macatak911

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-Biz buys/sells/develops RE in 7-8 states, mostly Gulf Coast

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This is what turns a straightforward return into a complex nightmare.

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They're clean.

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Clean is not always equal to "tax ready"

18Z GFS coming in just now on very east of cone

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-4 rental properties (3 houses, 1 condo).

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This is the variable. Your other stuff is standard.

I've had easy as can be rentals and crazy complicated.

I've also seen so many errors when reviewing prior returns for rentals.

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rather someone to ultimately help reduce your tax bill.

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This as well as be there for you when you're about to do something. I always tell my Sch E clients, call me before you do anything re: buy/sell/improve as there's not much that can be done historically.

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Assuming I can find a firm willing to work with us, do they generally charge by the hour?

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Hourly billing is basically dead in the CPA world. Everyone is moving toward flat fee or monthly arrangements.

There's a huge movement towards cost of the return baked into a monthly cost with access year round/check ins if needed. Many firms aren't taking one return engagements anymore.

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I still lurk around. I’m just 30 and married with a full time job. My energy for typing out thoughts and arguing is low

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This but upper 30s with kids :lol:

Stanley

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Only 4 days for a murder trial including deliberations? That’s wild.

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That’s about the norm for state murder trials that aren’t high profile.

Becker with ninja supplement worked wonders for me

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Sad, but this type of thing is common. Experts are many times not experts. Know enough to ask good questions and do your own thinking. I did our family's taxes for over 20 years until my wife started a business and then their accountant started handling all of it. When I see the bill I just shake my head.

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I mean to be fair we have about 5 client on EITC every year and they are usually adult kids of bigger clients.

I'm sure the local Block office handles 50 EITCs a day this time of year.

Trying having an informed conversation with them about entity basis though......

CPA here in the tax business.

We tell new lead calls all the time look if all you have is W2, some itemized deduction stuff that won’t add up to you itemizing, some childcare stuff, and minor interest, dividends, stock sales….we really aren’t going to be much benefit unless you just really don’t want to deal with taxes and we are a convenience thing. Much like I don’t want to Cut my grass and I’d pay the lawn guy double what he’s currently charging me if push came to shove.

Now on the other hand….if you have a small business, rental properties, or anything complex, that’s where our real value comes from. That’s about 75% of our 1040 client base.

Your situation without seeing anything sounds like a classic case of the employer withholding a lower % than your tax bracket (could be their frickup, a w4 issue, or just the tax tables). Go back to your pay stub especially for that bonus and see what percent they withheld for federal taxes. Now take that % and see what tax bracket you are in. If it’s much below your bracket there’s your problem.

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Yes they are. For a simple return you can probably get it done for $125

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Most CPA/EAs are in the min fee range of 350-400 for even the most basic. (not talking preexisting clients/friends/family/feel bads....strictly new engagements.)

$125 is undercutting TurboTax full service by about $125-150.