Steve Perry, a licensed enrolled agent with the U.S. Treasury and founder of Books, Taxes and More, has spent more than a decade helping business owners navigate one of the most intimidating aspects of entrepreneurship: dealing with the IRS. Before entering the tax field, Perry served as a major in the U.S. Army, an experience that sharpened his approach to discipline, structure and strategic thinking. He believes that filing business taxes is not just about meeting deadlines. It is about building processes that protect the company year-round. “The best defense is a strong offense,” Perry explains, underscoring that preparation and clarity are the cornerstones of confident compliance.
Perry’s method begins with clarity about the Internal Revenue Service and the boundaries that govern it. “The IRS has to follow rules. And I make sure they do,” he says. Many founders and small business owners imagine the agency as a wrecking ball aimed at their livelihood, yet what often fuels the fear is uncertainty about rights, responsibilities and documentation. Perry argues that leaders gain confidence the moment they understand what the IRS can and cannot do and how to invoke the protections that already exist in statute and procedure.
Documentation as Strategy, Not Chore
If there is a single operating principle in Perry’s approach, it is that clean books are a strategic asset. “The IRS does not fear lawyers. They fear documentation,” he notes. Accurate bookkeeping throughout the year can make the difference between a straightforward filing and a costly distraction. The goal is to make your records tell the story before anyone else tries to rewrite it. Every receipt, invoice and mileage or time log works together to reduce audit risk and, just as importantly, the stress on the leadership team when scrutiny arrives.
Perry advises executives to treat bookkeeping like quality control on a production line. Reconciling accounts monthly, keeping vendor files current and noting the business purpose on receipts are small habits that compound. For early stage companies, where founders wear multiple hats, delegating bookkeeping to a competent professional and adopting reliable accounting software are force multipliers. For larger organizations, strong controls and periodic reviews ensure that growth does not outpace governance. “If your books are solid,” Perry says, “your audit risks drop and your peace of mind rises.”
Act Early When Something Feels Off
Tax problems rarely appear overnight. They compound quietly when leaders set aside a notice, skip a quarterly payment or postpone a tough conversation. Perry uses a blunt analogy to reset priorities. “Tax issues are like cancer. Caught early, they are treatable. Left alone, they spread.” The practical instruction is simple. When a notice arrives, do not panic and do not ignore it. Escalate early to someone who knows the terrain of IRS and state processes, from deadline extensions and payment plans to appeals and penalty abatements.
That early action has another benefit. It helps executives stay focused on operations, customers and hiring rather than spiraling into anxiety about what might happen. Perry has handled thousands of IRS cases and audits across the country, so he emphasizes pattern recognition. Many notices are resolvable with timely documentation and a clear response that matches the agency’s request. Delay narrows those options and can introduce unnecessary financial and reputational risk.
A Fighter’s Role, Not Always a Lawsuit
Leaders often assume that every conflict with a tax authority requires a law firm. Perry challenges that reflex. “You do not always need a lawyer. You need a fighter,” he says. Hiring counsel for every letter is “like swatting a fly with a cannon.” The smarter move is to match the tool to the task. Enrolled agents are trained to represent taxpayers, interpret the code and negotiate within established procedures. “I use every tool, whether it is a screwdriver or a sledge hammer, to protect your business and your future,” Perry says, underscoring that the right advocate understands when to push, when to document and when to escalate. That stance also preserves relationships. Agencies respond to facts presented within their own framework. An advocate who keeps the exchange professional, timely and evidence-driven can unlock outcomes that feel out of reach when emotions run high. The objective is not to win a shouting match. It is to ensure that the government abides by its rules and that the taxpayer’s rights are fully exercised.
Turning Filing Season Into Leadership Discipline
Filing with confidence is the byproduct of habits that start well before a return is prepared. Know the rules that apply to your entity type and industry. Build documentation routines that make audits uneventful. Respond early when a notice arrives so options stay open. And select a representative whose default mode is precision and persistence. “Knowing your rights and how to use them is the first step toward confidence,” Perry says. The result is not just compliance. It is the freedom to keep more of what you earn and to focus energy on growth.
For executives who want a steadier path through filing season and beyond, Perry’s approach offers a practical blueprint. It is assertive without being reckless, technical without being opaque and relentlessly focused on protecting the business. As he puts it, “I stand up for taxpayers.”
Connect with Steve Perry on LinkedIn to learn more about how to file business taxes with confidence.
