As a tax professional,  I am ethically bound to help you pay the lowest tax you are legally required to pay. This list will help me do my job. It is a concise, though not exhaustive, outline of some of the documents I will need when I meet with you.

• A copy of last year's Federal and State tax returns.
• Articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, etc.
• Copy of current period balance sheet, income statement, trail balance and general ledger
• Prior year financial statements
• List of all business owners including: Name, social security numbers, address, % of ownership, date ownership acquired and detail of distributions
• Schedule of owner fringe benefits received
• Schedule of loans to/from owners including loan agreements
• Details of any related party transactions
• Copies of all payroll forms and 1099 forms for the year
• Amounts of any estimated tax payments
• Listing of interest and dividend income
• Vehicle information and use including vehicle leases
• Information on any employee benefit plans including retirement plans, health insurance, etc.
• Details of meals and entertainment expense
• Any Internal Revenue Service and Department of Revenue correspondence received during the year
• List of any activities in other states
• Details of fixed assets and depreciation schedules

Be sure to consult a

if you think any of the matters discussed in our world wide web page concern you or your business: this is not intended to be the complete story. Also, be sure your tax advisor is one of your area's many qualified  Tax Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants or Enrolled Agents. Last year only 3% of the tax preparer penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service was given to C.P.A.'s or E.A.'s, the balance, 97%, was assessed on so-called independent "tax preparers." Be smart, entrust this very important job to a qualified professional.

This information is provided by: Nathan Zeliff, Attorney at Law

P.O. Box 6515
Moraga, CA 94570

Telephone:  (925) 820-1004        FAX: (925) 299-0363

EMAIL: zlaw@dnai.com

Please copy and distribute freely.

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