Honest, expert tax work
for the Yuba-Sutter community.

Questions we hear often.

Answers to a few of the most common questions — for anything situation-specific, give us a call or chat with the assistant.

• What's an Enrolled Agent, and why does it matter?

  An Enrolled Agent (EA) is the highest credential the IRS awards. EAs are federally licensed to represent taxpayers in all fifty states — not just prepare returns, but actually stand in for you with the IRS if something comes up. It's the same representation authority CPAs and attorneys have, earned through IRS exams and continuing education.

• When should I come in — do I need an appointment?

  Our office in Yuba City is open Monday through Thursday, 8am–4pm, and Fridays by appointment only. We recommend scheduling ahead so we can give each return and each conversation real attention. Reach out any time of year; during tax season (late January through mid-April) slots fill quickly, so earlier is better.

• What documents should I bring for my individual return?

  At minimum: photo ID, Social Security cards for anyone on the return, last year's return if we didn't prepare it, and all income documents (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, SSA, interest/dividend statements). Add any documentation for deductions or credits you expect to claim — mortgage interest, property tax, charitable giving, childcare, education, health coverage, etc. A full checklist is on the Resources page.

• I run a small farm or small business — what do you need from me?

  Bring your bookkeeping records (QuickBooks file or exported reports), end-of-year bank and credit card statements, any 1099s you received or issued, payroll summaries if you have employees, asset purchases for the year, and any major business changes we should know about. If your books aren't in order yet, we can help clean them up — that's part of what we do.

• Do you work with QuickBooks? Can you clean up a messy file?

  Yes to both. We use QuickBooks Online and Desktop, and file clean-ups are routine work for us — miscategorized transactions, reconciliations that were never done, prior years that got away from you. We'll quote the cleanup before starting so there are no surprises.

• What does tax planning actually look like during the year?

  It's the opposite of April panic. We meet mid-year or in the fall, look at where your income, entity structure, and major decisions are pointing, and identify moves — retirement contributions, entity elections, estimated payments, equipment timing — that change what you'll owe before the year closes. It's most useful for business owners and folks with income that varies.

• Can you represent me if I get an IRS notice?

  Yes. As an Enrolled Agent, Shonna can represent you directly with the IRS for exams, collections, and appeals — whether we prepared the return in question or not. If a notice lands in your mailbox, don't panic and don't ignore it; bring it in.

• What are your starting prices?

  Individual returns start at $300, small business returns at $495, and partnership, corporate, non-profit, and trust returns at $850. Monthly bookkeeping starts at $185/month, payroll at $225/month, and additional professional services (like books cleanup or IRS notices) at $125/hour. Every client's needs are different, so each service is tailored to you — we'll quote you before any work begins. Full pricing is on the Services page.