Services · Tax Preparation
Tax preparation in Sarasota
Accurate, thorough, and filed on time — every time. We prepare federal and state returns for individuals, families and businesses with the same care we bring to planning. Every return is reviewed for accuracy and optimized so you’re not leaving money on the table.
- Year-round planning, not just April
- Based in Sarasota
- Reply within one business day
The short answer
What does a tax preparer do?
A tax preparer turns a year of financial records into an accurate federal return, and a state return where one is required, then files it on time. A careful preparer also checks the return against your situation, catches deductions and credits you qualify for, and flags anything that should change before next year.
At a glance
- Individual and family returns (1040)
- Business returns
- Multi-state and part-year returns
- Prior-year amended returns
- IRS correspondence and audit support
What it covers
What tax preparation includes
Individual and family returns (1040)
Wages, retirement income, investments, rental property and the schedules that go with them.
Business returns
S corporation, LLC and partnership returns, with owner-level planning in mind.
Multi-state and part-year returns
The year you move to Florida, and any state where you still earn income.
Prior-year amended returns
Correcting missed deductions, credits or errors on returns already filed.
IRS correspondence and audit support
Reading the notice, explaining what it means and helping you respond on time.
Organized, secure document handling
A clear checklist of what we need and a simple way to send it.
Every return reviewed, not just entered
Software can add up numbers. It can’t tell you that a home sale qualifies for an exclusion, that a rental is being depreciated wrong, or that last year’s carryover never made it onto this year’s return. We review each return line by line against your documents and against the prior year, so the return you sign is one you understand.
When we spot something that would help next year — a change to withholding, an estimated payment, a retirement contribution — we tell you while there is still time to act on it.
When we spot something that would help next year — a change to withholding, an estimated payment, a retirement contribution — we tell you while there is still time to act on it.
At a glance
How filing season works with us
1
You receive a checklist tailored to last year’s return.
2
You send documents securely; we confirm what’s missing.
3
We prepare and review the return, then walk you through it.
4
You approve and we e-file, with next-year notes attached.
The year you move to Florida
A move to Florida usually means a part-year return in your former state and a federal return that reflects the whole year. Income has to be split correctly between the time you lived there and the time you lived here, and some income, such as wages earned for an employer in that state or rent from property there, can stay taxable in the old state after you leave.
We prepare the part-year and non-resident returns alongside your federal return so the pieces agree, and we document your change of domicile so the move holds up if the state asks.
We prepare the part-year and non-resident returns alongside your federal return so the pieces agree, and we document your change of domicile so the move holds up if the state asks.
When the IRS writes to you
Most IRS letters are about a mismatch: income the IRS has on file that doesn’t match the return, a math adjustment, or a payment that was applied differently than you expected. They come with deadlines, and the right response depends on reading the notice carefully.
We review the letter, compare it with your return and records, explain what it means in plain language and help you respond. If the matter turns into an examination, we help you prepare and organize what’s being asked for.
We review the letter, compare it with your return and records, explain what it means in plain language and help you respond. If the matter turns into an examination, we help you prepare and organize what’s being asked for.
Common mistakes
Mistakes we help you avoid
Missing a carryover
Capital losses, charitable contributions and some credits carry forward. If last year’s return isn’t reviewed, they can quietly disappear.
Forgetting a 1099
The IRS matches the forms it receives against your return. A missing brokerage or bank form is one of the most common reasons for a notice.
Paying an IRS notice before reading it
Notices can be wrong, or based on information the IRS doesn’t have yet. Compare it with your records before you respond.
Filing a part-year return wrong
Splitting income incorrectly between your old state and Florida can mean paying the old state on income it has no right to tax.
Confusing an extension with more time to pay
An extension moves the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. Interest and penalties can apply to tax not paid by the original due date.
Who this is for
Individuals and families with more than a simple W-2, retirees with several income sources, business owners and anyone filing in more than one state.
Answers
Tax Preparation: common questions
What documents do I need to bring?
Your prior-year return, W-2s and 1099s, retirement and Social Security statements, mortgage and property tax statements, charitable receipts, and records for any business or rental income. We send a checklist based on last year’s return.
Do I need to file a Florida state income tax return?
No. Florida has no personal state income tax return. You may still need a return in a state you moved from, or where you earn income or own rental property.
Can you fix a return I filed myself last year?
Yes. If something was missed or reported incorrectly, an amended return can correct it. Generally a refund claim must be filed within three years of the original filing date or two years of paying the tax, whichever is later.
What if I can't get everything together by April 15?
An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. We can file the extension and estimate what’s owed so you avoid avoidable penalties.
I received an IRS letter. What should I do?
Don’t ignore it and don’t pay before you understand it. Send it to us; we’ll compare it with your return and explain your options and deadline.
Sources and official guidance
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Get started
Request a consultation
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll be in touch within one business day.
- Call (941) 225-5455
- info@sarasotataxplanning.com
- By appointment only
Next step
Ready to pay less and plan more?
Schedule a consultation and let’s build a tax strategy that works for your life in Sarasota.