Frequently Asked Questions

No. The practice is fully remote, so clients can be anywhere. Most of my current clients are in Michigan and Ohio, but I work with people across the country. As long as your federal return and any state returns fall within the services I offer, location is not a factor.

We start with a free 15-minute call to talk through your situation. Once you're ready to move forward, you upload your documents through a secure client portal (no email, no fax). I prepare your return, then we meet virtually to walk through it. You review, e-sign, and I file electronically. Most people never miss having an in-person appointment.

It's a 15-minute call to talk through your tax situation and figure out if we're a good fit. I'll let you know which service tier applies to you, flag anything unusual about your return, and answer any questions you have before committing to anything. No pressure, no cost.

Book a time here.

Yes, that's one of my specialties. If you have sole proprietor income, gig work, or freelance income reported on a 1099-NEC, that gets reported on Schedule C. The Schedule C add-on is $200 (or $180 with a discount) on top of your base return. I'll help you identify deductible business expenses to make sure you're not leaving money on the table.

Your records don't need to be perfect, but they do need to be reasonably organized. If things are particularly scattered, a records surcharge may apply.

Yes. Multi-state filing is something I handle regularly, particularly for remote workers who live in one state and work for a company based in another. One state return is included in your base fee. Each additional state is $75.

If your situation involves a state with unusual rules (like Pennsylvania local taxes or New York's telecommuter tax), just mention it on the consultation call so I can make sure it's in scope.

Very common. You'd start with a Standard or Advanced base return for the W-2 income, then add the Schedule C for the freelance piece. I'll combine everything into a single return and make sure the self-employment tax and any quarterly estimated tax implications are accounted for.

Yes. Prior-year returns are priced at the current-year rate plus $75 for one year back, or plus $125 per year for two or more years back. Full payment is required upfront for prior-year work. These fees are not eligible for the returning client or veteran/teacher discounts.

If you owe for multiple years, filing sooner rather than later helps limit the penalty and interest accumulation. The IRS won't come after you harder because you filed voluntarily; the opposite is usually true.

That's handled with an amended return (Form 1040-X). I can prepare amendments whether or not I filed your original return. The minimum fee is $175, based on what needs to be corrected. If the error was mine on a return I prepared, I fix it at no charge.

The specifics depend on your situation, but here's what most clients bring:

Always needed: last year's return (if available), Social Security numbers for yourself and any dependents, and all income documents (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s).

If you're self-employed: a record of business income and expenses by category. A spreadsheet, QuickBooks export, or a well-organized folder of receipts works fine.

If you have investments: brokerage statements (1099-B and 1099-DIV). If you have a lot of transactions, the consolidated year-end statement from your broker is the one to upload.

For deductions: mortgage interest (1098), property tax records, charitable contribution receipts, and any healthcare documents (HSA contributions, 1095 forms).

After the consultation, I'll send you a checklist specific to your return.

Most returns are completed within 5 to 7 business days from the date I have your complete document package. During peak season (late March through April 15), it may be closer to 7 to 10 days. I'll let you know upfront if there's a longer queue.

Rush processing (72-hour turnaround) is available for $100 if you need it done faster.

No. Everything is handled through the client portal. You review the completed return, ask any questions during a virtual walkthrough, and e-sign from your phone or computer. I file electronically after that. You never need to print, scan, or mail anything.

Through TaxDome, the encrypted client portal I use for all document exchange. Once we're engaged, you'll get a link to set up your portal account. Upload from there and the files are encrypted in transit and at rest. No email attachments, no fax, no postal mail needed.

Standard email is not encrypted in a way that adequately protects sensitive financial data. Your Social Security number, bank account details, and income records are exactly the kind of information that shows up in identity theft cases. The client portal uses AES-256 encryption and requires multi-factor authentication, which is a meaningful step up from a PDF attachment in an email thread. For all business communications, I use Proton Mail, which provides end-to-end encryption by default and is subject to Swiss privacy law.

This is a practice I hold myself to, not just a policy I post on a website.

