Peers Tax Office — Tax Intake

To determine eligibility for Head of Household (HOH) filing status, please submit one of the following documents:
• A current lease agreement or
• A recent utility bill

In addition, we require Social Security cards for the taxpayer and each dependent. If a Social Security card is unavailable, a birth certificate may be provided as an alternative.

If you experience any issues obtaining or uploading the required documents, please contact me directly at 470-827-2006 for assistance.

Areas of Emphasis

Approximately 60% of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) errors stem from the following three areas:

Qualifying Child Requirements
The child may not meet the age, residency, or relationship tests.
Incorrect Filing Status
The taxpayer may be filing as Single or Head of Household when they are legally married.
Income or Expense Reporting Errors
Errors may occur when reporting earned income or business expenses. These responses require careful review and verification during client intake.

Eligibility Requirements for EITC
To qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the taxpayer must:

Have earned income
Possess a valid Social Security Number
File as Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Jointly (not Married Filing Separately)
Not be a nonresident alien
Not be a qualifying child of another taxpayer
Not file Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ
Have investment income within IRS limits

Tax Preparation Checklist
To prepare your federal and state tax returns, please provide the following documentation, as applicable:

Income & Tax Documents
All Forms W-2 (wages)
Forms 1099, including but not limited to:

1099-INT (interest)
1099-DIV (dividends)
1099-B (brokerage or barter transactions)
1099-R (pensions and IRA distributions)
Schedules K-1 from partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts
Any additional income reporting statements, including all copies provided by the payer
Health Insurance Documentation
Form 1095-A (coverage through a public marketplace)
Form 1095-B (coverage outside a public marketplace), or
Form 1095-C (employer-provided coverage)
Prior-Year & Organizer
If you are a new client, a copy of last year’s tax return
A completed Individual Income Tax Organizer

If you choose not to complete the organizer, you must answer all “Yes” or “No” questions under Questions — All Taxpayers
Additional Required Information (If Applicable)
Copy of the closing statement for real estate purchased or sold
Mileage records for vehicle expenses (total, commuting, and business mileage)
Details of estimated tax payments made
Income and expenses itemized on a separate sheet for business or rental activities
Itemized deductions listed separately for medical expenses, taxes, interest, charitable contributions, and miscellaneous deductions
Copies of acknowledgment letters from charitable organizations for all charitable contributions

Tax Return Preparation
Your tax return will be prepared based solely on the information you provide. You are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of that information.

If your return is audited, you are responsible for substantiating all reported items. Please review your tax return carefully before signing to ensure all information is accurate and complete.

Unless otherwise stated, tax preparation services do not include auditing, review, examination, or any other form of assurance or verification.

Taxpayer Responsibilities
You agree to provide all income and deductible expense information necessary for the preparation of your tax return. If you receive additional tax documents after work has begun, you must notify us immediately so your return can be updated accordingly.

You affirm that:

All income and expense information provided is accurate
You possess all required supporting documentation
You can produce written records if requested by the IRS or state tax authority
We may request to review supporting documents at our discretion and can provide guidance regarding acceptable substantiation.

Fees, Records & Retention
All fees must be paid before your tax return is delivered or filed
If you terminate this engagement prior to completion, you agree to pay for work performed
A retainer is required for the preparation of late returns
You are advised to retain copies of your tax return and related documents
A fee may apply if copies are requested at a later date

Consent for Payment
We value our relationship with our clients and are committed to providing high-quality professional services. Please note that you are paying for tax preparation services, not for a tax refund.

You may pay your tax preparation fees using any of the following methods: cash, money order, credit card, electronic payment, or deduction from your tax refund.

Refund-Based Fee Disclosure
If you elect to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund and your refund is delayed, reduced, or intercepted, you remain fully responsible for all tax preparation fees.

By signing your tax return, you acknowledge and agree that payment for tax preparation services is due regardless of whether your refund is issued or released.

If we are notified that your refund has been intercepted, an invoice will be issued for the outstanding balance. Payment must be received within 30 days of the invoice date. Failure to remit payment within this timeframe may result in ACH processing or collections, if no bank account information is available.

Important Notice Regarding Refund Offsets
The U.S. Department of the Treasury may offset any unpaid federal or state debt against your refund without prior notice.

Common reasons for refund offsets include, but are not limited to:

Past-due child support
Federal or state agency debts
Unemployment compensation overpayments
Defaulted federal student loans

ACH Authorization Agreement
I hereby authorize ERS Consulting to initiate electronic debits (ACH) from my bank account for the purpose of collecting payment for tax preparation services. I understand and agree to the following terms:

1. Payment for Services
I acknowledge that I am engaging ERS Consulting for professional tax preparation services. Payment is not contingent upon refund approval, timing, or funding.

2. Billing Authorization
If my tax refund is not approved and funded within 30 days through a third-party bank product, I authorize ERS Consulting to electronically debit my bank account for the full amount of the agreed-upon tax preparation fees. This debit may be initiated promptly after the 30-day period has elapsed.

3. Bank Account Information
I confirm that all bank account information provided is accurate, current, and authorized for ACH debit transactions.

4. Right to Revoke
I understand that I may revoke this authorization at any time by providing written notice to ERS Consulting. Revocation does not relieve me of responsibility for any fees already incurred.

5. Record Retention & Notification
ERS Consulting will retain a copy of this authorization. I will receive written notice of any changes to payment amounts or schedules at least 10 days prior to any debit, when applicable.

Submission Instructions
Before signing, you may review, edit, or add forms as needed. Please check your email for the edit link after clicking Save, then submit the completed documents.

Please use the chat area below to communicate with us about missing information or questions. You can review and edit your information as needed before signing.