N 38° 42' 14" // W 121° 18' 33"
TRAIL MARKER: GRE-2026
BEARING: 042° NE
ASSIGNMENT DUE: TAX SEASON 2026
ELEV. +320M // TRAILHEAD TAX
For Gold Ridge Elementary Families

Helping with homework? We'll handle yours.

Get your free 2026 Tax Checklist, know exactly what documents to gather before tax season so filing is fast, painless, and nothing slips through the cracks.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT
2026 TAX PREP SEASON
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Your 2026 Tax Checklist

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Tax Secrets, From the Homework Folder

What most GRE families
miss every April.

Being part of a school community comes with some surprisingly real tax benefits. Here are the ones worth knowing, whether you teach, donate, volunteer, or just buy too many Ziploc bags.

For Teachers & Educators
$350 Back, No Questions Asked

If you teach K-12, the tax code lets you deduct up to $350 of out-of-pocket classroom expenses directly off your taxable income, with no itemizing required. Pencils, dry erase markers, reading books, hand sanitizer, construction paper. All of it counts. The average K-12 teacher spends over $800/year from their own wallet, and most never claim the full amount. That changes now.

Educator Expense Deduction (Above-the-Line)
For PTO Donors
Your PTO Check Is a
Tax Deduction

The Gold Ridge Elementary PTO is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every donation you made, fundraiser contributions, direct gifts, auction item premiums above face value, is potentially deductible as a charitable contribution. Save every receipt from August through May.

Charitable Contribution Deduction
Often Overlooked
Bought Classroom Supplies?
Keep the Receipt.

When you respond to a teacher's supply request, Ziploc bags, hand sanitizer, construction paper, and those items go directly to the school or classroom, that's a donation to a tax-exempt organization. Individually small, collectively real. Families who track this typically find $50–150 per year in deductible donations they'd otherwise leave on the table.

Charitable Donation of Property
For Working Parents
After-School Programs
Count as Childcare

Extended care, after-school programs, and qualifying summer day camps all count toward the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, potentially up to $600 back for one child, $1,200 for two or more. If you're paying while you work, the IRS helps offset it. Most parents with kids in extended care are leaving this credit unclaimed.

Child & Dependent Care Credit
For Planning-Ahead Families
529 Plans: Tax-Free Growth for Education Costs

Contributions to a 529 plan grow completely tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified college expenses are never taxed at the federal level. Starting one now, even $50/month, makes a material difference by the time your GRE student hits 18. Since the 2018 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, 529 funds can also cover K–12 private school tuition up to $10,000 per year per beneficiary. California note: California doesn't conform to the federal K–12 expansion, withdrawals used for K–12 tuition may be subject to California income tax and a 2.5% state penalty. Talk to us before tapping a California 529 for K–12 tuition specifically. For college savings, it's still one of the best tools available.

529 Education Savings Plan  ·  Federal + California considerations

Your 2026 Tax Checklist PDF

Enter your email above and your checklist unlocks right here, instantly. A print-ready PDF also downloads so it is yours to keep.

2026 Tax Checklist // Trailhead Tax

Everything in one place.

Check items off as they arrive in the mail. Covers every document type most households need, W-2s, 1099s, home, education, retirement, and more.

Income
  • W-2 from each employer
  • 1099-NEC (freelance / side work)
  • 1099-INT (bank interest)
  • 1099-DIV (dividends)
  • K-1 (partnership / S-Corp)
  • SSA-1099 (Social Security)
Home & Family
  • Mortgage interest (Form 1098)
  • Property tax statement
  • Childcare costs + provider EIN
  • After-school program costs
  • Home sale closing disclosure
Education
  • Tuition statement (1098-T)
  • Student loan interest (1098-E)
  • 529 plan contributions & distributions
  • Teacher out-of-pocket supply receipts
Deductions & Donations
  • PTO / school donation receipts
  • Classroom supply receipts (donated)
  • Other charitable donation receipts
  • Business expense log + receipts
  • Mileage log (business / medical)
Retirement & HSA
  • Traditional IRA contributions
  • HSA contributions (Form 5498-SA)
  • 401(k) / 403(b) contribution summary
  • Pension / retirement income (1099-R)
  • Required minimum distribution amount
Personal Info
  • SSNs for all dependents
  • Prior year tax return (for reference)
  • Bank routing + account number
  • IRS Identity Protection PIN (if assigned)
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BEARING: 280° NW // SPEED: 4.2 KNOTS // TRAILHEAD TAX
The Trailhead Process