I have a background in Cyber Operations and a Master's in Software Engineering, so this is something I take seriously beyond just following standard industry practices.

In practical terms: all documents go through an encrypted portal, portal access requires multi-factor authentication, no one else has access to your files, and I have no social media presence where your data could ever end up. Your information is used to prepare your return, and that's it.

The full details are in the Privacy Policy.

No. Your information goes to the IRS and applicable state agencies when we file, and nowhere else. I don't use it for marketing, I don't share it with data brokers, and I don't have analytics or advertising tools running on this site. Once the retention period required by law expires, the data is deleted.

A good rule of thumb: if your income is straightforward W-2s and you take the standard deduction, you're almost certainly a Standard return ($200). If you have brokerage accounts, itemized deductions, HSA contributions, or education credits, you're looking at the Advanced return ($350). Add $200 for Schedule C if you have self-employment income.

If you're not sure, just describe your situation on the consultation call and I'll tell you exactly where you land. You can also use the fee calculator to build out an estimate on your own.

A non-refundable engagement retainer of $75 is due at the start and is credited toward your total fee. The remaining balance is due before I deliver your completed return for signature. Your return is not filed until payment is received.

Payment details are provided through the client portal at engagement. I do not collect card numbers directly.

Yes. There are two discounts, each at 10% off preparation fees, and they can be combined for up to 20% off:

Returning client discount: applies to any client who has had a return prepared by me in a prior year.

Veteran/Teacher discount: applies to active duty military, veterans, and K-12 teachers. Just let me know when you reach out.

Discounts apply to preparation fees only, not to administrative fees like the engagement retainer or late-season surcharge.

A tax preparer is licensed to prepare and file federal returns and is required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) through the IRS. I am a registered, credentialed preparer and an active member of the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP).

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) holds a state license with a broader scope that covers accounting, auditing, and financial advising in addition to taxes. Not all CPAs specialize in tax preparation.

An enrolled agent (EA) holds the highest credential issued by the IRS specifically for tax practitioners. EAs can represent clients before the IRS in audits, appeals, and collections. I am currently pursuing EA certification, and upon designation I will offer IRS representation services.

Not yet, but soon. IRS audit representation requires Enrolled Agent, CPA, or attorney status. I am actively pursuing EA certification. Once that designation is in place, I will add representation services to the practice.

In the meantime, if you receive an IRS notice or audit letter, I can help you understand what it says and refer you to a qualified representative. And for what it's worth, a properly prepared return significantly reduces the chance of an audit in the first place.

Owing is not a problem. The return still gets filed the same way. The IRS offers several payment options including direct pay from a bank account, payment plans, and credit card payment (though credit cards carry a processing fee the IRS charges). I'll go over your options when we review your return.

The key thing is to file on time even if you can't pay in full. The penalty for not filing is significantly steeper than the penalty for not paying.

An extension gives you six more months to file (moving the deadline from April 15 to October 15), but it does not extend the time to pay. If you owe, interest and late-payment penalties still accrue from April 15 forward.

Extensions make sense when you're waiting on a K-1 or other document that hasn't arrived by tax season, or when life just got in the way. They're not a problem to request. Extension preparation (Form 4868) is $60.

Note: a late-season surcharge of $50 applies to returns started after April 1.

If you have income that isn't subject to withholding (freelance, self-employment, rental income, investment income above a threshold), you may be required to pay estimated taxes quarterly to avoid an underpayment penalty at filing time.

A good rule of thumb: if you expect to owe more than $1,000 after withholding when you file, you probably need to be making quarterly payments. I'll flag this for you when we complete your return. Estimated tax calculation and vouchers (Form 1040-ES) are available as a $50 add-on.

Reach out to me first. Many IRS notices are routine and don't require any action beyond a response by a certain date. Some are math adjustments, some are requests for documentation, and some are just informational.

I'll help you read and understand any notice related to a return I prepared. If the notice requires a formal response or representation, I'll let you know whether it's something I can handle at the current stage of my credentials or whether a referral makes more sense.