01/28/2025
Hello everyone! Tax season is upon us once again. If you have not received your annual letter as of yet, please know that all letters have been mailed but it appears that a large quantity of letters never arrived. Unsure as to what happened.
Below is the content of the annual letter:
To Our Valued Clients,
Tax season is upon us, we are looking forward to seeing everyone once again.
Please read this letter carefully as it provides important information about our office procedures.
We offer sit-down appointments OR drop off.
PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE TO SCHEDULE YOUR SIT-DOWN APPOINTMENTS AS SOON AS YOU READ THIS LETTER, OUR APPOINTMENTS FILL-IN QUICKLY!
If you are dropping off, (No appointment needed) we ask that all forms be removed from envelopes, double check that you have all the required documents (compare to previous year blue folder items), indicate (in writing) if there are any changes to this year’s return compared to last year, and place all items in a folder or envelope with your name on it for safe keeping.
If you are including your child(ren)’s W2’s etc., please separate them from your information and write a note if you would like for us to complete their return for you. Please do not include actual receipts for items unless requested to do so by your preparer, just provide a list with totals.
If you have a business or rental property, please schedule an appointment.
If you are 10 minutes late, this will forfeit your appointment and you must drop off your information, there will be NO EXCEPTIONS, as this is not fair to the clients that have appointments directly after you. Also, please check the weather before the day of your appointment and plan your travel time accordingly, we would rather have you here early instead of being late.
If you have small child(ren) we ask for your cooperation and request that you do not bring your child(ren) to your appointment. Our time is limited, and we must focus on providing you with accurate service.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!! We must get copies of EVERYONE’S licenses again, as well as copies of all children(s) birth certificates and social security cards, even if we did in previous year.
If you are starting to feel like you are becoming sick, have a cold, cough, etc. please be considerate, we ask that you do not come into the office, call to reschedule or just drop off your information in a sealed envelope, in the secure drop box on the front porch. We can always talk over the phone or via email.
DO NOT SEND ANY INFORMATION TO OUR EMAIL UNLESS IT IS ENCRYPTED/SECURE/THROUGH OUR SECURE PORTAL. You are welcome to fax or drop off this information. Due to new IRS requirements and protecting your personal information we cannot accept your sensitive information through plain email. Our office also offers a SECURE PORTAL to upload this sensitive information. Please call our receptionist who will provide you with a login and instructions on how to access the portal. If you already obtained a portal last year, that portal can be used again this year. We have clear, easy instructions to assist you in painlessly using our portal (it functions just like an email account).
***If you require an EXTENSION to be filed, you need to call and REQUEST that your name be added to our list BEFORE April 15th, 2024. Due to changes in our tax programming software, there will be a small service fee of $50 to file all extensions. If an extension is filed for you, this means your return will be prepared AFTER April 15th. Once on extension our office MUST receive all your tax return information no later than August 15th to guarantee the return is filed ON TIME.
If you require tax planning, withholding adjustments, estimated tax payment calculations, future changes; these services will be completed AFTER tax season. A fee will be charged for these other services which include (but are not limited to): sit-down or phone consultations, tax planning, letters to the IRS or NYS, withholding adjustments and estimated tax payment calculations. The fee varies depending on the amount of work associated with it. These fees are minimal compared to the amount of tax that you can save by having us complete such calculations.
If you were NOT required to file a tax return last year and need our office to verify that you are not required to file, this service now has a fee of $100 due to increased operating costs of doing business. If you only require a return for the STAR program, our regular preparation fees will apply for the return that we prepare.
Please note our office only accepts CHECK or CASH for payment, we do NOT accept credit cards or any other form of payment. If your check bounces, there will be a bounced check fee.
There are many other items that have not been finalized at this time so we can discuss any changes that apply to your situation at the time that we prepare your tax return.
We are looking forward to working with all of you again this year. We thank you for your continued patronage.
