Del Real Tax Group

Firm overview

• Chicago-area CPA firm with over a decade of professional tax and accounting experience.
• Focus on small and midsize businesses that need ongoing accounting, not just once-a-year tax preparation.
• Offers fixed-fee monthly accounting programs rather than hourly billing for most ongoing work.
• Works year-round with clients to keep books accurate, plan ahead for taxes, and reduce surprises at tax time.

Leadership and credentials

• Founded by Maribel Salazar, CPA.
• CPA since 2006, with prior experience in the Private Company Services Tax Department at PricewaterhouseCoopers and as a tax consultant for a downtown Chicago tax consulting firm.
• QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor.
• Certified Tax Coach and certified Main Street Tax Pro.
• Recognitions include 2015 Latinos "40 under 40" in Chicago and 2016 "Top 20 Best Accountants in Chicago."

Types of clients

Del Real Tax Group primarily serves:

• Small and midsize businesses that need ongoing bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, tax preparation, and proactive tax planning.
• Owners in industries such as:
• Retail and grocery
• Restaurants and food businesses
• Auto repair shops
• Manufacturing companies
• Medical and healthcare businesses
• Professional and service-based businesses

Individual tax returns may be prepared when they are connected to an ongoing business accounting or tax-planning relationship. The firm is not positioned as a high-volume personal tax-return service.

Service area

• Based in the Chicago metro area, with strong ties to Berwyn and Lyons, Illinois.
• Serves clients in Chicago and nearby suburbs, including Berwyn, Cicero, Brookfield, Lyons, La Grange, Oak Brook, Oak Park, and surrounding areas.
• Remote support is available, so many services can be delivered to businesses outside the immediate neighborhood.

How Del Real Tax Group works with clients

• Emphasis on proactive, year-round tax planning rather than reactive tax-season work.
• Many tax-planning clients save approximately $16,000–$20,000 in taxes using foundational tax strategies, when they qualify.
• One coordinated team handles bookkeeping, payroll, accounting, and tax planning so financial information is consistent across services.
• New client onboarding typically includes one or two strategy or discovery sessions to understand the business and build an initial tax and accounting plan.

Contact details

• Phone: 708-788-0082
• Location: Chicago-area firm serving Lyons, Berwyn, and the broader Chicagoland area (exact street address not listed here).
• To get started, business owners are invited to schedule a free business tax discovery session or small-business consultation through the firm's website or by phone.

The firm's payroll accounting services are designed to help small businesses pay employees accurately and stay compliant with changing tax rules.

Why businesses outsource payroll to Del Real Tax Group

• Cost effective: Reduces the need to hire specialized in-house payroll staff.
• Time saving: Eliminates the burden of maintaining a payroll system, entering data, and tracking rule changes.
• Compliance-focused: Helps manage federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements.

What payroll services can include

• Worry-free IRS and state payroll tax reporting.
• Electronic federal tax payment system (EFTPS) tax deposits.
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax reports, including common year-end forms.
• Creation and filing of required new-hire forms.
• Preparation of employee paychecks and maintenance of payroll records.
• Year-end preparation and filing of W-2 forms for employees.
• Support for payments to independent contractors and related reporting.
• Access for employees to view pay stubs securely online through supported payroll platforms.
• Integration of payroll information into popular accounting software (for example, QuickBooks and similar systems).

These services are designed to provide accurate, on-time payroll while freeing owners to focus on running the business.

Outsourced accounting services

Del Real Tax Group also offers outsourced accounting services for businesses that want help managing day-to-day financial tasks.

Why outsource accounting

• Save money: Access experienced accounting professionals without the cost of a full in-house accounting department.
• Save time: Shift bookkeeping, reconciliations, reporting, and routine financial tasks off the owner's plate.
• Reduce errors: Professional support can help keep financial records accurate and up to date.

What outsourced accounting can cover

• Ongoing bookkeeping and account reconciliations.
• Monthly financial reporting and performance summaries.
• Payroll coordination and expense tracking.
• Support during tax season, including organizing records and preparing accurate financial statements for tax preparation.
• Flexible, ongoing accounting support that can scale as the business grows.

Getting help if books are behind

If a business's bookkeeping is behind or disorganized, Del Real Tax Group can help:

• Review existing records.
• Reconcile accounts and correct errors.
• Bring books up to date before establishing an ongoing monthly process.

How to begin

Business owners interested in payroll or outsourced accounting typically start by scheduling a free small-business consultation or tax discovery session. During this meeting, the firm reviews the company's current situation and discusses which combination of services may be appropriate. For current options and scope, contact the firm directly.

Del Real Tax Group offers fixed-fee monthly accounting packages designed for small and midsize businesses that need year-round financial support, not just annual tax preparation.

Who these packages are for

• Business owners who want ongoing bookkeeping and accounting support.
• Companies that need reliable monthly financial statements and cash-flow insight.
• Businesses that want proactive tax planning and guidance throughout the year.

What is typically included in monthly packages

Services are tailored to each business but may include:

• Bookkeeping and accounting
• Ongoing bookkeeping and recording of transactions.
• Reconciliation of bank and credit card accounts.
• Organized general ledger and accurate financial records.

• Financial reporting
• Monthly financial statements such as balance sheets and income statements.
• Fixed asset depreciation schedules when applicable.
• Reports to help owners understand performance and make informed decisions.

• Payroll-related support
• Payroll tax preparation and forms processing.
• Support integrating payroll data with accounting software.

• Sales and profit tax support (when applicable)
• Sales tax preparation if required for the business.
• Profit or income tax preparation related to the business.

• Tax planning and forecasting
• Ongoing tax planning aimed at reducing surprises at year-end.
• Tax forecasting to estimate and prepare for tax liabilities before the year closes.

• Access to advisors
• Unlimited questions about the company's tax and accounting matters within the relationship.
• Access to dedicated tax accountants for personalized support and year-round planning.

Process for new accounting clients

1. Initial discovery or strategy sessions

• At the beginning of an engagement, Del Real Tax Group holds one or two strategy or discovery meetings.
• These sessions are used to understand the business, review current records, and identify key tax and accounting priorities.

2. Cleanup and setup (if needed)

• If books are behind or inaccurate, the team can help bring records up to date and correct errors before moving into a monthly process.

3. Ongoing monthly service

• Once systems are in place, the firm provides ongoing monthly bookkeeping, reporting, and tax planning throughout the year.

Benefits to business owners

• More time to focus on operations, sales, and customers instead of accounting tasks.
• Better visibility into cash flow and business performance.
• Fewer surprises at tax time thanks to year-round planning and forecasting.
• Access to a coordinated team that understands both accounting and tax for small businesses.

How to get started

Business owners typically begin with a free business tax discovery session or consultation, where Del Real Tax Group reviews the current situation and explains how a monthly accounting package could support the business. For current details or to schedule, contact the firm directly.

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