24 May 2022 Benefits of Using a CPA
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Benefits of Using a Paid Preparer for Your Taxes
Why use a CPA? With so many do-it-yourself tax programs available for sale, it is a legitimate question to ask why you should hire a paid preparer when you can create and file a tax return on a home computer. Keep in mind that entering tax information into a computer program and making adjustments necessary to clear the program’s diagnostic error messages is no substitute for someone with a professional understanding of tax law.
The Internal Revenue Code and related Treasury Regulations contain over 10,000 pages of complicated provisions. Working with a tax professional who understands how the provisions affect your specific situation and how the rules interact can provide you with the best result on your tax return. Obtaining tax benefits is often a complex process involving properly executed and timely-filed elections. Simply entering amounts into an input program may lead to lost benefits. We find that in many cases we save new clients more than the cost of our services compared to returns they have prepared themselves.
Proper reporting and filing can also help keep you off the IRS radar.
Other Benefits of Using A CPA for Tax Preparation Include:
• When your information is compiled and we’ve examined and discussed your unique tax situation, we take care of preparing the forms and we file the returns electronically.
• We will explain details of how items of income and expense affect your return, and will make recommendations on how to reduce your tax liability.
• If you receive any communication from the IRS or state revenue department, we are available to assist you with resolution.
• As professional tax preparers, we know the proper means of reporting income and deductions, the proper forms to use, and the proper entries to make. Using a paid preparer makes your return much more likely to be “accepted as filed,” meaning in most cases you will avoid the dreaded letter from the IRS triggered by a box that was not checked or a number entered on the wrong line.
• We can discuss with you the tax effects of any changes in income anticipated for the coming year, to help eliminate the guesswork involved with figuring out what your tax situation will be in future years.
• We can make recommendations for changing withholding at work to help put you in the position you want to be in when it comes time to file next year’s return.
Common Tax Issues
Our clients frequently contact us for assistance in dealing with tax issues such as the following:
• Pension or IRA distributions
• Significant change in income or deductions
• Job change
• Marriage
• Start-up or sale of business
• Purchase or sale of a home or other real estate
• Retirement
• Divorce or separation
• Self-employment or contract work
• Large charitable contributions
• Children in college
CPA Confidentiality
As professional tax preparers we are bound by rules of ethics to keep all of your information confidential. We take great care in handling your information, including names, addresses, birth dates, and Social Security Numbers, and items of income and deductions. We have safeguards in place to protect the security of your physical documents as well as security of electronic information used to process and file your returns with the IRS and state revenue agencies.
We adhere to strict rules regarding any disclosure or use of your personal information. We will not disclose or use any of your personal information obtained during the tax engagement for purposes other than preparation and filing of your returns unless we obtain specific written authorization from you in advance.
Checklist of Common Errors When Preparing Your Tax Return
The IRS created the following checklist based on common filing errors.
• Did you choose the correct filing status?
• Did you enter the names and Social Security Numbers for everyone listed on your return exactly as those names and numbers appear on each person’s Social Security card? If there have been any name changes, be sure to contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or call them at 800-772-1213.
• Did you enter your income on the correct lines?
• Did you calculate deductions and credits correctly, put them on the right lines and attached the necessary forms or schedules?
• Did you figure the tax correctly?
• Did you sign and date the return?
• If you filed a paper return, did you use the correct mailing address from your tax form instructions?
• If you are due a refund and requested direct deposit, did you double-check your routing and account numbers for your financial institution?
• Did you make a copy of the signed return and all schedules for your own records?
Life Events Impacting Your Tax Return
There are many events that occur during the year that can affect your tax situation. However, negative tax effects can be avoided by proper planning. Please contact us in advance if you experience any of the following:
- Pension or IRA distributions.
- Sale or purchase of a residence or other real estate.
- Significant change in income or deductions.
- Retirement.
- Job change.
- Notice from IRS or other revenue department.
- Marriage.
- Divorce or separation.
- Attainment of age 59 ½ or 70 ½.
- Self-employment.
- Sale or purchase of a business.
- Charitable contributions of property in excess of $5,000
This page contains general information for taxpayers and should not be relied upon as the only source of authority. Taxpayers should seek professional tax advice for more information. Copyright © 2019 Tax Materials, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Contact the Haynie & Company CPA Firm for Tax Advisor Services
Using a CPA can help you maximize your tax return and stay in compliance with all rules and regulations. Why not explore your options? Reach out to the team of tax experts at Haynie & Company for a free consultation. With locations in Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, and many more, we can connect you to qualified CPAs near you.
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