HOW DO I PREPA=
RE FOR
A TELEPHONE APPOINTMENT?
THE FUNDAMENTAL WAY THE PHONE APPOINTME=
NT
SYSTEM WORKS IS THAT WE RECEIVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE NEED (DESCRIBED IN
DETAIL BELOW) AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, AND THAT YOU CONFIR=
M WE
HAVE IN FACT RECEIVED WHAT YOU SENT.
<=
o:p>
1.&n=
bsp; =
;
For
2012 (your 2011 tax returns), the base fee for a telephone appointment rema=
ins
unchanged at $350. Additional fees will be charged for rentals, businesses =
and
some complex transactions. See our=
fees
summary for more information. Among other additional fees, $350 will be
charged for certain cancellation of debt issues. Click here for detai=
ls on
this additional fee.
2.&n=
bsp; =
;
Using
this method, and after making an appointment, you simply assemble copies of=
the
required documents for the tax return, and send them to us. We must
receive this information at least one week prior to the scheduled appointme=
nt,
or the appointment will be rescheduled or converted to a mail in appointment. After rece=
iving
the information, we will complete the return. We will send you the proper
documents to sign and file electronically (if you are eligible).=
<=
o:p>
3.&n=
bsp; =
;
Regardless
of the complexity of your situation, a thirty minute (half hour) appointment
will be adequate since we will already have input all of the necessary
information (if we received it at least one week in advance).
<=
o:p>
4.&n=
bsp; =
;
In
the event we have to do any substantial follow-up after the appointment we =
will
bill you for additional time at the rate of one half of our regular rate. O=
ur
regular rate is $350 per hour so we will bill you for additional work at $1=
75
per hour. We will discuss this with you before you would incur any addition=
al
charge of this type.<=
/span>
5.&n=
bsp; =
;
All
benefits remain the same. The tax returns will still be completed by a tax
attorney. If you have any tax questions during the year related to the tax
return you paid us to complete, simply email us and ask. There is never any
additional charge for email communications. All non-criminal legal services=
up
to, but not including, the filing of a court case are also covered. You will
pay nothing additional for us to represent you at any routine audit. We will
always be available anytime during the year by email should you need advice=
on
a matter which comes within the scope of the engagement.<=
/p>
<=
o:p>
6.&n=
bsp; =
;
As
required by our professional liability insurance carrier, all new matters (=
for
example, different years, different people or different entities) will requ=
ire
a new attorney-client relationship be established and fees negotiated.=
<=
o:p>
7.&n=
bsp; =
;
We
will send the completed return to you via secure, encrypted email or for an
additional fee of $10, in the form of a hard copy by Priority Mail with
delivery confirmation. Please note that full payment of our fees will be
required before tax returns are sent.
<=
o:p>
<=
o:p>
B=
oth our
fax machine, email and mailing address are completely secure so sending
confidential information is not a problem.
<=
o:p>
H=
ere are
the actual steps of the mail-in process:
<=
o:p>
DO NOT SEND
ORIGINALS – WE ARE WARNING YOU THEY CAN BE LOST IN THE MAIL
DO NOT STAPLE =
PAGES
<=
o:p>
T=
o send
the documents, you may use:
<=
o:p>
A. Mail: &n=
bsp; Tim
Kelly & Associates
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Attorneys
at Law
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; 7801 N. Pershing Avenue<=
/st1:Street>
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Stockton, CA
95207<=
/span>
B. Fax: =
800-259-3372
(same as the voice number)
C. Email to lynn@=
timkelly.com.
Use only HTML, PDF or TIFF formats.
