Well, what are you paying for when you hire me to prepare your tax return?

You are paying for my time, my education (at least 30 hours of tax education every year), and my experience. When you hire me, you will get a thorough review of your situation and your return—not simply data entry. Putting numbers in boxes? Cat does that, then I review the numbers, the results, the instructions, and the law and make sure your tax return is as complete and accurate as it can be before I e-file it for you. You also get some face time (or phone or e-mail time) with me. You get time with me—the person who prepares your return—not a cursory review of your return with an admin or junior staffer and a 5-minute handshake with the partner who signs it. You get a 30-60 minute appointment to review your return and talk about next year. Additionally a certain amount of phone and/or e-mail time throughout the year is built into the price of the return. If you need a more involved consult, I’ll always let you know that before I simply send you a bill for the time. And while someone else may answer the phone, schedule your appointment, or call you back with an answer it will always be me providing the answers. And you get answers and explanations that you can understand and I will work with you to ensure that you understand what is on your return before it is filed, not just say “sign here” and push a button.

Why am I “so expensive” compared to box software?

First and foremost, box software is a “do it yourself” option. You buy, download, and install the software. You download the information into it or enter it yourself. You answer the interview questions and your questions about those questions are answered by someone in a call center, not by someone who has reviewed (or prepared) prior years’ returns. You push the button to e-file the return. You follow up to make sure the return was accepted. And then you do it all again next year. If you have questions during the year or get a notice, you are largely on your own. When you hire me, I do your tax return, not my computer.

As a paid preparer, I have obligations that people who prepare their own returns do not. If you are claiming the American Opportunity Credit, the Earned Income Credit, the Child Tax Credit, or file head of household, I have a boatload of due diligence and extra paperwork to do to ensure that you are eligible for those credits. If you’re doing your own return, you just fill out the form and that’s it.

As a paid preparer I am responsible for your information. When you prepare your own return, if your computer gets hacked or your information gets stolen the only penalty involved is the work required to fix the problems. I on the other hand have a huge amount of potential liability and exposure because I am expected to keep your data secure. I am actually required (all paid preparers are required) to have a written information security plan.

I am not, however, required to have either professional liability (malpractice) or information security insurance but I have both. Why? Because it is the responsible thing to do. Because I don’t want to go out of business because of a data breach (although I do everything in my power to prevent that from happening) and I have no intention of disappearing if I happen to make a mistake on a tax return. I try my best to do accurate returns, but tax season is long and short at the same time, I am human, and mistakes, while rare, do happen.

Finally, like anyone else who owns a business, I have overhead. Your fee pays for my rent, my phone and internet, Cat’s salary and payroll taxes, my equipment and furniture, my tax and security software and licensing, my continuing education and reference materials, and whatever is left over after the bills are paid pays me. This is how I earn my living. I’m not trying to rake you over the coals. I know plenty of preparers who charge what I charge (or more!) and who cut corners on software, security, education, insurance, etc. That isn’t me. I charge what I consider to be fair prices that are in line with national and regional averages and that provide me with fair compensation for the skills I have (and that I continue to maintain) and for the work I put into preparing your return.

Good #taxpros always strive to add value above and beyond simply putting numbers into software. If yours doesn’t, please give us a call (505-352-0058) or send us an e-mail. We are accepting new clients.

Can I? Sure. Will I?

The main reason we will not e-mail you copies of your tax return (or any other sensitive tax information) is that it is illegal for us to do so unless the e-mail is encrypted. Not password protected…encrypted. I’ll be the first to admit I am not an information security expert, let alone an information security professional, but I am pretty paranoid. Simply sending you a password-protected PDF file is not enough to meet the required standards. The type and level of encryption required to send tax documents via e-mail probably eliminates the reason for doing so in the first place, namely convenience.

I have many clients tell me that they “don’t trust the mail” and would rather use e-mail. E-mail may seem (may be) more reliable than postal mail or a commercial carrier such as Federal Express but it is nowhere near as secure. With a hard copy mail carrier your information leaves its destination in a sealed envelope (I like to use Tyvek envelopes because they are also less easily ripped and don’t disintegrate when wet). It also arrives in that same sealed envelope and it is usually pretty easy to tell if it has been mishandled or tampered with somewhere along the way. E-mail provides no such security. Once your “envelope” leaves your mail program it is routed through whatever computers make most sense to the internet. And unless you are a cyber security expert, there is no way to tell just how many stops your message made or if it was opened and read along the way before arriving at its destination. It’s similar to the difference between mailing a letter in an envelope and mailing a postcard. That’s why we are required to encrypt your private information if we are going to send it via e-mail. That ensures that anyone who tries to read it can’t (your “postcard” message is written in a really strong code that can only be decoded if the person who sent the postcard originally gives you the key to unlock the code). Again, most people are looking for a convenient way to send/receive documents electronically and all this code making and breaking is extremely inconvenient.

