FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
We prepare income tax returns during our main tax season of January through April. During a typical client visit we also make recommendations for tax savings throughout the year. The remainder of the year we prepare business, non profit and extended tax returns, as well as help clients who receive IRS letters. Throughout the year we do bookkeeping for local businesses and file quarterly employment tax returns.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
There are many people in the tax business and some are excellent and some are terrible. Make sure to check credentials- the highest of which is an Enrolled Agent or CPA. The IRS will be requiring a minimal competancy test at the end of 2013- ask your preparer if they have passed it yet. Personal recommendations are also good- ask friends or relatives who they trust. There are three types of tax situations: 1- Simple (Single- one job ,no kids, renter) 2- Moderate (Married- kids, investments, retirement plan, homeowner, itemizer) 3- Complex- Divorced, business owner, rental owner, complex investments,education credits. Those in the simple category can probably prepare the return themself, though they would learn a lot from a good preparer. Those in the moderate category should only prepare returns if they are confident about it and they would most benefit from our services. Those in the complex category should not attempt to prepare their own taxes without extensive training and should be very careful about who they hire.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
Accountants come in may shapes and sizes. Since tax preparation can be a part time job, there are many unlicensed, poorly trained preparers out there offering their services at discounted rates. These people make a lot of costly mistakes and expose their clients to IRS penalties. This profession is still largely unregulated and customers need to be careful with their financial information and tax returns..