Don't Trust Blockheads with Complicated Tax Returns
Can you sense our distrust for big-box tax prep?
Getting a letter from the IRS is terrifying. Most of us respond with: WHOA. #whatthefox?!
As you rip into the IRS envelope, all you can think about is how much you're going to owe. What went wrong with your tax return? And what do you do now?
If you use a big box tax service (you know, like the kind with a dude on the corner waving a sign to get you to walk in), there may not be anyone to help you now that you're in hot water. That is unless you paid for extra coverage to protect yourself. And why should you even have to pay for protection? We think companies should stand behind the work done by their employees. If they made a mistake, they should fix it – for free! (And btw: sometimes they charge for a protection fee and still won't make it right. That's the WORST.)
The truth is, when you walk through the doors of a high-volume tax prep business, there is no way to know the level of expertise of the person you're hiring. Yes, some of the tax preparers at these offices are retired CPAs or EAs (Enrolled Agents). But it's more likely you will get the tax newbie specifically trained to find data on your forms and enter that data in their system. Where's the strategy and personalization in that?
Can you sense our distrust for big-box tax prep?
Why do we feel that way?
It's because we talk to people who have been burned ALL THE TIME. This year especially, we're seeing a massive influx of new clients coming to us with significant tax issues. The mistakes we're seeing could have been avoided with the help of a professional tax preparer (like us).
Our team is appalled by the tax problems that new clients bring to us. So, we're putting on our hard hat and going to work for them to:
Amend and correct previous year tax return filings (sometimes for bigger refunds)
Assist with IRS nastygrams and correspondence to find a resolution
Provide an understanding of payment options when large balances are due
Help folks understand their tax situation in a big picture way
Devise a plan to maximize tax savings and minimize an "OUCH" on future tax returns
We can't stress this enough: hiring a professional, experienced tax preparer is the best way to avoid that dreaded letter from the IRS.
This is especially true if you have a complicated tax situation: own your own business, have investment income or rental income, make more than $200K, got married, had a child, etc. If you're not sure whether your tax situation is complex or not, we wrote a list of factors to consider on this blog:
If you think there must be a better way, there is!
Meet the Blue Fox tax team at your service. We believe that people matter and highly-trained strategic thinkers should not be taken out of the tax preparation equation (pun intended). We spend a lot of time keeping up with changes in the tax code and making sure our clients leverage every opportunity for tax savings possible. Would you like us to do that for you?
If you'd like to chat with us, schedule your FREE Consultation by completing the form below that best describes your tax situation:
Individuals, 1040 + W-2
Self-Employed 1040 with Schedule C, A or E
Nonprofit Organizations, 990
Social Enterprise and For Profits, 1120, 1120S
We look forward to helping you!
