Ilknur D Grubbs, EA, CTS – 2024 “40 Under 40” Honoree
President
Legacy Tax Services
www.LegacyTaxEA.com
Recent Career Highlights
In 2010, at just 23 years old and newly graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, I found myself on the cusp of a new chapter with my mentor, a 75-year-old tax accountant who had guided me through five years of hands-on learning. We had discussed transitioning his practice, with me taking over the daily operations while he continued focusing on what he loved most—connecting with clients. Tragically, less than 24 hours of the discussions, my mentor passed away unexpectedly, leaving me to take over the practice sooner than anyone anticipated.
Over the next 14 years, I transformed the firm. What started as a traditional, paper-based office with a small tax prep only client base grew into a fully paperless, modernized business. I expanded services beyond tax preparation to include tax advisory and Client Advisory Services (CAS), positioning Legacy Tax Services as a crucial partner for small business owners all while retaining approximately 70% of the original small business clients.
- 2024 – Certified Tax Strategist Award Recipient – AICTC
- 2025 – Dale Carnegie Immersion Course Award Recipient
What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?
I am an active and engaged member of my professional community through organizations like PASBA, AICTC and the CCA community. Additionally, I have spoken to over 1,400 small business owners, particularly during the challenges of COVID-19, guiding them through crucial tax strategies that helped sustain their businesses.
Coming from an entrepreneurial family, I am a passionate advocate for small businesses. My work is deeply inspired by my own family’s values of hard work and community. I find great fulfillment in helping entrepreneurs not only understand their tax obligations but also become empowered to use the tax code as a tool for making smarter business decisions.
What are you currently reading/listening to that improves your professional development?
- Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- Small Business Taxes Made Easy – Eva Rosenberg
- How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
- The Treasury of Quotes – Jim Rohn
See all of the 2024 “40 Under 40” and “20 Under 40” honorees.
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