top of page

Services

The Difference We Make

Managing a freelance reporting business means balancing time between depositions, transcripts, agencies, scopists, proofreaders—plus life outside of work. Adding tax rules, bookkeeping, payroll, and filing deadlines to that mix can feel overwhelming. Worse yet, missing a requirement or making an error can lead to steep penalties, interest, and even personal liability.

​

That’s where we come in. Our role is to reduce those risks and give you peace of mind through consistent, professional oversight—so compliance feels less like a burden and more like a system that works for you.

​

Court Reporter CPAâ„  was created with one purpose: to make business simpler for freelance court reporters.

 

We combine tax, business, and financial expertise with firsthand understanding of the court reporting world—knowledge gained from Jee's time spent as a former machine and voice writing student—to deliver a practical, one-stop solution for your bookkeeping, payroll, and tax needs. That's right—you don't need a separate bookkeeper, a payroll processor, and a tax person. 

​

Here's our promise to you: greater confidence in your tax compliance and more time for what matters most.

​

Important notice: 

​

  • We currently serve only California-based court reporters.
    ​    ​

    • Jee Lee and our corporation hold CPA licenses to practice public accountancy in California. As a result, our current services are limited to California-based court reporters.
       

    • We plan to expand our services to other states in future.

​​

  • We currently serve only freelance reporters. ​
     

    • At the moment, there are two reasons why we're not the best fit for official reporters:​
      ​

      • Our mission is to make business ownership easier for freelancers through our end-to-end solution of business support and tax compliance. For officials, "business ownership" represents only their 1099 transcript income—a relatively small portion compared to freelancers. At this scale, managing compliance personally is often more economical.
         

      • We don't offer stand-alone tax preparation, which is the service officials typically seek. For officials with straightforward tax needs, cost-effective options like self-preparation tax software may be a better fit. 
         

  • We only accept a limited number of new clients (typically 3-5) each year. 
     

    • A key benefit for Jee's clients is his unlimited, year-round business guidance and advocacy (see details in the following section). Accepting only a few new clients each year allows Jee to maintain this commitment at the highest level of quality.
       

    • ​Check out our "Contact" page for new client openings.

Our Services

1 | Freelancer Business Support, Bookkeeping, and Payroll

This is our core service—a comprehensive monthly solution that includes business support, bookkeeping, and payroll for streamlined tax compliance.

​

  • For Sole Proprietor — $326.60/month or $552.50/month (see details below) 

​

  • For S Corporation Owner — Above pricing + ~$41/month for payroll (see details below)

​​​

Business Support — Practical support to help you stay organized and compliant while running your freelance business:
 

  • Unlimited guidance — Get answers to your business, accounting, and tax questions via secure chat, email, text, or phone.
     

    • ​Note: We can’t give customized advice on legal, investment, insurance, or other matters that require separate licensure, but we’ll provide general education and help you find qualified professionals when needed.
       

  • Unlimited advocacy — When conflicts arise with court reporting agencies, vendors, or contractors, having a CPA on your side can help. We offer communication support and advocacy in business, accounting, or tax-related matters.
     

    • Note:

      • IRS or state tax agency representation requires a separate agreement.

      • We cannot assist with legal matters such as lawsuits, contract disputes, or criminal investigations; please consult a licensed attorney for these.

      • Due to strict rules for CPAs, we cannot provide “comfort/verification letters” for lenders (most commonly for mortgage applications).
         

  • Compliance reminders — Certain tasks remain your responsibility, like paying estimated taxes or renewing licenses. We’ll send you reminders for these items, including annual filings for incorporated clients.
     

  • Business document storage and organization — Upload important business documents (such as registrations, renewals, and tax filings) to our secure client portal. We’ll organize them for easy access, even years later.  
     

Bookkeeping — The process of organizing and tracking the money your business earns, spends, keeps, and owes, creating IRS-compliant paper trails for your business transactions.
 

  • ​Proper bookkeeping isn’t just recordkeeping; it requires applying formal accounting rules and tax laws. What seems like a business expense to you may not qualify under IRS guidelines. That’s why we carefully follow IRS rules to keep you compliant. If you provide the requested information and documents, we’ll finalize each month’s records within 90 days of month-end.
     

