– 2 – January 9, 2018
Carol A. Reithmiller, CPA, PLLC
January 9, 2018
Dear Friend:
We have enclosed your 2017 personal income tax organizer. Please verify the personal information, answer the questions that apply to you and review the rest of the data to ensure that you will supply us with the original documents that we used in prior years. When in doubt, include the information. You can drop off your information, without an appointment, when your packet is complete (at least the first four pages of organizer marked and all originals included). If you prefer to send your information electronically, please send an e-mail to and we will send you a link to safely upload your information.
Changes to the organizer:
Many states are now asking for identification information which is requested in section 5 on the first page. If you do not give us this information, we can proceed but your state tax refund may be delayed. AL, CA, IL, KS, LA, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA and WI are now requiring this information.
Please complete the refund information in section 4 of the first page, we are required to ask you each year.
Can you please write down in section 8, page three, whether you are a veteran? North Carolina is collecting this information but has not given the NCACPA Board a reason why.
Due to stricter IRS and ACIPA regulations, we cannot proceed without:
· Signed engagement letter, which gives us permission to complete your return.
· Completed ACA Health Care Organizer, page 2 of the organizer. Enclose any Form 1095-A’s that you receive.
· Online purchases made without paying sales tax (total of purchases please). List on the deductions organizer page, at the bottom. South Carolina residents may get a letter with this information; please include the letter.
· College students, under education expenses, please complete the requested information on the organizer and note if your student has been convicted of a drug felony (yes/no). Please attach Form 1098-T; and Forms 1098-E and 1099-Q, if applicable. If you have not received this form, please have your student pull it from the school’s web site.
· Copy of birth certificate & social security card for any child born in 2017.
· Charities must provide an acknowledgement for any deductions over $250. Make sure that you have these acknowledgements before the return is filed.
· Each non-cash deduction must have a value on it, you can use our sheets, but we are no longer allowed to determine the value. We also need an estimate of the cost.
· For each mortgage interest statement, please note if it was used to purchase the home, remodel the home or consolidate debt.
· Both parties must sign the electronic filing forms. Due to new regulations, we cannot e-mail them prior to your review. If both parties cannot sign upon pickup, the return will not be e-filed until the signed e-file authorization form is received.
As always, if you have sold any stocks, bonds or other capital assets you will receive Form 1099-B. Please review the cost basis listed for accuracy before giving them to us, as we work off of the information that you provide. If the Form 1099-B does not list the cost basis for any security sold, please provide the cost basis to us with your information.
If you started a new business in 2017, please notify us immediately. North and South Carolina have personal property deadlines, in addition to income tax deadlines. Let us help keep you compliant.
The individual federal and most states income tax returns are due on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. To ensure that we have ample time to complete your return accurately, we are requesting all information in our office by March 19, 2018. If we receive your information after that date, we cannot guarantee that we will have your return done on April 18th. Extensions will be prepared, which extends the time of filing until October 15, 2018 – note - this does not extend the payment period. Payment is still due on April 17th. Personal extensions are available for $100 for the federal, $40 for North Carolina and South Carolina each, and $50 for all other states and cities each. We will not prepare an extension without your explicit written consent. The form is on our website, www.ladycpa.com or you can call us for one.
2018 tax changes are rather daunting. If you would like a projection of what your federal taxes might look like, using the exact same data as the 2017 return, we will prepare that projection for a $50 fee (without owning or being a partner in a business). Let us know when you drop off if you would like this done. Note, that tax laws may change during the year, which may impact this projection (as will income and deduction changes). If you would like a more in-depth projection or own a business, changing income and deductions, additional fees would apply, and they will be done after April 23, 2018.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Reithmiller
11020 South Tryon Street, Suite 406 • Charlotte, NC • 28273
Phone: 704-583-9090 • Fax: 704-583-9843