Clients can, of course, e-mail their documents to us but I recommend that they don’t. I prefer that they don’t. I won’t even look at e-mailed documents from non-clients. To make it easier for new and existing clients to send and receive electronic documents Tax Therapy maintains a secure file portal that is integrated with our tax software. A secure file portal is an internet location where each user registers and is provided access to only those documents intended for him/her. It is the best option for electronic delivery of documents (to me or to you).

We appreciate the opportunity to meet your tax preparation needs and want to assure you that your privacy and information security are extremely important to us.

• We are currently accepting new clients. I reserve the right to place new business clients on extension.
• All returns are held for review and are not filed “while you wait.”
• Prices depend on the length of the return (i.e., which forms and schedules are needed). All returns include free e-filing for federal and the first state return. Click here for more information about our charges. Click here to request a quote.
• First-year clients must call or e-mail for an organizer and, once that is completed, schedule an intake appointment. Our tax return intake procedure for new clients generally takes from 30 minutes to an hour. Intake appointments are free for first-year clients only. If you are an existing client and would like an appointment to review the information in your organizer with me we are happy to accommodate you but the consult fee will be a separate line item on your invoice.
• Existing clients may drop off tax documentation any time during regular business hours, mail it (USPS Priority Mail with Tracking is recommended), or upload it to our secure portal.
• To ensure the accuracy of the return we must make sure we have complete and accurate information. Collecting and organizing your information before you submit it and preparing any questions you may have about your tax situation in advance will help us to process your tax return more quickly.
• Saturday and evening appointments for review and signature will be available during February and March. We do not schedule client appointments on Wednesdays or Sundays!

In general, March and April are the worst time of year to be searching for a new #taxpro. At Tax Therapy, the needs of existing clients always come first and if I don’t feel that I can provide them the service they deserve, I will not accept new clients mid season, especially new business clients. That doesn’t mean I won’t do your taxes, it just means if you’re coming in during the height of season, please understand that I will definitely seem pressed for time—because I am pressed for time! Also, if I do accept your return, I may require you to go on extension, especially if you are business client. I want to make sure I have the time and focus to give your tax return the attention it deserves. I love talking to potential clients in summer and fall, so if you are simply “considering” making a change I encourage you to contact me between June and October when we will have plenty of time to talk.

This post provides an overview of how tax season “works” in the office. It is for new and existing clients.

Reminder Postcards

If you are a returning client or if I have “onboarded” you during the summer or fall, you will receive a reminder postcard in the mail sometime after January 10th. This lets you know that we are ready to send out our “organizer” paperwork. Many taxpros bulk mail their organizer to all of their clients all at the same time. We prefer to ensure that you are returning before we send you your preliminary paperwork. When you get the postcard, call or e-mail and we will send you an organizer via USPS or e-mail. Don’t worry if you are a new client and missed the postcard. Just call the office and Cat or I will take some preliminary contact information and get you an organizer.

Organizers

The organizer contains our engagement letter and privacy policy both of which must be signed before work begins on your return. Print and sign those documents.

The organizer also contains our client interview (which must be completed each year) and supplemental worksheets that apply to your specific situation (rental property, self-employed, etc.). The interview is designed to remind you of the documents you need to include with your return and to provide prompts about questions you may have had (but not asked) during the year. Review and complete the client interview and any additional worksheets. Be sure to review/update ID and banking information, healthcare coverage information, and foreign accounts/interests, information. Collect your other tax documents (W2s, 1099s, etc.) and return your organizer and your documents to the office.

Returning Your Organizer

Returning clients—You can mail (or courier), upload, or bring your documents to the office. Please do not e-mail your documents; it is not secure. Also, if you happen to have my cell number please do not text me pictures of your documents.

New clients—Once you have everything together, please call or e-mail Cat to schedule an intake appointment. Bring your completed package to your intake appointment along with your photo ID and Social Security card (and your spouse’s if filing jointly). Bring birth certificates and Social Security cards for anyone you are claiming as a dependent on your return. If I do not already have them, please bring at least one and up to three prior years’ tax returns. If you think your IDs and dependent IDs have already been verified (for example at an appointment this summer), let Cat know. If we have already verified your ID, your intake appointment is optional. If you live “far far away” I can verify your ID and do your intake appointment using Skype and you can use the secure portal or US Mail (or another carrier) to provide your documents. Remind Cat that you need a Skype appointment rather than an in office appointment. She will let me know and I will be in touch with more details.