  • Accurate bookkeeping is essential for preparing your annual tax returns. Without it, your returns can be incomplete or incorrect, which may lead to penalties and interest even years later. Because of this, we only offer tax return preparation to clients who use our bookkeeping services.
     

  • As an added benefit, up-to-date records give you a clear picture of your finances, help us estimate taxes more accurately, and uncover opportunities for smart tax savings.
     

  • You will choose one of two bookkeeping options:
     

    • AccuPlanâ„  Bookkeeping — $500/month + QuickBooks Online Essentials ($52.50/month)
       

      • ​Premium protection for freelancers who value peace of mind and maximum confidence in their financial records.
         

      • Accuracy First: We will review every transaction in your business bank accounts for IRS compliance, giving you a strong first line of defense against audits.
         

      • Peace of Mind: We’ll organize each receipt, invoice, and supporting document you provide for easy access and IRS-ready formatting. You can sleep well knowing your ready-to-submit evidence will give you the best protection for your income and deductions if you’re ever audited.
         

    • SpeedPlanâ„  Bookkeeping — $300/month + QuickBooks Online Simple Start ($26.60/month)
       

      • Practical efficiency for freelancers who prioritize speed and affordability.  
         

      • Efficiency First: We will review all transactions for IRS compliance, but you only provide documents for a few—rather than all—transactions tax preparers are required to review. This means you’ll spend less time gathering paperwork and enjoy faster turnaround for your monthly records.
         

      • Trade-off: With fewer documents reviewed by our team, there is less oversight and higher audit risk. You’ll need to keep your own paper trail organized in case of an audit.
         

Payroll — Payroll means more than just paying yourself; it’s about staying compliant with federal and state tax laws. It includes calculating wages, withholding federal and state taxes, sending those taxes to the right agencies, and filing required forms on a quarterly and annual basis.
 

  • If you have an S Corporation:
    ​

    • You’re both an owner and an employee, which comes with extra compliance responsibilities. We handle these tasks for you so you can avoid penalties and interest:
       

      • Calculate and pay “reasonable wages” per IRS guidelines (important for mortgage applications and benefits like Social Security, state disability, and family leave programs).  

      • Deposit payroll taxes with the IRS and state agencies.

      • File all required payroll tax forms, including quarterly 941, annual 940, W-2/W-3, and state equivalents.

      • File annual 1099 forms for scopists, proofreaders, and other contractors who meet reporting criteria.
         

    • To facilitate our payroll oversight for S Corporation owners, the following subscription is also required:​
      ​

      • QuickBooks Online Payroll Core — (~$41/month)
         

  • If you don’t have an S Corporation:
    ​

    • Your tax compliance is simpler (but still important).

    • ​You must calculate and pay estimated taxes to the IRS and your state every quarter under the “pay-as-you-go” system. Missing or underpaying can lead to penalties and interest, even if you pay in full at tax time.

    • ​We’ll analyze your situation and guide you on accurate estimated payments. You’ll make the payments directly through your IRS and state accounts.

    • ​You’ll also need to file annual 1099 forms for certain contractors. Our bookkeeping ensures you know who qualifies, and we’ll guide you through the process.

    • ​Finally, this is a great time to learn about payroll responsibilities if you plan to incorporate and elect S Corporation status. We’ll help you prepare for that transition.​​​​​

2 | Tax Return Preparation — Available for Monthly Service Clients Only

For Sole Proprietor:
 

  • Federal and State Individual Tax Returns — $2,000

​

For S Corporation Owner: ​
​​

  • Federal and State Business Tax Returns — $2,000

  • Federal and State Individual Tax Returns — $1,000​​

​​​

Clean-up Bookkeeping:
 

  • Required only for the first year for which we are preparing your tax returns but did not perform your bookkeeping for some or all of the year — $300/month of evaluation

3 | IRS or State Tax Representation — Available for Monthly Service Clients Only

  • Case-by-case quote for representation on notices, penalties, or audits.

© 2026 Jee Lee
  • Facebook
bottom of page