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How Does A Phone/Video Tax Appt Work?
At the time of your scheduled appt your Tax Preparer will connect with you over the phone or by video conference. You should submit your tax documents to us no later than 3 business days prior to your appt using one of the many methods available (i.e. upload, drop-off, fax, mail, etc.)

Your Tax Preparer may use some of the time during your appointment to input your data before calling you so do not be alarmed if you are not contacted at the beginning of your appt. Similar to an in-person Appt. the Preparer will go over tentative figures with you before ending the call if possible. Typically Your Preparer will use email for signatures as well as payment for our services or you can come into the office to pick up and sign. Once your Signatures & Payment is received, your taxes are filed electronically with the Government, and full copies sent to you by Email Mail Or Scheduled Pickup.

How Does The Drop & Go Process Work?
Customers can come into the office anytime 24/7 to drop off their taxes to be completed without an appointment. Feel free to drop off anytime including during non-business hours by using our Door Slot located at the bottom of our front door. Complex Business Tax Clients must have approval by the Preparer to use this Drop & Go Process. This method is convenient but it is a slower process as described above with no guarantee of completion date.

Drop & Go Taxes are completed as soon as possible in the order we receive them. Work is done on these files between appointments and at other designated times. Your Preparer may contact you by phone or email to verify/confirm info. Once completed you will receive a call or email from our office with instructions for finalizing. As noted a 15 min consult over the phone can be set up if need be, for questions or verbal communication needs.

What Is The Process For Uploading/Faxing/Mailing Our Info?
Uploading, Faxing or Mailing us your tax documents are all acceptable ways to get us your tax information.  Uploading Documents is a fancy way of saying use our website upload link to send us scanned or saved images of your important Tax Documents. It is very important that your pics or documents are readable. The process is much like attaching them to an email except uploading is more secure than emailing and it keeps the documents organized on our side for easier retrieval later. Much like Drop & Go this process takes longer than having an appointment.

Faxing or Mailing are other acceptable forms of getting us your tax info however, we do caution that sending your original tax documents through the mail runs a higher risk of being lost. NOTE: Please do not use USPS delivery with signature as our mail person delivers mail early & many times--before we open. We miss a lot of priority or express mail and do not know about it because it never makes it to our door. UPS or Fed Ex is the best option for deliveries to our office during normal business hours. Once we have your tax documents contact you once it's time for you to review & approve your taxes.

Why Does It Take So Much Longer With No Completion Date Given For Drop & Go or Mail-In Tax Returns?
These types of returns are worked on in between appointments, and at smaller designated times of the business day. With so many people converting to drop-off or mail-in taxes due to the pandemic, we have seen a huge increase in demand for these Non-Office Appointments.  This creates a backlog of returns that we keep in the order received.  These returns are also completed without the convenience of the back and forth that would normally occur between the client and preparer during a face-to-face appointment. This makes the process slower. Our goal is always to complete these returns on or before the tax deadline without having to file an extension but the number of clients using the drop & go option has been causinging much longer processing times.

Why Do Amended Tax Returns Take So Long To Process?  The IRS has a backlog of unprocessed amended returns.  Our study indicates that the processing time for amended returns is considerably longer than the 20 weeks they suggest. There are a number of clients whose amended returns from prior years have not been processed by IRS yet the IRS has confirmed receipt. Until the IRS is able to work through its backlog there is not much any of us can do to move them along. This is unprecedented and a labor shortage and mass retirement of agents is being blamed.

It is Also Very Important to NOTE that because amended returns are being accepted electronically But not processed on IRS's end, their Automated Billing Department still sends out balance-due notices on amounts previously owed prior to the amendment. These automated letters will continue to be mailed out every 30-60 days even though it's already been accepted as amended. This is causing all kinds of confusion and wreaking havoc on taxpayers who are rightfully concerned that they keep getting threatening letters from the IRS on the old incorrect bills. They assure us that in the end it will be corrected but it is daunting to see this kind of backlog for the 1st time in history.

Will the IRS Be Delaying Refunds For This Tax Season? The IRS is saying that for normal returns that do not have complicated issues or high refund amounts over 10k, they do not expect delays if filed electronically with direct deposit. Our experience is that delays happen during the tax season without warning by the IRS/State taxing authorities.

What documents do I need if I have a mortgage?
Your mortgage company should send you Form 1098 which reports the mortgage interest & Property Taxes you paid if they are impounded.

What documents should I receive from my employer?
The forms to prove employment may vary depending on individual situations. For most, an employer will provide a W-2 form. The self-employed (i.e. independent contractors, product sales representatives such as Mary Kay, etc.) should receive a 1099-NEC (formerly 1099-Misc) from the company.

What documents do I need if I am unemployed?
If you received unemployment benefits from your state over the past year, you must claim that as unearned Taxable income for Federal (some states do not count it as taxable). The unemployment agency should provide you with a 1099-G form, which explains the amount you drew during the past year and any tax withheld. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) receives a copy as well and will tax you at the appropriate rate in your tax bracket.

What documents do I need if I am self-employed?
You will need to file a Schedule C using IRS Form 1040. Depending on your type of business and where you conduct business, there may be other forms you will need. If you were a partner in a Partnership or Corporation you should receive a K-1 tax form that shows your portion of income or loss from that business venture. Usually, one partner has the partnership or corporate return completed before the filing date (March 15th) and that tax office will provide all other partners their K-1.

