About Dickens & Associates, LLP

 At Dickens & Associates, LLP, we offer practical, results-driven business analysis to help organizations improve operations, streamline processes, and plan for sustainable growth. Our approach is grounded in real-world experience, industry knowledge, and a clear understanding of our clients’ needs.

Our Expertise Includes:

• Process Optimization
  We identify inefficiencies and implement improvements that enhance day-to-day productivity.
• Financial & Tax Analysis
  We provide detailed financial reviews and tax planning strategies to strengthen your bottom line and ensure compliance.
• Market & Competitive Research
  We analyze market trends and your competitive landscape to support smart positioning and informed business decisions.
• Risk Assessment & Compliance
  We evaluate potential risks and help ensure your operations meet regulatory requirements.
• Technology & Systems Integration
  We recommend and implement tools that improve workflow and support your team’s efficiency.
• Strategic Business Planning
  We assist with setting clear goals, developing forecasts, and building long-term plans tailored to your objectives.

Whether you're an individual, a business owner, an investor, or managing a trust or estate, we bring the experience and attention to detail needed to help reduce your tax burden and support long-term growth.

Our Services

• Tax Preparation
  We prepare individual, business, estate, trust, and nonprofit tax returns with accuracy and efficiency, ensuring full compliance while identifying every opportunity for savings.
• Tax Planning and Projections
  We help you stay ahead by developing clear, proactive tax plans that minimize risk and position you for better financial outcomes throughout the year.
• Tax Strategy and Advisory
  We offer insight and direction on complex matters such as business formation, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international tax, and specialized areas like cannabis.
• IRS and State Tax Representation
  If you're facing an audit, a dispute, or compliance issue, we represent your interests with a thorough understanding of both federal and state tax systems.

Managing the tax responsibilities of estates and trusts requires focused knowledge and careful planning. At Dickens & Associates, LLP, we work closely with trustees, executors, and estate professionals to provide clear, strategic guidance in all areas of fiduciary taxation and compliance.

Our services are designed to support both straightforward and complex matters, ensuring that every filing, transfer, and distribution is handled with care and accuracy.

Our Fiduciary Tax Services Include:

• Trust & Estate Tax Preparation: Complete and timely preparation of fiduciary tax returns, including Forms 1041, 706, and any required state filings.
• Wealth Transfer Planning: Strategies to reduce tax exposure and protect family assets during lifetime gifts or at death.
• Income & Capital Gains Planning: Advice on tax consequences related to distributions, sales of trust assets, and investment income.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ongoing support to help fiduciaries meet their legal and tax obligations under both federal and state law.
• Charitable and Special Purpose Trusts: Structuring and maintaining trusts with philanthropic or legacy goals, while optimizing tax benefits.

We provide comprehensive legal and tax advisory services for individuals, families, and business owners seeking to establish, protect, and manage their personal and professional interests. Whether you’re forming a new company, setting up an estate plan, or ensuring compliance with new federal filing requirements, our team offers clear guidance and reliable execution every step of the way.

Business Entity Formation & Compliance

• Formation of Corporations, LLCs, LLPs, and Nonprofit Entities
• State Registrations and Articles of Incorporation
• EIN (Employer Identification Number) Applications
• Operating Agreements, Bylaws, and Shareholder Agreements
• Registered Agent Services
• Annual Report Filings and Maintenance
• Business Licensing and Local Compliance
   

BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) Compliance

• Initial and Updated BOI Filings under the Corporate Transparency Act
• Review of Beneficial Ownership Structures
• Recordkeeping and Compliance Monitoring
• Consultation on FinCEN Requirements and Reporting Deadlines
   

Business & Legal Agreements

• Operating Agreements and Partnership Agreements
• Independent Contractor Agreements
• Employment Agreements and Offer Letters
• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
• Vendor and Client Contracts
• Lease and Sublease Agreements
• Buy-Sell Agreements and Shareholder Resolutions
• Contract Review and Risk Assessment
   

Estate Planning & Asset Protection

• Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
• Last Will and Testament
• Powers of Attorney (Durable, Financial, and Healthcare)
• Advance Healthcare Directives / Living Wills
• Guardianship Designations
• Trust Funding and Asset Titling
• Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and Holding Companies
• Charitable Trusts and Foundations
   

Succession and Exit Planning

• Business Succession Planning and Transfer Strategies
• Estate Tax Planning for Business Owners
• Preparation of Buy-Sell Agreements and Exit Terms
• Coordination with Financial Advisors and CPAs for Integrated Plans
   

Ongoing Legal and Advisory Support

• Legal Document Drafting and Review
• Entity Governance and Compliance Oversight
• Fiduciary Advisory for Trustees and Executors
• Notary Services
• Audit Response and Regulatory Liaison

Crossing borders shouldn’t mean crossing into uncertainty. We make international tax matters easier to understand and manage. Whether you're expanding a business overseas, investing globally, or living and working across borders, we’re here to help you stay compliant and make smart financial decisions.

Here’s how we can support you:

• Global Tax Compliance & Reporting
  We’ll help you keep up with international tax rules and make sure your filings are complete, timely, and accurate.
• Cross-Border Tax Planning
  From foreign investments to global business growth, we’ll build a strategy that works for your goals—and for the laws in every country involved.
• Transfer Pricing
  If your business operates in multiple countries, we’ll ensure your intercompany pricing is fair, well-documented, and audit-ready.
• Foreign Tax Credits & Treaty Benefits
  We’ll help you avoid double taxation and take full advantage of international agreements that benefit your bottom line.
• Expatriate & Non-Resident Services
  Whether you're a U.S. citizen working abroad or a non-resident with U.S. ties, we’ll make sure your tax responsibilities are handled properly.
• International M&A Tax Structuring
  Buying, selling, or restructuring internationally? We’ll help you make informed decisions that minimize tax exposure and avoid costly mistakes.
• Estate & Trust Planning for International Assets
  We’ll help protect your global assets and structure your estate and trusts with care and compliance in mind.

