Wink Inc.
Enrolled Agents
America’s Tax Experts
®
Wink Tax Services
Request for Tax Data.
While I have always insisted upon honesty and forthrightness, as well as
accurate recordkeeping, I also ask that my requests for additional
information and supporting documentation be met without delay and
complaint. I am not trying to inconvenience you; instead, I am hoping to
ensure that your return is prepared as correctly as possible. If requested
materials are not provided, I will not claim the deduction on your return
and if materials are not provided in a usable format, a surcharge may be
assessed. However, a good excuse is always welcome, if only to offer a
laugh: One client explained, “Due to a crazy intervention shoot where we
were chasing a heroin addict around Detroit, I wasn’t able to get that FedEx
to you.” Please remember that my intent is to minimize the risk that your
returns will audited but if they are examined, I want to improve the chances
that all items reported will withstand scrutiny – I call that pre-audit
protection.
Data Submission.
We ask that you submit your data to me in a security-conscious manner. If
you wish to use or secure portal you may head for the Client File Login to
access a link that allows for easy upload and convenient transmission. If
you would rather use e-mail to send documents and information, please be
sure to password-protect your PDF attachments but don’t do as my client
who diligently attached a protected document to the same e-mail in which
he provided the password to open the attachment! Of course, mail and fax
work as well. In-person appointments and office drop-offs are also
accepted. NOTE: For your protection, we will transmit all sensitive
information to you via a secure HTTPS server that stores files with high-
grade encryption. You will receive an e-mail message providing you with a
unique link from which you may retrieve the file that I have uploaded for
you. On occasion, we may instead send you a password-protected PDF.
For added security during electronic transmission, we will redact critical
information such as taxpayer ID and bank routing numbers. If this is not
satisfactory or you are unable to open and download an electronic item,
you will have to make arrangements for physical delivery.
Rates.
Due to constant tax law changes, ever-greater regulatory demands,
additional diligence mandated by IRC §6694, increased recordkeeping
requirements, lack of state conformity, AMT complexities, and rising
overhead costs, our fees will increase incrementally each year. In some
instances, clients may also be subject to a fee bump to help bring my fees
in line with competitors of equal experience and expertise. Please note
that we do not compete with those who offer low-cost returns; indeed, we
are often called upon to “fix” the work prepared by such bargain
practitioners and so called ghost preparers. Incidental charges for UPS
delivery and expedited servicing will be assessed. We continue to offer
introductory discounts to new clients, as well as senior, student, family,
military and preferred customer rates to existing clients Free estimates are
always available.
Delivery.
We will make every effort to have your completed tax packet delivered to
you expeditiously as I did when I attempted to flag down a UPS delivery
truck stopped at a light. I hastily parked, grabbed my packets, ran across
several lanes of traffic, and asked the driver if he would take my shipments.
He apologetically declined and explained that he would lose his job if he
took the packets while standing in traffic. I understood, thanked him, ran
off and decided to grab a bite to eat at the nearby fast-food joint. While
ordering, the UPS driver came up behind me and said, "Now I can take
those packets." I was floored; it seems he had parked and specifically come
looking for me! But because I cannot always rely on the diligence and
dedication of others, I cannot be held responsible for delays or mis-
deliveries by the USPS or other private carriers. Upon request, I will provide
you with tracking information so that you may make arrangements and
cover the costs of re-delivery or replacement of lost tax returns. NOTE: You
assume the risk of loss of confidentiality and/or tax documents during
unencoded electronic transmission or mailing via USPS and third-party
delivery services.
Fees for Services.
Payments for our services are due in full upon completion of the work,
whether or not you file the return as prepared. You may be asked to
submit your payment via cashier’s check within 10 days prior to the
applicable filing deadline or if your invoice for tax preparation fees remains
unpaid for more than 10 days. I ask that you make my invoice your first
priority. I will gladly work out a payment plan for anyone with a cash-flow
problem, but those who do not pay or communicate with me, should
expect to forfeit any previously applied discounts. No additional services
will be provided until the amount due is paid in full. Note that your
confidential data may be given to 3rd parties in the event that I am forced
to engage a collection agent for non-payment of my fees.
Payments.
All payments may be made via cash, check or credit card.
IRS Transcript Monitoring Program - Audit Detection Service.
The IRS Transcript Monitoring Program is designed to attempt to detect any
changes that the IRS may make on your IRS transcripts of account for the
periods covered under the IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney, or the IRS
Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, already on file with the IRS. It
will not detect the absence of something that you are required to do, such
as timely filing your tax returns or making payments to the IRS under your
agreement with the IRS, and it will not detect any changes to your account
that are outside of the periods or type of taxes listed on the Forms 2848 or
8821, and you have stated your understanding in this regard.
Please note that we may not be able to enroll you into the IRS Transcript
Monitoring Program for one or more years if the IRS has placed, or places
in the future, an Identity Theft Marker on your account. In the event we are
unable to enroll you into, or continue your enrollment in, the IRS Transcript
Monitoring Program for one or more years, we will notify you of this
development and may cancel your enrollment in the program, issue a
refund, as appropriate, or reduce the fee to allow us to monitor the years in
which we can still electronically access your IRS transcripts of account.
