The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Experts weigh in on last minute preparations
If you haven’t filed yet, you’re likely going to have to go it alone, say the pros.
In these last, few dozen hours before 2017’s taxes are due, if you haven’t gotten professional help with your return, chances are you won’t.
Accountants and other tax preparers largely closed up shop at the end of business on April 13. So even though this year’s deadline falls on April 17, if you haven’t filed yet, you’re likely going to have to go it alone, say the pros.
When asked what advice he had about 3 p.m. April 13 for folks who haven’t filed yet, Jim Ebert said: “Good luck if they haven’t gotten it done by now because, if they haven’t gotten help by now, they’re pretty much going to have to go it alone, as most of us (accountants and tax professionals) are wrapping it up at this point.”
Other than the different date, there are a few tax-law changes filers might have encountered this year, according to Ebert, who is a partner at Ebert Financial Group in Chardon.
He said one change to which filers have reacted during tax season 2018 involves the deduction property owners will be allowed to claim as deductions, which will be capped at $10,000 for 2018 returns.
“A lot more people prepaid some of their property taxes,” Ebert said. “So, they two years of their property taxes because, in 2017, there were no limits on how much you could deduct.”
He added that many people waited until later to file this year because many tax documents’ revisions didn’t come out until closer to deadline.
Another change particularly self-employed people will face in 2018’s returns has to do with estimated tax payments and how they’ll be figured into affected taxpayers’ returns in 2019.
While many taxpayers sought the services of outfits such as Ebert’s, many others looked to community service organizations like senior centers, job and family services departments and social services agencies.
One such venue — the Madison Senior Center in Madison Village — held taxpreparation clinics staffed by AARP-trained and administered volunteers.
Madison Senior Center Director Carol Billetter said the tax-help program there is consistently book full of taxpayers looking for advice and help with their returns.
“People actually start calling, like, the year before, in, like November and December,” she said April 12 at the facility. “And AARP has been great with sending extra tax preparers, setting up more stations and just generally helping people out.”
She added how accommodating all the volunteers have been over the years.
“They’re very amicable and, if people forget to bring a form and need to come back later, they’re really patient and understanding,” Billetter said.
About 25 people come in on Thursdays when the service is offered at the Madison Senior Center, she said, adding that the service is available on different days at different locations beginning in early February.
Billetter added that folks don’t have to belong to the senior center to get the tax advice from the AARP volunteers and that, although they try to cater to people over 60, anyone regardless of age may avail him or herself of the service.
One such individual, Madison Township resident Victoria Vliek, said she really appreciates the help.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “They’re all very knowledgeable and I like that they’re not charging anything. I tell you — it’s better than going to Jackson Hewitt. They want $100 to do my taxes!”
George Miller, who is a local coordinator with AARP, said the hurdle the volunteers run into with clients is them not bringing everything they need to file with them when seeking advice — things like Social Security and retirement statements.
He said this year there seemed to be more later filers than in recent years, which may have been attributable to taxing agencies changing the rules late in the game.
For example, he cited an Ohio decision regarding medical deductions.
“This year the state, at the last minute, made a change with regard to medical deductions,” Miller said. “We weren’t allowed to deduct certain medical expenses earlier in the year. But, about two weeks ago, they made the change.”
When asked if he had any advice for folks who hadn’t filed by April 12, he said: “It’s getting awful late. Good luck!”
He agreed with Ebert that most tax preparers would likely be finished for the season in the next couple days.
“It’s our last day here,” he said of AARP’s 2018 Madison Senior Center tax clinics. “And the very last ones are wrapping up (April 13).