Jaclynn Watkins was 16 when she graduated from Mumford High School in Detroit. By 17, she was already working in the tax industry. Now, before turning 30, she’s running a company that serves tax professionals across more than half the country.
Her path wasn’t conventional. An internship at Eco Tax Solutions led Watkins to drop out of Wayne State University, betting on the tax industry instead of a college degree. That decision paid off when she grew her first brand to $100,000 by age 23. Her current venture, Centralized Tax Solutions, hit $500,000 in revenue in under two years.
A Different Kind of Tax Business
Centralized Tax Solutions operates as a tax service bureau, which means it doesn’t serve individual taxpayers directly. Instead, the company provides tax software and support services to authorized e-file transmitters who run their own tax offices. The company also prepares taxes for individuals through its Quick Stop Tax brand, with clients in more than 25 states this tax season.
What sets the operation apart is an approach that runs counter to typical software licensing models. While many providers charge seasonal fees or restrict access during off-peak months, Centralized Tax Solutions offers year-round software access to its partners. Watkins also covers marketing costs for partners and has built a CRM system they can use at no additional charge.
“We don’t believe in profiting from partners but truly enriching them to grow and growing together,” Watkins explains in describing her business model.
Betting on Client Loyalty
The company’s growth strategy includes an unusual tactic: giving money directly to clients. This week, Watkins is distributing $3,000 to tax customers, viewing the expense as an investment in long-term relationships rather than a cost.
It’s a reflection of how Watkins, who has an IQ of 138 and is raising two sons while running the business, thinks about competition in the tax services industry. Rather than extracting maximum revenue from each transaction, she’s building a network of tax professionals who have financial incentive to stick with her platform.
The company now serves tax office clients in more than 15 states and has processed returns for individual taxpayers across 25 states. Watkins wants to expand her tax services footprint to all 50 states, a goal that would require significant infrastructure buildout and state-by-state compliance work.
For someone who started with nothing on Detroit’s east side, the trajectory suggests that unconventional paths can still work in professional services. No business degree, no venture capital, just an internship that turned into industry expertise and a willingness to structure deals differently than established players.