Virtual Tax Preparation: File Taxes From Home With A CPA

Once you have established a brand and identified your customer base, you can now start to think about marketing strategies to build your brand awareness and attract new customers to your virtual tax business. The augmented process to encompass intake also helped ensure that return preparers had all the required documents. Although Boston Tax Help overcame many challenges and completed several hundred Financial Check-Ups, it fell short of its initial goal of 1,000 financial assessments. The pandemic shift to Virtual VITA, which allowed taxpayers to not be physically present at the tax site, dramatically reduced communication between return preparers and taxpayers.

As with auto repair, home improvement, and first aid, there are some situations when it makes sense to DIY and others that are better left to the pros. If you freelance or own a business, if you manage rental property, or if you have more complex investments than interest or dividend payouts, you can save yourself time and stress by finding a good tax professional. Student loan interest and higher-education tuition and fees are valuable deductions and credits you can take even if you file with the standard deduction.

When are taxes due for the 2023 tax filing season?

CASH Campaign of Maryland had experienced virtual conferences and seen the demand for virtual services. To make the event fit the new approach’s capabilities, they prioritized access to financial education services, exhibitors, and a virtual financial planning zone. In past years, virtual accountant CA$H Maine used a train-the-trainer model to prepare opportunity guide volunteers. Working with an accountant who specializes in tax filings for expats and digital nomads can ensure that you avoid the fines and penalties that come with missing paperwork or delayed filing.

• Sign up when you’re ready to finish and file your taxes with TurboTax and begin using your account right away.
• He answered our questions within minutes and provided step-by-step guidance to enter the form into the program.
• As intake then took more time, it was harder to be engaged around the importance of saving.
• The Financial Empowerment Center at Prince George’s Community College believes a strong local economy and financially stable households benefit the entire community.
• Tax experts are available year-round for questions and tax advice, but you may not be connected with the specific tax expert who prepared your tax return.
• The best advice when it comes to social media is to download the app and get right into learning the platform before you start using it as a tool for your virtual tax business, and how the app is best utilized for your unique business needs.

The Financial Check-Up had almost always been conducted in person, and the pandemic disrupted not only tax assistance but also this assessment and referral tool. Cdcb partners with GetYourRefund, the national program of Code for America that provides organizations that operate VITA sites with tools for preparing returns virtually. CA$H Maine expects to continue the virtual opportunity guide and return preparer trainings beyond the pandemic. One potential improvement the coalition coordinator identified was trying to move some of the presentation content into handouts or online resources to open up time for conversations among volunteers in virtual breakout rooms. The foreign earned income exclusion is perhaps the most well-known of these; it allows some taxpayers living abroad to reduce their taxable income by more than $100,000, saving significant sums in the process.

Expert Insights: Online Software vs. Accountant

That may make it easier to confidently hand off your tax paperwork and let someone else take care of the rest. When President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in late 2017, the standard deduction nearly doubled. For single taxpayers, the standard deduction jumped from $6,350 in 2017 to $12,000 in 2018. For married couples filing jointly, the limit went from $12,700 in 2017 to $24,000 in 2018. Most taxpayers who own stocks and bonds have the bulk of their holdings in tax-advantaged accounts, such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts. The IRS allows the money to grow, with compounding interest, tax-free, and those accounts add little complexity to your taxes until you reach your 70s and must begin taking the money out.

If your number one concern is convenience, the fastest and easiest way to get your taxes done is probably with an in-person CPA. With in-person tax preparation services, you can drop off a pile of forms and your tax preparer will take care of the rest—although you may pay extra if your documents aren’t organized. If your taxes are this simple, you may even want to do them yourself with low-cost or free tax preparation software. If you’re confident in managing your finances, you can also use these programs for more complex situations, including self-employment, contractor, and landlord income taxes.

How do I know I can trust these reviews about Virtual Tax Accountant?

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please talk with your recruiter or send a request to During the tax season, we offer work schedules on a first-come, first-serve basis around our operating hours. You must be able to commit to a minimum schedule of at least 20 hours/week (minimum 4 hour shifts) throughout the tax season. Access Intuit-owned training opportunities through Intuit Academy, gain proficiency in new tax software, and work toward your career goals, all while helping TurboTax customers.