This program and service does not guarantee to detect audits in advance
but has proven historically to detect audits over 95% of the time.
Occasionally the IRS flags a tax payer’s account for an exam/audit, but for
what ever reason the exam/audit does not take place.
This program is not insurance and does not cover the additional services
required to address any of the detected events. Services for IRS
Representation, amended returns or any other services performed are
covered under a separate engagement. No additional services or fees will
be started without the tax payer’s consent for issues discovered under this
service.
Service Contract.
The Service Contract—$125 if bought at the time of tax preparation or $150
if purchased later—entitles purchasers to unlimited hours of free
consultation in lieu of my customary hourly rate ($200) on such topics as
withholding allowances, estimated tax computations, job changes, out-of-
state moves, new home purchases, refinancing, divorce and adoption,
college savings, retirement plans, business start-up, amongst many other
issues.
Automatic Extensions.
Tax data and documentation must be submitted to me in a timely manner.
If requested information remains outstanding on or after March 30, we can
for a $50 processing fee request an extension with your authorization if you
provide a good faith estimate of the expected tax liability—the extended
deadline for individual returns will then be October 17th but you should
note that extensions merely extend the time for filing, not
payment—interest and penalties, if applicable, will continue to accrue and
be charged by the tax authorities. If you wish to pay any balance due via
electronic funds withdrawal with the extension request, you must sign and
submit Form 8878 to us; other forms may be required to authorize state
tax authorities to automatically withdraw funds. A charge of $50 will be
added to your invoice for processing the extension on your behalf. We ask
that you contact us in a timely manner if you do not want us to file an
extension and ask that you do your utmost to complete the tax preparation
process efficiently and expeditiously. If we have not received your
completed tax data by September 16th, a 5% surcharge will be assessed in
addition to all applicable fees. S-Corp and partnership returns are due
March 18th. Therefore, the submission deadline for complete business tax
data is February 18th. Anticipated turn-around time for most returns once I
have received all data is generally 14 – 21 days but may be longer later in
the season. NOTE: While state extensions are deemed to be automatic,
taxpayers seeking to avail themselves of certain elections must file a federal
extension to ensure that a valid extension is on record. [All dates are in
2022.]
Courtesy.
We ask that we treat each other civilly and professionally. We are not
responsible for the contents or consequences of the Tax Code. We will help
you comply with the law, report your income and expenses most favorably,
and reduce your tax liability as much as legally allowable. If you are still
dissatisfied, please complain to your congressman since we do not deserve
your misdirected anger. we understand that everyone suffers periods of
anxiety and distress, but it is (unlike one client irrationally presumed) not
our job to assume your stress. We reserve the right to refuse service to
those who treat us with disrespect. And as the son of a client recently
replied on a homework assignment, “For a day to be my best ever, it would
need to be filled with gratitude to those who have made a difference to me,
no matter how insignificant.” Taking a cue from Sue, I hereby wish to say
thanks to our clients, to our family and friends, and to you!
Timeliness.
I expect you to devote yourself to all tasks required to complete the tax
preparation process in a timely fashion and that you make government-
mandated deadlines your priority. I take these deadlines seriously and
always do my utmost to help you to comply with your obligations, even if
that means foregoing personal obligations and sleep, yes we have been
known to put in 120+ hour weeks. You can imagine my reaction to an e-
mail from a client with misplaced priorities when near midnight on the filing
date she wrote, “What a long day! After work, we went to the Tigers game.”
(No mention was made of the e-file authorization form I was waiting for.)
Patience.
As much as I wish I could treat you as though you were my only client,
(un)fortunately you are not. Please bear with me as this gracious client did:
“My life is quite complicated and I’ll need your help on several fronts. My
employer is bankrupt, so I'll soon be out of work and without health
insurance. Dad has dementia. Mom is moving into a senior facility. Then
there's health issues, It's all fascinating stuff, really, but… all of it can wait.”
Individualized Advice.
Every taxpayer’s situation is unique and not always comparable to that of
friends and relatives. Therefore, you should not assume that the advice of
others, however sound or well-intentioned, will necessarily apply to you. I
invite you to discuss your case with me individually. My office hours are
Monday to Friday, 9AM – 5PM. Please note that in a recent Tax Court
decision, a taxpayer was held liable for ignoring his long-term tax preparer’s
advice and seeking more favorable advice elsewhere (Wadsworth, TC Memo
2008-171). With several Master degrees, licenses and professional
certifications I am recognized nationally for my expertise and asked each
year to teach fellow tax professionals. I don’t know everything, but I know a
lot and will always give you the best advice that I can. One prospect who
chose not to engage my services bragged that it was easy to create his own
tax preparation program each year because “the laws don't change that
much each year". He’s wrong – the laws do change, and I work hard to stay
abreast so that you may pay the least amount of tax legally possible.
Practice Standards.
