General

 

Q. What is an Enrolled Agent? 

 

A. An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally licensed tax professional authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS. EAs specialize in taxation and are required to meet continuing education and ethical standards.

 

Q. Are you a CPA? 

 

A. No. I am an Enrolled Agent (EA), a federally licensed tax professional authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Unlike CPAs, whose practices may focus on a wide range of accounting services, Enrolled Agents specialize exclusively in taxation. My practice is dedicated to tax preparation, tax planning, and IRS representation.

 

Q. Do you work with clients outside of New Jersey? 

 

A. Absolutely. As an Enrolled Agent, I can prepare federal tax returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS regardless of where they live.

 

Q. How much do you charge?

 

A. Every engagement is different. I do not keep a menu of fixed pricing. My fees depend on the complexity of the work, the time invested, and the value of my expertise. Before any work begins, I will send you a quote for what I believe the price will be. I require payment upfront and do not complete any work until all balances are paid. 

Please note that on some occasions, new information is brought to light that increases the complexity of the work or the value I am providing. In these situations, I may need to adjust the price of my services to more accurately reflect the work I am doing. I will inform you if I believe the fee needs to be raised beyond my initial quote. 

 

Q. How do I send you my documents?

 

A. I use TaxDome's secure client portal for document upload, electronic signatures, and communication.

 

Q. Can I just email or text you my documents?

 

A. NO. To protect your sensitive information, I do not accept documents emailed or texted to me. This represents a significant security risk. If you email or text me your documents, I will promptly delete them from my inbox and request that you upload them to TaxDome, which I would be happy to assist you with.

 

Q. Do you offer virtual appointments? 

 

A. Yes! I prefer working with my clients virtually, to make it as convenient as possible for them. In-person appointments can be arranged, but I encourage meeting over Google Meet or Zoom when possible. 

 

 

Tax Preparation

 

Q. What documents do I need to give you to prepare my return?

 

A. I will provide a personalized organizer through TaxDome, which will indicate exactly which documents you need to upload. If anything is missing, the organizer will tell me what else I need to request from you.

 

Q. Can you prepare prior-year tax returns? 

 

A. Yes. Whether you've missed one year or several, I can help you determine which returns need to be filed and develop a plan to get you back into compliance.

 

Q. I received a tax document after my return was filed! What should I do? 

 

A. Contact me before filing an amended return. In some cases, no amendment is necessary.

 

Q. Can you file an extension for me? 

 

A. Absolutely! A timely filed extension extends your tax return filing deadline for 6 months, giving us more time to prepare an accurate return. Keep in mind that an extension gives you more time to file, NOT more time to pay. I generally recommend making a payment with your extension if you owe tax. 

Tax Planning & Advisory

 

Q. What's the difference between Tax Preparation and Tax Planning? 

 

A. Tax preparation reports what already happened. Tax planning helps you make informed decisions before they affect your tax return, possibly reducing your tax liability or mitigating underpayment and late payment penalties. 

 

Q. Isn't Tax Planning only for wealthy people and big corporations? 

 

A. Not at all. Business owners, self-employed individuals, investors, and anyone experiencing major life changes can benefit from proactive tax planning.

 

Q. When should I start Tax Planning?

 

A. Ideally before important financial decisions are made. Typically, Tax Planning opportunities are often greatest before the end of the tax year.

 

Tax Relief (Representation/Resolution)

 

Q. I got a letter from the IRS. What should I do?

 

A. Don't ignore it! A notice from the IRS does not automatically mean you are being audited. Many notices simply require a response or more information. Contact me as soon as possible so we can review it together. 

 

Q. Can you speak to the IRS for me? 

 

A. Yes. Once you authorize me to represent you, I can communicate with the IRS on your behalf in most situations.

 

Q. My issue isn't with the IRS, it's with my state. Can you help me with that?

 

A. Yes, I can represent you before state taxing authorities.

 

Q. I haven't filed taxes in years, and I got an IRS notice. Can you help me?

 

A. Absolutely. We'll determine which returns need to be filed and work toward bringing you back into compliance.

 

Q. Can you guarantee you'll reduce what I owe?

 

A. Not necessarily. Every situation is different. I'll provide an honest assessment of your options and work toward the best outcome the law allows.

 

Q. I owe the IRS and heard on TV that I can settle for pennies on the dollar. Can you do that for me? 

 

A. It depends. An Offer in Compromise is a legitimate IRS program, but it's not available to everyone. The IRS has strict eligibility requirements, and many taxpayers are better served by other resolution options, such as an installment agreement or Currently Not Collectible status. I'll evaluate your situation honestly and recommend the solution that's right for you, not the one that makes the best commercial.

"Better Crave Dave!"