Appointments:

How do I schedule an appointment for tax season (Jan. - April)?

You can now conveniently schedule your appointment online using our online calendar.  Just click the button below:

If you have any difficulties using the online scheduler, please contact our office at 800.471.0045 and our Administrative staff will assist you.

Please note that you will need to set up a login and password to complete your appointment request online.  If you used the online scheduler last year, your login and password are the same.

* For appointments during non-tax season (May - December), please call the office to schedule at 800.471.0045 or you can submit an appointment request using our online form.

What appointment days/times are available?

Our normal business hours are Monday-Friday form 9:00 AM to 5 PM.  Special tax season appointments are available Monday thru Friday starting at 8 AM to 7:45 PM and Saturdays starting at 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM.  Evening and Saturday appointments fill up quickly so be sure to schedule early.

If I am a returning client, can I schedule a phone appointment instead of an office appointment?  Can I just mail in my paperwork to you?

For your convenience, you can mail-in your information, but please try to schedule a phone appointment to review your information with your tax preparer.   Please also note that you must forward your paperwork to our office at least one week prior to your scheduled phone appointment.

How do I re-schedule (or cancel) an appointment?

If you booked your original appointment using our online scheduler, you can log in to the scheduler and cancel or change an appointment up to 48 hours before the appointment’s start time. 

To reschedule or cancel an appointment within 48 hours of the appointment’s start time, you must call our office at 800-471-0045 or email schedule@schwartzaccountants.com. 

Please note that we charge a $75 cancellation fee for late cancellations of our prime appointment slots (evening or weekend appointments that are cancelled with less than 48-hour notice of the appointment’s start time).

Can I schedule an appointment before I have all of my backup/paperwork?

Yes.  We can partially prepare your tax return and follow up on any outstanding documents or information.

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Fees:

What are your prices/fees?

Fees are based on the complexity of the return and forms necessary.  You will find our tax preparation fees to be extremely reasonable compared to other tax preparers.  For our returning clients, we generally limit fee increases to $75 over the prior year’s fee.

What is the discount for Medical residents that are new clients?

For new clients who are still in their medical training, we offer an introductory rate discount for the preparation of a federal and a single state return (additional fees are incurred if you have more than one state return prepared). 

In order to receive this discount, clients must schedule and complete their appointment by the end of February.  Appointments fill up quickly so please schedule early.

What other discounts are offered?

Existing clients who are still in the medical residency are offered a "resident's discount".  Please speak with your preparer directly for information about this discount.

How do I pay your fees?

Fees can be paid by check or by credit card through Pay Pal’s secure server.

Can I get a copy of your invoice?

Yes.  An invoice will be placed in your portal upon completion of your return and can be accessed at any time.  A copy is also mailed to you upon completion of your tax return.  If necessary, our administrative staff will be happy to provide you with a copy by e-mail or fax. 

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General:

How can I get directions to your office, your fax number and email address?

Directions, fax number, email addresses and other contact information are available in the Contact Us section of this site.

Notices from Government Agencies (IRS/Dept. of Revenue):

I received a notice from a government agency (IRS or State Dept. of Revenue).  What should I do?

We stand behind our work and will help you every step of the way.  Please fax, mail, or upload a copy of your notice to our office and we will begin researching the issue prior to contacting you.  In certain situations, additional fees may apply.

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Other Services:

Can you help me with financial or college planning?

Yes.  We work closely with many types of financial and legal advisors and will be glad to make the appropriate referrals.

Can you help me with our nanny or household employee taxes?

Yes.  We are pleased to offer comprehensive nanny and household employee services.

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Portal:

How do I register for the portal?

You must first self-register by using the “Click Here to Register” link located on the LOWER LEFT of the sign in screen.  After registering, you will receive a verification email from us within 24 hours letting you know your portal has been activated and is ready to use.

What was my user name to log in to the portal?

You established your user name (and password) when you initially registered for the portal.  User Names are email addresses. 

How do I retrieve my password?  How do I change a password)?

Go to the LOWER LEFT of the sign in screen and click on “Forget Your Password?” link.  You will be prompted to answer a few questions and will be sent a new password by email. 

You can change your password by logging in and going to the “My Account” section located in the upper right toolbar.

Please note: our staff can't reset or access your original password.  The portal system doesn't display your password to us at any time.

How do I view my return once it’s in the portal?

Once you’ve logged in to the portal, click on the “Secure File Exchange” icon in the center of your screen.  The tax return will be in your “My Documents” folder.

The tax return is a PDF document.  You can view and print PDF documents using Adobe Reader software. You can install a free download of Adobe Reader from their website by clicking here.

How do I upload documents to the portal?

