January 5, 2009

I have many changes for 2009 so please read everything carefully.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your business last year. I look forward to working with you again this year. Please download the latest checklist from my website to help you prepare for this year’s tax season. Please keep in mind that the sooner you get your documents to me, the sooner we can get them filed. If you are due a refund, you will typically receive it within 10 days if you e-file and use direct deposit. If you owe, you will better be able to budget the payment. You are welcome to mail, e-mail, secure upload, fax, or drop off your documents. Many of you discovered last year that if you wait until the last seven days before tax returns are due, I will charge a premium fee for rushing. Make sure you get your documents to me in a timely manner!

Environmental Movement

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, I will be providing your tax return copies, including scans of all original documents, on CD (original documents provided will be returned as well). If you wish to receive the printed copy in a folder like previous years, there will be a small charge based on the number of pages. In addition, I would like to ask you to take a moment to register on my website and opt-in for electronic communications. This means that future mailings and communications, such as this letter, will be via e-mail instead of on paper. Registering on my website will also give you access to other features, including the secure document upload and online updates to personal information.

New Documents Required

Due to new compliance rules in affect on paid tax preparers, I must ask that you provide me with copies of driver's licenses for all applicable household members, birth certificate copies for those without a license, and copies of social security cards for everyone. This meets a requirement for me to have proof of your identity. However, due to the sensitive nature of this type of documentation, I must ask that you carefully consider how you get this to me. Please visit the "What's New" section of my website for options and suggestions and/or call with questions or concerns. Also I will require e-file authorization paper work to be signed before transmission of your return. Those documents can be mailed, e-mailed, faxed, uploaded to my website, or dropped off.

Appointments

My appointment schedule is taking a new direction. I will no longer be preparing tax returns while you wait in order to ensure the highest quality and quickest turnaround for all of my clients. You may schedule a brief consultation for drop-off if your situation requires it. If you need a preparation appointment, a premium fee will apply. Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. I will have available a secure upload feature on my website for the safe and secure transmission of all documents.

Partnerships

As of November 2008, I have chosen a new software provider to improve the quality of tax preparation. I have partnered with Drake Software, the number one tax preparation software in the industry. Because Drake sets the standard for e-file testing with the IRS, the additional coverage that SafetyNet provided is no longer applicable. For those who previously used this product, rest assured that you are getting a stronger guarantee without the extra fee. Also I will be able to import certain files directly into my software including stock transactions (visit my website for an Excel spreadsheet template) and certain QuickBooks files. If you think you might be able to use any of these features to save time with the preparation of your return, feel free to contact me with questions.

Bank Products Now Available

In addition to partnering with Drake Software, I have partnered with the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust to provide bank products that are standards in today's market. As a client of mine, you may select from a number of refund options including:

-Refund by check (free)
-Refund by direct deposit (free)
-Refund with tax fees withheld (charge applies)
-Refund anticipation loan with tax fees withheld (charge applies)

If you wish to have your information reviewed for eligibility of the bank products, there is a signature document required in advance of tax preparation. Visit my "Pricing" page for more information and document downloads.

For all of the latest news plus new downloads, please visit www.aprilstaxes.com

Note: Available shortly https://secure.aprilstaxes.com and possibly electronic signatures online for some of your required documents.