<=
/span>
Here are the actua=
l steps
of the office appointment process:
<=
/span>
1. =
If you are a public safety, educational, real estate or medical professional<=
/a>,
complete and bring the current professional deduction checklist foun=
d on
the home page of our website (just click on your job category in this
paragraph) along with copies of the required documents. <=
/p>
2. =
Copies
of the following documents should be brought to the office appointment.
a. <=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Payment will be required prior to t=
he
release of any tax returns. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card,
Discovery and American Express. Our fees may be seen here.
b. <=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If you are a new client, a copy of =
the
previous year’s return is very important!
c.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003300000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
If you
have a rental, look at our Rental
Property Information and use the Rental Checklist. Failure t=
o use
this checklist may result in additional fees and/or a delay.
d.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003500000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
If you
have a sole proprietorship business, look at our business informati=
on
use our business
checklist. Failure to use this checklist may result in additional fees
and/or a delay.
e.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003600000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
If you
bought, sold or refinanced real property, click here!
f.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003700000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
If you
are retired peace officer or firefighter and have medical, dental, long term
care or vision insurance premiums deducted directly from your retire=
ment
pay, bring the annual total of these premiums.
g.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003700000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
The
settlement statement for any real property transactions (this statement is =
also
called a HUD-1)
h.&n=
bsp;
If you w=
ere
involved in a foreclosure or short sale, bring any Forms 1099-A or Forms 10=
99-C
you have received. In addition =
BE SURE TO BRING THE PROPERTY TRANSACTION ANAYSIS FORM<=
/span>.
Get this Form Here.
Without this form we cannot complete your tax return.
i.&n=
bsp;
Notify us if your bank account information has changed from last ye=
ar.
j.&n=
bsp;
Bring the cost, not
including labor, of any energy saving insulation, water heaters, HVAC units,
exterior doors, windows, metal roof components or solar energy systems (exc=
ept
pool or hot tubs). To determine whether your energy related improvements are
eligible for the credit, go to: http:=
//www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=3Dtax_credits.tx_index.
k.
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003800000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
Any
brokers statements, labeled Form 1099-B, detailing sales
of securities (including mutual funds or stocks). If you have one of these statements, it is imperative you read the
document at this link con=
cerning
the basis of any securities. Failing to be prepared for this could result i=
n a
delay of the completion of your tax return and an additional fee for our ex=
tra
time.
l.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400060043006800650063006B003900000000000000000000=
000000000000000000000000000000
The
date of birth and social securi=
ty
number for new children. If you are a new client, then we will obta=
in
the social security numbers for other children from the prior year tax retu=
rns.
We will still need the dates of birth of all dependents.<=
/p>
m. =
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100300000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
If you
received a Form 1099-R reporting a Roth distribution, and you see Code J, t=
his
means the IRS will assume it is all taxable unless you have records as to h=
ow
much money you contributed to the account. This
will require research before the appointment!
n.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100300000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
All Forms
1098 (mortgage interest paid or student loan interest paid) and Forms 1099
(various types of income)
a.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100310000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
If you
pay all or a portion of your own property taxes, we need the annual total.
Please do not use a single tax bill for this purpose, as in California and some other states prope=
rty
taxes are paid on fiscal years, so that to determine what was paid in 2011,=
for
example, you have to add the second installment of the 2010-2011 tax bill to
the first installment of the 2011-2012 tax bill. You deduct property tax wh=
en
it is actually paid during 2011 and not when it is due. Supplemental tax pa=
id
during 2011 is also deductible.
b.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100320000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
If you
pay interest on a second home, but do not receive a Form 1098 (common with
boats, timeshares and motorhomes), we need the =
name,
address and taxpayer identification number (EIN) of the lender along with t=
he
amount of interest paid.
c.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100330000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
All
W-2’s (salary and wages) and Forms 1099-Rs (retirement distributions)=
.
d.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100340000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Amounts
spent on childcare – including the name, address, telephone number and
tax identification number (TIN) of the child care provider (this informatio=
n is
required to obtain these tax benefits). If your provider refuses to give yo=
u a
tax identification number you will be unable to obtain this credit
electronically. You will then have to explain to the IRS why this informati=
on
was unavailable and then give the IRS as much information as possible about=
the
child care provider.
e.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100350000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Educational expenses paid for you, a
spouse or your dependents and grants or scholarships received. Be sure to
include tuition and fees paid with student loans, as these are considered t=
o be
paid out of your pocket. Also indicate whether the education is for the fir=
st
two years of post-secondary education or a later period. And be careful to
report the amount actually paid during calendar year 2011, rather than the
amount billed by the educational institution. This is about to become a
heavily audited issue due to extensive reports of abuse.
