Intuit® Tax Council member profile: Kristen Keats, CPA

Welcome to another in a series of profiles of Intuit® Tax Council members. In this profile, get to know Kristen Keats, CPA, owner of Sherwood Tax in Sherwood, OR.

Scott Cytron: Tell our readers about your practice.

Kristen Keats: Sherwood Tax was founded in 2008, and I purchased the firm in September 2020. We primarily serve small business clients, providing tax and accounting advisory, and preparation services. I have been in the tax world for about 25 years in varying capacities, but I love working with small businesses and their owners, so it was a perfect fit!  In addition to four employees on our U.S. team, we also have four staff located in Guadalajara, Mexico, so we are an “international” team.

SC: How long have you been providing advisory services, and what kinds of services do you offer?

KK: I have been doing some type of advisory for the last 20 years. This includes tax planning and strategies, but also help with entity selection— whether a business should be an S Corp, for example. We also assist with software setup and support, and even general business questions.

SC: How has advisory benefitted your practice?

KK: It has changed the focus for the clients from a transaction and once-per-year conversation to a year-round collaborative relationship. We make sure that clients have an open channel of communication so they aren’t surprised by their tax results. This makes them open to having more advisory conversations and the circle continues.

SC: Why is the Tax Council important to the profession?

KK: It is important for firms to have a voice with a company like Intuit that has such a large impact on our industry. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Council and represent other small firms such as Sherwood Tax.

SC: What kind of Intuit software do you use? 

KK: Intuit Lacerte® Tax, Intuit Practice Management, and QuickBooks® Online.

SC: What was your very first job?

KK: I was a cashier at Popeye’s Fried Chicken.

SC: I bet you have some great stories! On a completely different note, how can tax professionals keep up with all the changes in tax laws and regulations?

KK: I subscribe to email updates with the IRS and my local tax agencies. I also make sure to attend the year-end updates put on by my industry organizations. 

SC: If you were stranded on a desert island with access to just one kind of technology, what would it be, and why would you want it?

KK: I think it would be a satellite phone because it would allow me to call for help if needed, and potentially be rescued. I could also communicate with other island dwellers, as well as access information and entertainment on the internet. This response was assisted by ChatGPT.

SC: Ha Ha! Thanks Kristen!