Latest Articles
How to Check If Your Tax Professional Carries Errors and Omissions Insurance
When you hire a tax professional, you are trusting them with sensitive financial information and relying on their accuracy. But even qualified, experienced professionals can make mistakes. Understanding…
Do You Need a Tax Professional or Can You File Yourself? A Framework for Deciding
The decision of whether to hire a tax professional or prepare your own return is not one-size-fits-all. For some taxpayers, self-filing is entirely appropriate. For others, the cost…
What does IRS Notice CP501 mean?
This page provides general educational information only. It does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. If you received a CP501, consult a credentialed tax professional for your…
What does IRS Notice CP2000 mean?
This page provides general educational information only. It does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. If you received a CP2000 notice, consult a credentialed tax professional —…
How the deadlines work
Always confirm the current year’s dates with the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board directly. Dates move for weekends and holidays, and California has repeatedly postponed deadlines…
What Is the IRS Annual Filing Season Program and Why Does It Matter?
When you look for someone to prepare your federal tax return, you will encounter a range of credentials. CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys are the most well-known.…
The Difference Between Tax Preparation and Tax Planning: Why It Matters
Two services that are often lumped together — tax preparation and tax planning — are actually quite different in what they involve, what they cost, and what value…
What to bring
Identity Photo ID, and Social Security or ITIN numbers for yourself, your spouse and every dependant Last year’s filed return — useful context, and often required for comparison…
Finding a Bilingual Tax Professional in California
California is one of the most linguistically diverse states in the country. For millions of Californians whose primary language is not English, finding a tax professional who can…
What preparation actually costs
How preparers price There are three common models, and each is reasonable. A flat fee per return is quoted up front for a defined scope. A fee per…
Warning signs worth walking away over
Ghost preparers A “ghost preparer” is paid to prepare a return and then refuses to sign it, leaving it to look self-prepared. The IRS warns about this specifically,…
How to File a Complaint Against a Tax Professional in California
Most interactions with tax professionals go smoothly. But when something goes wrong — whether through negligence, misrepresentation, or misconduct — it is important to know that formal complaint…