FAQs

Allow us the opportunity to see if this would be a mutual fit....we want to make sure we can be of help in your particular situation.  A few things to know:

1. • We work with both individuals and small business owners, in all 50 states and around the world, who have a U.S. tax filing requirement.  We work both with local clients and those we've only met electronically.

   • Once you're on our list, you're there from year to year unless you let us know otherwise.

   • About 50% of our work is dedicated to helping small business owners with everything related to money.  It's a niche that most accountants and big firms can't be bothered to help, but my heart beats with a passion for small business owners.  Both of my parents (they divorced when I was young) each owned their own businesses nearly their whole lives.  I know the difference $1k more or less in an estimate payment can make -- that's groceries or a vacation, medical bills or car repair.  I don't just base it on "last year's return", but what is actually happening in your business today.  I want to empower you to both fulfill your obligations AND give you insight to make wise business decisions, without a nasty surprise come tax time.  Let's see if we can work together to plan, not overpay, and allow you to have more to take home to your family!

   • We're not the cheapest option, nor do we strive to be.  If you're looking for cheap, check out IRS free file, TurboTax, or Google "cheap tax return (your city & state)" and you're sure to find plenty of options that are only interested in the fee they can charge you -- turn over your documents, get a return, nothing more.  There's nothing, however, like a human who knows your tax situation, alerts you to missing information, makes suggestions for how to improve, and is a lifeline when questions come up during the year.  But if personal service isn't important to you, give one of the above services a try.  It's definitely cheaper!

Send us an email or give us a call today to see if we're the right fit for you!

Clients must complete 2 steps each year to get in line for a return:

1. Complete an Intake Form
         New Client
         Returning Client

2. Submit their Tax Materials
         Online via Encyro
         Mail to Moments, 424 Ken Maril Rd, Ames, IA 50010 U.S.A.
         Drop-off in physical dropbox
   Questions?  Send an email, call, text, or schedule an appointment!

We're glad you asked!

1. Submit Intake Form and Tax Materials at your convenience.

2. Within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends & hoildays), you'll receive an acknowledgement via email.

3. Within 10-14 days, we examine what you've submitted and contact you:
         a) With a list of additional information needed to complete your returns; or
         b) Advising that your returns are ready for review

4. You review the drafts of your returns & the results.

   • Look for the email from Encyro with subject "Tax Returns to Review".  This contains a summary of the results, a comparison to the previous year (if applicable), any recommendations, our final instructions, & your invoice. 

   • If acceptable as drafted, click the link in a separate Encyro email with subject "Tax Forms to Sign".  Click through & sign, giving us authorization to electronically file your return(s).

   • If you want to authorize any balance due to be paid via automatic withdrawal, let us know  via email, text, or phonecall immediately.  If we don't receive authorization from you before we e-file your returns, you will be responsible for paying via another method listed on your Final Instructions.  Your returns can e-filed anytime after the signing of your forms, so the notification must be right away.  In general, we wait a minimum of 1 hour after you sign before submitting your returns for e-filing.

   • You can submit payment for your invoice now or after you receive any refunds you are eligible for.  Payment for your returns is not withheld from any refund(s) you qualify for.  

   • We offer a 5% discount off your invoice if it's paid via cash or a physical check (either one you send or one you have your bank send, like through Bill Pay) as it saves us the processing fees of online payments.  If you pay online, you can use the eCheck or pay with a card, however, these options do not qualify for the discount.  We offer our discount to those who use a payment method that doesn't charge us fees, and don't have to track them down later for payment.  It's a win-win for both of us, so check into using Bill Pay if your bank offers it & you don't have physical checks; many banks offer this service for free!

   • If you have questions, ask them before signing.  Send an email, call, or schedule an appointment, and we'll be happy to review your returns with you.  We want you to be comfortable with how they are prepared, and will be happy to explain as much (or as little) as you'd like.

5. Once we have your signatures, we will proceed to e-file your returns unless stated otherwise.  Once submitted via e-file, you'll receive email confirmation that this was complete.

6. You independently submit any tax payments that were required (and not paid via automatic withdrawal with the tax return).

7. If you didn't already pay your invoice, remember to pay it once you receive your refund(s) from the IRS and/or state.  The online payment link is here, or remember that a check (or cash) is always welcome and saves us the processing fees.