Once you’ve logged in to the portal, click on the “Secure File Exchange” icon in the center of your screen. 

You can easily upload any document saved on your desktop or computer network by using the “Upload” button located in the upper left toolbar. 

After clicking on the “Upload” button, a separate popup window will open that prompts you to browse your computer to find the file you wish to upload.  Click on the file name and select open.  You may write a description for the file before hitting the “upload” button on the bottom right of the popup window. 

Please note that we receive an automatic email notification whenever you upload a document to your portal so we know to retrieve it. 

*Note: you do not need to select “Use file version control”.  This is only needed if you are uploading multiple files with the same name and do not want the first version uploaded to be overwritten by subsequent uploads.

How do I download documents to the portal?

Once you’ve logged in to the portal, click on the “Secure File Exchange” icon in the center of your screen. 

To download documents from the portal, just double-click or right-click on the file name you wish to open.  The File Download box will appear and prompts you to Open or Save the file to your desktop.

What is the “Public Documents” folder in the portal?

The “Public Documents” folder is a secure area where we upload and share frequently requested blank forms or reference materials with our clients.  All clients have access to retrieve documents from the Public Documents folder.

What is the “My Documents” folder in the portal?

The “My Documents” folder is a secure folder for your specific portal.  You are the only client that has access to your “My Documents” folder.  Your preparer and our staff will upload documents to you (and retrieve any documents you upload for us) in your private “My Documents” folder.

How do I email documents from my portal to a third-party?

You can not directly email from your portal.  You will need to download the document to your desktop or local network.  You can then email it to whomever you wish using the standard attachment features of your email system. 

Please note that your email system may not be secure to send data-sensitive materials (such as social security numbers or tax returns).  Please contact your email provider to learn about their specific security standards.

Please note that Massachusetts regulators prohibit us from emailing your tax returns to you or to a third party.

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Tax Organizer:

My new spouse didn’t use your services last year.  Can they get a blank organizer?

Yes.  If you got married during the prior calendar year, simply add your spouse’s information, income and deductions to your organizer.  Otherwise, blank organizers are available as Downloadable Forms in our Client section of this site. 

Can you send me my organizer?

A PDF version of the organizer is uploaded to each returning client’s portal at the start of the new year.  Log in to your portal to retrieve your organizer.

An interactive version of the organizer (e-organizer) or paper copies are available upon request only.  Please allow 24-hour turnaround time to process your request.

Can I enter info into the PDF version of my organizer?

Certain versions of Adobe Acrobat allow you to type into PDF files.  Otherwise, you will need to print out the organizer and manually write in your responses (such as income and deduction information). 

How do I read or print the PDF organizer?   What software do I need?

You can open, read, and print the tax organizer using Adobe Reader software.  We have a link on our site to download a free version of Adobe Reader.

Did you get my e-organizer?

We will confirm receipt of your e-organizer by email (normally within 1 hour of our receiving it).  At that point, you will be requested to forward your back up documentation to our office.

 How do I save and send back to you my e-organizer?

Follow the instructions you receive with the e-organizer.  When you complete the organizer, please click on the “Return to Preparer” button.

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Tax Returns:

Tax Preparation (before your Appointment)

I’m a New Client.  What documents do I need to send in/bring to an appointment?

You can find everything you need, including our New Client kit with Checklists, in our Client Corner section of this site.

How do I send you my information?

You can send information to us by saving documents directly to your portal or by faxing or mailing us.  Please keep copies of all documents sent by mail.

I’ve changed jobs/am doing more moonlighting/have additional income from last year.  What information do you need from me?

A checklist of what you need to submit is available in the Client Corner section of this site.

I got married/divorced (my filing status has changed from last year).  What do I need to do?

For recently married clients, checklists for your spouse are available in the Client Corner section of this site.

For recently divorced clients, a copy of the divorce decree will be helpful to clarify any support or financial issues.

My new spouse didn’t use your services last year.  What do they need to do?

Checklists are available in the Client Corner section of this site under New Clients.  Please add your new spouse’s information, income and deductions to your tax organizer.

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Tax Processing (After Appointment):

I received a notice/email about Missing Information.  What is this and what do I need to do?

A missing information notice/email is sent to you when additional documentation or information is necessary to complete your return.  You can clarify what is needed by contacting our Missing Information Coordinator.

How do I send in additional or missing information?

Additional information can be sent by fax, uploaded to your portal, or sent by mail.  Please be sure to keep copies of documents.

Did you receive my fax, e-file forms, missing info, or backup I mailed to you?

If you would like confirmation that we have received your items, please include on your cover sheet a note that you are requesting confirmation and tell us the email or phone number you would like us to confirm receipt to.