Three stages.
Zero surprises.

We don't disappear after April 15th. Here's what working with us actually looks like, from your first call to next year's strategy.

ELEVATION: 1,800M  //  STAGE 01
01
Establishing Basecamp

Every summit starts with a real conversation, not a data dump. We review your prior return, map your financial coordinates, and build a clear strategy before a single number gets entered. This is where we find what your last preparer missed.

ELEVATION: 5,200M  //  STAGE 02
02
Navigating the Ridge

We file with precision and keep you in the loop every step. Questions get real answers, not voicemails. You'll see your estimated refund before we submit. If anything comes up, an amended return, an IRS notice, we handle it.

ELEVATION: 9,800M  //  STAGE 03
03
The Summit View

April 15 is a checkpoint, not the finish line. We look forward: quarterly estimates, year-end strategy moves, life changes that shift your picture. Most of our clients pay less in taxes every year they're with us. That's the plan.

What We Do

Most clients start with
a personal return.

And grow from there. We handle everything from a straightforward W-2 return to multi-entity business structures. Clear pricing, clear communication, no billing surprises.

Personal Tax Returns

W-2 employees, freelancers, rental income, investment accounts, and multi-state filers. We find every deduction and credit you're entitled to, including the ones most software misses.

W-2 Self-Employed Rental Income Investments
Business Tax Returns

S-Corps, LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietors, we handle entity-level returns and coordinate with your personal return to minimize the total tax picture across both.

S-Corp LLC Partnership Sole Prop
Bookkeeping

Monthly close, categorization, QuickBooks reconciliation, and clean financials so there are no surprises at tax time. We work with your existing accounts or set you up from scratch.

Monthly Close QuickBooks Reconciliation
Tax Planning

Quarterly estimated payments, year-end strategy, retirement contribution timing, and entity structure decisions. Planning is where the real savings happen, filing is just the record of it.

Quarterly Estimates Year-End Strategy Entity Planning
BEARING: 280° NW // SPEED: 4.2 KNOTS
About Trailhead Tax

Your neighbors
at tax time.

We're a local family tax firm serving the Gold Ridge community, and a Gold Ridge Elementary family ourselves. We placed this ad because we know how busy spring gets.

Whether you're a W-2 employee, a small business owner, or both, we handle personal and business tax returns with clear communication and transparent, upfront pricing. No jargon. No surprises. No homework.

Book a Free 10-Min Call → Visit mytrailhead.tax →
Clay Welch on a mountain trail
Out on the trail · Summer 2026
Who you'll actually work with
Clay Welch
MST, Enrolled Agent · Folsom, CA

Hi, I'm Clay. I run Trailhead Tax here in Folsom, and my family is part of the Gold Ridge community, so we're in the same pickup line and the same homework folders you are.

I'm an Enrolled Agent with a master's in taxation, which is a long way of saying I read the tax code so you don't have to. Most people come to me with a tax problem, or a question that's been nagging at them for months. Compliance sounds intimidating, and a big part of my job is taking that worry off your plate and handing you a clear plan instead.

When I'm not doing taxes, I'm outside on an adventure. Running, skiing, exploring, whatever gets me out there. Join me for a run! Here's my Strava link.

Book a Free 10-Min Call → Go For a Run With Clay →