f.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100360000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Advise
us if you funded a traditional or a Roth IRA during the year.
g.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100370000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
The
amount and name of the charity to which any donations of property were made=
. We are warning you now, that to support these deduction=
s in
the event of an audit you must have an itemized list of what was donated, t=
he
value of these items, and the source of the value. If this is used
property, use low end values unless you have evidence supporting a higher
value.
h.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100380000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Letters
and receipts showing the amount of any cash, check, or payroll deducted
charitable contributions. Remember receipts/cancelled checks are now
specifically required by statute to substantiate cash donations. There is no
longer such a thing as “cash in the collection basket,” unless =
the
cash is in a numbered envelope accounted for by the church or charity. We n=
eed
to see the actual proof of these donations to ensure the documents are
supportable in the face of the current IRS enforcement policy. In addition,=
we
are now personally subject to sanctions for reporting charitable contributi=
ons
on a tax return we prepare if these deductions cannot be supported under au=
dit.
i.&n=
bsp;
Raffle
tickets, even for a charitable purpose are not deductible. For items purcha=
sed
at a charity auction, or for crab feeds, or for charity golf tournaments you
may only deduct money paid which is more than the value of the items or
services received. Charitable contributions to, or for a specific individua=
l,
or groups of individuals, are never deductible.
j.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003100390000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
The
amount of deductible DMV fees paid. This is only the portion of the DMV fees
labeled as “vehicle license fees” and not any other part of the
overall DMV registration cost. Smog fees and drivers license fees are not
deductible.
k.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003200300000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Any
other tax documents not covered above or an explanation of special
circumstances (death, inheritance, adoption, divorce, marriage, etc. releva=
nt
to your tax status.
l.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003200300000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
For
employee expenses relating to public
safety, educational=
, real estate or medical professionals, use=
the
current 2011-2012 checklist and read the “keynotes” carefully. =
IRS
enforcement policy has tightened considerably in recent years, and as a res=
ult
we do not recommend you deduct certain items which in past years were readi=
ly
accepted. Foremost among these items are computers, be they laptops or desk=
top.
Unless you are able to obtain a letter from your employer requiring =
you
to purchase a computer at your own expense, you will never win this issue a=
t an
audit.
m.&n=
bsp;
FFFFFFFF650000001400070043006800650063006B003200300000000000000000=
0000000000000000000000000000000000
Another common, and very substantial expense,=
is
for employment related-education. The IRS has become extremely aggressive in
this area because of the size of the deductions. Tuition to the University of Phoenix or the Union Institute can=
run
tens of thousands of dollars, so the IRS is enforcing the very specific let=
ter
of the law in these areas. In order to be job related, an educational expen=
se
must maintain or improve skills of your current job, not a potential future
job. In addition, the education cannot be the minimum required for a positi=
on,
and cannot qualify you for a new trade or business, even of you have no
intention of actually pursuing a new trade or business. Therefore taking
criminal justice management courses when you are not yet a manager will be
disallowed. Going to law school will be disallowed. Obtaining a basic teach=
ing
credential or upgrading to registered nurse are educational expenses which =
will
be disallowed based on these guidelines. The connection to your present job
must be clear. The only way to really prove this effectively is with a lett=
er
from your employer explaining that the education was in fact related to your
present occupation. In addition, ensure you only deduct expenses actually p=
aid
during the year to the educational institution, rather than what was billed=
.
1. =
Perhaps the most important item to double che=
ck is
the routing number and account number to be used for direct deposit.
2. =
If you are elig=
ible
(and most everyone is) we will file your returns electronically as soon as =
we
review the return. You have the option to have any refund due direct deposi=
ted
in the account of your choosing. We will need the bank routing number and t=
he
account number. The best way to obtain the correct numbers is to read them =
off
of a check. Using another source for the numbers may cause a problem, resul=
ting
in refund payments defaulting to a check in the mail.
While
the IRS is generally very reliable in adhering to their refund schedule, th=
ey
reserve the right to delay a refund for any reason and they do not guarantee
the refund will be paid on any certain date. THEREFORE DO NOT RELY ON HAVING A REFUND ON THE SCHEDULED DIRECT
DEPOSIT DATE!