2023 Tax Return Preparation Services – A Note from Mark C. Milton
It’s tax time again and we hope you will be returning to Milton Law Group for your 2023 tax return preparation needs!
Our tax return preparation process (outlined below) is designed to provide more convenience to our clients and ensure a smooth and efficient experience.
Over the next few days, you will receive a series of emails via our client portal that do require your attention:
Step 1.
You (and your spouse, if applicable) must review and e-sign our engagement letter for tax year 2023. If you are married, both you and your spouse will receive separate emails requesting you to e-sign the engagement letter. You must both log in separately to review and sign the letter.
a. The engagement letter will state your tax return preparation fee for this year.
b. NOTE: Your rate may have increased from prior years based on the amount of time anticipated to complete your returns (based on time spent in prior years, if applicable) and comparable market rates.
Step 2.
Prior to us starting on your tax returns, you must complete the 2023 tax organizer via the client portal.
a. You will be asked to answer some questions regarding your 2023 contact information, life events, dependents, income, and potential deductions.
b. Please make any appropriate changes to your contact information in the organizer.
c. If you want any refunds direct deposited to and/or tax payments debited from a bank account, you must complete the banking information section.
Step 3.
Please upload your tax documents to our client portal or deliver them to our office (via mail or hand delivery).
a. PDF format is preferred. Most tax forms can be downloaded and saved in PDF format (i.e. W-2s from your employer, 1099s from financial institutions, 1098s from your mortgage company).
b. If you only have paper copies, particularly documents with several pages, we would rather you deliver those to our office for us to scan rather than you taking pictures/uploading them.
NOTE: The tasks above must be completed prior to us performing any work on your 2023 tax returns.
Client Portal
The use of our client portal is highly recommended and preferred. The secure portal is encrypted with bank-level security so we can securely share files and information. The portal also features a smartphone app that allows you to take photos of your tax documents and upload them to the portal.
The portal will store all your completed tax returns and supporting tax documents for prior tax years, such as W-2s, 1099s, etc., so you can easily access them anytime in the future.
Important Dates
The 2023 tax return filing deadline for individuals is Monday, April 15, 2024. If you have a separate entity that requires a return (i.e., trust, partnership and/or S-corporation) and/or you anticipate receiving a K-1 from such an entity, those returns (or an extension) are generally due by March 15th and you should receive any related K-1s by then.
If you have questions about whether you need to file returns other than your individual returns, please contact me immediately. This engagement only concerns the preparation of your individual tax returns (Federal 1040 and state returns).
The IRS will begin accepting e-filed returns on Monday, January 29, 2024. We typically prepare tax returns on a first-in, first-out basis, so the sooner you provide us with the required information and documents, the sooner we will be able to complete your tax returns.
If we do not receive your required information and documents by March 18, 2024, we cannot guarantee completion of your tax returns before the April 15th-deadline. At best, we can ensure a timely extension for you to file will be submitted on your behalf (giving you until October 15th to file).
Please note the filing of an extension to file until October does not extend or excuse the deadline for paying your 2023 tax liabilities before April 15, 2024.
Welcome To Our Team
Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to two of the newest members of our Milton Law Group team who will be helping this tax season: Will Stonecipher and Nicole Welch.
Will, our new Senior Tax Manager, is a licensed CPA who recently joined us from Deloitte where he served as a Senior Tax Consultant and prepared returns for individuals and small businesses. Will earned his B.A. in Accounting and Business Administration-Finance from Westminster College, where he was captain of the baseball team.
Nicole is our new Client Services Coordinator who earned her B.S in Economics and Finance from SLU, with a minor in Legal Studies.
I am very excited to welcome these two talented individuals to our team this tax season!
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service this year and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions!
Sincerely,