Frequently Asked Questions

Software is great for a simple W-2 return. It stops being great the moment your situation involves a business, rental property, equity compensation, inheritance, life change, or multi-state income. A CPA brings judgment, planning, and a second set of eyes that can save you far more than the fee — and more importantly, save you from a mistake that’s expensive to unwind later.

Generally:

• All tax forms received in the mail or electronically (W-2, 1099s, 1098s, K-1s, SSA-1099, brokerage statements, etc.)
• A copy of last year’s return if you’re new to the firm
• Receipts or totals for deductible items (charitable giving, medical, state and local taxes, mortgage interest)
• Closing statements for any real estate bought or sold during the year
• Documentation for any major life change (marriage, divorce, new child, retirement, etc.)

We send returning clients a tailored organizer each January. If you’re new, just call and we’ll walk through your specific situation.

The general rule is three years from the filing date, which matches the IRS statute for most audits. Keep records for seven years if you have items like bad-debt deductions or worthless-security losses, and keep them indefinitely if you did not file or filed a fraudulent return. For real estate, stock and other assets, keep purchase documents until at least three years after you sell the asset and report the gain. For business records, payroll documents should be kept at least four years.

• April 15 — individual returns (Form 1040) and first-quarter estimated payments
• March 15 — S-corporation (1120-S) and partnership (1065) returns
• April 15 — C-corporation (1120) returns for calendar-year corporations
• June 15 — second-quarter estimated payments
• September 15 — third-quarter estimated payments and extended S-corp/partnership returns
• October 15 — extended individual returns
• January 15 — fourth-quarter estimated payments for the prior year

Dates shift to the next business day when they fall on a weekend or federal holiday.

No. An extension simply gives you until October 15 to file. It does not increase audit risk, and in many situations it’s the right call — especially if you’re waiting on a K-1 or need more time for a complex transaction. Remember that an extension extends the time to file, not the time to pay — any balance due should be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

Generally, you owe estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more at year-end after subtracting withholding and refundable credits. Business owners, retirees with investment income, and people with significant capital gains should almost always be making estimates. We calculate these for our clients as part of the annual return, and we adjust mid-year if something major changes.

For most small businesses in our practice, yes. QuickBooks Online is usually our default recommendation — bank feeds, multi-user access, and direct integrations with payroll, point-of-sale, and e-commerce make it the most practical choice. QuickBooks Desktop still makes sense in a few niche cases. We help clients with initial setup, ongoing training, data cleanup, and Desktop-to-Online migrations.

A first meeting is a no-pressure conversation — by phone, video call, or in our office. We listen to your situation, explain how we work, and give you an honest assessment of whether we’re the right fit and a fair estimate of fees. We don’t send a bill for an introductory conversation.

Yes. We use encrypted client portals and secure e-signature so you can send us documents, receive your return for review, and sign the e-file authorization without ever mailing paper or emailing sensitive data. For clients who prefer paper, we’re happy to meet in person.

Fees are based on the complexity of the engagement and the time required — not on a percentage of your refund or any other contingent basis. Before we start a new engagement, you’ll get a fee estimate and an engagement letter in plain language, so there are no surprises.