Tax Preparation Services in Gaithersburg, MD

It depends on what's in the return. A W-2 and a mortgage is a very different job from a return with a side business, rental property, stock sales, income from more than one state or foreign accounts. Back year returns and incomplete records take more time as well. We look at your documents first, tell you which forms are involved, and agree on the scope before starting.

People usually mean the 3% sales tax Maryland began applying to certain data, IT and software services in mid 2025. It's a sales tax on those specific services, not a new income tax on everyone. It can matter a lot to Gaithersburg tech firms and government contractors that sell those services. Separately, every Maryland resident pays state income tax plus a county local income tax, and the local rate depends on where you live. If you received a bill or notice, send it over and we'll tell you exactly what it is.

Last year's return, all W-2s and 1099s, brokerage statements, Form 1098 for mortgage interest, property tax bills, records of charitable gifts, childcare costs, Form 1095 health coverage forms, and proof of any estimated payments. Business owners should add a year end profit and loss, balance sheet, payroll reports, and details on equipment or vehicle purchases. Sending everything at once saves a lot of back and forth.

As soon as most of your forms have arrived, which for many people is mid February. Brokerage 1099s sometimes show up later and can be revised, so leave room for that. If you own a business, have more than one entity, need prior years filed or have foreign reporting like an FBAR, get in touch in January. Those returns need more time and you don't want to be rushed in April.

Yes. Preparing your return is one thing; standing between you and the IRS is another, and an Enrolled Agent is licensed to do both. If you later get an audit letter or a collection notice, our founder can represent you with a signed Form 2848, talk to the IRS directly and handle the response, so you don't have to start over with someone new.

Yes. Getting back into filing compliance is usually the first step, and it often reduces the balance the IRS has estimated. We prepare the late returns from your actual records. If they show money owed, we'll go straight into resolution options, such as an installment agreement or penalty relief, instead of leaving you to sort it out alone.

If you live in Maryland and your income is above the filing threshold, generally yes. Nonresidents who earn income from Maryland sources, such as wages from a job in Gaithersburg while living in Virginia, may need to file too. People who moved during the year, work in DC or Virginia, or own a business across state lines should look carefully at residency and how income is split between states.

File on time anyway. The failure to file penalty is much steeper than the failure to pay penalty, so filing without full payment still saves money. Pay what you can with the return. After that, an IRS installment agreement is available to most people, and those in real financial hardship may qualify for Currently Not Collectible status. Interest keeps running, so it's best to deal with it quickly.