Today we’d like to introduce you to William Vandegrift.
William, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and grew up in Bristol, PA, a Philadelphia suburb. I was born to a 17 year old single mother. I have never met my father. We were a lower class, poor household. I was raised by my amazing mother with the help of my maternal grandparents.
I always received high marks in school with math being my favorite and strongest subject. I had several odd jobs starting when I was 12 years old until I got my first official job on the books. At 16 years old, I began working full time at Wawa even though working full time at that age was technically against the law, I did so anyway, sometimes up to 45 hours per week. When I graduated high school, I decided not to go to college right away so I can work and support living on my own without having to burden my mom or grandparents financially.
I have lived on my own, or with roommates since I was 18 years old. After several years working manual labor jobs such as working cutting bushings on a steel lathe, packing roofing materials for a roofing warehouse and paving roads and driveways with asphalt, I decided at age 26 I would get a college degree so I can have a less strenuous career. I joined Bucks County Community College and within 4 years of switching between full time school and part time school but always concurrently working a full time job, I finally received an Associate’s Degree in Mathematics. Right before graduation my daughter, Ezri, was born. I named her after a character in Star Trek. After my Associates, I transferred the credits to Temple University and joined their Business School (Fox Business School).
In the warm weather months of the year, during the day from 5am to about 6pm I paved driveways and roads with asphalt. At night I took online courses at Temple. During winter months we could not pave so I went to Temple campus for classes on a full time schedule. I was a member of Beta Alpha Psi honors business fraternity. I graduated at 33 years old with a B.B.A. in Accounting.
After graduation, a friend of mine secured an interview for me with a former fraternity brother of his who was Director of a tax firm in Austin, Texas. I interviewed with him and received a job offer as an entry level tax accountant. I took the job and my girlfriend, our daughter and I moved to Texas. After less than a year with the firm, I was offered the position of head of the international tax department which I was excited to accept. I have always loved travel and immersing myself in other cultures. I ran the international department of that firm for four years until I decided to leave and start my own international tax firm, Vandegrift International.
My girlfriend and I split when our daughter was 4 years old and we agreed that I would have custody so she could be in the great school district where I live. Days before the COVID lockdown, I purchased my first house in Leander, Texas.
All things international culture interest me and travel is my passion. My daughter and I often travel together overseas. The pictures I have included are of some of our travels to Japan, London, Liverpool, Paris and Rome.
Over the last 6 years I have run my own firm while also remotely managing a mortgage banking and private equity tax firm in California. In November 2024, I left the California firm with the sole focus of growing the clientele of my own firm. I currently have about 60 clients with a goal to expand to 100 by next tax season.
I have also been focused on becoming fluent in Japanese and German as the majority of my clients are in Switzerland and Japan. I currently speak intermediate Japanese and beginner German.
My company’s mission is to ensure all clients pay the least amount of tax legally possible while providing them with a full understanding of the US tax system. I provide Exit Tax counseling for those who wish to relinquish US citizenship or their Green Card as well. I want every client to feel that they have someone they can trust and fully rely on to look out for their best interests at all times.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was never a smooth road. Growing up in a very poor family meant that I had no financial help at all through all my years in college. I funded the entirety of my 7 years in school with student loans. When I graduated, I did so with $116,000 of student loan debt. Even today, after making a great salary for the last handful of years, and paying over $800 per month for many years toward the loans, I still have about $90,000 in student loan debt.
Having a child halfway through my degree also added some hardship. Of course, I do not regret this decision. However, I worked full time and went to school mostly full time so the first 3 years of my daughter’s life I only saw her a minimal amount of time each day. Becoming a single father with full custody and working in the tax field that demands 60-70 hour work weeks about half of the year was always difficult. This is a main reason I started my own firm in order to end the 60+ hour work weeks and spend much more time with my daughter.
Now things are certainly closer to a smooth road. The work hours are fantastic. The only struggle now is building a book of business large enough to get back to the salary I was making when I both ran my firm and managed another tax firm at the same time. I am positive I will get there soon!
As you know, we’re big fans of Vandegrift International. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in international taxation under IRS rules and regulations. I prepare tax returns for US expats, digital nomads and immigrants who are here in the US that still have income or assets outside of the US that needs to be reported to the IRS.
I offer business tax preparation of 1065 partnerships, 1120-s S-Corp and 1120 C-Corp return preparation.
I provide tax consulting and tax planning as well to ensure my clients pay the least amount of tax legally possible.
I provide ITIN application services as a Certified Acceptance Agent.
I provide Exit Tax counseling and planning for people who decide to relinquish US Citizenship or end their Green Card status.
I set myself apart from other firms by the knowledge, expertise and care I take in fully understanding international tax laws. Not many firms provide this service or have the expertise to provide the service correctly.
I charge a flat fee based on the international forms required and no client ever receives a surprise bill from me since the flat fee is provided clearly up front before they become a client.
I am someone my clients can trust to understand all IRS rules and regulations but also have a firm understanding of the tax laws of many other countries in order to provide a seamless transition from their home country’s taxes to the US tax system ensuring they never pay double tax and indeed pay the least amount of tax legally possible.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I would say I have amazing luck when making great friends. I am not sure where my life and career would be without the many amazing friends I have made over my lifetime. In particular, my first tax accounting job which started me off on my current path of international tax firm owner was achieved from a long time friend reaching out on my behalf to his friend who was Director of the firm that first hired me. I believe that luck of friendship is the reason I have this career today.
Pricing:
- Business tax returns start at $1,500
- Personal tax returns start at $900
- ITIN processing $300 per application
- Tax plans from $300-$900 on average
- FBAR filing starting at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vinttax.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582774573937
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-vandegrift-ea-20a9318b/
