Tax Preparation and Accounting Services in Houston

Accounting is the bookkeeping side: recording what came in, what went out, and what you own and owe, so the numbers actually describe your finances. Tax work takes those numbers and applies federal, state and local rules to them, for filing and for planning ahead. When both are done by the same people, the return matches the books, and problems like a missed estimated payment or an unfiled year tend to show up early instead of in an IRS notice.

We prepare individual and business returns, keep books, and handle IRS problems when they come up: back taxes, unfiled years, audits and appeals, penalty relief, installment agreements, offers in compromise, levies, garnishments and payroll tax (Form 941) balances. We also work with government contractors on DCAA ready accounting and provide fractional CFO support for growing companies. Houston clients are served remotely, and the plan always starts from your actual records and IRS account history.

Yes. Enrolled Agents are licensed by the U.S. Treasury and can represent taxpayers before the IRS on any tax matter, in any state. Once you sign Form 2848 (Power of Attorney), we can call the IRS on your behalf, pull your transcripts, answer notices, sit in on audits and request collection alternatives. In most cases you won't need to speak with the IRS yourself.

Don't wait for the IRS to file for you. If it prepares a substitute return, it usually leaves out deductions and credits, so the balance looks bigger than it should. Pull together your W-2s, 1099s, prior returns, expense records and any IRS letters. If several years are missing or you already owe, the returns should be prepared with the resolution plan in mind, because the order and timing of filings can affect what options you'll have.

Often, yes, though it depends on the penalty and your history. First Time Abate relief is available to many taxpayers with a clean record for the prior three years. Reasonable cause relief covers situations like a serious illness, a natural disaster or lost records. Interest generally keeps running, but interest tied to a penalty that gets removed is usually reduced too. Good documentation makes a real difference here.

An installment agreement lets you pay an IRS balance over time with monthly payments. Depending on how much you owe, the IRS may want a financial statement (Form 433-A or 433-F) before agreeing to terms. You'll need to be current on filing, and you have to stay current on new taxes while the plan runs. We build the proposal around what you can actually afford so it doesn't fall apart six months in.

It can, but not without warning. Before a levy or garnishment, the IRS has to send a series of notices, ending with a final notice of intent to levy that gives you 30 days to respond. If you're at that stage, move quickly. Depending on your finances and filing status, options may include a payment plan, Currently Not Collectible status, a levy release request or a Collection Due Process appeal.

Bring every IRS notice you've received, your last few returns, a list of any years you didn't file, W-2s and 1099s, recent bank statements, and a rough picture of monthly income and expenses. Business owners should add payroll reports and recent financial statements. It's fine if things are messy. We'd rather see the whole pile than a tidy subset that leaves something out.