As a paid preparer, I cannot sign your return if I determine that the return
contains a position that does not have a realistic possibility of being
sustained on its merits, unless the position is not frivolous and is
adequately disclosed to the tax authority as per IRC §6662. I will inform you
of the penalties which will likely apply with respect to the position advised,
prepared, or reported and will advise you of any opportunity to avoid such
penalty by making adequate disclosure. I may rely in good faith and
without verification upon all information furnished by you; however, I must
make reasonable inquiries if the information appears to be incorrect,
inconsistent, or incomplete. We are licensed professionals and our name
and signature also on each and every return.
Tax Notices.
We ask that you promptly forward any communications received from the
tax authorities to me by mail or fax so that we may maintain a complete file
on your behalf and offer proper advice as quickly as possible. Please make
sure to keep the original documents for your own files. No advice will be
provided without seeing the letter in question: Last year, a client called to
tell me that he had received a letter from the IRS. When I asked what it
said, he told me that he had not opened it and instead suggested I should
just tell him what it said. How could I?! Please note that the IRS never
sends correspondence by e-mail; you may be sure that any such
communication is a scam and should forward all suspicious e-mails to
phishing@irs.gov.
Communications.
Our primary method of information exchange with you will be electronic.
Therefore, you must regularly update your e-address with me.
Communications sent to your last-known e-address are deemed to have
been delivered, whether or not you acknowledge receipt. However, to
ensure effective communications, I ask that you respond to each e-mail; if
only to say, “Got it!” or “Thank you.” Also from time to time we also use
mail, if you move, please let us know.
Privacy.
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act prohibits disclosure of nonpublic personal
information about current or former clients to anyone, unless specifically
authorized by the client in writing. As a result, no disclosures will be given
to mortgage brokers and other lenders who, by law, must perform their
own due diligence; nor will information be disclosed to third parties (e.g.,
attorneys, brokers, financial planners, insurance agents, etc.) without your
written approval [see Disclosure Authorization]. Access to this information
is restricted to those professionals who may assist me in the preparation of
your return or provide tax advisory and bookkeeping services. We maintain
stringent physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect your
records but cannot ensure against loss of confidentiality and/or tax
documents during electronic transmission or mailing.
Confidentiality.
Communications during the tax preparation process are confidential, (not
privileged) and may be disclosed if a summons is issued. Limited privilege
is available during the representation process under IRC §7525—you may
ask that I assert the privilege in non-criminal tax matters involving the IRS
or federal district courts but must reimburse me for ensuing costs, as well
as costs for mandated responses to a legal subpoena. If you are concerned
about criminal matters, please engage legal counsel immediately.
Document Retention.
Our final work product will be retained for five years; thereafter, all
documents will be destroyed without further notice. Physical deterioration
or catastrophic events may shorten this term and at our discression we
may retain records longer. We DO NOT retain any original documents as
they are returned to you at the completion of the tax preparation process.
It is your responsibility to keep these materials for future use, including
possible examination by the tax authorities. You may request duplicate
hard or electronic copies of any return I have prepared for a fee, and the
retrieval of physical files or data older than one year may take longer.
Referrals.
We offer many services in addition to tax preparation and consulting,
including Social Security, Medicare, retirement and finandcial planning;
§529 plan consultations; trustee and executor services; small business
consulting and payroll services; client seminars for social, charitable, or
business groups; All of your referrals are always welcome and much
appreciated; not just those who are “charming and personable” as judged
by the client who apologized for sending someone with a “lackluster
countenance and ungainly appearance.”
Humor.
Your creativity and humor are appreciated, but you can understand my
concern when one client told me that he “just made up the numbers.” we
will continue to err on the side of caution and provide you with sound
advice. However, we will neither engage in “creative” reporting (as did the
taxpayer who claimed his dog as a landscaping subcontractor), nor allow
you to claim unsubstantiated expenditures (such as toilet paper for your
home office). And unlike one of our competitors who shares an office with
his wife (a psychic) leaving me to wonder who’s preparing the returns, we
promise you that we work as a tearm (and stick to hard facts)!
Our Pledge.
We offer personalized service and professional expertise, supported by an
extensive tax library, a network of experienced contacts, and countless
hours of continuing education. If you leave detailed messages by voice- or
e-mail, we will get back to you promptly. Occasionally technology fails and
so we ask that you follow-up with another message if you do not hear from
use within 24 hours [also factor in weekends, we only work 24 / 7 Jan -
April]. Conversely, we ask that you acknowledge our communications, if
only to assure us that our words of wisdom or pleas for attention have not
been lost in cyberspace, ended up in the trash, or fallen upon deaf ears.
And if we mark a communication as “urgent,” please assume that we meant
it. Do not call me (as one fearful client did) to ask "What did I do? Why do
you hate me?" I don’t hate you; I merely want to share time-sensitive
information with you.
Please call us at (248) 816-1220 or 800-276-8319 to set up a free
consultation.
Or Book Your Consultation here:
We service clients worldwide.
Wink Inc. Enrolled Agents | 2701 Troy Center Dr, Ste 430 |
Troy | Michigan | 48084 | Tel: 248-816-1220 | TF: 800-276-8319
| Text: 248-800-6013 |