During tax season, we receive hundreds of documents, faxes, phone calls and email each day.  Please give us 24-hours to verify that your documents have been received by fax, portal, or email. 

Contact the administrative staff to verify if you have not heard from us within 24-hours.

When will I get my return?

Returns are generally completed within 1 to 2 weeks after all documentation is received.

What’s the status of my return?

Returns are generally completed within 1 to 2 weeks after all documentation is received.  An update of the status of your return can be obtained by contacting our administrative staff.

I’ve already had my appointment.  Do you need any additional information from me?

If additional information is needed, you will be contacted by either your preparer or a staff member.  Generally, your preparer will inform you of missing information during your appointment.

If I faxed or uploaded information to my portal, do you still need the originals?

No.  In most cases, the uploaded copies are sufficient.

Will I get my backup tax documents (like w2s) back from you and when?

All original documents will be returned to you upon completion of your return.

Can I speak with my preparer?

Yes.  You can certainly speak to your preparer.  Keep in mind, however, that the preparers are scheduled in meetings most of the day during tax season.  Please be prepared to leave a number, a good time to reach you and a brief summary of your question with our administrative staff. 

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Tax Return Completed:

Do I have to file my taxes electronically?

In most cases, electronic filing is mandated by the IRS and each state.

How long does it take to receive my refund from the IRS and/or state

The IRS directly deposits tax refunds each Friday for returns that were e-filed as of Wednesday of the previous week.  So expect to wait between 9 to 16 days for your refund, based on the day we receive your signed e-file forms and transmit your return.

My return is complete.  Now what do I need to do?

An instruction sheet of “Next Steps” is available in your portal when we upload your completed return. 

In general, you will need to sign and return the e-file consent forms to our office.  You can mail, fax, or upload to your portal a scanned copy of the signed federal and state e-file. 

Many clients will also need to pay taxes due towards their Federal or State returns.  Make sure to submit the appropriate payment voucher along with any necessary payments.  The payment vouchers can be found in the documents uploaded to your portal with your completed return.

How do I send money to the IRS or my State?

You can make IRS and most state tax payments online or by mail.  You can also give your preparer your banking information to set up for direct debit of the balance due on April 15^th.

Different types of payments may have different mailing addresses.   Appropriate mailing addresses are included in the PDF file in your individual portal.  You can also verify federal mailing addresses at www.irs.gov and state mailing addresses at the individual state’s Department of Revenue website.

Remember to send in the payment voucher with your check if you are paying by mail.

Can I check my refund status online with the IRS and/or State?

Yes.  You can check your refunds directly on any of the links below.

Federal: www.irs.gov, Click on the “Where’s My Refund” link.  You will need the taxpayer's social security number, filing status (single, married, etc), and the exact amount of your refund.

Massachusetts: Mass. Dept. of Revenue’s Account Activity page – Click on the Check Refund Status link

For other states, check the state’s website to locate links to the department of revenue.

Where do I send quarterly estimates and when are they due?

Instruction and deadline information is available in your portal.  We’ll also send you an estimate reminder each quarter (except the first quarter) with the estimated tax amount due and the applicable mailing address.

Quarterly tax payments are due April 15^th, June 15^th, September 15^th and January 15^th.  Please include your payment voucher to ensure that your payment is properly credited.

Federal payments (for MA residents) are sent to:

Massachusetts payments are sent to:

For other states, check www.irs.gov for the regional mailing address for federal payments and check individual state websites to locate a link to your state’s department of revenue. 

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Tax Returns - General:

Who was my preparer last year?

Your tax preparer will be listed on the cover letter and tax return in your portal.

Can I use a different tax preparer this year from last year?

Yes.  You may request a different preparer.  But call our office as early as you can since scheduling is subject to availability.

We’ve moved out of state.  Can you still do our return?

Yes.  We can complete tax returns for all 50 states.  Additional fees will apply if you are required to file tax returns in more than one state.

If you moved to a town or state where there are local tax forms, such as a city, county or municipality form, we will NOT be able to assist you with the local tax forms. 

I have income from another country.  Can you file my taxes?

Yes, we can prepare your taxes if you have foreign sources of income.

I’m not a US citizen.  Are you able to complete my tax return?

Yes.  We can prepare tax returns for non-US citizens.

I need a copy of my tax return or W2s sent to a third party.  What do I need to do?

Most documents are currently available in your portal or they can be uploaded upon your request.  You would then be responsible to send your information to the third party directly.

If you or the third party requires us to physically mail copies of documents, please complete the Authorization to Release Tax Information form.  Additional fees will apply and must be paid prior to the release of your tax information.

For your protection, we do not use email to send any tax-related documents to third parties on your behalf.   

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