March 24, 2020
To our valued clients,
At Smith Bookkeeping Financial Services Patchen, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and working tirelessly to serve our clients and safeguard our employees. We have transitioned most of our employees to work from their homes and are doing our best to provide the highest level of service we can under the circumstances.
Tax filing deadlines
Very recently, the IRS has pushed back the April 15th filing deadline for three months. Many states, including California, have followed in step. The new tax filing deadline for 2019 Federal and California income tax returns and 2019 tax payments is July 15th.
Drop off and pick up – Processing your 2019 Income Tax Returns
Most professional and para-professional staff have transitioned to working remotely from their homes. We operate with limited administrative staff in rotation on-premises and we have had to change how we receive and deliver client information.
•We continue to accept mail daily Monday through Friday.
•Clients who wish to drop off their information can do so in the new secure lockbox we’ve installed outside our office suite door. This box can be accessed during normal business hours (Monday through Friday from 8-5) as long as the bank building remains open to the public. We retrieve information from this box daily.
•Information received is aged in cardboard boxes before processing.
•All client deliverables (tax returns and source information) will be shipped to clients using conventional shipping methods (US mail or FedEx)
What is urgent during this unique time?
Usually, at this point in March, we prioritize clients who have significant tax payments to make. This year is very different. Taxpayers now have until July 15th to make payments for 2019 tax due, as well as any necessary first quarter 2020 estimated payments. The due date of June 15 for second-quarter estimated 2020 tax payments have not yet changed, but it may. This year, our interpretation of the executive orders by local, state, and Federal governments is that we must prioritize clients who need their refunds and clients who require their tax returns completed for underwriting purposes on other transactions. All other work will be completed on a first-in/first-out basis.
Preferred Communication Method
Thankfully, due to modern voice-over-internet technology, phone calls to our office will operate mostly as they always have. Your tax professional should be reachable through phone and email as they always have. Any communication with your preparer will need to happen over telephone and email as we are not currently permitting clients at the office.
I already sent Smith Bookkeeping Financial Services Patchen my tax information. Does this mean I will automatically be put on extension?
No. If you have already sent us your information, please know that we are doing our best to complete your returns as timely as possible. Thank you for your patience as we make the best of these times at sub-optimal efficiency. We are doing our best to complete your income tax engagements as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. We will continue to work on processing client information on a first-in/first-out basis. If you expect a tax refund and are in urgent need of that cash, please contact your preparer and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Finally, a very heartfelt “THANK YOU!” for your patronage of a small, local business like ours! Small businesses are very vulnerable at times like these and we are truly grateful for your support. We are here to help you in any way we can!
Marvin Smith-Accountant
Smith Bookkeeping Financial Services LLC
P:215-745-2713
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