INCOME TAX PREPARATION SERVICES

• U.S. Individual Tax Return Preparation (Form 1040) for current year and back taxes  
• Casualty Losses (Form 4684)
• Schedule C (for small business owners, independent contractors,  self-employed)
• Review & Amend prior returns  (Form 1040X)
• Form 2106 (unreimbursed job expenses)
• Schedule E (for owners of rental property)
• State Income Tax Return Preparation where applicable

ELECTRONIC FILING (IRS e-file)

No charge for e-filing (with paid income tax return preparation)

• We e-file all eligible current year tax returns.  (Certain returns not eligible due to child custody or Texas community property laws.)  Sorry, the IRS does not allow e-filing of back (prior years') tax returns. 
• Tax refunds are usually direct deposited into your bank account in 8 - 15 days (always on a Friday). However, the IRS does not guarantee a particular date.

REFUND ANTICIPATION LOANS (RALs)

• We DO NOT offer so-called "Rapid Refunds" in 0-48 hours as they are nothing but high interest loans, and are not in our clients' best interest.
• Many tax preparation services (local preparers and nationwide chains) after charging a fee for preparing your tax return offer you an opportunity to pay them even more fees for the privilege of actually obtaining your tax refund as little as 6 days earlier, converting it to a prepaid stored value card so they can earn money by investing your money until you use up the card balance, or even an additional fee for paying the tax preparation fee out of the refund.  H & R Block offers four post-return preparation opportunities to pay them more money to get your hands on your own refund few days early or pay their tax prep fee.  (See H & R Block brochure #SG147773B.)
• Jackson-Hewitt was sued over their RAL practices by the California Attorney General and settled for $5 million.  See this consumer affairs report for details.
• H & R Block was hit with a similar suit. 
• Due to perceived abuses in the Refund Anticipation Loan industry, the Texas legislature passed HB 1344 which requires any facilitator of RALs in Texas to register with the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner by 1/1/08. Should you decide to use another tax service that does RALs, we recommend that you check with the OCCC to see if they are registered.  Further information regarding this topic can be obtained at www.occc.state.tx.us.

OFFER IN COMPROMISE

While Cooke & Company does not represent taxpayers in the filing of Offers in Compromise at this time, we strongly urge anyone considering responding to advertisements claiming they can "settle your tax debt for pennies on the dollar" to read our "Offer in Compromise" page before proceeding.

Intaxication:  Euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

IRS REPRESENTATION

• As federally licensed tax practitioners, unlike RTRPs we can represent you before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service.  See our "Types of Tax Professionals" page for definitions and details.
• No charge for brief initial interview to determine if we can help you.
• Tax Examinations (Income Tax Audits)