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Santa Barbara CPA Services

Your trusted CPA in Santa Barbara, CA

David Rachford CPA serves individuals, small businesses, and real estate investors throughout Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County. Tax preparation, planning, and bookkeeping — with direct access to a licensed CPA, every time.

A Santa Barbara CPA built for small business

If you're a Santa Barbara business owner, S-corp shareholder, or real estate investor, you need more than a seasonal tax preparer. You need a CPA who understands California tax law, knows the local market, and is available year-round — not just in April.

David Rachford CPA has served Santa Barbara County clients for over 15 years from his office in Goleta, just minutes from downtown Santa Barbara. Unlike large firms where you're handed off to whoever has capacity, you work directly with David — a licensed CPA with deep expertise in small-business tax strategy.

Santa Barbara area served: Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Montecito, Isla Vista, and throughout Santa Barbara County. Available in-person or via video call.

What makes David Rachford CPA different

Most Santa Barbara accounting firms are built around audit and compliance work for larger clients. David's practice is built around the needs of small business owners, S-corp shareholders, and investors — people who need proactive advice, not just a prepared return.

That means understanding your business structure, optimizing your officer salary, planning your retirement contributions, and making sure California's PTE election is working in your favor — all year long, not just at tax time.

Santa Barbara CPA services

David Rachford CPA provides the following services to Santa Barbara clients:

  • S-corp tax returns (Form 1120-S) with basis tracking and CA PTE election
  • Individual tax returns including complex investment schedules
  • Tax planning and year-round strategy for business owners
  • QuickBooks setup, cleanup, and monthly bookkeeping
  • HOA and condominium association tax returns (Form 1120-H)
  • Real estate investor tax strategy (Schedule E, depreciation, 1031 exchanges)
  • Section 1202 QSBS analysis for startup founders and angel investors
  • Payroll tax compliance for household and small business employees

Why Santa Barbara businesses choose David Rachford CPA

The Santa Barbara market is full of talented entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and small business owners who deserve CPA-level advice — not a big-firm price tag and a junior associate. David built his practice around that need.

His background includes startup-focused tax planning (Section 1202 QSBS, S-corp conversions, 83(b) elections) that most local CPA firms simply don't offer. Combined with deep knowledge of California tax law — AB 5, the PTE election, CA FTB nuances — he's positioned to serve clients with complex or evolving needs.

Talk to David today

Free 20-minute consultation. No obligation, no sales pitch — just a straight conversation about your tax situation.

Book a free call
📞 (805) 729-3333 ✉️ [email protected]

5290 Overpass Rd #40
Goleta, CA 93111

Common Santa Barbara client situations

  • → S-corp shareholders with officer salary questions
  • → Real estate investors with rental income
  • → Startup founders with QSBS stock
  • → HOAs needing annual returns
  • → Small businesses switching from sole prop to S-corp
  • → Individuals with complex investment portfolios

Common questions

Santa Barbara CPA FAQ

David's office is in Goleta (5290 Overpass Rd #40), but he serves clients throughout Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria, and all of Santa Barbara County. Most client work is handled remotely via email, phone, and video — so location is rarely a barrier. In-person meetings are available by appointment.
A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) holds a state license requiring 150 credit hours of education, passing the Uniform CPA Exam, and ongoing continuing education. A tax preparer may hold an IRS PTIN but has no comparable licensing requirements. For small business owners, S-corp shareholders, and investors, a CPA provides a higher level of advisory work — not just return preparation, but proactive planning and compliance guidance.
Pricing depends on the scope of work — an individual return with a Schedule D is priced differently than an S-corp return with bookkeeping and quarterly planning. David offers a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your situation and provide a clear quote before any work begins. Call (805) 729-3333 or book online.
Yes. California's PTE election (AB 150) is a significant planning opportunity for S-corp and partnership shareholders, and David handles this for eligible clients. Proper timing and structuring of estimated PTE payments is important to maximize the benefit — this is something David reviews proactively with business clients each year.
Yes — S-corp returns (Form 1120-S plus CA Form 100S) are a core part of the practice. David handles officer reasonable compensation analysis, shareholder basis tracking, K-1 preparation, CA PTE election, and annual bookkeeping cleanup to support the return. He also helps new businesses evaluate whether S-corp election makes sense for their situation.

Looking for a Santa Barbara CPA?

Book a free 20-minute call with David Rachford and get straight answers about your tax situation — no commitment required.

Schedule your free call