09/18/2026
We just finished a 2025 return for a new business client.
As part of our review, we looked at the prior-year return prepared by someone else and noticed that the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) election had not been made. Had it been made, it likely would have saved the client about $3,000 in federal tax.
Their income was higher this year, and we made the PTET election as part of their 2025 return. The projected federal tax savings is about $6,000.
Their prior-year preparation fee was approximately $1,250. Our fee this year was $1,750.
So they paid about $500 more in preparation fees and saved roughly $6,000 in federal tax.
PTET does not make sense for every business, but it’s something that should be intentionally evaluated.
We review it for every partnership and S corporation return we prepare in states with an income tax. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s worth doing the analysis.