Tax Preparation Services in Virginia

Not with a separate state license. Virginia doesn't run its own licensing program for paid preparers. What every paid preparer needs is a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) from the IRS. Some go further and earn a credential like Enrolled Agent, which means passing a three part IRS exam (or qualifying through past IRS work), clearing a background check, and completing continuing education every year. It's worth asking any preparer which of these they actually hold.

Your ID, last year's federal and Virginia returns, W-2s and 1099s, expense records, confirmations of estimated tax payments, and support for deductions or credits. If you own a business, add financial statements, payroll reports, records of equipment or other asset purchases, and owner draws or distributions. The more complete the package, the fewer follow up emails you'll get from us.

January, as soon as W-2s and 1099s start arriving. Starting early leaves time to chase missing records, deal with an unexpected balance, and decide whether you need an extension. Remember that Virginia individual returns are generally due May 1, a couple of weeks after the federal deadline. Business owners and anyone with investments, rental property, income in several states, or foreign accounts should start earliest, since those returns take more reconciling.

Yes, and sooner is better. If you don't file, the IRS can prepare a substitute return from the income it knows about, without the deductions or credits you're owed. We prepare the overdue returns and think through how each one affects your balance, penalties, and any collection activity. Getting filings current is usually the first step in any IRS resolution plan, so we treat it that way.

Yes. Your matter is led by our founder, an Enrolled Agent licensed through the U.S. Treasury with unlimited rights to practice before the IRS. That covers notices, audits, collection matters, and appeals on any federal return, including ones we didn't prepare. Having the preparer and the representative be the same person keeps the response organized and backed by the right records.

No. Preparation reports what already happened in a tax year. Planning happens before the year ends: looking at income, deductions, entity choices, and the timing of big transactions while you can still change the outcome. You need both. Preparation gives you an accurate record, and planning is where you actually lower future taxes. For business clients, our fractional CFO work ties the two together all year.

It's one of the areas we know best. A contractor's return has to match the accounting system, indirect cost pools, payroll records, and compliance processes behind your contracts. The founder comes from government contracting finance and knows DCAA standards, FAR cost principles, and systems like Deltek Costpoint and Unanet. We prepare returns that line up with your GovCon books, and we can help with incurred cost submissions and audit readiness too.

File anyway, on time. The failure to file penalty is much steeper than the failure to pay penalty, and filing pins down what you really owe. From there, options include an installment agreement, penalty abatement, Currently Not Collectible status, or another IRS resolution route. Which one fits depends on your finances, your filing history, and the details of your case.