Back Taxes

[wyrmtung]

My brother asked me about using a tax preparer to help him with his back tax from two years ago. He bought his first house that year and sold some stock so I guess he felt it was too complicated to itemize his return. Anyway, I don't know much about taxes since I just have single income so my returns are pretty simple.

First of all, he wanted to know about back taxes. I told him the penalties are probably outrageous right now. He wanted to know if there was anything he could do to get some of the charges reduced. Anyone have experience with back taxes?

Secondly, he wanted to know about tax preparers.
Can they help you on you back taxes?
Is it advantageous to use them for situations like this?
How much can he expect to pay if he hires someone?
Should he go with the typical companies like H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, or Liberty Tax?
If not those guys then who?

[Serif]

Talk to a CPA

[Olo401]

Penalties for paying your taxes late can be horrendous. Consult a good tax accountant (and a tax lawyer if necessary) to go over the books, find out the exact amount owed plus the late fees, and have them negotiate a final amount and payment plan with the IRS.

Also, coming forward to fix the situation on your own always looks good in the eyes of the government.

[Serif]

Also, coming forward to fix the situation on your own always looks good in the eyes of the government.

Yeah don't be a dumbass and wait and let the gub'ment come find you.

[wyrmtung]

Thanks. How much does a tax accountant or lawyer cost on average? California gimped the income of state workers so he's earning less. Plus he has a house, wife and kid to support.

Anyone know how to find a "good" accountant? He lives in the Sacramento area. I tried doing an internet search for one and got over 9000.

[finitek]

Seriously, just do some research talk to people you know in the area. Someone must have a CPA that they use for taxes. I have family in that area but they all drive to Bay Area to get their taxes done.

That is all.

[Olo401]

Thanks. How much does a tax accountant or lawyer cost on average? California gimped the income of state workers so he's earning less. Plus he has a house, wife and kid to support.

Anyone know how to find a "good" accountant? He lives in the Sacramento area. I tried doing an internet search for one and got over 9000.

Word of mouth - ask friends, family, and coworkers for referrals. That's usually the best way to find any kind of professional service from CPA to MD

[LinktheDeme]

Thanks. How much does a tax accountant or lawyer cost on average? California gimped the income of state workers so he's earning less. Plus he has a house, wife and kid to support.

Anyone know how to find a "good" accountant? He lives in the Sacramento area. I tried doing an internet search for one and got over 9000.

You wouldn't really be looking for individual accountants you'd be going to firms as stated above like, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and etc. I don't know how the process works EXACTLY but I'm sure they'll appoint you an individual or a group or etc based on your needs and resources available to offer. I'm sure you could find individuals as well but when you do you start to worry about things like credibility, price efficiency, and other things. Oh and just because they have a CPA don't assume they're tax experts because they're are lots of different fields you could apply the CPA too and not all of them focus on tax.

[Serif]

Oh and don't go to those stupid people on commercials or on radio commercials saying they are tax masters who know how to battle the IRS.

If you do that, you are basically buying a shake weight CPA