** NOTE ** Download and Print Form 8879 and Engagement Letter.

Bring both of these forms with you to your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file a tax return?

Do I qualify for EIC/EITC?

Will I get more money from 2008 Stimulus Package? / What is the Recovery Rebate Credit?

How much sales tax will I be able to deduct?

Which energy-efficient vehicles qualify for the tax credit?

Is the telephone tax refund credit a real credit for 2006?

Do I qualify for the First Time Home Buyer's Credit?

I did not file a return last year, what do I need to do?

What if an error was made on a prior return?

I cannot find my W-2, what do I do?

What qualifies for the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit?

One or both of my parents died last year, what do I do?

What do I do if I have not received my refund?

Was my return accepted by the IRS?

I am unable to get to your office for an appointment, what are my options?

How do I file an extension?

Do I need to file a tax return?

If you had any income for the tax period, it is likely you need to file a tax return. Even if your income is negligible and probably would not subject you to any tax liability, you may be entitled a refund and it would benefit you to determine if this is the case.

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Do I qualify for EIC/EITC?

EIC is a credit for certain people who work, you must have earned income from a job or a business that you operate.

To qualify for EIC your earned income must be less than the amount listed below:

To meet the requirements with children, you must have at least one qualifying child residing in your home.

This can be your son, daughter, adopted child, stepchild, or a dependent or any of them (for example, your grandchild);

or your brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a dependent of any of them (for example your niece or nephew, for whom you cared you as you would your own child);

or your foster child (any child placed with you by an authorized placement agency whom you cared for as you would your own child.

As of 12/31/2008 the qualifying child must be under 19 years old,

or under 24 years old and a student,

or any age and permanently and totally disabled.

You investment income must be $2,950 or less.

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Will I get more money from the 2008 Stimulus Package? / What is the Recovery Rebate Credit?

The Recovery Rebate Credit is for those people who did not receive the full amount from the Stimulus Package last year but qualify for additional money based on 2008 income.

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How much sales tax will I be able to deduct?

The Sales Tax Deduction was passed on Dec 8.

For 2008, you can elect to deduct state sales tax and local general sales tax instead of state and local income taxes as an itemized deduction on Schedule A. You cannot deduct both. Generally, to figure your state and local general sales tax deduction, you can either use your actual expenses or the Option Sales Tax Table.

To figure your deduction, read down the Total Income. Then go to the column that includes the total number of exemptions you claimed on your Form 1040. If you purchased a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, home or home building materials, add the sales tax paid for these items to the amount from the table. DO NOT include sales taxes paid on items used in your trade or business. Enter the result on Schedule A, Form 1040.

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Which energy-efficient vehicles qualify for the tax credit?

There is a time and quantity limit for a vehicle to qualify for this credit.  You must purchase the vehicle NEW in the tax year and the full credit will be available until the cumulative sales for a model has reached 60,000 vehicles.  Once the limit has been reached it will decrease until it reaches a phase out limit.  You need to ask the dealer when purchasing a vehicle if this limit has been reached.

Visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0%2C%2Cid=157557%2C00.html for the complete listing.

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Is the telephone tax refund credit a real credit for 2006?

This credit was only available for the Tax Year 2006.

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Do I qualify for the First Time Home Buyer's Credit?

If you bought a house for your main home between April 8, 2008 and July, 1, 2009 and you (or your spouse) did not own a home in the previous three years you may be eligible to take this credit.  There are income limitations to this credit.  The amount of the credit is the lesser of $7,500 or 10% of the purchase price of the house.  This credit must be recaptured (repaid) over a 15 year period in 15 equal installments beginning two years from the purchase date of the house.  This recapture will show as an additional tax on your return each year until repaid.  If the home ceases to be your main home for any reason before the recapture period is complete you must include all remaining installments as an additional tax on the return for the year this happens.  For the purpose of this credit each spouse is responsible for one-half.

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I did not file a return in a prior year, what do I need to do?

If you have the information (W2's, any 1099's, etc.) we can prepare your tax return for you.

If you do not have the information you can provide us a power of attorney (which allows us to talk to the IRS for you) to get the information or you can call 800-829-1040 and follow the prompts to request a transcript of your records be sent to you and then we can prepare your return for you.

REMEMBER: Only the current year's taxes can be filed electronically. You cannot receive a refund on a tax return filed for tax year the 2005 or earlier; however, the return should be filed.

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What if an error was made on a prior return?

We can prepare an amended return to correct the error.

REMEMBER: You can only receive a refund if the return is filed within 3 years of the due date of the original return. You have until 4/15/2009 to file and receive any money due you on your 2005 tax return.

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I cannot find my W-2, what do I do?

You must first contact the employer and attempt to get a duplicate W2 issued.

If you cannot locate the employer and you have your last pay stub we can prepare a substitute W2 for you. A return may not be filed electronically with a substitute W2 until after 2/15/2009.

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One or both of my parents died last year, what do I do?

If they have not filed a tax return in the past year, they need to file a tax return this year to stop the social security number at the IRS. The social security number was stopped at the Social Security Administration when the death certificate was filed with the SSA but not at the IRS.

If the parent had income from any source during year, an estate for the descendant must be established and the income reported on two tax returns (1040 and 1041). We can prepare these returns for you.

If you feel the estate (assets being passed on to heirs) is in excess of $2,000,000, contact us to determine what additional forms may be needed to be filed.

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What do I do if I have not received my refund?

You can visit the Where's My Refund? link on the IRS web site. You will need to answer the questions to find out the status of your refund.

You may also call 800-829-1040 and follow the prompts to find the status of your refund.

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Was my return accepted by the IRS?

You can visit the Where's My Refund? link on the IRS web site. You will need to answer the question to learn the status of your return.

You can also call 800-829-1040 and follow the prompts to find the amount of the status of your return.

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I am unable to get to your office for an appointment, what are my options?

You may download a Drop-Off Packet. After you have filled in the information requested in the Tax Preparation packet, mail it along with the forms requested to us.

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How do I file an extension?

Contact us and we can prepare an extension for you.

REMEMBER: An extension is only an extension of time to file your tax return and is due by April 15, 2009. It is NOT an extension of time to pay any tax due; any tax you owe is due by April 15. An extension gives you until August 15, 2009 to file your tax return.

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