What are your fees?
Our base fee for a personal Tax Return is $325 and upwards to $750 based on the complexity of your return. That fee includes preparation of your federal and state returns with the most common Schedules (A-Itemized Deductions, B-Interest and Dividends, D-Capital Gains and Losses, etc.).
Do I need to come in for an appointment to have my return prepared?
For this current tax year 2022, you may upload them to SmartVault, drop-off copies of your tax documents, or mail-in copies to the office. We will call you with any questions and send your return to you electronically for your review. We offer eSignature via DocuSign to sign off on your return once approved and will email your invoice to you in which you can pay online.
If you do wish to have a face-to-face appointment, Justin Ali will be taking clients on Saturdays 9am-4pm, beginning February 25th.
What should I upload or drop-off?
You should provide us with all W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, your property tax bill, HUD statement if you bought or sold a home, and any other documentation needed to show your income/expenses for the year. You do not need to attach all your receipts for medical expenses, business expenses, etc. unless we specifically request them; a sum of those items is all that we require.
If this is your first time with us, you should provide us with a copy of your prior year tax return. We also have a Blank Tax Organizer under the Resources tab of our website to assist you in collecting and reporting information necessary for us to properly prepare your tax return.
If you are a returning client, a personalized Tax Organizer has been uploaded to your SmartVault.
How is my information protected?
We partner with Proven IT for managed IT services as well as advanced threat monitoring, so we trust that we are always using the most current technology to protect our clients’ data. Your tax information and documents are kept on a secure, local network. Your personal information is never shared with any outside party whatsoever. In addition, we utilize SmartVault, a best-in-class file sharing service to securely share and store your documents online.
For more information about uploading your files to SmartVault, click on the link below:
Does Lee Mandel & Associates provide year-round service?
Yes, whether you have a tax question, would like to discuss tax planning, or need help responding to a letter from the IRS, we are available to help year-round. We also offer bookkeeping services to small businesses on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
What are the benefits of having Lee Mandel & Associates prepare my return?
Although you might have filed your return on your own in the past, filing with Lee Mandel & Associates can make the process quick, simple, and efficient. Filing with us could even save you money if we find a deduction or credit that you may not know about. Further, in addition to filing your return, we can help you with tax planning, consultation, and even help you respond to IRS letters—giving you a greater sense of security and peace-of-mind than if you prepare on your own.
How long do I need to keep copies of my tax documents?
You should keep copies of your tax records so that you can promptly respond to any notices or audits from the IRS. In general, the IRS can audit the last three years of tax returns. If the IRS believes that your income has been under-reported, they can go back seven years. If you have a loss on your return from a ‘worthless security,’ the IRS can also go back to the past seven years.
What do I do if I receive a notice letter from the IRS or State?
Please send a copy of the letter to us including the front and back of all pages. We will discuss how we plan to respond and ask for any additional information we may need from you to include in our response.
Do you offer financial planning services?
No, we do not provide financial planning services. However, we do have a list of trusted referrals we can provide you with.