
What Is Tax Preparation? From Drop-Off to Filed Return
Tax preparation start to finish — gathering your records, checking them against current IRS rules, working out what you owe or are owed, and filing the return.

Tax preparation start to finish — gathering your records, checking them against current IRS rules, working out what you owe or are owed, and filing the return.

What an accountant does beyond recordkeeping and a once-a-year form: reading your numbers for decisions, keeping you compliant, and the tax you can still cut.

Yes, the IRS taxes cryptocurrency as property. You owe tax on gains when you sell or trade crypto, and on income from mining, staking, and airdrops.

Doing your taxes means gathering income records and deductions, reporting them to the IRS on the correct forms, and filing by April 15.

Converting a sole proprietorship to an LLC doesn't automatically change your taxes unless you elect corporate taxation.

Learn how the IRS Fresh Start Program helps taxpayers pay back taxes through installment agreements, offers in compromise, and penalty relief options.

Learn when an S-corp election saves you self-employment tax and when administrative costs make it not worth it for your business income level.

Bring last year's return, photo ID, your SSN or EIN, income records, an expense list and any IRS letters — so the first meeting is work rather than admin.

Learn the four main small business tax deadlines each year: quarterly estimated payments, annual returns, payroll taxes, and state filings.