Is this for me?
Yes, if you need any of these filed: a personal Form 1040, a partnership or S corporation return, a C corporation return, a trust or estate return, a gift tax return, or a Texas franchise tax report. It's also for anyone who wants a second look at a return someone else prepared, or who needs an amended return.
What happens
- You send what you have. Use the checklist, or just tell me what you think is missing. Missing forms cause most of the delays.
- I review it and ask questions. Some items need a conversation: a K-1 with an unusual basis, a property sale, a new business.
- You agree to the work before I begin.
- I prepare the return and walk you through it. You see the numbers and the reason for each one before anything is filed.
- I e-file it and keep a copy for you. If an IRS or Comptroller letter arrives later, bring it in and we start from there.
What to bring
New clients, bring last year's return and a photo ID. Everyone else, bring what applies to you. The full list of documents is on the checklist.
Individual return checklist · Business return checklist
Please don't email Social Security numbers or tax documents. Drop them off at the office or ask me for a secure upload link.
Individuals and families
Form 1040 returns, from simple to not-simple-at-all. The not-simple ones are where a CPA is most useful.
- Wages, pensions, Social Security and IRA distributions
- Rental property and vacation rentals
- Self-employment and side businesses (Schedule C)
- Farm and ranch income (Schedule F)
- K-1s from partnerships, S corporations, trusts and estates
- Stock, crypto, land and home sales
- HSAs, education credits and Marketplace insurance (Form 1095-A)
- Foreign income, foreign tax credits and FBAR filings
- Returns for other states when you earn income there
- Returns for the year a spouse passes away
Businesses
Business returns are where the planning shows up. I look at how the business is set up, how the owners get paid and what the books actually say, not just what the trial balance says.
- Partnerships and multi-member LLCs (Form 1065)
- S corporations (Form 1120-S)
- C corporations (Form 1120)
- Texas franchise tax and Public Information Reports
- Payroll and 1099 reporting questions
- Final returns when a business closes or sells
Trusts, estates and gifts
These usually land on someone's desk at a hard time. I help executors and trustees get the filings right and understand what's due when, including the basis step-up that matters so much when inherited property is sold later.
- Trust and estate income tax returns (Form 1041)
- Gift tax returns (Form 709)
- The decedent's final individual return
- Coordination with the estate's attorney
Second-look reviews and amended returns
Sometimes the return is already done, by you, by software or by another preparer, and something doesn't sit right. Maybe the refund looks too big. Maybe a K-1 never made it in. I'll go through it line by line, tell you plainly what I find, and amend it if it needs amending.
Some of the most common misses I see: income forms that were left off entirely, carryovers from prior years that got dropped (losses, depreciation, credits), and retirement contributions that were deducted or taxed the wrong way.
Common questions
When should I get my documents to you?
As soon as you have them. Business returns go first: partnership and S corporation returns for 2026 are due March 15, 2027, and the owners' personal returns depend on the K-1s those returns produce. If you own part of a business, getting me the books in early February makes everyone's spring easier.
What if I'm still waiting on a K-1 or a corrected 1099?
That's common, and it's what extensions are for. I file Form 4868, which gives you until October 15 to file your individual return. But an extension is more time to file, not more time to pay. I'll estimate what you owe so you can pay it by April 15 and avoid most of the penalties and interest.
Do you work with people who don't live in Harlingen?
Yes. Most of my clients live in the Rio Grande Valley, but I also work with people elsewhere in Texas, out of state and overseas. A lot of the work happens by phone and secure upload, so distance matters less than you'd think.
Can you look at a return someone else prepared?
Yes. Second-look reviews are a real part of my work. If something was missed, I can amend the return. Generally you have three years from the date you filed (or two years from when you paid, if that's later) to claim a refund.
How do I get my documents to you safely?
Drop them off at the office or ask me for a secure upload link. Please don't email Social Security numbers or tax documents. Regular email isn't a safe place for them, and I'd rather do it the careful way.