The cannabis industry comes with unique challenges that demand specialized knowledge. We provide practical, experience-driven support in taxation, compliance, and financial reporting to help cannabis businesses remain compliant, efficient, and profitable in a highly regulated environment.

Experience That Counts
With more than a decade of hands-on experience in the cannabis sector, we understand the day-to-day realities of running a business under the constraints of 280E, seed-to-sale requirements, and complex state and local tax laws. We work with cultivators, processors, retailers, and support businesses across the supply chain.

Our Services Include:

• Tax Strategy and Compliance
  We help minimize tax exposure while ensuring full compliance with IRS and state regulations.
• 280E Planning and Entity Structuring
  We guide clients through the limitations of 280E and recommend structures that maximize allowable deductions.
• Audit Support and Representation
  We provide experienced representation during IRS and state audits, with a focus on preparation and protection.
• Accounting and Financial Reporting
  Accurate, timely financial statements and GAAP-compliant practices to help you manage cash flow and build investor confidence.
• Business Valuation
  Whether for investment, mergers, or exit planning, we deliver reliable cannabis business valuations.
• Multi-State Tax Compliance
  We manage the varying requirements of state and local cannabis tax laws to ensure ongoing compliance.

Handling tax disputes with the IRS or state and local authorities can be stressful and complex. We represent individuals and businesses facing audits, examinations, and other tax-related challenges.

We work directly with taxing authorities to resolve matters efficiently and with minimal disruption, always focused on protecting our clients' interests. Our services include:

• IRS and State Audit Representation – Managing all phases of audits, including correspondence, in-person meetings, and appeals.
• Tax Dispute Resolution – Addressing issues through administrative appeals or litigation support when necessary.
• Penalty Abatement and Settlements – Seeking reductions in penalties and negotiating fair settlement terms.
• Voluntary Disclosure Assistance – Helping clients come into compliance with unreported income or foreign assets.
• Payroll Tax Matters – Resolving disputes involving employee classification and payroll tax liabilities.
• Sales and Use Tax Representation – Assisting with state and multi-jurisdictional tax compliance and audits.
• Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Defense – Representing business owners and officers in cases involving unpaid payroll taxes.
• Offers in Compromise and Installment Agreements – Negotiating manageable solutions to resolve outstanding tax debts.

Our goal is to reduce your exposure, protect your rights, and bring your matter to a resolution you can move forward from.

Our Firm provides trusted tax and legal advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and private equity professionals. Our Private Client Services are built on experience, discretion, and a deep understanding of complex financial matters. We take a comprehensive approach that not only addresses today’s needs but prepares our clients for long-term success.

Private Client Services:

• Tax Planning & Compliance
  We work closely with clients to reduce tax exposure while meeting all state, federal, and international filing requirements.
• Wealth Structuring & Preservation
  Our estate and trust planning strategies are designed to protect assets, ensure smooth generational transfers, and minimize tax burdens.
• Family Office Advisory
  We support family offices with governance, charitable planning, investment oversight, and integrated reporting tailored to each family’s goals.
• Private Equity & Investment Structuring
  We advise on entity formation, carried interest planning, and tax-efficient strategies for managing and exiting investments.
• Business Advisory & Succession Planning
  Whether you’re growing a business or preparing for a transition, we provide clear guidance to help preserve value and support future leadership.
• Investment Tax Strategy
  We help clients manage and grow their portfolios with careful planning around real estate, private equity, and other complex investments.
• Forensic Accounting & Fraud Protection
  Our team identifies irregularities, prevents fraud, and protects assets through detailed reviews and strong internal controls.

We know that nonprofit organizations operate under unique pressures. From managing compliance and preserving tax-exempt status to maintaining public trust and handling board governance, your organization needs more than general advice—it needs guidance rooted in experience and built for the real world.

We work directly with nonprofit leaders to provide personalized tax, legal, and communication services that align with your mission and support your long-term goals. Whether you're just starting out or managing an established organization, our team is here to help you stay focused on your purpose while we handle the technical details.

• Formation & Exemption: Guidance with starting a nonprofit and applying for tax-exempt status through IRS Forms 1023 or 1024, including state registrations.
• Form 990 Compliance: Accurate and timely preparation of Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, and 990-T.
• Unrelated Business Income (UBIT): Help identifying taxable income sources and managing potential risks.
• State Filings & Registration: Assistance with multi-state filing requirements, charitable registrations, and exemption renewals.
• Grant & Donor Reporting: Ensuring proper tracking of restricted funds and compliance with grant terms.
   

• Board Governance: Drafting and reviewing bylaws, board policies, and governance procedures that reflect your organization’s mission and responsibilities.
• Internal Policies & Employment Matters: Helping establish compliant employee, contractor, and volunteer policies tailored to the nonprofit environment.
• Contract Review: Assistance with reviewing leases, vendor contracts, grant agreements, and service partnerships.
• Audit & Agency Representation: Support during IRS or state audits, including correspondence, documentation, and resolution strategies.
• Compliance Checkups: Periodic legal reviews to make sure you’re in line with evolving state and federal laws.
   

• Donor & Community Messaging: Crafting clear, meaningful communications that resonate with donors, supporters, and stakeholders.
• Crisis Management: Trusted support during sensitive times—media inquiries, leadership transitions, internal issues, or public scrutiny.
• Reputation & Brand Protection: Helping maintain your credibility and public image through thoughtful, strategic messaging.
• Media Support & Press Releases: Coordinated messaging and outreach when you have something important to share with the public.