Questions, answered.
The questions clients most often ask before we start working together — and the answers we'd give on a call.
How much does tax preparation cost?
Fees depend on the complexity of your return. We factor in the number of states, business entities, rental properties, and equity compensation events. Most individual returns fall in a narrow range, and we quote a price range before any work begins so there are no surprises. The fastest way to get an exact number is a short intro call.
Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Tax preparation is billed dependent on the complexity of the return, agreed up front. Tax planning and IRS representation work that requires ongoing strategy are typically year-roud, flat fee engagements. We are not in the business of sending surprise invoices.
How does the virtual process work?
After an intro call, you receive a tax organizer and a secure portal link. You upload your documents through Encyro (encrypted and audit-logged), we prepare the return, and we walk through the finished product together over a video call before anything is filed. The whole process is built around your schedule, not ours.
What documents do I need to send?
It depends on your situation, but our tax organizers (linked from the Resources and Get Started pages) walk you through every common item: W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, brokerage statements, mortgage interest, and so on. If you are a returning client, we already have most of what we need from the prior year.
How long does it take to get my return done?
Once we have your documents and organizers, most returns are ready for review within one to two weeks. The best way to ensure your return gets completed timely is to schedule your wrap-up appointment as soon as you have everything uploaded. During the final two weeks before a deadline we may recommend an extension to give the work the attention it deserves.
What is an Enrolled Agent, and how is that different from a CPA?
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is the highest credential the IRS issues to tax practitioners. EAs specialize exclusively in taxation and are licensed federally to represent taxpayers before the IRS in all 50 states. CPAs are state-licensed accountants whose work spans audit, financial statements, and tax. For tax-specific work, an EA's authority is identical to a CPA's.
Are you authorized to prepare returns in my state?
Yes. Federal returns are filed through our IRS authorization, and we are set up to file individual and business returns in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Can you handle multi-state and out-of-state filings?
Yes. Multi-state work is one of the things we see most often. We allocate income correctly, claim resident credits, and handle non-resident filings without leaning on you to figure it out.
What if I get an IRS notice or audit after filing?
Send the notice to us as soon as you receive it. We draft the response, communicate with the IRS on your behalf, and take the conversation off your plate. If we left a document you provided to us off the return, we will fix this for no additional charge in most cases.
Do you work with clients year-round, or only at tax time?
Year-round. April is too late to make most tax decisions, so the value of working with us shows up in the conversations between filing seasons. Quarterly estimates, equity comp timing, S-Corp reasonable compensation, real estate transactions are all things we can help with. Our full-service tax planning clients have access throughout the year, not just at filing time.
Ask us directly.
Every situation is a little different. A short call is the fastest way to know whether we're the right fit for yours.