CPA for Orange County Businesses and Individuals
MangoBooks is a Los Angeles CPA firm serving small businesses and individuals in Orange County, including Irvine, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Fullerton. Our only office is at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles; MangoBooks has no office in Orange County. Clients there work with us without visiting: meetings are scheduled in advance, and documents and signatures are exchanged electronically.
For a business in Orange County we keep the monthly books, run payroll, prepare the company's return together with the owner's personal return and set up new LLCs and S corporations; for individuals we prepare federal and California returns and plan the year's estimated payments. Felix Park, CPA, MBA, a licensed California CPA, leads the work. Monthly bookkeeping typically costs $650–$1,400 per month, a business tax return $2,000–$3,500 per year, and an individual return $650–$900 with W-2 income.
Where We Work in Orange County
Property tax in Orange County is assessed and collected by the county, while business license and business tax rules are set city by city, and in the unincorporated areas business licensing is handled by the Orange County Sheriff's Department for the business types it lists. We take on businesses and individuals anywhere in the county, including:
- Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. Irvine and Costa Mesa issue a city business license; Newport Beach requires a Business License Tax application before a business starts and the annual tax each year.
- Anaheim, Santa Ana and Fullerton. Anaheim requires an Anaheim Business License, Santa Ana a license and an annual business license tax, and Fullerton a Business Registration Certificate that no other city's license replaces.
- Huntington Beach. A business license is required of any person or business with a physical presence in the city, including a home office.
- Unincorporated Orange County. Business licensing is handled by the Orange County Sheriff's Department for the business types it lists.
The city a business operates in decides which license or registration it needs; the rules for each of these cities are set out below.
Situations We Handle
A new business in Irvine or Anaheim. Anyone planning to conduct business in the City of Anaheim needs an Anaheim Business License, and Irvine issues a city Business License of its own, both in addition to the filings with the Secretary of State and the first-year California payments. We set up the LLC or corporation, file the S corporation election when it suits the business and set out what is due to California in the first year; see Business Formation.
An S corporation owner in Newport Beach. We run the owner's salary through payroll, review it against the IRS requirement to pay reasonable compensation before non-wage distributions, and prepare the company's Form 1120-S and California Form 100S together with the owner's personal return. A business operating in Newport Beach also files the city's Business License Tax application and pays the annual tax each year. The details are on Business Tax Preparation and Payroll.
Business Licenses by City
- Anaheim. Anyone planning to conduct business in the City of Anaheim must obtain an Anaheim Business License, and businesses that are not physically located within the city limits but are conducting business within the city are also required to obtain one.
- Newport Beach. Every business operating in the city files a Business License Tax application before starting and pays the annual tax each year. The rule covers a commercial or residential location in the city and any business using a Newport Beach address or P.O. box, and businesses based outside the city that work in it, such as contractors, consultants and landscape maintenance, must also file. Exemptions may apply to charities, non-profits and disabled veterans.
- Santa Ana. The Municipal Code requires a license for all businesses operating within city limits and payment of an annual business license tax, whether or not the business is carried on for profit. The tax year varies by classification.
- Huntington Beach. A business license is required for any person or business with a physical presence in the city conducting business, whether headquartered at a commercial location, a home office, or outside the city and coming in to conduct business. A home-based business files the Home Based Business License Application, which includes the Home Occupation Permit under Zoning Code 230.12.
- Irvine. The city issues a Business License. The fee is $78.37, new or renewal, for a business with fewer than 10 employees, and $156.88 new or $105.23 renewal for 10 or more, including the mandatory $4 State of California ADA fee. A license runs 12 months from the first day of the month in which the application is made, and the city's guide covers home-based businesses as well.
- Fullerton. A Business Registration Certificate allows a business to operate in the city, and a certificate or license from another city is not valid in Fullerton. The certificate is issued for 12 months from the time the business begins conducting business in the city.
- Costa Mesa. The city's Finance Department issues business licenses, with applications and renewals online.
- Unincorporated areas. The Orange County Sheriff's Department handles business licensing in the unincorporated areas for the business types it lists, and its FAQ directs businesses in Mission Viejo, Dana Point, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and the unincorporated areas to the department for business licensing questions.
Property Tax in Orange County
- Installment dates. The first installment of the secured property tax bill is due November 1, 2026, and December 10, 2026 is the last day to pay it. The second installment's deadline is April 10.
- Assessment appeals. The 2026 annual filing period for an appeal of the assessed value, filed with the Orange County Clerk of the Board, runs from Thursday, July 2, 2026 to Monday, November 30, 2026.
- Parent-to-child transfers. Under Proposition 19, a rental passed to children since February 16, 2021 is reassessed, because the parent-to-child exclusion now covers only a family home or family farm.
