Who this is for
The everyday return, done properly.
This is the return most people need: wages, a few information forms, maybe a mortgage and some charitable giving. It is also the return that gets quietly overpaid every year, usually because a credit was missed or a deduction was taken as standard when itemising would have been worth more.
We prepare the federal return and the California return together, as one job. There is no separate charge for the state return.
- W‑2 employees, single or filing jointly
- Households claiming dependants, childcare or education credits
- Homeowners with mortgage interest and property tax to itemise
- Anyone with 1099‑INT, 1099‑DIV or a modest brokerage account
- Retirees with Social Security, pension or annuity income
- First-time filers who would rather have someone check it
Often ready the next business day
What to expect
- Drop-off appointment Mon–Fri
- Return prepared Usually next day
- Review before signing In person or by phone
- E‑file confirmation Same day you sign
Timing depends on how complete your documents are when you arrive.
What the work covers
What is included in an individual return.
Federal and California together
Both returns prepared and e‑filed as a single job, with the state return reconciled against the federal.
Itemise or standard, checked
We calculate it both ways and use whichever leaves you better off. You see the comparison.
Credits actually claimed
Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, education and childcare credits, and the California equivalents.
A line-by-line review
We walk the return with you — income, deductions, refund or balance — before it is transmitted.
A complete copy
The filed return and the e‑file acknowledgements, printed or as a PDF, in your hands.
Someone to call in August
A notice in the off-season reaches the same person who prepared the return.
Before your appointment
What to bring to an individual appointment.
Bring what you have. We would rather start with an incomplete pile today than a perfect one in three weeks.
Identity
- Photo ID for you and your spouse, if filing jointly
- Social Security or ITIN numbers for everyone on the return
- Dates of birth for any dependants you are claiming
- Last year's federal and California returns, if you have them
- Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Income
- W‑2 from every employer you worked for during the year
- 1099‑INT, 1099‑DIV and 1099‑B for interest, dividends and sales
- 1099‑G for unemployment or a state refund
- SSA‑1099 for Social Security benefits
- 1099‑R for pension, annuity or retirement distributions
Deductions and credits
- Form 1098 for mortgage interest, and your property tax bill
- Receipts or statements for charitable giving
- Form 1098‑T and 1098‑E for tuition and student loan interest
- Childcare provider name, address and tax ID
- Medical expenses, if they were unusually high this year
Missing something? Come in anyway. Reconstructing a missing document is ordinary work for us, and it is faster to sort out across a desk than over email.
Common questions
Individual returns, answered.
Do I need an appointment, or can I just drop everything off?
Either works. An appointment means we run the checklist with you and catch a missing form while you are still in the room, which is usually faster overall. A drop-off is fine if your paperwork is straightforward.
My spouse and I are not sure whether to file jointly or separately.
We calculate both and show you the difference. Filing jointly is better for most couples, but not all — separate returns occasionally win where medical expenses or student loan repayment plans are involved.
I have a small amount of freelance income on the side. Is this still the right service?
If it is a modest amount, we usually handle it inside the individual return. If self-employment is a real part of your income, the self-employed service fits better. Bring the documents and we will tell you which one it is before we start.
What if I owe money instead of getting a refund?
We tell you the number as soon as it is calculated, not after filing, and we walk through the payment options — including IRS instalment arrangements — before you sign anything.
Bring this year's paperwork in.
We will tell you what the return involves and how fast it can realistically be done. That conversation costs nothing.