Meet Dan

          For me, tax preparation has always been about more than completing tax returns—it's about building relationships, earning trust, and helping people make confident financial decisions.

          I was born and raised in Arizona, where my passion for business and finance began at an early age while working in my father's tax practice. Although I started by assisting with day-to-day office operations, those early experiences introduced me to the fundamentals of tax preparation, small business ownership, and the importance of treating every client with honesty, integrity, and respect. Those values continue to shape the way I serve my clients today.

          After graduating from high school, I proudly enlisted in the United States Army. My military service taught me discipline, accountability, attention to detail, and a strong sense of duty—qualities that have remained the foundation of my professional career.

     Following my military service, I spent several years building my career in business management, hospitality, sales, and consulting. Those experiences strengthened my leadership abilities while providing valuable insight into business operations, customer service, financial management, and relationship building. During this time, I met my wife, Suzanne, and together we built our family while continuing a lifelong commitment to serving others. Suzanne proudly serves as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army, and living the military lifestyle has given me firsthand insight into the unique financial and tax challenges faced by military members and their families.

          Determined to expand my knowledge of finance and business, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance and Real Estate, followed by a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with dual concentrations in Tax Accounting and Hospitality Management. Throughout my education and professional career, I have continued to develop expertise in taxation, financial management, investments, and business operations.

          My professional tax career began while serving with the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) in Bavaria, Germany, where I prepared federal and state income tax returns for Soldiers, Department of Defense civilians, retirees, and military families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. I was later selected as the Tax Assistance Program Coordinator for the Joint Multinational Training Command, where I directed tax operations across eight U.S. Army Tax Centers throughout Bavaria. In that role, I recruited and trained volunteer tax preparers, implemented quality control procedures, ensured IRS compliance, and helped thousands of military members and their families navigate everything from routine tax returns to complex multi-state and overseas filing situations.

          Taxes by Dan was founded on the belief that professional tax preparation should be personal, honest, and accessible. Whether you're filing an individual return, operating a small business, planning for retirement, or serving in the military, my goal is to provide accurate tax preparation, practical financial guidance, and personalized service you can depend on year after year.

          My career spans more than fifteen years of progressive experience in finance, taxation, federal contracting, financial management, and organizational leadership across both the public and private sectors.

          Today, I serve as a Contract Administrator with the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, where I administer a diverse portfolio of federal contracts, research grants, and cooperative agreements valued in excess of $2.5 billion. My responsibilities include payment reconciliation, voucher review, cost analysis, indirect cost negotiations, contract modifications, government property oversight, and post-award administration. Working in this highly regulated environment requires exceptional financial stewardship, analytical thinking, regulatory compliance, and meticulous attention to detail.

          Prior to joining the Office of Naval Research, I served as a Contract Specialist with the Defense Commissary Agency, where I managed the complete acquisition lifecycle for commercial supplies and services. My responsibilities included market research, acquisition planning, solicitation development, proposal evaluation, price analysis, negotiations, contract award, administration, modifications, and closeout in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This experience further strengthened my expertise in financial analysis, procurement, fiscal accountability, and risk management.

          Earlier in my federal career, I served as a Paralegal Specialist with the United States Army at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, providing legal research and administrative support, and later as a Human Resources Technician with the United States Marine Corps, where I supported federal staffing, recruitment, onboarding, and personnel actions under Office of Personnel Management guidelines.

          Before entering federal service, I held leadership positions in hospitality management, pharmaceutical marketing, restaurant operations, and business consulting. These experiences provided a strong foundation in budgeting, payroll administration, inventory control, customer service, sales, marketing, and organizational leadership. More importantly, they reinforced a philosophy that continues to guide my business today: exceptional service begins with listening, understanding each client's unique needs, and building lasting relationships founded on trust.

          My education and professional experience, combined with years of preparing tax returns and managing military tax programs, provide me with a unique perspective that extends well beyond filing annual tax returns. I understand how taxes intersect with business ownership, investments, military service, retirement planning, and long-term financial goals.

          When you choose Taxes by Dan, you're not simply hiring someone to prepare a tax return. You're partnering with a finance professional who has spent his career managing complex financial matters, safeguarding public resources, and helping individuals and families make informed financial decisions with confidence.