the LAST big mistake…(6 of 6)

Phew! If you’ve made it this far, well, I congratulate you. This last email is a bit longer than the rest, as I want to make you a little offer at the end of it.

But before I get to that, here’s the last big mistake…

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Big Mistake #6: Paying Too Little OR Too Much When Filing A Regular Middle Income Tax Return!
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Does that seem funny to you? Well, let me explain.

Let’s start with the one that probably surprised you: “paying too little” for filing a middle income person’s tax return. Think about it…who are the ones that are charging too little?

In our industry, we call these folks the “fly-by-night” tax preparers. Sure, they might know a few things about taxes, and they are often very nice people…but do you really want them as the ones representing you before the IRS?

Tax professionals who “low ball” on price often work out of their home or they have so few resources, that they can be working off of the prior year’s tax code! Even worse, many of these one-person shops have NOBODY checking their work to make sure they got all of the deductions you could get.

Do you want all of the money you’re due?

The second problem may be a bit more obvious: paying too much when filing a tax return?

It’s weird, but there are people in the world that brag about paying the highest price possible. And there are plenty of folks out there willing to charge it. I’m talking about $1,200, $1,500, or even $2,000 to prepare a decently simple tax return…that’s it! Do you have that kind of money just laying around?

These folks … after they write the check to the accountant for $1500 bucks or whatever, they may feel pretty good, but I bet their gut tells them something is wrong.

It’s called overpaying when you don’t have to! Getting a quality preparer with multiple guarantees backing up their work, ongoing support and year round access to a leader or manager in charge is all you need. Do you need to pay $1,500.00 or $1,800.00 dollars for that?

Actually, on most middle income returns, you can pay in the $180 to $300 range and be just fine. Some high-priced tax professionals will charge you $1,000 or $1,500 for the same forms and schedules. Or you can find a “Fast Eddie” to help you file your taxes and probably only pay $100 or less. My advice is to find a tax professional who charges by the form so he/she is not pulling fees out of thin air.

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CONCLUSION
How You, Don’t Have To Fall Prey To These Mistakes …
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I hope this email series has opened your eyes to important lessons about filing your taxes. Some of them, may be ones you already knew in your gut…you just never had them verbalized before.

Choosing the RIGHT tax professional is an investment of time and money … and I will add, a WISE INVESTMENT indeed. I say “wise” because the consequences of a misfiled tax return, an incorrect tax return or a late/penalized tax return are awful in the short and long term.

But I’ll tell you a bigger problem.

I mentioned this before…Unclaimed refund money taxpayers never receive because they had no idea they were entitled to a certain deduction or they never filled out a particular form that automatically got them more money or ……… (the list is endless!)

Statistically speaking, you could be out as much as $1,300.00 in back refund money because you choose to file by yourself or with someone that doesn’t pay attention. (Ouch!)

I wouldn’t take that chance. I’d choose a quality tax professional this year and ask to let them review your previous 3 years of tax returns at the same time. You might have some “buried treasure” lying around in your files and never know it. Wouldn’t that be a scream! (Caribbean Vacation, here we come ….)

Take Action Now,… Before The Deadline!

The clock IS ticking. Most taxpayers procrastinate. I hope you are not one of them… If you’ve made it through this email series, we’d like to give you a special incentive to have your taxes done right. Email me back, or call our office and ask about the “Email Series Client Gift” when you make an appointment, and you’re gonna watch your worries melt away! All these mistakes that regular folks make…well, they won’t happen to you!

Best Wishes and Happy Filing!

Ralf Heyer
Heyer & Associates EA, PA

PHONE: (786) 693-9358

PS–And don’t worry…we will remain in touch! I know you may have gotten “addicted” to these emails (it’s happened before). But I’ll send you other information from time-to-time, in the future…