8. Congratulations are in order....you're done until next year!

Yes!  Just visit Encyro with your smartphone to take pictures & send us any documents / tax info you don't already have digitally.

Or send this link to your phone.

Currently the "we" is just me, Heather, so I appreciate your understanding until I encounter someone who also is passionate about helping people with all things related to money & taxes.  If you know someone who would be interested, even part-time, please let me know!

Excluding weekends & holidays, the goal is to:

• Acknowledge submission of submitted Tax Materials within 48 hours, unless you get an Out of Office Reply (like during Spring Break).  This is a manual process, so you know you know your materials have actually gotten through / been retrieved from the mail or dropbox / etc.

• Answer emails within 48 hours for business clients, and others within 1 week.

• Return voicemails and text messages within 48 hours.

Absolutely!  Thank you for your confidence to refer us to those you know.....we've found that good clients know good people, and we're careful to take great care of anyone you send our way!

The easiest is to share our contact info with them and allow them to reach out when it works for them.  Just provide them with our email, phone number, or a link to our homepage.

Should they become a new client, you'll receive a gift as a token of our appreciation for your help in growing our business!

You can check the status of your refunds at:

      IRS (Federal Returns)

      IRS (Amended Federal Returns)

      Iowa Returns

      Minnesota Returns

The link to check your refund status in other states can be found by searching for "(state) wheres my refund" in your preferred search engine.

Let's talk!  We've prepared a few thousand returns over the years, and most likely have some suggestions for making next year's result less painful.  When we say we help clients with everything related to money & taxes, we mean it; we can even help you with taking a fresh look at your money habits, getting your personal finances in order, and changing the way you think about money to set you and/or your business on a course to flourish instead of struggle.

But know that this year's tax result is just a reflection of what actually happened & the information you provided to us.  Make sure when you review your returns, there isn't anything missing that you might have forgotten to let us know about.  But if everything is there and you owe a lot of money, let's make some changes so this doesn't keep happening.

Allow me to share a recent encouraging story.....I love turnarounds like this!

My first contact with this new client was about 20 months ago, through a referral.  Their tax situation was a mess, and their personal finances, too, and they were paying through the nose on taxes.  I started working on their case, but we had to hit pause for several months -- they had family issues come up, and dying parents to move into a nursing home, a lot going on.  But we got them on track and filed their current year returns by the extended deadline in October.  Fast-forward one year and we're both celebrating: Their taxes returns are now filed timely, they're caught up on all their taxes, their estimates are paid, they've put money into retirement, they are both getting a regular paycheck from their business, their payroll taxes are paid, and there's a huge load off their shoulders.  They even looked brighter the last time they came to my office.  They can focus on their business and as they near retirement, can wrap up at any time instead of having to keep going to pay back tax debt.  I worked hard & they did too; they were willing to accept help & get some structures in place, and the results have been amazing!

A check, payable to "Moments", is the preferred method, as it saves the processing fees of digital payments, meaning more of your money goes to supporting a small business and less to the giant banks.  Cash is also great.

If you must make a digital payment, choose the "eCheck" option, which has far fewer fees but does allow you to make the transaction online.  There is also the option to pay online with a debit or credit card.

      Pay Online

Wire transfer instructions are available upon request.

If you owe taxes, it can be hard (but not impossible) to get caught up.  The IRS especially wants to see a change in habits so the same problem doesn't keep happening.

In order of importance, we advise you to:

1. Adjust your withholdings to have a sufficient amount withheld from your paycheck going forward

2. Pay this year's estimated taxes

3. Pay taxes due on your current federal return

4. Pay taxes due on your current state return(s)

5. Pay back taxes

If it would be helpful, we can help come up with a personalized plan to get your taxes current.

Normally, your invoice is provided with the drafts of your returns.

Business clients typically receive one invoice per year at the natural end of a phase, like the completion of a tax return or S-Corp setup.

All clients have the option to pay when you receive an invoice, when your returns are filed, or wait to pay until you receive your refunds (if any).  We simply ask that all tax season invoices be paid by May 31, and other invoices be by paid by Dec. 31.

If send payment via physical check or pay in cash within 7 days of receiving your invoice, we welcome you to take a 5% discount as our way of saying THANK YOU for paying promptly, saving us the credit card fees and not having to track you down for payment later.  It's a benefit to us AND savings to you!