What Happens Next

I do not do returns “while you wait.” If you want to know why, you can read more about that here. Once you have submitted your information, it goes into our “queue.” In general, returns are processed first in, first out. Cat scans documents, does the data entry, and notes any items that may be missing. I review the data entry, review any questions noted in your organizer, review the entire tax return and compare it to last year’s return, and prepare a list of follow up questions and missing items. I will either call or e-mail you to get any additional information I need to finish your return. Usually I e-mail because then my questions and your answers are easily saved into your work file. While I’m waiting for your response, I move on to the next return in the queue. Responding to my questions quickly, thoroughly, and accurately will ensure that your return is done as quickly as possible. Sometimes I block out an entire day simply to “close out” returns with missing information.

When your return is finished and depending on your situation and location—1) Cat will call you to schedule a review & signature appointment, 2) I will upload a review copy of your return to the secure portal, or 3) I will use USPS Priority Mail with tracking to send you your return and signature documents. If you prefer a courier other than USPS (FedEx or UPS, for example) we are happy to comply but we will bill you for the difference in price. If we are working remote, once you have had an opportunity to look at your return you may call (505-352-0058) or e-mail for an appointment to discuss the results before you sign.

Reviewing and Signing Your Return

Paying for Your Return

Other Important Information

The answer to the “What do you charge” question is available here, but as with most things tax-related, the answer is “it depends.” I encourage you to request a quote for the most accurate answer. That said, we try to keep our prices in line with national averages and a certain amount of “during the year” Q&A is included in our return preparation fee. I will always let you know when you are straying into billable territory and you can choose whether or not to proceed.

New clients coming in during tax season are required to pay the base price of their return (1040 or entity) when they submit their organizer paperwork. I don’t like having to do this, but last year too many clients came on board during tax season, had me do their returns, decided they either didn’t like my follow up questions or didn’t like the results, and then did not want to pay for the work. Requiring base price of the return ensures that I get paid at the minimum level for work done on a tax return. We will not accept your paperwork until payment is made.

I use Constant Contact e-mail to keep clients informed during tax season. I provide updates about the steps in the process frequently. For example, I send an e-mail when the postcards “drop”; then another one about what to do with your organizer when you get it and the most common errors clients make when completing their organizers. I sometimes send an e-mail if I find many clients are calling with the same question or problem or if I am seeing the same error over and over in returned tax packets. I always send e-mails if there are issues in the office that interfere with our work (power outages, internet outages, illness, staff emergencies, etc.). I also always send e-mails when I feel like I am running behind in processing returns. I will let you know how far “back in the drawer” I am. I sometimes get behind on individual returns around the deadline for entity (partnership & S-corp) returns. If that happens I send out an e-mail letting you know, for example, that I am currently two weeks behind—meaning if you submitted your packet two weeks ago, I’m just getting to it now.

Our goal is to provide a reasonably personalized experience while still keeping our prices within reach of the average taxpayer. Yes, we do cost more than a DIY option. I discuss the reasons for that in this post. No, we cannot tailor our office processes to match your previous preparer’s or your individual expectations. I try to be as flexible as possible, nevertheless, my office processes are designed to ensure that our work flows smoothly, we don’t miss important details or deadlines, and that, in general, the office runs efficiently for staff and clients.

Tax Therapy provides services to individuals and to small and micro businesses. We do not provide bookkeeping services but we can help you find a bookkeeper. At this time we do not file FBAR returns or do other FACTA compliance for those with financial interests outside the U.S. We are happy to provide referrals to colleagues who specialize in international taxation.

While I will take new business clients during tax season, I will typically ask or even require you to go on extension. In general, if you are a business looking to retain a tax professional for the first time or to change tax professionals it is best to contact us (or almost any tax professional) between June and November. That way we have time to review your returns and your situation outside the chaos that is tax season!

Forms and returns we can file for you and your company:

This is only a partial list, we can file forms necessary to prepare individual returns and most small business returns.

• 1040
  • Schedule A (itemized deductions)
  • Schedule C (profit/loss from business)
  • Schedule D (capital gains/loss)
  • Schedule E (rental income/loss)
  • Schedule F (farm income/loss)
• 1065 (partnership returns)
• 1120 (corporate returns for C corps, S corps, Homeowners Associations, and Political Campaigns)

What we need to have to prepare your tax return:

This is only a partial list —please bring any additional documentation you feel may be necessary to prepare your return.

