Income Tax Return Preparation

We are a boutique tax practice with the support of a worldwide network of tax and accounting professionals through BKR International. We offer the highest level of professional tax services to U.S. residents, expatriates and foreign nationals at a modest cost. We rely primarily on electronic communication with our clients, who reside in every state of the United States and over two dozen foreign countries. We have an online portal system for secure transfer of documents.

We offer fast, affordable and convenient preparation of Form 1040, Form 1040NR, and dual status tax returns for individuals, including all required state and local income tax returns. Separately filed information returns are prepared when needed, including Form 114 for reporting foreign financial accounts and Form 3520/3520-A for reporting foreign trust transactions and the receipt of foreign gifts. We also prepare US tax returns for corporations, S corporations, partnerships and foreign entities.

Our Fees

Our Quote Request questionnaire allows us to recognize your filing requirements, analyze your filing options and recommend the best choices for filing. Our fees are based on the information you provide and our General Fees Per Form schedule. The fee we charge will be the exact fee quoted to you in our engagement letter, unless information or circumstances change to cause us to recommend alternative forms or procedures.

Any fee adjustment must be approved by you first - there are never any surprises. On occasion, when a job is open-ended, we must propose a contract based on hourly fees. This arrangement is always specified in the engagement letter and must be approved by you before work begins.

Here's How It Works

When you complete the questionnaire, we will send you a detailed web-based engagement letter through an email link, explaining your requirements for filing and all options available to you. The engagement letter includes suggestions for your best filing options and the general forms required for your return. It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions or make comments, to which we will respond, before you accept.

There is no obligation if the quoted fee is not acceptable.  If accepted, we ask for a 25 percent retainer to begin each project. You are not asked for the final charge from us until you have received your completed forms and are completely satisfied.

Information Submission Process

When you accept our quote, our goal is to make the process as easy, efficient and convenient for you as possible. We ask you to submit your tax information to us either through our secure web organizer or our specialized templates. Our web organizer is much more than just a questionnaire – it ensures you never overlook important tax data.

Completing your web organizer is easy! You simply log in, answer the interview questions and complete relevant sections online. Sections expand based on your interview questions. You can drag and drop all supporting documents into the organizer, including our completed templates. When your organizer is complete and your documents are loaded, simply push a button to securely submit your tax information and documents to us. Your information is always secure and will not be seen by anyone but the tax professionals at our firm.

The Return Preparation Process

Your tax return is prepared by an experienced CPA, then reviewed by an experienced CPA, before it is sent to a secure web portal for your review and comments. We use top-of-the-line tax software that is designed for the complexities of expat, nonresident and dual status tax returns.  We also utilize specialized software to prepare Form 8621 for passive foreign investment company (PFIC) investments. The preparer is in communication with you throughout the process. Your questions and concerns are always addressed and resolved before the return is finally prepared for filing.

Can Form 1040NR Be Filed Electronically?

Prior to the 2017 filing season, electronic filing for Form 1040NR was not available. In 2017, the IRS made this feature available for 2016 returns going forward, through a limited number of software services (including ours). However, there are still limitations, and many state returns do not allow e-filing when attached to Form 1040NR.

We submit all returns electronically that are authorized for e-filing.  For those that must be paper filed, we have a signing and mailing option for U.S. citizens and permanent residents living outside the United States. Our process allows you to sign all forms digitally to avoid printing, mailing or scanning your tax returns.

We Pledge Total Satisfaction

After you review and approve your return, we will electronically file it if it is eligible for e-filing. If the return must be paper filed, we can usually do it for you with a digitally signed power of attorney from you. The balance of our fee will not be charged to your credit card until your e-filed return is accepted by the IRS, or you have reviewed your printed tax return and are completely satisfied with our service.

• We will always exercise the utmost respect, courtesy and professionalism when dealing with clients.
• We will always be prompt and diligent in answering inquiries from clients.
• We will not accept an engagement unless we are confident that we have the knowledge, experience and resources to provide the best service available in a timely manner.
• If we make a computational error on a tax return that results in penalties, after being provided timely and accurate information from the client, we will reimburse the client for such penalties to the extent of the amount we have charged or is due from the client.

Privacy Policy

CPAs and all other personal financial service providers disclose their privacy policies to clients in a written notice. These policies pertain to non-public personal information about current and former clients. Of course, GW Carter, Ltd. has always protected your right to privacy with professional standards that are even more stringent than those required by law.

In order to assist you with your professional needs and, in some cases, to comply with professional guidelines, we retain records relating to the professional services we provide you. We have rigorous physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in place to protect these records, and they are accessed internally only on an as-needed basis.

Non-public personal information is never collected without your authorization, and we do not disclose such information except as required or permitted by law. Permitted disclosures include third parties who assist us in providing services to you, such as CCH Inc., the vendor providing us with our tax compliance software.

Ready to Start Now?

Just push the Get Quote button below to go to our Free Quote Questionnaire. Remember, it's free - there is no obligation.