For example, Melanie worked with one CPA who recommended investing in an IRA to reduce the amount of taxes she owed; he also pointed out when the deductions she was claiming were lower than common for her household. Both TurboTax and H&R Block offer a service where you can start your return online and then have a tax pro review your information and file for you. These services cost about $100 in addition to the regular software fee, plus $40 to $60 per state—pushing them closer to the cost of using your own tax preparer.

With virtual tax prep, you can celebrate Tax Season with ease and your biggest refund possible, guaranteed. If you use commercial tax software and are not able to select a free version, you will pay a fee to file your federal return each year and may need to pay an additional fee to file your state return. One of the biggest draws of TaxSlayer Self-Employed is that for just over $100, you can file both your federal taxes and a state tax return electronically. TurboTax can charge close to $200 to file your federal and state tax return when you’re self-employed, then charge even more if you want tax advice from an expert. Information provided on this web site “Site” by WCG Inc. is intended for reference only. The information contained herein is designed solely to provide guidance to the user, and is not intended to be a substitute for the user seeking personalized professional advice based on specific factual situations.

We will focus on the areas of Individual, Partnership and S Corporation tax compliance, effective online tax research techniques, clear and precise workpaper documentation, effective professional business communications. Taxpayers needed a computer or laptop with a microphone and reliable internet service. The PGCC program suggested taxpayers could have a trusted friend or family member join them on the call from home to help prepare the return.

Recommended Reviews

Online tax software can simplify the chore of doing your taxes on your own and filing electronically, and it’s less expensive than hiring a pro. A few companies offer desktop tax software, but these packages tend to be more expensive and worth the investment only if you must work offline or have several returns to file. On a personal level, Kaitlyn and Melanie have both used various tax-prep software. We’d be remiss if we didn’t address the concerns many people have with major tax software companies like TurboTax and H&R Block. Both companies have faced multiple lawsuits and investigations regarding their marketing, lobbying, and other business practices.

The form we use to exchange client information uses a high level of encryption technology; the same technology used to access your online banking information. Since your sensitive financial information is now stored in a highly secure cloud system rather than in a traditional filing cabinet at your local accountant’s office, your information is much more protected and secure. This process utilizes an analytical approach when it comes to web design, content creation, and keyword management. SEO is a highly successful way to build your online presence but may require a higher level of knowledge for the everyday tax preparer. If you are just starting an online marketing strategy it may be best to start slow then work your way into a high-level SEO approach. The world of SEO can be overly complex so we would recommend starting your journey into SEO by using a free online resource like Google’s article called, Google Search Central – Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide.

Your Guide to Virtual Tax Preparation with a CPA

Most Virtual accounting firms like Polaris Tax & Accounting use communication technology like Go to Meeting or Zoom to bridge the distance gap with their clients. Video Conference meetings allow us both us and the client to see each other, just as if we were meeting in the same room. Virtual Tax Accountant has a rating of 5 stars from 8 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Information regarding a business’s commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and meeting sustainability goals will be shown here, if applicable.

• We decided to leave the fictional filer to consult their fictional tax professional instead.
• It’s also probably faster to upload your tax forms online than it would be to drive them to a tax professional’s office.
• With a whole host of handy advantages – including the ability to easily access important financial statements – virtual accounts can provide the perfect solution for you.
• After you’re matched with your dedicated Live Full Service tax expert, they will share the hours they’re available.
• The Financial Check-Up had almost always been conducted in person, and the pandemic disrupted not only tax assistance but also this assessment and referral tool.
• We contacted customer service departments by phone to assess their hold time and customer service quality.
• Minimum 2+ seasons paid tax experience and minimum 30+ tax returns prepared per season.

Many savings volunteers completed training before these laws were enacted and had to quickly adjust to the changes. As intake then took more time, it was harder to be engaged around the importance of saving. Luckily, gone are the days when reliable accountants have to be found in your neighborhood. Using a virtual accountant can help you cut costs without sacrificing service. But while the online tax products we studied provide limited free filing options, there’s another, lesser-known choice that offers free tax filings with few limitations and restrictions. After going through the tax software’s navigation tools, you will know whether you owe taxes or can expect a refund.