Lone Tree, Colorado
The office, and the people behind it.
An independent tax office in Lone Tree, Colorado, open all year. During tax season a team of about five preparers works here, in this office; the rest of the year we are here for questions, planning, IRS letters and returns that are behind. Every return is reviewed with the client before it is filed, and every return is signed by an Enrolled Agent.
Chuck’s mother, Chloe Trautman, established the Tax Shop in Champaign, Illinois.
Long before there were computers, Chuck began preparing income tax returns at his mother’s Tax Shop in Champaign.
Graduated from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Management.
Moved to Denver and began his career with Mobil Coal Resources, in preparation for the oil shale industry in western Colorado.
Became a Broker Associate with RE/MAX (metro Denver), and remains one today.
Opened his own practice, the Tax Shop, in Lone Tree.
Enrolled Agent, licensed by the U.S. Treasury with unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS in any state. Fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute. Personally signs every return.
Leads a team of about five preparers during tax season and is available year-round for IRS notices, audits, and back returns.
See the photos: 1969 to today → · ← Home
Tax planning
Todd handles tax planning at the Tax Shop for individuals and business owners: the conversation before the year ends, not just the return after it. Thirty years in tax, from Fortune 500 tax departments to small business owners in Highlands Ranch, and he has owned a business of his own, so he has sat on the client’s side of the desk.
International tax attorney at BP in Chicago, designing tax structures for operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
Tax manager in the International Tax Services group at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Tax Director at Avery Dennison, responsible for the consolidated return of 50 companies.
Vice President of International Tax at First Data in Greenwood Village, leading a team of ten and the tax work of 65 U.S. and foreign companies.
Founded and ran a Colorado small business with four subsidiaries, handling its books, payroll, and tax compliance himself.
Joined the graduate faculty at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he still teaches corporate income taxation.
Purdue University, B.Sc. Accounting. Loyola University Chicago, JD. DePaul University, LLM in Taxation. Certified Public Accountant in Colorado and Illinois.
At the Tax Shop, Todd works with individuals and business owners on retirement and HSA strategy, Roth conversions, capital gains timing and tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving, entity choice, business retirement plans, and the planning that goes with a high-income year. The same kind of planning the big companies get, at the Tax Shop’s prices.
Start with the questions to ask yourself before December 31, 2026, or see all tax planning topics. To set up a conversation, call 303-734-1040 or email 1040@taxshop.tax and ask for Todd.
In 15 tax seasons, so many clients have thanked me for helping them with their taxes and wished me well, in my business and personally. I very much appreciate all the kind words and support. I also thank them for their referrals of their friends.
— Chuck
Located in the Panera Bread Building, second floor, just south of Park Meadows Mall.
9233 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 202, Lone Tree, CO 80124 · 303-734-1040 · Get directions