• Photo ID for you and your spouse if we have not already verified your identity. ID verification can be done via Skype for remote clients.
• Names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers (or tax ID numbers) for yourself, your spouse, and all of your dependents.
• W-2s and 1099s from your employers.
• 1099s from your bank and brokerage accounts.
• If you are a new client please bring at least one and up to three prior year’s tax returns.
• If you are a business please bring your organizing documents, and NM-CRS returns, payroll tax returns, and (if possible) a current P&L and balance sheet.

Please do not bring piles, bags, or boxes of receipts unless we ask you to! We do not have space to store them. Scanning, sorting, or otherwise manipulating receipts and other data used to prepare your return is not included with the price of tax return preparation. You will be charged by the hour (half hour minimum) in quarter-hour increments for any administrative time necessary to prepare information for your return.

The government shutdown is over until February 15th. That means that IRS workers will be able to return to work and get paid for it. Of course, already understaffed and overworked, they are now facing a huge backlog of returns when e-filing season officially opens on Monday. The CAF unit (that processes our representative power of attorney authorization documents) is also probably going to get swamped. So please, be patient and kind. The IRS is responsible for implementing the laws. They don’t make them and they sure as heck didn’t make this shutdown mess.

Absolutely. Married filing joint or separate returns can and will be filed for any couples who are legally married (same or different sex). Tax Therapy does not discriminate on the basis of anything: race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, income level, political affiliation. Nothing. The only returns we refuse to file are those for people who refuse to provide complete and accurate information and/or payment. If you are abusive to the administrative staff we may also refuse to do your return. Otherwise, we welcome your business and are happily accepting new clients.

In a word…

The complexity of the tax code and the uniqueness of each client’s circumstances are why I don’t prepare your tax return while you are in the office. When it comes to preparing your tax return I like to have a chance to enter all the data; review the numbers, your situation from last year, any new information, and this year’s return; and prepare a list of my own questions if necessary. To do this requires a great deal of focus and, I’ll admit, I just don’t have the focus I need when I have an audience. On more complex returns I like to have some time to set the return aside and review it a day or two later just to make sure I’ve thoroughly considered all of the circumstances and haven’t missed anything.

I also like to spend some time just talking with you each year and maybe planning for next year and it’s easier to do that when I’m not trying to work at the same time. That’s why, once I have finished your return, a review and signature appointment is included at no extra charge. Of course if you would rather skip the review appointment (and the chitchat) that’s OK too. I offer a secure file portal for you to upload and download your tax return information so you don’t have to use U.S. mail or come by the office for paper copies unless you want to. Return information and signature documents must be mailed in, uploaded, or dropped off at the office. If you would like some time to review the information in the organizer with me when you bring it in (or after I’ve received it) I am happy to consult with you in the office or on the phone, but please be aware that unless you are a first year client, this type of initial consultation is charged separately on your final invoice and there are many questions I cannot answer until I have had a chance to enter the data into my software and review the results.

As always, my goal when preparing your tax returns is to give you the highest quality service while maintaining reasonable prices. My office processes and policies help me to do that. A big part of those office processes is that returns are “drop off” only. I understand that many people prefer the “while you wait” approach. I cannot provide it but I can perhaps provide you with a referral to another local #taxpro who can meet your specific needs.

You know, in general (in marketing terms) I get a pretty good “open” response on the e-mails I send to clients. But that response is often 50-60% which means that many of you aren’t opening or reading my e-mails (and maybe aren’t reading this blog either). In any case, every summer I offer clients a free “withholding checkup” via e-mail to ensure that they are withholding enough to cover their potential tax bills come April 15th. Usually only a handful take me up on this offer.

The passage of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) late in 2017 resulted in a tax cut for many taxpayers. This tax cut caused the withholding tables to be adjusted in February 2018. So most wage earners were seeing more money in their paychecks because less was being withheld for federal income tax. In Summer 2018, the IRS realized that many taxpayers were going to be under withheld and they started a huge information campaign encouraging taxpayers to check their withholding using a withholding calculator that they developed. Unfortunately, as is common with “things IRS”, the cure is worse than the disease. You practically had to do your 2018 tax return to figure out if your withholding is on target. So, if you couldn’t figure out the IRS tool, and you didn’t ask your #taxpro for help, then you may be under withheld and you may have a much smaller refund, a balance due, or a much bigger balance due than you are expecting when you file your 2018 taxes.

