FAQs
Common questions
If your question is not here, that is a perfectly good reason to call. Nobody is keeping score, and asking costs nothing.
Getting started
Do we have to meet in person?
No. Everything can be handled by phone, text, and email, with documents shared securely. If you would rather sit down together, that can be arranged too.
What does it cost?
It depends on which returns are involved, so Maritza gives a clear quote up front, before any work begins. No surprise fees.
What should I have ready for a first conversation?
Just a sense of your situation. Last year's return helps if you have it, but it is not required to start.
Do you work with clients outside Texas?
Yes. Federal returns work the same anywhere, and state returns are handled by the rules of the state involved. Remote clients are welcome.
Business & entities
Which return does my business file?
It depends on the structure. Multi-member LLCs and partnerships generally file Form 1065, S corporations file 1120-S, C corporations file 1120, and tax-exempt organizations file a 990. If you are not sure, that is one of the first things Maritza sorts out.
Can you handle both my business and my personal return?
Yes, and it usually goes better that way. The K-1 from your entity flows onto your personal return, so having one person prepare both means the numbers agree.
Do I need bookkeeping too, or just the return?
If your records are already clean, just the return. If they are not, cleaning up the books first usually costs less than reconstructing a year under deadline, and it produces reports you can use with a bank.
Estates & trusts
Someone in my family died. Which returns are required?
Often more than one: a final individual return for the person, and a Form 1041 for the estate or trust if it earns income. Larger estates may also need a Form 706. You do not need to work this out on your own before calling.
I gave a large gift. Do I owe tax?
Usually not. Gifts above the annual exclusion generally require a Form 709 to be filed, but in most cases the gift reduces a lifetime exclusion rather than creating tax owed. The filing keeps the record straight.
If something went wrong
I have not filed in a few years. Is that a problem?
It is fixable, and it is more common than people think. Maritza works through unfiled years in order until you are current. It does not come with a lecture.
I got a letter from the IRS. What do I do?
Do not ignore it, and do not panic. Many letters are routine and ask for one document. Send Maritza a photo of it and she will tell you what it actually says and what it needs.
Someone else made a mistake on my old return. Can it be fixed?
Usually yes, with an amended return. There are time limits for claiming a refund, so it is worth asking sooner rather than later.
Still unsure?
Describe the situation in a sentence and Maritza will tell you what is involved, whether or not you end up hiring her. She would rather you understand your situation than stay quiet about it.