the Cost of Personal Accounting Services

This payment was to my accountant for preparing my annual personal income taxes (husband and wife, no children). Included mortgage deductions, unreimbursed employee expenses, W-2 income as well as income from sales of stock. The accountant prepared our Federal 1040 as well as our California 540 forms.

Also my husband is starting a business and we got some advice on what form of corporation to use (S Corp, C Corp, LLC, etc) based on the tax advantages of each one. This accountant can also handle business returns. Also he is available for advice on setting up our new business accounting system, gratis, as he knows that he will be getting our business for the new business next year!

My taxes were completed and mailed to me for sending to the State and Feds within a week of dropping off my records to the accountant. They were not e-filed, I mailed them mid-February, and just received my Federal refund (late March 2008; the State refund came even more quickly).

If you need an accountant to do your taxes, have your records in order. Many accountants have a checklist of items they wish you to submit with your taxes, so make sure to have all the items requested before your appointment. IN general I beleive it is better to total up your expenses in the various categories and have that summary ready for your accountant, you get your returns completed much faster than if you merely submit your "shoebox of information" for them to sift through, and you can be sure all your expenses are considered and applied correctly!