Wright's Tax Garage LLC

02/02/2026

Tax Season Tip: A Little Prep Saves a Lot of Headaches

Most tax refund delays don’t come from the IRS being slow — they come from little things that sneak through when folks are rushed.

We see it every year:
• A W-2 or 1099 that didn’t get included
• A kid claimed two different ways
• A name or Social Security number that doesn’t quite match
• Last year’s issue that never fully got cleared up

Doing taxes early gives you breathing room to:
✔ Gather what’s missing
✔ Fix small mistakes before they turn into big ones
✔ Keep your refund from getting stuck in limbo

Even if you’re still waiting on one form, most of the work can be done ahead of time. No need to wait until the last minute and stress over it.

If you want a second set of eyes on things, we’re happy to help. You can book online or just send a message when it’s convenient.

Local, honest tax prep — done right the first time.

01/21/2026

Tax Season Tip: Getting a 1099 Doesn’t Automatically Mean You Owe a Lot in Taxes

Receiving a 1099 can make people nervous—but a 1099 by itself does not determine how much tax you owe.

A 1099 simply reports gross income, not profit.

That means:
• Expenses are not included
• Mileage, supplies, and fees are not deducted
• Business use of phone, internet, or equipment isn’t accounted for

This is why two people with the same 1099 amount can owe very different taxes.

What actually matters is:
• Your allowable business expenses
• How long you’ve been self-employed
• Other income in the household
• Credits and deductions you qualify for

The mistake many people make is assuming the 1099 amount is fully taxable without adjustment—or worse, not reporting it at all.

When a return is prepared correctly, the goal is accuracy and clarity: what income is taxable, what can be deducted, and why the final numbers are what they are.

If you want that explained instead of guessed at, you can schedule or upload documents securely here:
👉 https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

01/20/2026

**Why Your Tax Refund Changes From Year to Year**

A lot of people expect their tax refund to be about the same every year. In reality, refunds often change—even when your job hasn’t.

Some common reasons include:
• Changes to IRS withholding tables
• Overtime, bonuses, or raises
• Dependents aging out or credits phasing out
• Prior-year Child Tax Credit advances
• New or increased side income

Your refund isn’t a reward and it isn’t a fixed number. It’s simply the difference between what was paid in during the year and what you actually owed.

When we prepare your return, we walk you through **what changed, why your refund looks the way it does, and what to expect going forward**, so there are no surprises.

If you want clarity instead of guesswork, you can schedule online, upload documents securely, or meet by phone or video:
👉 https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

01/19/2026

Simple pricing. Local service. Done from home.

Tax season opens January 26th, but you don’t have to wait. We can get everything ready now so filing is quick and stress-free once the IRS starts accepting returns.

Here’s how our most common options work:

💲 $59.99 — W-2 Express
• One W-2 per person
• Joint returns allowed
• Dependents included
• Best for straightforward job income

💲 $99 — Simple Return
• W-2s
• Interest or unemployment
• Basic credits
• Ideal for returns that are a step beyond just a W-2

We also prepare self-employed, side income, and business returns if your situation is more complex.

Most clients complete the entire process from home using secure document upload and a quick phone or video appointment. In-person appointments are available if you prefer.

Getting started early helps avoid delays, mistakes, and IRS letters later.

📞 Call or text: 812-507-6100
📅 Book online: https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

Local. Honest. No big-box runaround.

01/19/2026

A common question this time of year:

“I didn’t make much — do I really need to file taxes?”

Sometimes the answer is no — but many times, filing anyway still makes sense.

You may not be required to file, but you may still want to if:
• Taxes were withheld from your paycheck and you want a refund
• You qualify for credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit
• You worked multiple jobs and withholding doesn’t line up
• You had health insurance credits that need to be reconciled
• You want to create a clean tax record for loans, housing, or financial aid
• You want to avoid problems later if income was reported under your SSN

On the flip side, you may be required to file even with lower income if:
• You had self-employment or side income
• You received certain types of income (1099s, cash jobs, gig work)

The biggest mistake I see is people guessing instead of checking.

A quick review can tell you whether filing helps you — or if you can safely skip it.

Local, honest tax prep — in person or fully remote.

