Steven A. Scott, CPA

Steve files virtually all individual taxes by electronic filing (and without additional charge)! This means that you do not need to make sure that all attachments are correct, find all places where you should sign, worry if you have enough postage on that bulky envelope, or pay certified mail fees in order to prove the date of filing.

It’s a dreadful thing to get a notice of balance due or of an impending audit. Almost all balance due notices are computer generated and a great many notices are incorrect! Very often the issue can be resolved by simply corresponding to the taxing authority. Before you pay that bill, you should call for an appointment to review the issue.

Sometimes, taxpayers are called upon to present their documents for an audit. Almost all practitioners recommend that taxpayers should not represent themselves. In fact, most practitioners recommend against the taxpayer accompanying the CPA to the audit because it is difficult to remain calm and level-headed. Although it will not relieve the anxiety, it is comforting to be able to rely on an experienced pro.

Very few people are tax protesters or have criminal intentions. Most folks that get behind in filing tax returns do not intend to do so. Sometimes people are overwhelmed by the entire process, a little lazy at pulling things together, or do not believe that have all the necessary information to file a return. So when one year remains unfiled it becomes scary to file the next year’s return. So a series of unfiled returns begins to accumulate. Does this sound familiar?

While taxes are a certainty, there is no obligation to pay more than your fair share. Real estate transactions, retirement planning, selling assets, and other events may create the opportunity to minimize taxes effectively.

Many people want their taxes prepared by a career professional, even though their situation may be fairly simple. (You might be surprised about the affordability of professional preparation.) Others have complicated situations and must be concerned about high tax rates, the alternative minimum tax, the self-employment tax, underpayment of estimated tax penalties, complex tax credits, or other critical issues.