Taking a look around the world these days, and where things seem to be headed…

But our heads are high here at Top Hat Tax & Financial Services because we worked our tails off for our San Diego clients this year. We helped a bunch of people save a ton on their taxes — with deductions and strategies they wouldn’t have used had they not listened to our advice.

AND we got the privilege to make so many San Diego people’s lives just a little bit easier during this very intense time.

I’m not looking for a “thank you” with this note — just letting you into our headspace here right now. We have a sense of (tired) accomplishment.

We worked so hard because we were (and are) animated by the stories we heard repeatedly from those who didn’t use our services, or who came to us at the end of their rope: people going through massively difficult times, and then slapped with a big tax bill on top of it all.

For some, this is an unavoidable reality: those who did no tax planning, or who worked with other tax pros, or who just had some tough circumstances.

But for others — it was avoidable. And it might still be. (More about that shortly.)

We love what we do, and even though this “busy season” was three months longer than usual, we’re not letting up.

Because while some of our competition is out there taking their weeks and months off, recovering and living off of the “fat” of tax season, we’re attending (virtual) conferences, developing our proficiencies in managing our business (and yours), and writing you these strategy notes.

All because we want to be people who bring you GOOD news, not bad.

Before I get to today’s note, would you do us a favor? If you have already used us for your taxes, would you let us know what you thought? We really appreciate it. A great review would be very, very helpful.
Make us smile with a review on Google
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If for some reason you had problems, please shoot me an email through the email us link at the top of the page so I can address it and make it right somehow.

Now … let’s talk about avoidable bad news.

A Strategy For San Diego Taxpayers With A Higher Than Expected Tax Bill
“I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.” -John Hume

Our San Diego clients who filed with us this year already feel the peace of mind that they were able to claim every possible deduction which is legally allowed in the tax code for the 2019 tax year. After all, we put each return through an extensive review process to ensure you keep as much of your hard-earned income as the IRS allows.

But what about your friends? And what about your previous years?

Well, since the filing deadline has already passed, they (and you) might think that the proverbial “fat lady” has sung on 2019 returns (and 2018 and 2017). Not so.

Because according to a report on the matter issued by the Government Accountability Office, taxpayers overpay the IRS over $1 billion every year due to incorrect itemization and preparation.

And the IRS isn’t in any hurry to just give that back to you, this year of all years.

What’s worse is that those who prepared their own taxes (with a software or on their own) are the most vulnerable, according to the report. But did you also know that taxpayers who used one of the “big chain” preparers are almost as bad off?

An excerpt from an additional report from the GAO: In a Limited Study, Chain Preparers Made Serious Errors.

In GAO (United States “Government Accountability Office”) visits to chain preparers, paid preparers often prepared returns that were incorrect, with tax consequences that were sometimes significant. Some of the most serious problems involved these mistakes…

1. Not reporting business income in 10 of 19 cases;
2. Failing to take the most advantageous post-secondary education tax benefit in 3 out of the 9 applicable cases; and
3. Failing to itemize deductions at all or failing to claim all available deductions in 7 out of the 9 applicable cases.

More clippings from the report:
* The 19 paid preparers we visited arrived at the correct refund amount only twice. On 5 returns, all for the plumber, they understated our refund amount by a total of $3,465.

* All 19 of our visits to tax return preparers affiliated with chains showed problems. Nearly all of the returns prepared for us were incorrect to some degree, and several of the preparers gave us very bad tax advice, particularly when it came to reporting non-W-2 business income. Only 2 of 19 tax returns showed the correct refund amount, and in both of those visits the paid preparer made mistakes that did not affect the final refund amount.

So what can your friends do about this? And what could YOU do about it, if you didn’t have us handle your taxes in prior years?

Simple: file an “amended” return.

Many San Diego tax professionals don’t provide filing an amended return service, but even though we’ve completed our clients’ returns, we WILL review any of your friends’ returns — at no charge.

Use this… (and feel free to forward this to your friends)

+++++++++++++++++
“No Charge” Return Review
Special Gift Certificate
As a complimentary service this year, we will provide a
Return Review To Any Non-Client.
We will also review prior year returns from clients who did NOT have us handle their taxes during the year under question. No charge will be made, unless we have to file an amended return.
858-549-9666
to set up this complimentary service
Deadline: Friday, August 7th, 2020
+++++++++++++++++

We’re in your corner.

Warmly,

Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST
(858) 549-9666

“CRISIS Action Plan” for my San Diego tax clients and friends:

1) Don’t marinate in other people’s panic. Be mindful of your social media consumption.

2) Continue to stay financially and logistically prepared for worsening situations.

3) Make sure you have some ready, liquid assets, if you are able. (i.e., cash in the bank, and in hand.)

4) Set aside plans for any big spending until the dust settles — but especially look out for your small business owner friends and vendors.