📞 812-507-6100
📅 Book online: https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

01/16/2026

Nobody likes opening the mailbox to an IRS letter — and most of the time, they’re avoidable.

Here are the most common reasons the IRS sends letters:

• Income doesn’t match what was reported (W-2s, 1099s, side jobs)
• Dependents claimed incorrectly or claimed by two people
• Missing forms or unsigned returns
• Math errors or estimated payments that don’t line up
• Credits claimed without proper support

How to avoid IRS letters:

• Report all income — even side or part-time work
• Make sure dependents are claimed correctly, especially in shared custody situations
• Don’t guess on credits or deductions
• Double-check bank info and personal details
• Have a professional review the return before filing

Most IRS letters aren’t audits — but they do slow refunds and create stress.

A clean, accurate return on the front end saves time, money, and headaches later.

Local, honest tax prep — in person or fully remote.

📞 812-507-6100
📅 Book online: https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

01/15/2026

Tax season officially opens January 26th, but we can start right now — and you don’t even have to leave home.

Starting early helps us:

Review documents before the rush

Catch missing W-2s, 1099s, or other income

Sort out dependents and credits ahead of time

Be ready to file the moment the IRS opens

Video or phone appointments with secure upload make the process seamless.
No office visit required unless you want one.

What to bring (or securely upload):

Photo ID (and spouse’s if filing jointly)

Social Security numbers for everyone on the return

Last year’s tax return (if available)

W-2s and 1099s (work, side jobs, unemployment, interest, etc.)

Childcare, education, or medical documents if they apply

Bank account info for direct deposit

Most tax headaches come from waiting and scrambling. Getting started now — from your couch — makes filing smooth and stress-free once tax season opens.

Local, honest tax prep. In-person or fully remote.

📞 812-507-6100
📅 Book online: https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

01/13/2026

Let’s Talk About IRS Free File (and what folks should really know)

You’ve probably heard about IRS Free File and thought,
“Why would anyone pay to file taxes if this exists?”

That’s a fair question — but here’s the part that often gets missed.

IRS Free File is not the IRS doing your taxes.
It’s a list of private tax software companies the IRS links to.

And while it can work for some people, there are important limits.

Here’s what you should know before using it:

• There’s an income limit
To qualify for IRS Free File, your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be $89,000 or less.
Even under that limit, each software company has its own extra rules based on income, age, state, and filing situation.

• Yes, it can include kids and credits — but only if you qualify
If you meet a Free File provider’s requirements, the software can handle:
– Children and dependents
– Child Tax Credit
– Earned Income Credit
– Child and Dependent Care Credit

The catch is not everyone qualifies for a free offer that includes all of that. Once things get a little more detailed, many people get pushed into paid versions.

• Federal may be free — state often isn’t
A lot of Free File options still charge for state returns, even when the federal return is advertised as free.

• It’s still just software
There’s:
– No professional review
– No advice
– No one explaining gray areas
– No help if the IRS sends a letter later

If something is wrong, the IRS assumes you entered it that way.

• Side income is where people get burned
DoorDash, cash jobs, Facebook Marketplace, hobbies — the software won’t warn you when income should be reported or help you properly deduct expenses. If it’s wrong, the IRS often looks at the full gross amount, not what you actually made.

Free File works best for very simple returns and for people who clearly qualify for a free offer.

For everyone else, “free” can turn into:
– Surprise charges
– Missed credits
– IRS letters months later

You don’t have to choose me — but choose someone who:
✔ Asks questions
✔ Explains your options
✔ Stands behind the return

Getting it done right the first time is usually cheaper than fixing it later.

If you want real help instead of just software:
You can book an in-person or remote appointment anytime here:
👉 https://www.wrightstaxgarage.com/book-online

Or call/text 812-507-6100 and we’ll get you taken care of.

02/01/2025

Good Saturday morning, people! We are already up and ready to get some taxes done today. Call us, and we can try to get you in today! Our price starts at $99 this year. That price includes state filings.

01/16/2025

Winter Weather got stuck in? Need your taxes done? Use our easy-to-use remote tax filing option! No need to leave the house to get your taxes done!

Go to the Wright's Tax Garage guest portal: Guest Portal Look for the "Upload" button.  Click the "Select" button and select the downloaded form from your computer.