The IRS finally realized that most taxpayers don’t pay attention to their taxes except during tax season and has decided to waive the penalty for underpayment of taxes…but of course there is fine print. Typically you are assessed a penalty if you don’t pay in at least 90% of the tax due (this figure is higher for higher income individuals). They have reduced that to 85% for this year. That is good news for all of the taxpayers who “missed the memo” and who end up underpaying their 2018 tax because of the new laws and the new withholding tables. Of course it doesn’t help you pay that balance due that you weren’t expecting or the bills that you were going to pay with your now much smaller refund.

Helping clients “dial in” their withholding and estimated tax payments is part of what I do when I prepare a tax return. It’s included with return preparation as is a mid-year withholding check up. If you’re wondering why you should pay a #taxpro to do your taxes, this is just one of many reasons. We think about this stuff year round so you don’t have to! And we help you avoid “nasty surprises.”

A popular brand of DIY software is fond of telling you “It doesn’t take a genius to do your taxes.” At least that’s what they were telling you last year. This year they are telling you about all the “CPAs” they have on staff to help answer your questions. They have enrolled agents too. Don’t know the difference or never heard of an enrolled agent? Click here for more information on the different types of #taxpros.

So if it doesn’t take a genius to do your taxes, why in the world do they need all that extra staff to answer your questions? Because preparing a tax return is not as easy as it looks. Even experienced professionals have questions (and make errors) in things as seemingly straightforward as filing status or who qualifies as a dependent. Answer to the latter? It depends on what “the dependent” is being qualified for—different tax benefits (credits) have different requirements! Add a small business or even a rental property to your tax return and the complexity just went up by an order of magnitude. Heck, I know geniuses (card-holding Mensa geniuses) who prefer to hire a #taxpro than to do it themselves because while they are super smart in general and really super smart in their fields, they are also smart enough to recognize when they don’t want to deal with something that isn’t necessarily complex (read the rules and apply them) but can be dizzyingly complicated (lots of interlocking moving parts and even more “ifs and buts”).

Still, when it comes to tax returns you have plenty of options but they come in two flavors—

Do It Yourself With Software: Whether you choose a package like TurboTax or file online for free through the IRS website, this option will work for you if you have a basic understanding of what needs to be done and if your tax situation is relatively uncomplicated. When I say “relatively uncomplicated” I mean that you are a W2 employee with a minimal number (or no) itemized deductions and only basic banking and investment accounts. Of course, the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) add a level of complexity for anyone who doesn’t have Medicare or employer-provided coverage for everyone in the household. If you changed jobs, had a gap in coverage, or received the Premium Tax Credit, you still may want to consult a tax professional even if the rest of your return is fairly simple.

Pay a Professional: If you own your own business, have a rental property, have brokerage accounts that are not retirement accounts, are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, have higher education expenses, have income in more than one state, or any number of other “complicating factors” it may be in your best interests to consult a #taxpro. I know that the tax software companies want you to believe you can have a rental property or own your own business and still do your taxes yourself, and maybe you can, but the consequences of failure are relatively high so maybe you don’t want to.

Before you make your decision you also need to consider your own threshold for pain. DIY involves re-familiarizing yourself with something that is largely alien to you once each year (whereas I and many #taxpros pretty much eat, breathe, and sleep tax law year round). I have clients who did their own tax returns for years before coming to me. What changed their mind? They decided they had better things to do than read form instructions, answer software interview questions in a language in which they are not fluent (internal revenue code), and in general try to figure out if they were doing everything right.

And what if you didn’t do everything right and get a notice? I have some friends who became clients after making a couple of minor errors on a return that resulted in an IRS notice. I was able to review the notice and quickly find one of the two errors and when they went to the IRS to sort it out, the IRS pointed out the other one (it was an age issue my software would have caught easily had they been customers). My ability to easily see what a big part of the problem was sold them on deciding to hire a #taxpro moving forward. When they came to their first review & signature appointment I had them sign their e-file authorizations and they said “What do we do now?” and I answered “Go have a beer?” They have really learned to enjoy not having to spend hours every year preparing their own return.

These same clients also learned that I am here year round if they get a notice or have a question. I’m really not sure how DIY box software handles “after the return is filed” issues. I’m pretty sure they don’t make themselves available to answer questions year round if you decide to say, sell your rental house. Even if you are hiring a professional you want to make sure your #taxpro is both willing and available to help. Many big franchises are closed off season and many part-time solo practitioners go back to their “regular” jobs after filing season and don’t want to help (or aren’t available even if they do want to help).

Yes. Hiring a professional costs more than doing it yourself. But there are both risks and opportunity costs to doing it yourself. Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best option. I’ll discuss more on costs in a future post.

Still not sure? Read what the IRS has to say here.