FAQ on Tax Service

What tax-related services do you provide?

A: We provide a wide range of tax-related services, including:

• Personal income tax preparation
• Small and medium business tax preparation
• Out-of-state returns
• Prior year returns
• Amendments to returns

Q: What documents do I need to send or bring with the tax questionnaire?

A: Please bring the following items to your tax appointment:

• Social Security cards for each family member
• IDs for each family member
• W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2013
• Bank account information (voided check) for direct deposit
• A copy of last year's tax return (if you are a new client)
• All 1099 forms for other income (i.e., 1099G, 1099MISC, 1099INT, and 1099B)
• If you paid for childcare, documentation listing the provider's name, address, tax ID number, and amount paid
• If you, your spouse, or child attended college, tuition expense statements (1098T) and/or student loan interest statements (1098E)
• Documentation of court-ordered child support
• Home interest and property taxes paid
• Medical bills paid (total)
• Charitable contributions/donations made during the year
• Any other tax-related documents you have received
• Any document or letter you received from the IRS or state
• Both taxpayers/spouses must sign the return

Q: What information do I need to claim a dependent care benefit?

A: You will need to provide the following information:

• Name of the provider
• SSN or EIN of the provider
• Address of the provider
• Amount you paid to the provider

Q: What expenses are included in the dependent care benefit?

A: The following expenses are included in the dependent care benefit:

• Before-school and after-school care
• Preschool/nursery school expenses
• Extended day programs
• Babysitter expenses (in or out of the home)
• Nanny services (amounts paid for the actual care of the dependent)
• Summer day camp for qualifying children under the age of 13

Q: My spouse is not working. Can I claim the dependent care benefit?

A: No, in order to receive the dependent care benefit, both taxpayers/spouses must be employed, a full-time student, or disabled.

Q: What documentation is required for deductions for charitable contributions?

A: To claim a deduction for cash, check, or other monetary gift, you must have a written confirmation from the charity that contains the following information:

• Name of the organization
• Date of the contribution
• Amount of the contribution

Charities are only required to provide written acknowledgement for donations over $250, but most charitable organizations provide some sort of receipt no matter what size of donation you provide. For contributions less than $250, if a receipt has not been provided, a cancelled check or a bank record will suffice. You cannot deduct casual donations that you drop into a charity's collection box or bucket without a receipt. If you receive some goods or services in exchange for your donation, the charity must specify the value of those goods or services. You can only deduct the amount of your donation that is above that value. The paperwork from the charitable organization should spell out what is deductible.

Q: Can I take a deduction for my volunteer work?

A: No, you cannot deduct the value of your time spent on charitable work as a charitable donation, but you can deduct your out-of-pocket costs such as mileage, currently set at 14 cents per mile.

Q: What do I need to receive the college credit?

A: You will need a Form 1098-T from the college with the amount of tuition paid.

Q: Do I have to come into the office to apply?

A: No, if you cannot come into the office, i.e., you live out of state, you may use our drop-off service through our client portal.

Q: Do I need to file income tax if I worked in the U.S. for a month and then returned to my home country?

A: It depends on the amount of income, but we would recommend to file the tax return as long as you have some income from the U.S

Q: When should I apply?

A: You can file a tax return as soon as you have all the necessary documents, such as your W-2 forms and 1099s. However, the IRS recommends waiting until you have received your W-2 from your employer, even if it is not due until February 14th. This is because your W-2 will contain the most accurate information about your income and taxes withheld.

Q: Can I pay the tax preparation fee by credit card?

A: Yes, you can pay the tax preparation fee by credit card if you come into the office in person. However, if you are filing your taxes remotely, we only accept payment from your checking account as an ACH debit.

Q: Can I file the tax return using the information from my last paystub of the year?

A: The IRS recommends that you wait for your W-2 from your employer before filing your tax return. Your W-2 will contain the most accurate information about your income and taxes withheld. Your last paystub may not reflect exactly what you earned for the entire year, and it may not include all of the information that the IRS needs to process your tax return.

Q: If I have any more questions, can I contact you?

A: Yes, you are always welcome to contact us by email or phone. Our preferred way of communication is email.