FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Continuing education for me is a daily issue. If your preparer has all of the answers, it would be very surprising, the tax law is constantly changing and if we admit that or not it is the case. I would not do my own return with what I know if I was not in the business. I hear all the time how easy it is to do on the computer with the programs for the individual tax payer and I also get a good amount of those returns to amend for some reason or another. The IRS now has rules on rules and you have to be very careful in reading those rules. If you are just following the lines and putting the information it is asking for, is there something you are missing. Let me give you an example. You sold stock so you can see it goes on a schedule D, Your basis also goes against that income. Many of the clients that I get that prepare there own return have reinvested and paid tax on dividends every year and they forget about that 5000 or 6000 of dividend income that they have been paying taxes on for the last 15 years, so they actually pay more taxes then if they were to come and see me to get them the lowest liability under the law. Plus I know ways of getting information that not everyone knows. That is from reading on the more complex issues of tax preparation and as my clients come in with complex issues I just go through the tax codes and see what I can find out about the subject. So easily I put in 6 hours a week of education on my own and then I take formal education every year totaling another 45 to 75 hours.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
I prepare their tax returns and look over prior years, correcting mistakes as I find them. I also take care of correspondence with federal and state taxing agencies as needed, representing tax payers before the IRS.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Be diligent in your search. I would recommend interviewing potential tax preparers prior to turning over documents to make sure that the individual you are considering is someone you trust, respect, and can communicate with clearly and easily.