Sincerely,
Tanna L. Wright Irma R. Brungard
Please read this page for helpful items to assist you in getting ready for your tax appointment or to drop off your tax return information. We would ask that you write any questions on this sheet and bring it to your appointment or include it with your information that you drop off. Here are some helpful items to assist you in getting ready for your tax appointment or to drop off your tax return information:
FEDERAL CHANGES/REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:
1. If you or your dependent(s) attend college, please include the usual Form 1098T, along with the payment detail (bursar’s statement), AND the receipts for all books and required materials.
2. At any time during 2024, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award, or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)? This question MUST be answered in regard to digital assets.
3. ***If you have investments (Ameriprise, Fidelity, Edward Jones, etc.…) with multiple stock sales, please provide ALL the forms with the year-end statements (1099’s) AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance as this information requires time to enter into the system. Your financial advisor can also FAX (585)637-2286 those forms directly to our office. ***
4. If you have a business or rental property, please be sure that all income and expenses are categorized and totaled. Please list the ASSETS SEPARATELY with the date it was place in service (used for business), the amount, and description of each item. If you are missing any information, we will let you know.
5. If you claim mileage for a vehicle used for business or for your rental property, you MUST have a written record of your daily miles. This record must include the date, where you went, the purpose of the travel, and the odometer reading, or it is NOT deductible. The written records Do Not need to be provided at your appointment; you must have this in case of an audit.
6. With the increased use of Venmo, etc. You may receive a Form 1099K from these companies. This form is REQUIRED to be reported on your tax return. Many questions will need to be answered in regard to this form.
7. If you have a cell phone that you use for business, the IRS is really starting to question how you determine business use. IRS is recommending that you obtain a second phone that is used strictly for business or strictly for personal. If you only have one cell phone that is use for business and personal (and NO separate phone) you MUST calculate business vs. personal usage each month. You can get an itemized phone bill so you can measure your business and personal use and prove your deductions to the IRS.
8. Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit for primary residence is possibly available (if you qualify) for heat pumps, central air conditioning, hot water boilers, furnace, water heater, advanced main air circulating fans, insulation, and windows, doors, & skylights, as well as solar, wind, and geothermal. No longer available for roofing. Please provide the purchase receipt with all details about the product.
9. We need NEW copies of EVERYONE’S licenses and copies of ALL CHILD(REN)’S birth certificates and social security cards.
10. If you collected Unemployment, you must include the Form 1099G from the Department of Labor, this can be obtained by accessing your online account on the dept. of labor website www.labor.ny.gov .
11. If you have received an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS, this MUST be provided to your preparer as it will be required to be included in your tax return.
12. If you are an educator (and you have a designated classroom), please provide any expenses that you have out of pocket up to $300 for supplies and items used to assist in lessons. Receipts must be kept to prove in case of an audit.
13. If you receive your health insurance through NYS health plus or NYS marketplace you MUST provide Form 1095A.
14. If you use an HSA account for medical expenses, please provide the Form 1099-SA and (if possible) Form 5498-SA.
15. If you have a child under age 13 that is in Daycare, please provide a statement that include the daycare name, address, Employer identification number, and the total amount paid per child.
16. We understand that circumstances change during the year, if you have separated or divorced, please provide a copy of the separation agreement or divorce decree. Also, provide a signed form 8332 from the custodial parent allowing the non-custodial parent to claim the child(ren), regardless of what is stated in any agreement or decree.
17. If a taxpayer/spouse/dependent had passed away during the year please provide a copy of the death certificate.
NYS CHANGES/REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:
1. If you take any money out of a NYS 529 plan, you must bring in your Form 1099Q.
2. If you and/or your spouse pay for Long Term Care Insurance, the total paid for the year PER PERSON (list separately) will be needed for the return to claim a credit for these payments.
3. If you have a loved one in the nursing home, please provide the total amount paid for the year and the year end detail of charges (looking for separately stated NYS Sales Tax Assessment fee).
PLEASE NOTE: the IRS/NYS can change the tax laws retroactively just like the past 3 years!!!
