Tax Preparation in El Paso, TX

Bring a photo ID for you and your spouse, Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return, and every income form you received: W-2s from employers, 1099s for contract work, unemployment (1099-G) and any interest or retirement forms. If you have children, bring proof of their birth dates and childcare costs, including the provider’s tax ID.

Also bring Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health insurance, Form 1098 for mortgage interest, property tax statements, and last year’s tax return if you didn’t file with us. Self-employed clients should bring a summary of income and business expenses. A bank account and routing number makes direct deposit possible.

For most individuals, the federal deadline is April 15 (or the next business day when it falls on a weekend or holiday). You can request an automatic extension to October 15, but an extension only gives you more time to file—not more time to pay. Any tax you owe is still due in April, and interest starts after that date.

If you are owed a refund, there is no penalty for filing late, but you generally have three years to claim it before the money is lost. If you owe and don’t file, the failure-to-file penalty is usually much larger than the failure-to-pay penalty, so filing on time—even if you can’t pay in full—almost always saves you money.

The IRS issues most refunds for electronically filed returns with direct deposit within 21 days. Paper returns and returns that need corrections take longer. You can track your refund on the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool about 24 hours after your return is accepted.

If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the law requires the IRS to hold your entire refund until mid-February, even if you file in January. That delay is normal and is not a sign of a problem with your return.

Yes. Contractors, rideshare and delivery drivers, truckers and freelancers make up a big part of our tax clients. If you received a 1099 or were paid in cash for your work, you are considered self-employed and must report that income, even if you didn’t receive a form.

The good news is that you can deduct business expenses such as mileage, tools, phone and supplies. Keeping receipts or a simple spreadsheet during the year makes a large difference in what you owe. We can also help you calculate quarterly estimated payments so you don’t face a large bill and penalties next April.

Yes. Start with our online questionnaire, which asks about your filing status, income and dependents. A member of our team then contacts you to collect your documents and answer questions. You review the finished return before it is filed.

Many clients use a mix: they start online and stop by the office to sign or drop off papers. Choose whatever is easier for you. For security, never send your Social Security number or tax documents in a regular email or social media message—our team will tell you the safe way to share them.

Don’t ignore it, and don’t panic. Most IRS letters are requests for information or adjustments to a return, and each one has a response deadline printed on it. Missing that deadline is what usually turns a small issue into a bigger one.

Bring the letter and the tax return it refers to. We will explain in plain language what the IRS is asking, whether you agree with it, and what documents are needed to respond. Be careful with phone calls, texts or emails claiming to be from the IRS—the IRS usually contacts taxpayers first by mail.

Yes. How a business files depends on its structure. A single-member LLC usually reports business income on the owner’s personal return. LLCs with more than one member file a partnership return, and LLCs that elected S corporation status file their own corporate return—partnership and S corporation returns are due earlier, on March 15 for calendar-year businesses.

Business returns are much easier, and usually less expensive to fix, when the books are kept during the year. If your records are behind, we can help with catch-up bookkeeping first so the return is accurate. Texas LLCs also have a separate annual franchise tax report due May 15.