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Tax preparation
Individual tax return preparation
Individual tax return preparation covers federal Form 1040, the state you live in, and any other states where you have income. Returns are prepared carefully, filed on time, and explained in plain language. One advisor, start to finish, with year round access for follow up questions and quiet IRS notices.
Who this is for
Who works well with this service?
Individual return preparation works well for W-2 employees with one or more jobs, sole proprietors filing Schedule C, retirees with Social Security and pension income, households with itemized deductions, investors with brokerage activity, and anyone who has lived or worked in more than one state during the year.
You do not need to be a tax expert. You do not need to have everything organized. The intake checklist guides you, the document portal keeps everything in one place, and questions are answered as they come up rather than collected and ignored.
What is included
What is included in individual tax return preparation?
- Form 1040 with all required schedules: A (itemized), B (interest and dividends), C (sole proprietor), D (capital gains), E (rental and royalty), and EIC where applicable.
- State income tax returns for any state requiring a return based on residency or earned income.
- Federal and state electronic filing with confirmation receipts retained in your client portal.
- Document review and follow up questions before filing, so the return reflects your actual situation, not just what was on paper.
- A short post-filing summary explaining what was filed, refund or balance due, and anything to watch for next year.
- Direct email access to Amanda for follow up questions about the return after filing, at no additional charge.
Process
How does the engagement actually work?
The process is built to be calm and clear. Five steps from first conversation to filed return.
- Intro call. Fifteen minute conversation about your situation. No paperwork, no obligation. We confirm fit before anything is signed.
- Engagement and intake. A simple engagement letter, a deposit, and a personalized intake checklist tailored to what you said on the call.
- Document upload. You upload through a secure client portal. Encrypted at rest and in transit, organized by tax year.
- Preparation and review. The return is prepared, double checked, and any open questions are sent back to you in plain language before filing.
- Sign and file. You review the return, sign Form 8879 electronically, and the return is filed. Confirmation lands in your portal.
Year round access
What happens after the return is filed?
Filing is not the finish line. Two things happen after a return is filed.
You can ask follow up questions. Email about a notice, a year end planning question, or how an upcoming life event might affect taxes. Routine follow up on the filed return is included.
You can choose ongoing support. If filing-only is not enough, Memberships add quarterly check ins and proactive planning. Advisory Services handle one-off questions on an hourly basis.
Common questions
Individual Tax Return Preparation FAQs
How much does individual tax preparation cost?
Individual tax preparation pricing depends on the complexity of the return: number of states, number of W-2s, presence of self-employment income, rental property, investment activity, and itemized deductions. Foundation membership starts at forty-nine dollars per month and includes annual return preparation. Standalone returns are quoted after the intro call once we have seen what is involved.
How long does it take to prepare and file an individual return?
Most individual returns are prepared and filed within ten business days of receiving complete documentation. Returns with multiple states or self-employment income may take longer. We confirm a target filing date during the intake step so you know what to expect.
Do I need to come in person?
No. The entire engagement runs through a secure document portal and video calls. Clients in all 50 states work with the practice this way. In person meetings are available for clients in Northwest Arkansas by request.
What documents do I need to send?
After the intro call you receive a personalized intake checklist. Most individual returns need a prior year return for reference, all W-2s and 1099s, mortgage interest and property tax statements if you itemize, brokerage 1099-Bs, and records of any deductible expenses. The checklist tells you specifically what applies to your situation.
What if I get a notice from the IRS after filing?
Send the notice through the client portal as soon as you receive it. Most notices are routine matching errors, math corrections, or identification confirmations. Routine notice review is included with the prepared return. If a notice escalates to formal representation in audit or appeals, we coordinate with an Enrolled Agent or tax attorney as outlined on the credentials page.
Related
What else should I read about individual returns?
Ready to file your individual return?
Start with a fifteen minute conversation. We will figure out the right fit together.