Question 1

How much does tax preparation cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your return, and we will always tell you the price before we start. A simple individual return costs less than a small business return with a Schedule C, and a farm or S corp return with more moving parts costs more than that. The things that move the price are how many income streams you have, whether you own a business or a farm, and how organized your records are. We quote you up front, in plain numbers, so there is no surprise at the end. LLC and state filings are a flat $25 each.

Question 2

Why do you quote the price before you start?

Accepted Answer

Because nobody likes finding out the cost at the register. Hidden pricing is one of the biggest complaints people have about the tax business, and we decided early on not to do it. You will know what the work costs before we begin, so you can decide with the full picture in front of you. If your situation is more complicated than it first looked, we tell you before we do the extra work, not after.

Question 3

What should I bring so you can quote my price?

Accepted Answer

Bring your last year's tax return, and if you can, the invoice or the amount you paid to have it done. The return shows us what your filing actually involves, and knowing what you paid last year helps us quote you accurately and fairly. That is all we need to give you a plain number before any work starts.

Question 4

Do you have set prices for memberships?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our memberships are $49, $149, or $300 a month, published right on the site, no contract. You pick the level of help you want. Every plan includes Gather & Grow, our monthly learning and networking session.

Question 5

How does switching preparers actually work?

Accepted Answer

It is easier than you think. You are legally entitled to your own records, so the simplest path is to bring us your full prior-year return, and your supporting records if you have them. If you are missing a full copy of a past return, you have every right to request one. We set you up from there. No awkward conversations, and in a small town, we keep everything quiet and professional.

Question 6

When is the best time to switch?

Accepted Answer

A quiet stretch, not the week before a deadline. Summer and fall are ideal, when nobody is rushing a return. Switching in the off-season means we have time to go through the return you bring us, get to know your business, and set the relationship up right before your first tax season with us. That said, if you are in a bind now, call us and we will help you figure out the timing.

Question 7

I feel bad leaving my current preparer. Is that weird?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Loyalty is a good instinct, and we will never trash the person who has been doing your taxes. But your financial help should grow as your business grows. Wanting more from your numbers is not disloyal, it is smart. If your preparer only shows up in April and never explains anything, it is fair to want someone in your corner all year.

Question 8

Why would I pay every month for something I only paid for once a year?

Accepted Answer

Because you are already paying for your books, in hours, in stress, and in the money a once-a-year preparer never found. A flat monthly with someone who already knows your whole picture usually costs less than that leak. You also get a person to call all year, proactive check-ins, and no shock bill in April. For seasonal income, spreading the cost across the year is easier on cash flow than one big spring invoice.

Question 9

What if I only need my taxes done once a year?

Accepted Answer

Then a membership might not be for you, and that is fine. We will still prepare your return, quote you up front, and be here if you have a question in July. Plenty of our clients start with a single return and move to a membership later, once they see the value of having someone who already knows them. No pressure either way.

Question 10

Is there a contract?

Accepted Answer

No. Every membership is month to month, with no contract and no cancellation fee. We would rather keep you because you want to stay than because a contract makes you. One piece of plain fairness, both ways: if we file your tax return as part of your membership, we ask that you see the year through. Leave earlier than that and the return is simply billed as a standalone return.

Question 11

Do I need a bookkeeper or an accountant?

Accepted Answer

Most growing businesses need both, and the good news is you can get both here, from one person who knows you. A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day numbers clean and current so you always know how the business is doing. An accountant prepares your taxes and helps you make decisions with those numbers. When they are the same firm, nothing falls through the cracks, and you never re-explain your business to a stranger.

Question 12

What is the difference between an S corp and an LLC, in plain words?

Accepted Answer

An LLC is a way to set up and protect your business. An S corp is a way to be taxed, and an LLC can choose to be taxed as one. Some of this is attorney territory: the legal side of forming and protecting an LLC is a lawyer's job, and we do not give legal advice. What we handle is the tax side. For some owners, electing S corp status lowers self-employment tax, which can save real money. For others it adds payroll and paperwork that is not worth it yet. It depends on your income and your setup, and the tax side is exactly the kind of thing we will look at with you instead of leaving you to guess.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

First, do not panic. An IRS letter is not the same as being in trouble, and most of them are routine. Do not ignore it either, because these have deadlines. Call or text us and bring the letter in. We will read it with you, explain what it actually says in plain English, and help you respond. You do not have to face it alone.

Question 14

Do you handle farm taxes and Schedule F?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is some of our favorite work. We speak farm: Schedule F, cash versus accrual, income averaging, equipment depreciation, ag payroll for seasonal help, and oil and gas royalties if you have minerals. You will not spend the first half hour teaching us how a farm works. We are a family firm in a farm county, and we know the rhythm of your year.

Question 15

Can you help with passing the farm to the next generation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Farm succession is one of the biggest and most complicated conversations a family has, and it is not a form you fill out in April. When Dad is handing down the farm, the taxes get complicated fast. We sit at the table with your family and walk through it in plain language, and we plan to be here for the whole handoff.

Questions? Good. Here are honest answers.

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