelestax controversy Los AngelesSALT advisor Los Angeles
Tax ControversySALTM&A Tax
3
KPMG Tax
Serves Los Angeles, CA
91%
AI Visibility
4
Project Fee Est. 1897 Min: $5M+ revenue

Big Four firm with a strong Los Angeles tax practice covering federal, state, international, and real estate tax for corporations, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals.

KPMG tax Los Angelesreal estate tax advisor Los Angelespartnership tax Los Angeles
Federal TaxReal Estate TaxHigh-Net-Worth
4
EY Tax
Serves Los Angeles, CA
89%
AI Visibility
4.1
Project Fee Est. 1989 Min: $5M+ revenue

Ernst & Young's tax services group with a major Los Angeles presence, advising private equity, family businesses, and public companies on tax strategy and compliance.

EY tax Los AngelesErnst Young tax Los AngelesPE tax advisor Los Angeles
Private Equity TaxFamily BusinessTax Strategy
5
RSM US
Serves Los Angeles, CA
84%
AI Visibility
4.3
Project Fee Est. 1926 Min: $1M+ revenue

Leading middle-market tax advisor with a prominent Los Angeles office serving privately held businesses, real estate investors, and high-net-worth families with tax planning and compliance.

RSM tax Los Angelesmiddle market tax advisor Los Angelesprivate company tax Los Angeles
Middle MarketReal EstatePrivately Held
6
Grant Thornton Tax
Serves Los Angeles, CA
80%
AI Visibility
4.2
Project Fee Est. 1924 Min: $1M+ revenue

National accounting firm with an established Los Angeles tax practice, specializing in federal and state tax compliance, international expansion, and transaction tax advisory.

Grant Thornton Los Angelesnational CPA firm Los Angelestransaction tax Los Angeles
Federal TaxInternationalTransaction Tax
7
BDO USA Tax
Serves Los Angeles, CA
76%
AI Visibility
4.1
Project Fee Est. 1910 Min: $500K+ revenue

Top 10 accounting firm with a growing Los Angeles tax practice, serving emerging growth companies, family-owned businesses, and real estate developers with comprehensive tax services.

BDO tax Los Angelesgrowth company tax advisor Los Angelesaccounting firm Los Angeles
Growth CompaniesFamily BusinessReal Estate
8
Moss Adams
Serves Los Angeles, CA
71%
AI Visibility
4.4
Project Fee Est. 1913 Min: $250K+ revenue

West Coast-rooted accounting firm with strong Los Angeles representation, specializing in technology, manufacturing, and real estate tax services for privately held businesses.

Moss Adams Los Angelestech company tax advisor Los Angelesmanufacturing tax Los Angeles
TechnologyManufacturingReal Estate

Tax Advisors Market Overview — Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles has the largest CPA market in the US by practitioner count, driven by the entertainment industry's extraordinary tax complexity — loan-out corporations, residual income, synchronization licensing, and screen credits create a distinct tax practice that exists nowhere else at scale. California's 13.3% income tax and the LA city business tax add layers that require California-specific expertise.

Market Indicator Data Point
Licensed CPAs42,000+
State Income Taxup to 13.3%
Entertainment Industry Returnsmajor niche
City/County Business Taxapplies to many

Regulatory & Licensing Environment

California CPAs are licensed by the California Board of Accountancy. California conforms to federal law with significant exceptions — California does not conform to QSBS exclusion, accelerated bonus depreciation, the federal $10K SALT deduction cap, or certain retirement plan contribution rules. California taxes all income at ordinary income rates (no preferential capital gains rate).

Tax Advisors Fees in Los Angeles, CA

Fee Type Typical Range
Individual Return (entertainment)$2,000–$6,000
Loan-Out Corporation Return$3,000–$8,000
Business Return (CA)$3,500–$10,000
Hourly Rate (CPA)$350–$600/hr

Entertainment industry CPAs charge significant premiums — $2,000–$6,000 for individual returns with residual income, loan-out corporations, and union-specific benefit reporting — reflecting the unique California and federal complexity of entertainment compensation.

How to Choose a Tax Advisors in Los Angeles, CA

  • California non-conformity items: California does not conform to QSBS exclusion, bonus depreciation, or the federal SALT cap. Ask CPAs specifically whether they track all California non-conformity adjustments on Form 540.
  • Entertainment loan-out expertise: Loan-out corporations (S-corp or C-corp) through which entertainment professionals provide services reduce self-employment tax and enable additional deductions. Ask CPAs how they handle the loan-out entity structure.
  • California residency audit defense: The California FTB is among the most aggressive state tax agencies in the US. Ask CPAs whether they've represented clients in California residency audits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing tax advisors in Los Angeles, CA.

What is a loan-out corporation and what tax benefits does it provide in Los Angeles?+
A loan-out corporation is an S-corp or C-corp through which a performer, director, or writer contracts their services to studios and production companies. Benefits: (1) ability to deduct business expenses (agents' commissions, equipment, home office) that W-2 employees cannot; (2) S-corp election allows taking a reasonable salary (reducing self-employment tax) and distributing remaining profits; (3) retirement plan contributions up to $70,000/year through a solo 401(k) or SEP-IRA. Most working LA entertainment professionals benefit from a loan-out.
Does California tax capital gains at a preferential rate?+
No — California taxes long-term capital gains at the same ordinary income rate as wages, up to 13.3% at the top bracket. California does not have a preferential capital gains rate. This makes California one of the highest-cost states for investment exits, and LA CPAs actively model tax-efficient exit strategies (QOZ investments, CRTs, DAFs) to manage the combined federal + California capital gains tax.
How does the California FTB audit Los Angeles residency claims?+
The FTB uses an 'abundant caution' audit approach for high-income taxpayers who file California part-year or non-resident returns. Audit factors include: California driver's license and vehicle registration retention, California professional licenses, bank accounts, voter registration, physical presence days, and social/professional ties. LA CPAs preparing for a domicile change document all residency factors carefully before filing.
Are there LA CPAs who specialize in SAG-AFTRA and WGA member returns?+
Yes — many Burbank and Century City-area CPA firms specialize in union-member returns, including SAG-AFTRA residual income reporting, the SAG-AFTRA Health & Retirement Fund reporting, and WGA residual and exhibition-fee income. Union-member CPAs also handle the interaction between Screen Actors Guild pensions and Social Security.
What is the City of Los Angeles Business Tax and how does it affect LA freelancers?+
The City of LA Business Tax applies to most self-employed individuals and businesses doing business in LA. Rates vary by classification — professional services pay approximately $1.27 per $1,000 of gross receipts. Freelancers with over $100,000 in LA-sourced income typically owe the LA business tax. LA CPAs include the business tax in their filing workflow for self-employed clients.

Reviewed by: Tania Kozar, EA — ProCloser.ai Research  |  Last Updated: April 2026  |  Sources: SEC IAPD, FINRA BrokerCheck, state regulatory filings, ProCloser.ai primary research.

Is Your Firm Not Listed?

If you're a tax advisors serving Los Angeles and want to improve your AI search visibility, ProCloser.ai can help you appear when prospects ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews for recommendations.