- Homeowners' exemption. Only an owner's principal residence qualifies for the homeowners' exemption, which reduces the assessed value by $7,000; a rental does not.
How each rental is reported on Schedule E, depreciated and taxed on a sale is covered on Rental Property Owners.
California Specifics
- LLCs. Every LLC organized or doing business in California pays the $800 annual tax each year until it is cancelled, even if it is not conducting business. The first payment is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the LLC files with the Secretary of State; the first-year exemption covered only tax years 2021 through 2023. An LLC with total California income of $250,000 or more also pays an LLC fee, estimated and paid by the 15th day of the 6th month.
- S corporations. California taxes an S corporation's income at 1.5 percent, with an $800 minimum franchise tax that is waived for a new S corporation's first taxable year. A separate bank account and separate records are required.
- Seller's permit. A business engaged in business in California that sells or leases tangible personal property ordinarily subject to sales tax needs a seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. There is no fee for the permit.
How We Work
Our office at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–6:00 pm. An engagement starts with a consultation about the work involved; we then send a written engagement letter that sets out the scope of work and the fee, and no work begins before that.
Call (213) 255-4665 or contact us to begin.
Fees
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping | $650–$1,400 per month |
| Catch-up bookkeeping | From $1,500 |
| Payroll | $175–$400 per month |
| Business tax return (1120-S, 1065 or 1120 with the California return) | $2,000–$3,500 per year |
| LLC or S corporation setup | From $950 plus state fees |
| Individual return with a business or rental properties | $1,100–$1,800 |
| Individual return with K-1s, stock compensation or several states | $2,500–$4,500 |
Tax planning and financial statements are quoted after a consultation. Fees depend on the scope of work and are set out in a written engagement letter before work begins. See the Fee Guide.
Services Involved
- Business Formation: the LLC or corporation, the S corporation election and the first-year calendar
- Business Tax Preparation: Forms 1120-S, 1065 or 1120 with the California return
- Individual Tax Preparation: the owner's federal and California return, including K-1s
- Bookkeeping: monthly books and catch-up
- Payroll: employee payroll and the owner's salary
- Tax Planning: estimates, owner salary and the pass-through entity election
- Financial Statements: statements prepared from the books for the owners or a lender
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MangoBooks have an office in Orange County?
No. Our only office is at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. We take on clients anywhere in Orange County, including Irvine, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Fullerton, without office visits: meetings are scheduled in advance, and documents and signatures are exchanged electronically.
Which Orange County cities require a business license?
Each city sets its own rule. Anaheim requires an Anaheim Business License of anyone conducting business in the city. Newport Beach requires every business operating in the city to file a Business License Tax application and pay the annual tax. Santa Ana requires a license and an annual business license tax of all businesses operating within city limits. Huntington Beach requires a business license of any person or business with a physical presence in the city conducting business. Fullerton issues a Business Registration Certificate and does not accept a certificate or license from another city. Irvine issues a city Business License, and Costa Mesa's Finance Department issues business licenses. In the unincorporated areas, business licensing is handled by the Orange County Sheriff's Department for the business types it lists.
Does a business based outside a city need that city's license?
Often, yes. Anaheim requires a license of businesses not physically located within the city limits that conduct business within the city. Newport Beach requires businesses based outside the city that work in it, such as contractors, consultants and landscape maintenance, to file. Huntington Beach requires a license of a business headquartered outside the city that comes in to conduct business. Fullerton does not treat a certificate or license from another city as valid.
When can I appeal my Orange County property tax assessment?
The 2026 annual filing period for an assessment appeal with the Orange County Clerk of the Board runs from July 2, 2026 to November 30, 2026. The first installment of the property tax bill is due November 1, 2026, and December 10, 2026 is the last day to pay it; the second installment's deadline is April 10.
What does bookkeeping or a tax return cost for an Orange County business?
Monthly bookkeeping typically costs $650–$1,400 per month, and catch-up bookkeeping for books that are behind starts from $1,500. A business tax return costs $2,000–$3,500 per year, payroll $175–$400 per month, and the owner's individual return $1,100–$1,800 with a business or $2,500–$4,500 with K-1s. The fee for each piece of work is set out in a written engagement letter before it begins. See the Fee Guide.
Does a new Orange County LLC owe California's $800 tax in its first year?
Yes. The first-year exemption ended with tax year 2023, so a new LLC pays the $800 annual tax by the 15th day of the 4th month after it files with the Secretary of State. A new corporation, including an S corporation, does not pay the $800 minimum franchise tax in its first taxable year, though an S corporation's first-year income is still taxed at 1.5 percent. LLC or S corporation setup starts from $950 plus state fees; see Business Formation.
Schedule a Consultation
Call (213) 255-4665 or send us a short message about your situation.
Please do not include Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or tax documents in the form.