Capital Tax

About Capital Tax

Capital Tax is a tax and accounting firm with an office on the second floor of 530 Lytton Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. It is not a one-office shop. The firm also lists offices in Walnut Creek and Santa Monica. The phone number on its Palo Alto page carries a 925 area code. The Palo Alto office page shows hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with the office closed on weekends.

The firm says clients have trusted it with their tax and accounting needs for more than twenty years. Elsewhere on its site it gives the figure as over 25 years. It describes tax planning as the core of what sets it apart, with the tagline "Produce extraordinary tax results. Multiply wealth." Treat that as the firm's own pitch rather than a promise. This page describes the firm's services only and is not tax or financial advice.

Services

Capital Tax splits its work into four groups on its Palo Alto page.

• Business tax. A small business package, tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping, consulting and virtual CFO services. The firm also lists tax and accounting for contractors.
• Individual tax. Tax preparation and planning, taxes for Americans living abroad, planning for executives, cryptocurrency and the tax side of divorce.
• Trusts and estates. A list of trust types that includes living trusts, charitable lead and remainder trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, generation skipping trusts, special needs trusts and dynasty trusts.
• Mergers and acquisitions. Support with business sales, purchases and due diligence.

The firm also names manufacturing, financial services and government among the industries it works with. If a trust is part of your plans, ask early how the firm's work fits with your estate planning attorney's.

The team

The firm's team page lists Zachary Sahar, CPA, as managing director. Other listed staff include tax accountants Marina Carter, Steve Novak and Katherine Wells (the first two are CPAs), along with financial accountant Michelle Carroll, document coordinator Crista Sierra and Harris Sahar, vice president of marketing and sales. The page does not say which staff work from which office, so ask who will handle your file if meeting in Palo Alto matters to you. You can confirm a CPA's license through the California Board of Accountancy.

How working with the firm works

Capital Tax describes a three-step process. It starts with a discovery conversation about your financial goals, moves to tailored recommendations and ends with putting the plan in place. New clients can book a meeting through a scheduling page on the website. The firm also runs an online client portal where new clients sign up and share documents, which suits people who would rather not carry paper files downtown.

The firm's listed values are ethical and professional standards, responsive service, integrity and clear communication. Ask at the first meeting how fees are set, what the engagement covers and when you can expect your return or your books to be finished. Getting those points in writing early helps both sides.

Who Capital Tax suits

The service list points to several kinds of clients. Startup employees and executives with equity pay may look at the executive planning work. Small business owners and contractors can use the bookkeeping and outsourced CFO services instead of hiring in-house. Families with larger estates may want the trust and estate work. Anyone selling or buying a company may want a second set of eyes on the numbers. Americans abroad who keep ties to the Bay Area may find the expat tax work useful.

Starting a company in town? Our guide to starting a business in Palo Alto covers the city's business registry and other local steps. The startups hub has more on the local scene.

Tips for visiting

The office is a few blocks from University Avenue and within walking distance of the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Book a meeting before you go, since staff may be working remotely or at another office. New clients should reach out well before a filing deadline rather than in the final week. Downtown parking has time limits and permit zones, so read the signs or take the train. Our downtown Palo Alto guide has ideas for coffee or lunch after your appointment.

Location and getting there

Capital Tax is at 530 Lytton Avenue, 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.5 miles away. That is roughly a 12 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Bank of America Lytton Avenue, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Mademoiselle Colette, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• Blue Bottle Coffee University Avenue, cafe, under 0.1 mi
• Stanford Federal Credit Union, service business, under 0.1 mi
• AT&T University Avenue, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Johnson Park, 0.2 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, 0.3 mi
• University Avenue, 0.3 mi

Other professional services nearby: King & Spalding (0.3 mi); Premier Properties (0.4 mi); Law Offices of Nancy M. Martinez, P.C. (1.6 mi); Irvin, Abrahamson & Company (1.7 mi). Browse the full professional services list.

Before you go

• Most firms meet by appointment only. Call or email before visiting the office.
• Ask about fees, billing and what is included before you sign an engagement letter.
• Check professional licenses through the relevant California board, such as the State Bar or the Department of Real Estate.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Palo Alto office page; Meet our team; Purpose, values and process. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions