The History of R&G Brenner

Today, R&G Brenner has the distinction of being one of the oldest and largest privately-owned year-round tax preparation companies in the United States. With twenty-eight separate locations in and around the greater New York metropolitan area, the business has continued to flourish over the past sixty-nine years. Originally founded in 1941, the R&G Brenner has remained family owned and operated, with a third generation of the Brenner family now running the company. The Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) recognized R&G Brenner’s success by awarding it the “Best in Business” award in 2009, meaning that the company ranks in the top five percent of businesses in its field nationally.

The tax preparation business was the original brainchild of David S. Brenner and his wife, Becky Brenner in the 1940s. David was a certified public accountant (CPA) that worked primarily in the theatrical industry, both providing financial and tax advice to his clients as well as preparing their basic tax returns. The early focus of the company was on the theatrical community: actors, writers, and stage people. Among the many friends and clients of David Brenner was the now famous Mel Brooks. Many of the earlier clients were involved in Off Broadway productions, which resulted in a lot of funny stories about truly awful productions still passed on among the Brenner family.

David and Becky Brenner had two children, William A. Brenner and Robert M. Brenner. William, or Bill, took over the families upstate operations and is now the head of Brenner Income Tax Centers, Inc. which operates primarily in Sullivan, Ulster and Orange Counties. With eight different offices, Brenner Income Tax Centers has been successful and constitutes a wholly independent business with no official connection to R&G Brenner in and around New York City.

The other brother, Robert M. Brenner, took over the operations in New York, which is R&G Brenner. As already noted, this business has continued to thrive and expand and remains a major player in the New York tax preparation industry. Further, it remains fully family-owned and operated. The Chief Executive Officer, President, three Vice Presidents, Director of Operations and two managers are all direct members of the Brenner family by blood or by marriage. Of the executive team, only the Chief Operating Officer is not a member of the family.

As a long standing family business, R&G Brenner also boasts a number of family clients, whose parents and grandparents also used R&G Brenner’s tax services. The over all family orientation of R&G Brenner gives it a unique and very personal feel that most tax preparation services cannot provide. Further, as R&G Brenner continues to expand its services into the larger arena of financial consulting and advising – largely through its alliance with Garguilo & Knight Wealth Management Services, LLC – there are even less good reasons for clients to move on to other service providers.

All indications are that R&G Brenner will continue to grow and enhance its customer experience in the foreseeable future. Despite the economic downturn and current situation, everyone needs competent tax advice and service, and R&G Brenner is there to provide it.

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