Most business owners don’t lose sleep because they hate numbers. They lose sleep because they are terrified of what those numbers might reveal if the IRS ever comes knocking. Behind the unfiled returns, unopened IRS letters, and messy books is a constant, exhausting fear: “What if I’m in trouble and I don’t even know it yet?”​

In this episode of the Tax Answers Advisor, Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Representation Consultant Marcelino Dodge sits down with CPA Laura Zarate of Athena CPAs to talk about a different way forward: building clean systems and proactive tax strategies so you can stop looking over your shoulder and finally look ahead. Together they show how “boring” consistent accounting, intentional decisions, and year‑round planning can turn chaos into clarity and fear into confidence.​

You’ll hear how reactive habits—ignoring IRS notices, mixing business and personal money, relying on shoebox receipts, waiting until April to think about taxes—quietly build penalties, interest, and anxiety, even when no one is sending you letters yet. You’ll also discover what a truly clean system looks like, why documentation matters so much in an audit, and how separating your business and personal finances protects not just your deductions but your entire entity.​

Marcelino and Laura walk through real‑life scenarios: missed S corporation elections, owners who never took reasonable payroll, people who bought expensive vehicles “for the write‑off” and ended up with a cash problem instead of a tax solution. They unpack how simple timing and structure decisions—like how you sell a business, when you take income, and how you compensate yourself—can save thousands when you plan ahead instead of cleaning up after the fact.​

Most importantly, this conversation speaks to the business owner who feels ashamed, behind, or afraid to reach out because “it’s already such a mess.” You’ll hear why it is absolutely possible to clean up the past and build better systems for the future at the same time, and how showing real change can make the IRS or state far more willing to work with you.​

The problem this show solves

This show exists for the business owner who:

1. Has unfiled tax returns, IRS or state letters, or a tax bill they don’t understand.​
2. Is trying to DIY their books and taxes while running a company, and feels constantly unsure if anything is actually right.​
3. Has grown from “side hustle” money to real revenue but never adjusted their entity, payroll, or planning.​
4. Lies awake wondering, “What if I get audited? What if I can’t fix this?”​

Through this podcast, Marcelino helps you:

1. Move from fear, avoidance, and reaction into proactive planning, clear systems, and predictable tax outcomes.​
2. Replace shame with informed action by explaining what went wrong, what can still be fixed, and what to do next.​
3. Keep more of what you earn legally, while getting compliant and protecting your business and family.​

If today’s episode hits a nerve—if you see your own situation in these stories—it’s a signal, not a sentence. You don’t have to fight the IRS or face your books alone.​

Take the next step

When you’re ready to stop letting the IRS dictate your future, visit taxreliefcall.com to schedule a confidential conversation with Marcelino. As an Enrolled Agent...

Does the thought of opening your mailbox send you into a panic? Do you feel paralyzed by unfiled tax returns or mounting IRS debt? You are not alone. In this unique crossover episode of The Tax Answers Advisor, host Marcelino Dodge sits down with family therapy expert Lydia Schneider to explore the deep emotional impact of financial stress.

We discuss why "Tax Trauma" is real and how the shame of IRS issues can mimic the symptoms of PTSD. Marcelino and Lydia break down how therapy techniques—like building safety, reframing anxiety, and even EMDR—can help you get "unstuck" and finally take the first steps toward resolution. Whether you are dealing with a defiant child or a defiant tax debt, the path to healing starts with finding a safe guide.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The Hidden Link: Why tax problems often manifest as physical anxiety, sleeplessness, and emotional isolation.
2. What is "Tax Trauma"? Understanding why you feel unsafe and how to regain a sense of control over your life (and your finances).
3. Lessons from Child Therapy: How the concepts of "returning responsibility" and "empowerment" can help adults finally face their tax issues.
4. Breaking the Cycle of Shame: Why hiding the problem from your spouse or family only makes the anxiety worse—and how to start the conversation.
5. EMDR Explained: A look at how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can help clear mental blocks and "stuck" trauma.

Key Quotes:

1. "Whether it’s a child struggling with anxiety or a taxpayer feeling exposed and vulnerable... the solution starts with finding a safe path forward." – Marcelino Dodge
2. "Financial stress is the highest stress for my adults. They don’t feel safe in the world, and they don’t feel safe in themselves." – Lydia Schneider
3. "I empower them to feel in control of their life... You have everything in you that’s already there." – Lydia Schneider

Resources Mentioned:

1. Book: The Anxious Generation (Recommended by Lydia)
2. Therapy Concept: Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) & EMDR
3. Guest Info: Lydia Schneider, Family Therapy Expert

Connect with Marcelino Dodge:

Are you ready to eliminate the worry of liens, levies, and future IRS surprises? Don't face the government alone.

1. Website: TaxReliefCall.com
2. Company: Panther Tax Resolution / Cash Tracks Financial
3. Email: success@cashtracksfinancial.com

Subscribe & Review:

If you found value in this episode, please leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need to hear that there is life after tax debt.

If you’re an attorney, law firm owner, family lawyer, or legal professional trying to balance client work with financial responsibilities, this episode is a must-listen.

Host Marcelino Dodge, EA, CTRC, sits down with Merry Stewart of Quick Win Bookkeeping to reveal the bookkeeping, tax, and compliance mistakes attorneys make every single day — many of which can lead to IRS audits, bar investigations, retained earnings problems, and trust account violations.

In clear, non-technical language, they break down how proper accounting systems can:

• Protect your law license
• Prevent IRS surprises
• Reduce client disputes over retainers and fees
• Build stronger cases with clean financial records
• Empower better decision-making and cash flow planning

This conversation offers real insight you won’t hear from typical bookkeeping or tax professionals, because it comes directly from two specialists working with attorneys nationwide.

Merry Stewart — QuickWin Bookkeeping

📌 Nationwide virtual services for attorneys

🌐 Website: quickwinbookkeeping.com

📧 Email: info@quickwinbookkeeping.com

Marcelino Dodge, EA, CTRC

Tax Resolution Specialist | IRS Representation | Offer in Compromise

🌐 Schedule a confidential consultation: taxreliefcall.com

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Tax Answers Advisor

👍 Like this episode

💬 Comment: What legal bookkeeping questions do you have?

📌 Subscribe so you never miss an episode

🔔 Turn on notifications for new tax relief content

Attorneys: Don’t wait for the IRS or the bar to write the next chapter of your practice. Get proactive guidance today.