Year End Letter

Dear Clients and Friends,

With 2009 drawing to a close, it is time to consider steps you might take to cut this year’s taxes.  We hope you set aside time to read the enclosed tax-planning letter, which outlines strategies available this year to taxpayers.  We would also like you to take the time to answer the enclosed questionnaire. It will help us identify TAX SAVINGS that may be applicable to YOUR situation. 

This year, in order to streamline the processing of your tax return, WE ARE ENCLOSING AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER THAT MUST BE SIGNED, DATED, AND INCLUDED WITH YOUR INCOME TAX INFORMATION WHEN YOU DROP IT OFF OR MAIL IT TO US.  If you and your spouse are filing a joint return, both of you need to sign and date the letter. 

Again this year we will be offering FREE ELECTRONIC FILING, and utilizing it in almost every situation.  We will also offer REFUND ANTICIPATION LOANS (RAL’s).  RAL’s provide a means to obtain your refund within a few days, maybe even faster. 

As an additional convenience to our clients, we want to STRONGLY encourage you to drop off your tax return information at the office without setting an appointment.  Not only does this help us keep your cost down, but we feel that we can serve you better by calling you while in the preparation process when we have an in-depth knowledge of your current year tax situation.  When you drop off your information, be sure to include a written list of any questions or concerns you want us to address, and we will discuss those items with you when we call for other information.  Include ALL the relevant and necessary information needed to complete your  return – including all W-2’s and 1099’s for 2009 income and 1098 mortgage interest statements, along with all other applicable tax documents.  The IRS continues to increase their matching of these source documents back to the filed tax returns.  This will help to reduce your chance of a CP-2000 AUDIT.

For those ABSOLUTELY needing an appointment (including those whom have bought and/or sold a home, sold stock or other capital assets, entered a child in college, started a new business, or had other financial transactions requiring analysis), Cindy will see clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Doug and Ray will see clients on Mondays and Wednesdays.

We are also enclosing the TAX DEDUCTION RECORDER, and encourage you to fill it out as completely as you can before you drop it off with your material at our office.  Please make sure to include your E-MAIL ADDRESS.  We plan on sending out a newsletter via e-mail to keep you apprised of tax related information.    If you itemize your deductions, the most common items omitted from information submitted are PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX and CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS (BOTH CASH AND NON-CASH).  Please remember to include these items with your information.  In addition if you had sales of stock or other capital items PLEASE PROVIDE THE COST AND/OR BASIS AND THE DATE ACQUIRED FOR EACH TRANSACTION. 

If you made any energy improvements in 2009 make sure to bring in your RECEIPTS.  Due to a change in the education credits your COURSE MATERIALS may now be included in qualified expenses. If you bought or sold a home during 2009 please include a copy of your SETTLEMENT STATEMENT.  Due to fraud concerns by the IRS, we may need to include a copy with your tax return.

Some of our clients like to mail their income tax information to us using the “Certified – Return Receipt Requested” method in order to track the package’s journey from its source to our office.  We think this is an excellent idea, but we would like to ask a favor.  Please send any mail, for which we have to sign, directly to our office instead of our Post Office Box.  Our street address is 10310 E 63^rd Terrace, Raytown, MO 64133.

We would like to THANK YOU for your past and continued patronage.  We would also like to encourage your REFERRALS.  Don’t let your friends and family pay too much at a national franchise tax service.  We would be happy to provide them with the same quality service we strive to provide you.  We look forward to SERVING YOU both this coming tax season, and in the years to come.