The questions below are the ones we hear most often from new and prospective clients. Don't see yours? Call 605-229-4359 — asking is free.
Bring the following, as applicable:
Missing something? Bring what you have — we'll tell you what's still needed.
We're happy to meet in person in our downtown Aberdeen office, and many clients prefer that. But a great deal of our work is also handled by phone, mail and secure electronic arrangements. If you live out of town or out of state, call and we'll work out a process that keeps your documents safe.
Yes. We e-file federal and state returns wherever the return type supports it. E-filing is more accurate, more secure, and gets refunds to you faster than paper.
Life happens — documents arrive late, years get complicated. We can file an extension for you, which gives you additional time to file. An extension does not extend the time to pay, however: if you expect to owe, we'll estimate the amount so you can pay it with the extension and avoid the worst of the penalties and interest.
Contact us before you respond. Most IRS letters are routine — a mismatch, a request for information, a math adjustment — but how you respond matters. As part of our year-round service, we help clients read these notices, determine what (if anything) is actually owed, and prepare a proper response. Bring the full letter, every page, and don't ignore it: most notices have deadlines.
Our fees depend on the complexity of the work — the forms involved, the condition of your records and the time required. We can't quote a meaningful number sight unseen, and we'd be wary of anyone who does. After reviewing your documents, we confirm the fee basis in a written engagement letter before work begins. There are no surprises, and no charge for asking.
An engagement letter is the written agreement between you and our firm. It states exactly what work we've been hired to do, what information you must provide, the fee arrangement and the deadlines. Professional standards require it, and we'd insist on it anyway — a clear scope protects both of us.
Yes, completely. Confidentiality of client information is a legal and professional obligation of our firm, not a marketing point. We never discuss your affairs, share your data or confirm you're a client, except as needed to perform your engagement or as you explicitly authorize. See our privacy policy.
We retain client files and return copies in accordance with professional recordkeeping standards, and we return original documents to you. We also recommend you keep your own copies of returns and supporting records — the IRS generally advises keeping records for at least three to seven years, and for things like property and farm assets, much longer.
Earlier than most people do — ideally before you register the entity, open accounts or make your first sale. Entity choice, registrations and recordkeeping systems are all easier to get right at the start than to fix later. A single setup conversation with us is inexpensive insurance.
Yes. Our clients are spread across northeastern South Dakota, and some have moved away and stayed with us. We handle multi-state returns and remote work routinely. If your needs fit our practice, distance isn't a barrier.
No — and this one matters. Our office is open Monday through Friday, all year. Tax season (January through April) brings extended hours and Saturday appointments, but the rest of the year is when bookkeeping, payroll, planning, notices and problem-solving actually happen. If you choose an accountant who's reachable twelve months a year, we'd like it to be us.