Meet Shawitekia Johnson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawitekia Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawitekia, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from a small town Thomson, Georgia where most people work just to make ends meet. It’s tough to find a decent job that allows you to truly maintain your household without needing some sort of assistance or picking up a second job.

I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but for a long time, I wasn’t sure what path to take. I had multiple talents and was using them for side hustles here and there. But preparing taxes stood out it was the most lucrative at the time.

As I grew in the business, I started to see just how much misinformation there was out there. I noticed a lot of people had incorrect assumptions about taxes, and unfortunately, I saw many fraudulent returns too. That really deepened my passion for this work. I realized that some people simply didn’t know any better, and I wanted to be someone who could bring awareness, educate, and truly make a difference.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
SMJ Tax Firm and Associates was born from a dream, a dream sparked by a simple prayer asking God what my true purpose was. I knew I had a passion for helping others, but I wanted to understand where that passion was leading me. At the time, I was already preparing taxes, mostly from what I had read and learned on my own. But I realized that if I truly wanted to serve others with excellence, I had to deepen my knowledge and take my skills to the next level.

That’s when I started investing in myself by attending the IRS Tax Forum and enrolling in professional tax courses. I quickly learned that being a leader doesn’t mean knowing everything, it means being teachable and willing to grow. That mindset changed everything for me.

As my business grew, I realized how important it was to educate my clients not just file their returns. I wanted them to know and understand what was in their tax documents. I wanted them to feel empowered, not confused. Helping people make sense of their taxes became more than a service, it became my mission.

What I’m most proud of today is the trust my clients place in me. They allow me to walk with them through financial decisions, year after year. I’m always available for questions, guidance, and support, because to me, clients are more like family.

How did I get here? By being passionate, coachable, and refusing to not give up. Yes, it was hard. I was scared to step out on my own. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right. But I also learned that perfection isn’t the goal growth is. And growth comes through trial, error, and grace.

At SMJ Tax Firm and Associates, we are not just tax preparers, we’re a team of passionate, knowledgeable professionals who care deeply about helping people achieve their financial goals. Whether it’s preparing you for tax season or helping you understand your return line by line, we’re here to serve with honesty, excellence, and integrity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friends and I love spending time together, especially when it involves good food and fun! We usually start our day with brunch at The Flipping Egg it’s one of our favorites. After that, we’ll hit up some line dancing to keep the energy going. Then we grab lunch at Firehouse and later catch a performance by the 360 Band. To wrap up the day, we head to LongHorn Steakhouse for a nice dinner. It’s always a good time filled with laughs, music, and great eats!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to take a moment to recognize my Aunt Millie Snowden for always believing in me and pushing me beyond my limits. Even in the moments when I doubted myself, when I didn’t feel worthy of becoming an entrepreneur, she never stopped speaking life over me and my business.

She constantly prays for me, supports me, and shows up whenever I need her. She even takes courses just so she can better understand and help me in my work. She doesn’t have a daughter of her own, but the way she stands in the gap for me, you’d never know it.

I’m truly thankful for her grace, her unwavering support, and the deep love she’s shown, not just to me, but to the vision I have for my business. Auntie Pat, you are a blessing, and I honor you.

Website: https://smjtaxfirmandassociates.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H12oWBsmo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/smj-tax-firm-and-associates-thomson

Image Credits
Professional photos are taken by Sinetra Walker Kaptured Happiness