When is the deadline to file my taxes?
The standing deadline for personal taxes is April 15. Certain  Business Entities have a standing deadline of March 15th to file. These entities are As Follows: Partnerships, LLCs, S-Corporations.

When is the earliest that I can file my taxes?
When you get your W-2, you can have your taxes prepared right away, but the IRS will not accept them before a pre-defined date.

Is there a penalty for filing my taxes after the deadline?
Yes, you can opt to pay your tax liability through an installment plan. The Installment plan application is now exclusively online and can be found here>>Click Here For IRS Payment Agreement App Process

What paperwork should I bring to my tax interview?
Below is a basic list of documents to bring with you to your tax interview.

PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER:
Name
Date of Birth
Social Security Card /ITIN/ATIN
Last Year’s Tax Return (for new clients)
Valid Driver’s License

INCOME AND TAX INFORMATION:
W-2’s
Interest (1099-INT or substitute)
Dividend Slips (1099-DIV or substitute)
Stock Sales (1099-B or Broker Statement)
Self-Employment Income and Expenses
Sale of a Personal Residence
Rental Income and Expenses
Sale of any Business Assets
Gambling or Lottery Winnings (W-2G for some winnings)
State Income Tax Refund (1099-G)
Pension Income (1099-R)
Estimated Taxes Paid
Social Security or Railroad Retirement (SSA-1099 or RRB-1099)
IRA or 401(k) Distribution (1099-R)
Unemployment Compensation (1099-G)
Miscellaneous Income (1099-MISC)

DEDUCTIONS/ADJUSTMENTS:
Medical Expenses
Real Estate or Personal Property Taxes
Mortgage Interest
Charitable Contributions (cash and non-cash)
Employee Business Expenses (used for CA)
Gambling Losses
Moving Expenses (Military Only 2019-2020)
Traditional IRA Contributions
Higher Education Expenses
Educator Expenses
Student Loan Interest

TAX CREDITS:
Child Care Provider/Address and Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
Adoption Expenses
Tuition & Books (adult dependent children) 1098-T form provided by the College. Books & Fees for College-related mandatory fees. (No-Housing Allowed)

Can I claim charitable donations without a receipt?
Yes, you can as long as you keep good records in case you are ever audited by the IRS. Be sure to record the name of the organization, the date, and location, as well as a detailed description of what you donated. Keep notes on the amount you claimed as a deduction and how you figured the fair market value of the items you donated. Pictures of donated items can also be helpful later if need be.

Can I deduct expenses paid for repairing my home?
Typically, general home repairs for your personal primary residence cannot be deducted from your taxes. Home repairs are meant to keep your home in good condition but do not increase the value of your home. However,  If you use part of your home as a principal place of business, some repairs can be deducted.

What tax consequences will I face if I lost my home in a foreclosure?
For federal taxes, a foreclosure is viewed as the sale of the property. Two separate matters will impact your tax liability: any gain from the sale of your property and credited income you receive from any debt forgiveness. There are ways to calculate your Gains and Cancellation of Debt. To learn the specifics on how your particular situation is impacted, visit the Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation section on the IRS website or contact our office for guidance.

How are my taxes impacted if I have filed bankruptcy?
Depending on which Chapter you filed for, taxes may not be exempt. With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, federal taxes are exempt from discharge. When filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it is very important to file and pay your taxes during the bankruptcy proceedings because the court can dismiss your claim if you fail to meet this requirement. Dismissing the claim leaves you responsible for all of your debts. For further tax information on bankruptcy, read the IRS Publication 908 (10/2012), Bankruptcy Tax Guide.

Can my spouse and I file our tax return together if we are legally separated and not divorced?
If your divorce is not final, you may choose to file married filing jointly. Just note, that you and your spouse are responsible for the tax bill and any future audits. If you did not live together in the same household during the last 6 months of the year and you have dependent children an alternate status of Head Of Household can be used for the custodial parent or the parent who qualifies to claim the dependents.

If I forgot to report a second income on my taxes, how can I report it now?
Since it is not a small change (missing form or math miscalculation), missed income probably requires that you file an amendment. we will need to file Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return e-filing this amendment is now allowed in most cases.

Don’t panic, you have three years since the date of filing or two years from paying (whichever is later) to correct the issue. But note, if your amended return claims more refund money, go ahead and cash your original refund check. However, if your amended return shows you owe, you’ll want to lower fees and interest by paying those taxes as fast as you can.

You can then track the status of your amended tax return(s) with the IRS’s ‘Where’s My Amended Return’ tool. Check the IRS’s site about three weeks after you’ve mailed your amended return or call 866-464-2050.

If you are uncertain about needing to amend a tax return, don’t hesitate to contact your preparer.

Do I have to pay taxes on money that was gifted to me?
No. The federal tax laws do not consider gifted money to be earned income therefore it is not taxable to you. No state has a tax law on gifted money either. There are limits on how much which is currently 15k per person.

Am I taxed on money that I inherit from a loved one?
Generally, property received as an inheritance is not included in your income. However, if property you receive this way later produces income such as interest, dividends, or rents, the income is taxable to you.

Why should I file my taxes electronically?
The main reason for filing taxes electronically (e-filing) is to get your refund faster. Generally, e-filing is safer and faster than filing on paper. Note: Tax Offices are mandated to use the e-file system.

How can I check the status of my refund?
The 'Where’s My Refund' tool on the IRS website provides the most up-to-date information regarding the status of your refund. This tool is updated every 24 hours.