I'd rather be...
 

Stop worrying about bookkeeping and taxes. Your time should be spent where it has the most positive impact. Take back your life and spend more of your time where it belongs; building your business, or just doing the things you love with the people you love.

 

Contact me for a free consultation.

Tax Preparation

View our Tax Calendar

Click the questions below to expand and view the answers. Click them again to collapse.

 

What does a Tax Preparer do?

 

Tax Preparers are individuals who prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses. There is currently no special licensing or certification required to become a tax preparer. Anyone can purchase tax preparation software and hang out a sign that says "Tax Preparer" and start getting paid to do other people's taxes. When choosing a tax preparer, look for someone who has some other financial credentials and experience, such as bookkeeping or accounting.

 

Some accountants who specialize in tax preparation call themselves "tax accountants," which would indicate a greater degree of financial literacy beyond just buying software and hanging up a sign. However, be sure to ask about their background, since most states currently have no laws governing who can use the title "accountant."

 

What is a CPA?

 

CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant, which is an accountant who has passed a series of tests in order to earn their certification, and must take continuing education classes yearly to retain it. The requirements to become a CPA are quite rigorous; it takes an accountant several years to gain their CPA license, and constant upkeep in order to retain it.

 

Hiring a CPA to do your taxes may be cost-prohibitive for the average small business owner. CPAs are usually more expensive than regular tax preparers or tax accountants, and the extra expense is usually not necessary for the average individual or small business. Many companies work with bookkeepers and accountants throughout the year and hand off their year-end records to their CPA for a final audit before the year's taxes are prepared by their regular tax preparer or tax accountant. However, larger companies or those individuals and businesses with very complicated finances may find it to their benefit to have their CPA not only perform the year-end audit but also prepare their taxes, as well.

 

What is an Enrolled Agent?

 

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals. “Enrolled” means they are licensed to practice by the federal government, and “Agent” means they are authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer before the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS.

 

The license is earned by either 1) passing a comprehensive examination which covers all aspects of the tax code, or 2) having worked at the IRS for five years in a position which regularly interpreted and applied the tax code and its regulations.

 

Hiring an EA to do your taxes may be cost-prohibitive for the average small business owner. EAs are usually more expensive than regular tax preparers or tax accountants, and the extra expense is usually not necessary for the average individual or small business. However, larger companies or those individuals and businesses with very complicated finances, who wish to take advantage of all the possible tax benefits and "loopholes" that are littered throughout the 17,000 of pages of tax code, may find it to their benefit to retain an Enrolled Agent.

 

 

 

If you need monthly, quarterly or annual Payroll and City/State business tax preparation services (941, Unemployment, L&I, B&O, etc.) please see the Bookkeeping section for my hourly rates.

 

Federal Income Tax Preparation Fees
(Individual & Small Business ONLY)

 

Since I work from home and all of my services are completely mobile, I don't have a public office or storefront. I meet most clients at their home or office, so that we have full access to all the information and records we may need for our meeting. If you prefer to come to me, we can arrange to meet at a local coffee shop, i.e.: Tully's or Starbucks.

 

Initial Consultation
We provide free initial consultation by phone to all clients to answer questions and concerns on any business service topic. If service extends past 30 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : 1040 (Itemized Deductions) - $150.00
Preparation and E-file of 1040 Tax Form; Sched A; EIC; and any other applicable forms. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 90 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : 1040A (Standard Deductions) - $125.00
Preparation and E-file of 1040A Tax Form; and any other applicable forms. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 60 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : 1040EZ - $75.00
Preparation and E-file of 1040EZ Tax Form and any other applicable forms. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 30 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : 1040X (Amended Return) - $175.00
Preparation of 1040X Tax Form; Sched A; EIC; and any other applicable forms. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 90 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : Small Business (Single Owner) - $175.00
Preparation of annual business income tax return for Sch C filers only, i.e. Sole Proprietorship or Single Member LLC. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 90 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : Small Business (Partnership, S-Corp. or C-Corp.) - $250.00
Preparation of annual business income tax return for 1120, 1120S or Form 1065 filers, i.e. Partnership LLC, S-Corp. or C-Corp. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 120 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Tax Preparation : Schedule D-1 - $50.00
Preparation of the Capital Gains and Losses Schedule D-1 ("spill-over" from Schedule D) which entails additional research in order to match up "buys" and "sells" of stocks and/or options. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 30 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

Prior Years Tax Preparation : Add $50.00 to the above fees
For preparation of tax forms for years prior to the current tax year, please add a $50 surcharge to the base rates stated above.

 

Tax Return Evaluations
Free evaluation of present and past individual & small business tax returns to determine deficiencies. Trip fee of $25.00 is applied if mobile service is requested outside a 10 mile radius of zip code 98115 (within King County*). If service extends past 15 minutes, an additional fee of $75 per hour will apply.

 

* For mobile service outside King County, please contact us for a quote.

Add our 2009-10 Tax Calendar to your Google Calendar account!

Our 2008 Federal and Washington State Tax Calendar is now available via the Google Calendar application. Check out our Tax Calendar page and click the '+Google Calendar' link to add it to your account!

 Book keeping Tax Calenda

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