Tax Planning Case Study Outcomes Report
An analysis of 54 comparable AE Tax Advisors case studies published through September 20, 2026.
Headline Findings
Across 54 original published case studies with a comparable annual tax-savings measure, the median reported outcome is $71,500 and the average is $85,426. These are descriptive case-study figures, not audited performance statistics or a promise of future savings.
Important: AE Tax Advisors selected and published these case studies. The cohort is not a random sample, may overrepresent situations with substantial planning opportunities, and should not be generalized to every taxpayer.
Outcome Distribution
37 of 54 cases (69%) report at least $50,000 in annual tax savings. 15 cases (28%) report at least $100,000.
Range and Quartiles
- Lowest reported annual figure: $18,000
- 25th percentile: $42,000
- Median: $71,500
- 75th percentile: $116,500
- Highest reported annual figure: $380,000
- Sum of the cohort headline figures: $4,613,000, without adjustment for overlap, duration, realization, or present value
Representative Cases
| Published case | Reported annual savings | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Management Consulting (Solo) | $36,000 | SE tax cut by $19K; retirement plan saves $12K; Augusta Rule adds $5K |
| E-Commerce (Amazon FBA) | $58,000 | S-Corp saves $34K in SE tax; inventory method change defers $24K |
| W-2 Employees (Airline Pilot + Tech Executive) | $68,000 | $195K paper loss from STR offsets W-2 income |
| Physician (W-2) + STR Portfolio | $89,000 | Spousal REPS + 3 STR cost seg studies = $89K annual savings |
| Restaurant (2 Locations) | $94,000 | Cost seg on 2 buildings + FICA tip credit = $94K annual savings |
| Self-Storage Facilities (3 Locations) | $126,000 | 1,450 total units, $4.8M combined building basis, $420K automation equipment |
| Precision Manufacturing (Aerospace Components) | $142,000 | $1.2M annual R&D spend, $2.8M equipment basis, 65 employees |
| Commercial Construction | $156,000 | $620,000 in equipment purchases |
| Private Medical Practice (Orthopedic Surgery) | $168,000 | 4 physician-partners, average income $680K each, 22 staff |
| Technology Startup (AI/ML) | $380,000 | 83(b) election at $0.001/share; acquisition at $12/share; $380K saved |
Methodology
- We separated the 75 pre-existing case-study pages from 480 deterministic scenario-template pages. Scenario pages are excluded from every statistic on this page.
- We included only original pages whose client-profile table contains the field Annual Tax Savings followed by one unqualified dollar amount.
- We excluded 21 original pages reporting deductions, offsets, deferrals, recoveries, mixed time periods, or no comparable annual measure.
- We calculated the median, arithmetic mean, quartiles, range, and distribution directly from the 54 included headline figures.
- We did not independently audit the underlying returns, realization of the savings, or the counterfactual calculation.
Download JSON or download CSV. Each row links to its published case study.
How to Interpret the Findings
- Use the median as a description of this selected cohort, not an expected client result.
- Larger outcomes often accompany higher income, larger asset basis, multiple entities, or several coordinated strategies.
- A deduction amount is not the same as tax savings, which is why deduction-only studies were excluded.
- Deferral is not permanent savings and was excluded from the comparable annual cohort.
- Every proposed strategy still requires fact-specific tax, legal, substantiation, and implementation review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median reported annual tax savings in these case studies?
The median across the 54-case benchmark cohort is $71,500. This describes the published cohort and is not a prediction for a prospective client.
How many case studies are included?
The statistical cohort includes 54 original case studies with one plain annual tax-savings figure. It excludes 21 other original studies whose headline measures were deductions, deferrals, offsets, recoveries, or did not provide a comparable annual figure. It also excludes 480 templated scenarios.
Are these results guaranteed?
No. Tax outcomes depend on income, marginal rates, basis, entity structure, participation, substantiation, timing, state law, and implementation. No case-study result guarantees a similar outcome.
Related Reading
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