Does your office offer electronic filing?
How fast does my refund come if I e'file?
Is there an additional charge for electronic
filing?
Do you offer Refund Anticipation Loans?
Do I need to come in for a conference this year?
What are your rates for tax preparation?
I received a notice from the IRS (or Franchise Tax
Board). What do I do?
Do I have to file a return?
Does your office offer electronic filing? - Yes, we do. The IRS' new publicity push calls it "e-file". I do not recommend it for all clients but if there is a substantial refund due it certainly does get it back faster.
It is not unusual for the California refund to come within a week. The IRS refund generally takes a little longer - from ten days to two weeks. Later in the filing season (March and April) things take a little longer.
There is an additional charge of $30 for the service. This is a flat rate for all returns (as mandated by the IRS).
I do not offer Refund Anticipation Loans. You might try H&R Block if you need the refund that fast. The benefits so seldom outweigh the costs that I do not recommend this course for my clients.
My taxes seem fairly routine this year. Do I really need to come in for a conference? - If you think there aren't many changes it isn't necessary to come in but please give us telephone numbers so we can contact you with any question that arise. It really helps if you fill out the Organizer completely. This helps in insuring that important items aren't overlooked. There is space in the Organizer for any questions that you might have. Many of our clients drop off or mail in their data. We do like for you to come in periodically (just to say hi if nothing else).
Our usual rate for tax returns is $125 per hour. There is also a software fee by which I amortize the cost of the annual software udates. Accordingly, if you are well organized the fee can be substantially lower than if we have to spend a lot of time recapping checks and receipts, etc. Our firm is well within the local prevailing rates.
Forward the notice to our office as soon as possible so that we can figure out the problem and go about solving it for you. Do not, under any circumstances, send any money until we have had a chance to verify the correctness of the notice.
If your gross income is above these
minimum amounts you must file a return even though no tax may be owed:
Single...........................................$ 6,800
Single, 65 or older...........................7,800
Married couple, joint return............12,200
Married, joint both 65 or older.......13,800
Head of household...........................8,700
Head of household, 65 or older........9,700