Tax FAQs

Yes. In fact, we are required to electronically file because we prepare more than 500 tax returns annually. In rare circumstances, you will need to mail in your return; in these instances, we will prepare your taxes with a pre-addressed envelope.

Please bring all income statements (W2s, 1099s, year-end Social Security Statements), dividend summaries, mortgage interest, real estate taxes, donations, Stock Sale information, rental information (if required), business income (if required), and business expenses (if required). If you want an organizer to assist you, give us a call. We can mail one out to you via US mail or via email.

Otherwise, please bring all associated tax documents and a copy of last year’s return if we did not prepare it. Client organizers are available upon request.

We are located in the heart of Downtown Carnation, just one block off the main street. See a map and contact information here.

We are happy to mail you your tax documents after receiving full payment for our preparation services. We send all documents by certified mail with return receipts. The fee for this service is $20, whether you’re located in Redmond, Washington, or Daytona Beach, Florida. International rates vary.

During our peak season (January 15th through April 15th), our goal is to have each tax return completed within 2 weeks of acceptance. Most often this is easily attainable; however, times can be longer depending on information available from the client. Once we have all of your information, our average return is completed in 7 business days.

During our off-peak season (April 16th through December 31st), we minimize our office hours to lower overhead and pass along the savings to our clients. However, we are easily reachable by appointment and keep regular office hours on Wednesday evenings.

If you are receiving the money as a gift, you are not subject to pay taxes on the amount. A giver may give up to $13,000 per year (for 2012) per person. For example, a husband and wife could each donate $13,000 to a child for a total of $26,000 in a given year. If the gift exceeds the limit, then the giver will need to file Form 709 to declare the gift against the lifetime exclusion. For a link to a helpful article, click here.

First of all, don’t panic. We’d like to see the letter. Send it to us via fax or US post. Sometimes IRS verbiage is like a completely different language. We speak that language so you don’t have to. We will take a look at it and recommend the next steps.

I’m not sure which Humphrey’s Tax Service preparer did my taxes last year. How can I find out?
We can tell you when you call us, or you’re welcome to see the letter we provide in your grey folder. We sign each of your letters personally. (This information can also found on the second page of Form 1040/1040A.)

We can tell you when you call us, or you’re welcome to see the letter we provide in your grey folder. We sign each of your letters personally. (This information can also found on the second page of Form 1040/1040A.)

In general, to be a taxpayer’s qualifying child, a person must satisfy four tests:

Relationship – The taxpayer’s child or stepchild (whether by blood or adoption), foster child, sibling, or stepsibling, or a descendant of one of these.
Residence – Has the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half the tax year. Exceptions apply, in certain cases, for children of divorced or separated parents, kidnapped children, temporary absences, and for children who were born or died during the year.
Age – Must be under the age of 19 at the end of the tax year, or under the age of 26, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year.
Support – Did not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year.
For more specifics, please refer to the IRS website.

If your child made less than $3,600, and you provided more than half their yearly support, it is likely more beneficial for you to claim them as a dependent. See us for more details about your specific situation – there are plenty of them.

Possibly. There are several tests a dependent must meet to be able to be claimed. Please refer to IRS Publication 503 or click here.

We charge based on price per form. Forms that are more detailed are priced according to their complexity. Our average tax return costs about $150 and includes a 1040, Schedule A, Schedule B, and some light stock sales.  It is fairly rare for our fees to exceed $350 for personal preparation.

We prefer you not send sensitive information through email. If you choose to do so, please take appropriate security precautions.

Yes. We are available to service businesses small and large. From side businesses to corporations, we’re here to help you take advantage of the income strategies that are available to you.

Yes. We’re able to assist you with preparation of your return, whether it’s Corporate (1120), S-Corporation (1120S), Partnerships (1065), LLC, LLP, or Trusts (1065).

You’re welcome to submit it to us in whatever way is most convenient (website upload, mail, fax, drop-by). You’ll want to get it to us because it is likely that the IRS also has a copy of it.