FAQs

Our fees for Individual tax returns are billed per form with a client minimum of $375. The form 1040 and 1^st state, which included electronic filing, is $235.  Additional state returns are $135 and additional schedules (A, B, C, D, E etc. or worksheets for federal or state filing) typically range from $40 to $75, depending on complexity.  We also require our clients to submit a Power of Attorney for Tax Preparation. The cost of this is an additional $99 and must be re-issued every few years. Hourly consulting or compilation of services will be billed at a rate of our standard billing rates of $225 per hour if necessary.  We do not audit or otherwise verify your tax return information, preparing your returns from information that you submit to us. 

Generally, the average time of completion is 2-3 weeks.  However, this may vary from client to client based on a number of factors including number of clients who have submitted complete information prior to you, timeliness of response in submitting additional documentation during preparation time and 3^rd party response time.

Yes, but subject to staffing availability. If you would like this service, please let us know. There is a $200 fee to accommodate this request.

Yes. If we do not have all documentation for a complete tax return by March 23^rd, we are not able to guarantee that your tax return will be completed by April 15^th.    

If information is submitted after March 23^rd, there is a possibility that due to time constraints we may have to file an extension or there may be a rush fee.

An extension of time is not an extension to pay any tax due.  If we file an extension for you, it will be based on information or estimated income you provide to us. If all taxes are not paid by the filing deadline, there may be additional penalties and/or interest. You will be solely responsible for any additional amounts due.

From February 1^st to April 15^th our staff works overtime, with no vacation or time off available to accommodate the short tax filing season. Therefore, we allow our staff some much deserved break between April 16^th and April 30^th and allow time to catch up on other office projects. Then on May 1^st we will resume with extended returns on a first in-first out basis.

The IRS acknowledges that there is a greater than 600% increase in notices going out to taxpayers from 2001 to 2011, and that many of these notices contain erroneous information. Your returns, of course, are subject to review by the taxing authorities. However, just because your return is selected for review or inquiry does not mean there is a problem.  It is advisable to contact us immediately upon receiving correspondence from any taxing agency. If there is an error on the returns prepared, please immediately fax or mail the notice to our office for review. In order to institute a more equitable process in covering the additional time and effort spent on these notices, we have initiated a policy whereby we charge every tax client a fee equal to 10% of the tax preparation fee (20% for returns filed after April 15) for each year, which will cover the initial inquiry for any subsequent notice on tax returns that we have prepared.  In this manner, you will not be charged extra if and when a tax notice occurs.

Certainly. If there is any question regarding the tax consequences of any transaction you are considering, it would be in your best interest to contact us BEFORE you carry out that transaction, while we can be proactive with tax strategies and outcomes, rather than reactive. We are available throughout the year to assist you in any tax matter. If you have a question, please do call. You have access to 30+ years of tax knowledge. If we can answer your questions in a 5-10 minute phone consultation, there is no additional fee. If your question or situation specific to you needs further research or detailed planning and calculations, there will be an additional charge. We would discuss that with you prior to beginning any project.