Questions, answered plainly.
The questions we hear most at the front desk. General information, not tax advice: your preparer will tell you what applies to your return.
Booking & visits
Do you take walk-ins?
Yes, at Bay View on weekdays during filing season. Booked clients go first, so a walk-in may wait. Riverwest is by appointment, and West Allis is a drop-off desk.
How long does an appointment take?
About an hour for most individual returns. Self-employed returns take closer to ninety minutes. Business returns are worked on over several days and finished with a short sign-off visit.
Can I do it all online?
Yes. Book a video appointment, upload your papers to the secure portal, and sign electronically. The fee is the same as in person.
Do you speak Spanish or Hmong?
Yes. Teresa and Luis work in English and Spanish, and Mai works in English and Hmong. Pick your language when you book.
Fees & payment
How much will my return cost?
Our example fees are posted by return type on the pricing page. A simple W-2 return with Wisconsin included is $165 in our 2025 tax year example. Your exact fee is confirmed before we start.
When do I pay?
When you sign. We take card, cash or check. We never take our fee out of your refund.
What if my return is more complicated than I thought?
We stop and tell you the new price before doing the extra work. You can say yes, say no, or take your papers with you.
Refunds
How fast will I get my refund?
The IRS says most e-filed returns with direct deposit are refunded in under three weeks, though some take longer. Refunds that include the EITC or the additional child tax credit are held until at least mid-February by law. We can't speed up the IRS, but a correct return and the right bank details help.
Do you offer refund advances?
No. We don't sell refund loans or refund transfers. Our refund advance page explains what they are and the free way to get your refund quickly.
Can you promise me a big refund?
No one honestly can. Your refund depends on your income, your withholding and the credits you qualify for. We promise a correct return with everything you're entitled to.
Documents & security
What should I bring?
Photo ID, Social Security cards for everyone on the return, your W-2s and 1099s, and last year's return. The what-to-bring page has the full checklist you can tick off and print.
I'm missing a form. Should I wait?
Book anyway. Many missing forms can be found on your IRS transcript. We won't file until we have everything the return needs.
How do you keep my information safe?
Encrypted portal for uploads, a written data security plan, ID checks before we release returns, and locked storage for paper. Please don't send your SSN by regular email.
Preparers & credentials
Who will prepare my return?
One of our four preparers. All hold a PTIN, the IRS number every paid preparer needs, and sign every return they prepare. Our owner is an Enrolled Agent.
What is an Enrolled Agent?
A tax professional licensed by the IRS who can represent taxpayers on any tax matter, including audits and collections. It's earned by passing an IRS exam and keeping up yearly education.
Is this tax advice?
Nothing on this website is tax advice. It's general information. Advice for your situation comes from your preparer, after they've seen your papers.
Deadlines
When are returns due?
Individual federal and Wisconsin returns are usually due April 15. If that falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
What does an extension do?
It gives you until October 15 to file, not to pay. If you expect to owe, pay what you can by April to keep penalties and interest down.
I missed the deadline. Now what?
File as soon as you can. If you're owed a refund, there's usually no penalty for filing late. If you owe, filing now stops the larger late-filing penalty from growing.
D Key dates in a usual year
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 31 | Employers send W-2s; most 1099-NEC forms go out too. |
| Late January | The IRS starts accepting returns; the exact day is announced each year. |
| Mid-February | By law, refunds that include the EITC or the additional child tax credit can't go out before this point. |
| March 15 | S corporation and partnership returns are due (calendar-year businesses). |
| April 15 | Individual federal and Wisconsin returns are due, and so is the first estimated payment. An extension gives more time to file, not to pay. |
| June 15 | Second estimated tax payment. |
| September 15 | Third estimated payment; extended business returns are due. |
| October 15 | Extended individual returns are due. |
| January 15 | Fourth estimated payment for the year just ended. |
Weekend or holiday? The date moves to the next business day. Disaster areas sometimes get later dates; the IRS announces those.
General information, not tax advice. Your situation decides what applies to you; a preparer will go over it with you.
Still wondering? Just ask.
Book a time at any of our three offices or on video. The fee is set before we start, and nothing comes out of your refund.